Warning: Spoilers for Sonic the Hedgehog #57A new rapid-response squad from Sonic the Hedgehog's Restoration effort is easily the greatest group ever assembled in IDW Publishing's Sonic continuity due to the diverse members that make up the team.
Named after a previous disbanded team, the new Diamond Cutters consist of Whisper the Wolf, Tangle the Lemur, and Lanolin the Sheep with help from Sonic himself. The conflicting personalities between the four companions during their first mission effectively split them into two separate camps, causing a great deal of enjoyable friction and chaos in Sonic the Hedgehog #57 by writer Ian Flynn, artist Adam Bryce Thomas, colorist Matt Herms, and letterer Shawn Lee.
Sonic and Tangle vs Whisper and Lanolin
Ever since IDW unveiled the B and RI covers of Sonic #57 by Adam Bryce Thomas and Nathalie Fourdraine, respectively, some readers were under the false impression that the issue would just star Whisper, Tangle and Lanolin, as the artwork only featured them. This was critical because all of them are female heroes, and the Sonic franchise is either mostly dominated by male characters or females who aren't effective warriors. Ironically, the series' only all-female arc that began in Sonic #45 is missing the strongest female character, Whisper. Moreover, Sonic #57 promised to see Lanolin step up as a major hero and feature the long-awaited reunion between close friends Whisper and Tangle. So when IDW's first preview of Sonic #57 later revealed that Sonic would be accompanying Whisper, Tangle and Lanolin, readers who wanted a female-focused issue were upset.
Luckily, Sonic's abrasive personality greatly complements the overall dynamic of the Diamond Cutters. Tangle's enthusiasm for adventure usually results in her gleefully jumping into the fray, which causes her actions in issue #57 to mesh with Sonic's "act first, ask questions later" mentality. This effectively splits the squad into two unofficial groups: Sonic and Tangle, and Whisper and Lanolin. Without Sonic, Tangle would just be gallivanting off on her own. Since she doesn't hold much authority on her own, Lanolin and Whisper, who espouse more control and reserve, would be able to keep Tangle's actions in check. This would eliminate most of the conflict in the issue. Sonic's status helps stoke the flames of chaos that Tangle's personality just naturally causes. Meanwhile, Whisper and Lanolin's reactions to Tangle and Sonic's lack of composure provide some humorous interactions and quips. This isn't even mentioning the history between Whisper and Tangle. Although they settled much of their differences in their own Sonic miniseries, Sonic's presence creates additional friction between the two female warriors as Tangle gets caught up in Sonic's energy.
The Chaotix and Babylon Rogues Can't Beat The Diamond Cutters
This overall dynamic of the new Diamond Cutters definitely overshadows the other groups in Sonic's world. The more obvious comparison would be the Chaotix and the Babylon Rogues. The latter trio is solely comprised of minor characters, which greatly reduces the overall effect of what their team. Moreover, the three of them essentially share the same personality as their leader Jet the Hawk who's the most boisterous and blatantly ageist of the bunch, due to his many rude quips concerning a character's advanced years. It's unfortunate, too, that the group's one female member, Wave the Swallow, is repeatedly overshadowed by her male counterparts. As for the Chaotix, they have been relegated to a rinky-dink detective agency without Knuckles, whose presence in Archie Comics' Sonic series gave the Chaotix an overall boost. In the end, the Diamond Cutters provide the IDW series with interesting character dynamics and conflicts while also highlighting some of Sonic the Hedgehog's best and most underrated heroes.
Sonic the Hedgehog #57 is available from IDW Publishing.