Ian Flynn

Ian Flynn, also known by his Internet pen name Ian Potto, is an American comic writer. He is currently the head writer for the IDW Publishing Sonic the Hedgehog comic series.

Flynn was previously the chief writer for the Archie Comics' Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its various spin-offs. His tenure began in 2006 with Sonic the Hedgehog #160, and lasted until the comics' cancellation in 2017. He has also written a couple of episodes for the second season of Sonic Boom, and a number of stories for the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series and its spin-offs.

History
Flynn obtained the writing position on Archie Comics by sending in unsolicited proposals, after a long participation in unofficial creation of comics about Sonic. He is notable for being a rare case of making a transition from active amateur to pro.

He has not only been active with the fan community since his hiring at Archie Comics, but even prior to that with the now defunct site TSIC (The Sonic Info Center). He gained initial recognition for a fan comic known as Other M. His stories contain heavy usage of prior continuity and returning characters. One of his focuses seems to be guiding the comic to better fit in with Sega's games while still retaining the best elements of the comic's original material.

Archie Comics

 * Sonic Boom:
 * #1-#4
 * #6-#10
 * Sonic the Hedgehog:
 * #160-#161 ("Birthday Bash!")
 * #162-#165
 * #166 ("The Chaotix Connection"; dialogue)
 * #166-#167 (Mobius 25 Years Later)
 * #168-#169
 * #170 ("Comings & Goings")
 * #171-#184
 * #185 ("Mogul Rising Part One: Needful Things")
 * #186-#231
 * #232 ("Dark Tidings")
 * #233-#263
 * #264-#265 (Control)
 * #266-#293
 * Sonic the Hedgehog Free Comic Book Day:
 * 2007
 * 2009-2016
 * Sonic X:
 * #16-#20
 * #22-#23
 * #25-#27
 * #30-#32
 * #34-#35
 * #37-#40
 * Sonic Universe:
 * #1-#32
 * #37-#54
 * #59-#70
 * #71-#74 ("Spark of Life"; plot)
 * #96

IDW Publishing

 * Sonic the Hedgehog:
 * #1-#4 ("Fallout")
 * #5-#6 ("The Fate of Dr. Eggman")
 * #7 ("Meet the New Boss")
 * #8 ("Silent Support")
 * #9-#11 ("The Battle for Angel Island")
 * #12 ("The Cost of the Battle for Angel Island")
 * #13 ("Calling Card")
 * #14
 * #15 ("Patient Zero")
 * #15 ("Infection!")
 * Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2019 (story one)
 * Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper
 * #0

Miscellaneous

 * Sonic Boom (TV series):
 * "Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Worse-er"
 * "Og Man Out"
 * Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal (prologue comic)
 * Sonic the Hedgehog series:
 * Sonic and the Secret Rings ("Sand, Spirit and Sonic Speed")
 * Sonic Forces digital comic
 * Sonic Forces: Moment of Truth ("Moment of Truth")
 * Sonic Forces: Stress Test ("Stress Test")
 * Sonic Forces: Looming Shadow ("Looming Shadow")
 * Sonic Forces: Rise of Infinite ("Rise of Infinite")

Trivia

 * Flynn and Tracy Yardley joined Archie Comics at the same time, that being Sonic the Hedgehog #160.
 * In an interview in Sonic Super Special Magazine #1, Flynn stated that his influences as a writer are "Shakespeare, Stephen Crane, Kurt Vonnegut, E. E. Cummings, Chris Claremont, Robert Kirkman, Brian M. Bendis, Mark Miller, Dr. Seuss, Jeff Smith, Don Rosa and so many more."
 * Flynn is married to Aleah Baker.
 * According to an interview with Sonic Fan Games HQ, his favorite Dr. Eggman quote stems from his dialog with Lien-Da in Sonic the Hedgehog #220.