Sonic the Comic Issue 21


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

Sonic the Hedgehog - "Girl Trouble, Part 1"

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

Synopsis
Trooper badniks attack the Emerald Hill Zone and arrest Amy Rose, who has been claiming to be Sonic's girlfriend. Sonic and Johnny Lightfoot attempt to rescue her, and destroy one of the Troopers, but the others activate a device called 'Weapon X' that shoots spikes in every direction. Sonic uses his super speed to prevent the spikes from hitting any of the Emerald Hill Folk, but the Troopers have used the distraction to warp back to the Special Zone. Even though Amy got herself into this trouble, Sonic knows that she'll expect him to rescue her.

Meanwhile, in Robotnik's Special Zone Headquarters, two image consultants named Thomas and Miller claim they want to give Robotnik a make-over. Robotnik is livid and throws them out of his office, although later admits that they were right in a way: his current body has served its purpose and now it's time for a change... He encases himself in a giant egg, preparing for his transformation.

Sonic and Johnny return to their secret underground base, where the Kintobor Computer confirms from monitored transmissions that Amy is being held in Robotnik's Special Zone fortress. Telling the others (Tails and Porker) to stay behind, he activates their private Star Post and takes Johnny with him into the Special Zone. Together they navigate the bizarre physics of the Zone and break into the fortress. Unfortunately, they are immediately captured by the fortress' automatic defences and Robotnik's chief scientist Grimer.

Elsewhere, Robotnik's transformation is nearly complete, and his egg begins to crack...

Appearances

 * Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Johnny Lightfoot
 * "Bob Beaky"
 * Amy Rose
 * Doctor Ivo Robotnik
 * Grimer
 * Thomas and Miller
 * Receptionik
 * Miles "Tails" Prower
 * Porker Lewis
 * Kintobor Computer
 * Troopers
 * Emerald Hill Folk:
 * Cedric
 * Cedric's mother
 * A canary
 * A penguin
 * Several others

Continuity

 * An editorial comment refers to Doctor Robotnik's conquest of Mobius from Sonic the Comic #9.
 * The Freedom Fighters appear for the first time as a team, having been mentioned in Sonic the Comic #14. They include Sonic, Tails, Porker Lewis and Johnny Lightfoot, who were the four individuals sent forward in time by Robotnik in Sonic the Comic #8. Amy Rose, also introduced this issue, joins the team at the end of the following issue.
 * Porker and Johnny wear black and red jackets respectively while part of the Freedom Fighters. When in disguise in the Emerald Hill Zone, Johnny keeps his jacket in a bag.
 * The Kintobor Computer appears for the first time, but it is not yet explained how it works following Doctor Ovi Kintobor's "demise", which was seen in issue #8.
 * It is revealed that the Freedom Fighters are based out of a secret underground base, after previous attempts to build a rebel hideout were hampered in Sonic the Comic #13 and Sonic the Comic #15. This is in fact Kintobor's underground lab, which appeared in Sonic the Comic #6 and #8.
 * Robotnik's Special Zone Headquarters appears for the first time, having been mentioned way back in Sonic the Comic #4.
 * Doctor Robotnik encases himself inside a giant egg while changing into a new form. He will emerge transformed in issue #22.

Trivia

 * The original title for this story was "Sonic's Girlfriend".

The Eternal Champions - "Part 3"
Cyberdome, 2345 AD. Six of the Eternal Champions (RAX, Larcen, Trident, Xavier, Jetta, and Midknight) warp in to steal high-tech weapons from the armed combat sports arena, so that they can return to the present and rescue their allies (Shadow, Slash, and Blade) from Nakano. However, their three allies are able to effect their own escape when Nakano attempts to mind-scan the prehistoric Slash.
 * Script: Michael Cook
 * Art: Brian Williamson & Steve White
 * Lettering: Tom Frame

Meanwhile, back in the future, the six Champions are cornered by armed fighters. They are sent to fight to the death in the Cyber Challenge.

Shinobi - "The Art of War, Part 3"
Joe Musashi swiftly defeats the lone security guard that confronts him and locks the man in a cupboard. He cannot find Naoko on his floor, so he climbs down the cable in an elevator shaft to search a floor below. He recalls a story of how his sensei's sensei learned kendo. Suddenly, Neo Zeed ninja drop down the shaft on ropes, and cut away the cable beneath him...
 * Script: Alan McKenzie
 * Art: Jon Haward
 * Lettering: Ellie de'Ville

Tails - "The Land Beyond, Part 4"

 * Script: Nigel Kitching
 * Art: Dave Windett/John M. Burns
 * Lettering: Steve Potter

Synopsis
Trogg explains that he was once Shirob, the eldest and most powerful of the Enchanter Kings, until he accidentally made contact with the Evil One and was transformed. He intentionally turned back into Shirob as part of a trap to lure Tails into the Land Beyond and exact revenge for his defeat upon the Dimension Bridge.

Tails is furious and attacks Trogg from the air, only to be knocked down. He is saved by the sudden appearance of the portal, which blinds everyone in the room. Tails and Errol leap through it just in time. Trogg attempts to stop them by hurling his sword - it follows them through the portal, but misses them on the other side.

Tails and Errol find themselves back in the home of the Enchanter Kings, who reveal that their magic can only keep Tails in the Nameless Zone for a short time, so the portal is ready to take him back to the Emerald Hill Zone. Tails expects Errol to reveal to the Enchanter Kings that Tails is not really the hero of Mobius, but instead Errol claims that Tails is truly a worthy champion, without whom they never would have made it back. Greatly relieved, Tails steps into the portal and returns home.

Appearances

 * Miles "Tails" Prower
 * Errol Blackthorn
 * Trogg
 * Shirob
 * Land Beyond warriors
 * Enchanter Kings

Continuity

 * Trogg explains that he lured Tails into the Land Beyond in order to get revenge for Tails defeating him on the Dimension Bridge, which occurred in Sonic the Comic #17.

Other features

 * Control Zone
 * Review Zone
 * News Zone
 * Q Zone
 * Speedlines