The Chaotix are on the case! note
| Written by: | Evan Stanley |
| Year: | Five |
| Saga: | Eggman's Legacy |
| Issue: | #48 |
Following an investigation in a power surge, the Chaotix find Clutch, Rough, and Tumble. Following his recent setback, Clutch intends to revive his old arms dealership empire. The Chaotix tussle with the group, leading to Vector destroying Clutch's entire Badnik collection, but the trio escape.
Tropes
- Ambiguous Situation: Kit suggested in Imposter Syndrome #1 that he could sabotage the city's power grid from underground using his water tentacles. While the Chaotix do find evidence of this in the sewers, it's unclear if Kit really did it or the lines were overloaded from above by Surge's lightning.
- Bittersweet Ending: The Chaotix manage to keep Clutch from moving his inventory, but he, along with Rough and Tumble, manage to get away with Clutch now motivated to come out of retirement, rebuild his empire and take on the new generation of heroes. What's more, the Chaotix still have no leads to what causing the electrical disturbances and all they can do now is wait and see what comes next.
- Breather Episode: Following Trial By Fire's lead, this is a one and done with some villains who aren't involved in the overall conflict between Dr. Starline, Eggman, and Team Sonic.
- The Bus Came Back:
- Nite and Don reappear for the first time since the 2020 Annual, discounting the former's classic self's cameo in the 30th Anniversary special.
- Clutch returns having been missing since the Chao Races and Badnik Bases arc.
- The Skunk Brothers show up again for the first time since they set off on their own after the events of Bad Guys.
- A Day in the Limelight: The Chaotix are the stars of this issue's story; Sonic and the others don't appear at all nor are even mentioned.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Espio's own Smoke Out trick is used against him, Vector, and Charmy by Clutch, allowing the latter to escape with Rough and Tumble.
- Mythology Gag: One of the crowd is the glitched version of Big from Sonic Adventure.
- Noodle Incident: Charmy has apparently been banned from the local library for life, leading to Vector and Espio having to leave him with Nite and Don when running some errands. Whatever that offense was, we never hear it.
- Not Me This Time: In the confrontation, Clutch reveals he isn't involved in the electrical disturbances in the city, worried more about trying to smuggle the rest of black market goods out of the city through the sewers. Vector decides to not let the slide and sink the goods.
- Oh, Crap!:
- Rough gets this reaction when the Chaotix catch him lurking in the sewer.
- Espio also gets one when Clutch reveals he swiped the ninja's smoke bombs.
- Red Herring: The story seemed like the Chaotix would run into Surge and Kit. But their investigation leads them to the Skunk Brothers and ultimately Clutch who have nothing to do with the electrical disturbances.
- Shout-Out: Some of the crowd are shown to be animal versions of the following: Waldo from Where's Waldo?, Reigen from Mob Psycho 100, Conan and Ran from Case Closed, Ralph and Vanellope from Wreck-It Ralph and a more detailed version of Crinkly Wrinkly from OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes (likely as a return nod for the Sonic episode in that show).
- Underestimating Badassery: Clutch doesn't really see the Chaotix as much of a threat calling them "third-rate gumshoes". This quickly changes when the three bust in and engage in a fight that they win and cost Clutch the remainder of his black market goods. The criminals would've been thrown in the slammer if Clutch hadn't swiped some of Espio's smoke bombs and used them to get away.
- Villain: Exit, Stage Left: Clutch manages to escape once more, this time using some of Espio's smoke bombs, grabbing Rough and Tumble on the way out.
- Villain Team-Up: Rough and Tumble are revealed to be working for Clutch now.
- You Have Failed Me: Played with. Clutch really looks like he's going to punish the Skunk Brothers for screwing up, but gives them another chance upon realizing the Chaotix's presence.
