Sonic the Comic Issue 23


 * Editor: Richard Burton
 * Assistant Editor: Deborah Tate
 * Design: Clare Gillmore
 * Managing Editor: Steve MacManus
 * Publisher: Chris Power

Sonic the Hedgehog - "Pirates of the Mystic Cave"

 * Script: Nigel Kitching
 * Art: Richard Elson
 * Lettering: Ellie de'Ville

Synopsis
The Freedom Fighters (Sonic, Tails, Porker, and Johnny) enter the Mystic Cave Zone searching for Amy, who has been captured by pirates. They defeat several Crawlton badniks, but find to their surprise that there are no organic batteries inside.

Suddenly, a metal door slams shut, separating Sonic and Tails from Johnny and Porker. Sonic and Tails are surrounded by a multitude of fully-charged Flashers. They try to run, only to run into yet more, and they are zapped into unconsciousness.

When they wake up, they find themselves face-to-face with Captain Plunder, leader of the Mystic Cave Pirates. Amy is locked in a cage nearby, and seems quite cheerful to see that Sonic has come to save her. Plunder demands to know where Sonic has hidden the Chaos Emeralds, or he'll force Tails to walk the plank - over a cliff. When Sonic insists that Robotnik can never get his hands on the Emeralds, Plunder reveals that he doesn't work for Robotnik - he stole the badniks, because that's what pirates do - then kicks Tails over the side. Fortunately, Tails is able to fly, and Sonic uses the distraction to attack the pirates... only to learn that the pirate Filch is immune to his Spin Attack because he's a ghost (shot by Plunder himself, apparently for taking an extra biscuit).

Nevertheless, Sonic and Plunder start fighting, until Amy demands that they stop. Instead, she suggests that they team up. Since their Kintobor Computer can monitor Robotnik's transmissions, the Freedom Fighters will inform Plunder about any of Robotnik's freighters that are worth robbing, and in exchange Plunder will help out the Freedom Fighters from time to time. Everyone agrees that the idea is a good one (Sonic even insists he was about to suggest it himself), and the pirates agree to let Amy go. However, once Sonic and his friends have gone, Plunder reveals to Filch that he has his own plan: one that will still ensure he gets hold of the Chaos Emeralds!

Appearances

 * Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Miles "Tails" Prower
 * Porker Lewis
 * Johnny Lightfoot
 * Amy Rose
 * Captain Plunder
 * Filch
 * Other Mystic Cave pirates
 * Badniks:
 * Crawltons
 * Flashers

Continuity

 * Amy only became a member of the Freedom Fighters last issue, and she has already been kidnapped. Sonic bitterly refers to rescuing her again (after the events of Sonic the Comic #21. Nevertheless, she displays the clear-headedness that will make her such an asset to the team in later stories.
 * The Chaos Emeralds are mentioned for the first time since Sonic the Comic #8, and it is confirmed that Sonic has them in his possession.
 * An editorial comment mentions the Kintobor Computer's ability to monitor Robotnik's transmissions, last used in issue #21.
 * Sonic and Plunder agree to a deal: Sonic will inform Plunder about Robotnik's freighters that are worth robbing, and Plunder will help Sonic fight Robotnik occasionally. This agreement becomes important in the following issue, in which it also comes to an end.
 * Plunder reveals at the end of this issue that he still desires the Chaos Emeralds. He will actually manage to steal them in Sonic the Comic #25, if only briefly.

The Eternal Champions - "Part 5"
Six Eternal Champions (RAX, Tyler, Jetta, Xavier, Trident, and Midknight) are attacked by cyber-dome fighters with weapons grafted to their bodies. Trident severs a high-tech gun from one fighter's arm, then the six warp back to 1994 Tokyo to meet up with Shadow, Blade, and Slash. They intend to prevent Nakano from advancing his Bio-Key technology, but they are too late: Nakano has already used it to fuse himself with a powerful floating weapons platform.
 * Script: Michael Cook
 * Art: Jon Haward
 * Lettering: Tom Frame

Shinobi - "The Art of War, Part 5"
Joe Musashi, trapped in the Neo Zeed Building, is told he must pass through a "simple" battle simulation containing deadly traps such as fireballs and spike pits. Remembering his sensei's advice about misdirection, he is blasted with heavy nerve gas and collapses on te floor, apparently dead.
 * Script: Alan McKenzie
 * Art: Jon Haward
 * Lettering: Ellie de'Ville

Wonder Boy - "in Ghost World, Part 2"
Surprised by a ghost T-Rex, Shion the Wonder Boy falls off a floating platform and into the void between worlds. The Cosmologist Lukout jumps down and saves him with a magic flying handkerchief, and they follow the steps into Ghost World. As they pass through some clouds, they are immediately sent to sleep. When they wake up, they are in a prehistoric world, where ghostly dinosaurs roam. They meet Wordsmith, a poet who had earlier been carried off by a Quetzacoatlus [sic]. He recites a very bad poem and then they are attacked by the ghost of a caveman on a mammoth.
 * Script: Mark Eyles
 * Art: Bojan Djukac
 * Lettering: Elitta Fell

Other features

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