February 21st, 2024 (Mini) Question Timestamps: ------------------------------------------ 0:11 - Do you think there is a mentality among fans and creators alike that canonicity equals importance? People seem to think that if something is canon, it is thereby worth more, or more important, than material that is not. What I realize is that some things work better when they’re NOT connected to something else. 2:07 - With so many arguments about what is, isn’t, should, and shouldn’t be canon these days, I was intrigued by a recent video from a youtuber by the name of Pariah695. His theory is that the concept of canon is not something that actually exists in Sonic and is instead a BS card that Sega pulls up their sleeve to keep Sonic fans happy. The actual “canon” is whatever they want the Sonic brand to be at a given time. Not sure how much you can say, if anything, but is any of this true to an extent? 5:40 - For both Ian and Kyle, what Hollywood actor do you think would be the best choice to play yourself in a movie about your life (or at least a movie that includes you as a character)? 7:10 - Starline’s isekai adventures… END?! Starline finds himself right back where he started… sort of. He’s back in his own dimension but as a ghost, hovering over a pile of rubble in the abandoned Eggperial City where his physical remains surely lie. But there is a catch: he cannot be seen or heard but can touch and lift things. How does Starline work around this totally temporary setback, and how would he alternatively do so if he could be seen and heard but couldn’t interact with anything physically? And lastly, how is he supposed to die again if he’s a ghost? Is this where Starline’s isekai journey ends? 9:31 - With that in mind, how do you think each Sonic character would react to the first few minutes of seeing their lifeless body below them after getting hit in the head or something? 10:57 - Surge is out looking for that “edge” that she needs to defeat Sonic, but instead of finding the dynamo cage, she discovers the CTPTP (Conveniently Timed Power-up Trading Post). Inside, they have aisles and aisles of every power and special ability you can imagine, and the first power-up is free! But if you want another one, you either have to pay more or trade one you have for another, [...] so Surge can only have one new ability at a time. What kind of special powers do you think Surge will try out, how many times does she return to the shop, and how will Sonic still manage to whoop her butt no matter what she picks? 13:14 - Is Sage evil post-Frontiers? Pre-Frontiers, there’s no question, but I thought she had a change of heart (Code? Bits? Whatever) over the course of the game, learning about love and actually caring about Sonic and his friends by the end. The way you’ve described her in this podcast since then has been something along the lines of a daddy’s girl to Eggman though, still loyal to the side of evil. I wasn’t sure if this was just a joke characterization not unlike your comments about Big, or if this is how she will legitimately be portrayed in the future. Thoughts? 14:51 - You’re giving the IDW cast a tour of your office. Who’s interested, who’s bored, and who’s the first person to break something? (Oh who am I kidding, we all know the third one is Tangle) 16:11 - Which Sonic character do you think is the go-to fourth wall breaker, someone like Deadpool for Marvel or Discord for the MLP franchise? In other words, they possess traits like being self-aware, referencing real world creators, talking to the audience, etc. Who would be the first character to do these things even in a non-Boom setting? 18:09 - All the villains have decided to return to the comic because our world is just too boring. But since Ian is still tied to a chair, one of them gets the idea to rewrite the comic to fit their desires, and a huge fight breaks out. How would each villain rewrite their reality, and who wins the fight and gets to live in their ideal world (at least until Evan Stanley notices. Or someone unties Ian, that too)? 19:21 - In case you haven’t noticed yet, I have an utter fascination with the fourth wall in fiction. Not just simple stuff like winking to the camera, but crazy stuff. Hopping between fiction and reality, awareness of fictitiousness, interacting with people behind the scenes, visual penetration, and of course, lots of existentialism. They make room for so many fun stories. One of my favorite movies that sort of falls into this genre is Who Framed Roger Rabbit. How would you write a story with a Roger Rabbit like premise, only it involved Sonic characters instead of toons, acting for all of their video games, shows, and… comics, I guess? Not sure how that would work. 22:51 - Though Sonic fans tend to disagree on a variety of things, I think we can all agree on the most fundamental aspect of any Sonic game: gambling! And we don’t even have to worry about the moral repercussions of underage gambling because ages don’t exist in Sonic anymore! So here’s the question: how would each Sonic character (game and IDW) fare on a night at the Casino? Who’s striking rich and who’s living on the streets? And most importantly, can the Chaotix finally pay off their debt with a few rounds of poker, or is Vector just too dazed with the fact that currency isn’t a figment of his imagination after all?

Canon brings standards, standards bring consistency, consistency reinforces immersion and engagement, ain't a hard thing to grasp. Canon matters cause it IS an importance factor, like it or not. I have a friend that gets 2-3 hours free per day due to work and studies, his question when I ask "Hey do you wanna watch/play/read this?" Is ALWAYS "Is it canon?" when it comes to long running franchises. It IS a way to cherry pick projects that factor more in the grand scheme of things. When he wants to consume something in a long running franchise he doesn't just want a small dose of entertainment, he wants something he can invest in that falls into place on an established ongoing setting. You know what to take into account in conversation about lore and characters, what to perceive as reality and what as a what-if scenario (especially when multiple endings are at play), if your time is limited canon helps you choose what product is worth that valuable pocket of time. THAT is canon. And Sonic isn't just a long running legacy franchise, it's one filled with expansive lore, a myriad of stories and beloved characters and around 60% of its mythos takes place in the same timeline. Canon isn't a side dish here, it's a NECESSITY.

As a Sonic fan, I get the most enjoyment out of ignoring the canon I don't like and substituting it with my own. --- Canonical Hams references this episode: 0 Total since count began: 10 Total references to counter: 1

A bumblekast on my birthday! What a treat! Keep up the good work guys!

You know people say Ian doesn’t take Criticism but Watching these Bumblekasts always make me think. No. 😮

In a strange way, fan discourse became much more annoying after I started following this show and got more informed about the behind the scenes workings (even if they are small compared to the bigger picture). In return I’ve gotten much more lax about what to expect from most things. Not because I think things are handled badly, but cuz I’ve come to have some vague sort of understanding when it comes to what kinds of things we can actually expect out of the creative/corporate franchise void hole thing… So reading opinions about these things from fans who don’t understand these things… Make me at least a little bit annoyed.

Canon is just the term Sega is using until they finally make ME the official lore master. I'll sort this shit out, no problem. And yes, I WILL include Sonic's Schoolhouse, thank you!

For the gambling misadventures of the Sonic crew, we ride on the Algorithm Quest!

Second comment The first Question was So damn valid.

God, imagine the emotional damage if Ghost Starline starts haunting Surge and Kit.

0:11 - The first question is VAAAAGUE. Some examples would help. I mean, Sonic 3 & Knuckles is more important than my fanfic, I think we can agree on that, right? And if we're talking stuff like Sonic Chronicles, it's un-canocity means Shade can never return, so in certain way, she's less important than Marine.

Around 18:09, Kyle skipped an important question that gives context to the following question, so that's why he and Ian are confused here. I apologize on his behalf.

Doctor Flatline the Splatypus Doctor Deadline the Platergeist Doctor Clothesline the Suplexypus Doctor Bloodline the Nosferatypus

Damn

Cool and fun👍 Just a joke question, but what if Sonic and Froggy somehow swapped bodies?

If Shadow died, I like to think Maria would welcome him into the afterlife.

Fancasting #3: Tom Felton (played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films) as British Sonic (from Fleetway’s Sonic the Comic), Alex Brightman (Played Beetlejuice in a musical and a few cartoon characters) as The Psychotic "Fleetway Super Sonic" (Sonic the Comic) and Tom Kenny as Snively Robotnik (Archie Sonic/SatAM), if Tom can be Starscream (had a more sinister version of Ice King’s voice) then Tom Kenny can do this character. Would it work?

The first two questions sound more like someone was upset that as Ian said the story has shifted and Sega is FINALLY trying to rope the series in a real direction and firm and is trying to find a way to be told its either not important/ finding a way to tell themselves its not real.

12:47 I'M GOING TO DRAW THIS

Eggman is sitting in the back room of the casino wondering how vanilla keeps winning his rigged poker games and slot machines

Bean, Heavy Gunner, Ray and Roter all are in a Poker Night at the Inventory type of Poker scenario. What are the conversations like. And who wins.

When are we getting a comic about Big the Cat becoming Duke Nukum and shooting demons on a motercycle while Froggy is holding the AK47. He would probably be fighting Zavok leader of the Black Arms.

What would the world look like if you did Popeye comics instead of Sonic Comics?

13:14 Sage She Still Evil

I am of the opinion, concerning canon in general, that even if one thing is not 'part of the mainline of the games however on that franchise they make various projects there and elements are then included in the discussion of the " main pillar " then one can consider that " slice of the pie " of media important as well. Now we know very well that the Sonic franchise is a bit of a mess with the canon argument, just look at what happened with the decanonization of the Archies due to their cancellation, however just think that in the end there is not only the Game mainline but also the mainline media and the recent mainline comics that are all within this vast franchise. Some elements could be considered important and that would not collapse anything of the Game mainline canon but it does not mean that they have no value, for the time being they are not the main focus of the franchise but they are certainly part of it just think of a supporting pillar of a house: okay if you tear that one down it all collapses but a house is also made up of other important pillars or other elements that make sure to hold it up and fill it 😊

Since Door to Door Salsemen don't exist anymore would Wes Weasely open up a youtube channel where he sponsors various brands? Or would he be a pour man on the streets asking a Palsy to help him out.

Thank you Ian for the pariah rebuttal not only is his mindset annoying so is his whiny voice

Besides Eggman would deactivate them is there any other reason Orbot and Cubot still work for Eggman? They clearly seem to dislike the doctor so why still work for him? Does he give them good pay? Is it similar to to why Bean hangs out with Fang in the sense they just like making fun of him. Would Orbot and Cubot prefer to work for Heavy King? Would Heavy King give them a couple weeks vacation or would he just not have a purpose for them. Personally I always imagined Heavy King being a little more "human" to other robots compared to organic life. So like he would give Orbot and Cubot a lot of respect but just put Eggman and Sonic in a cage to starve to death.