Sonic the Comic Issue 3


 * Editor: Richard Burton
 * Design: Clare Gillmore
 * Publisher: Chris Power

Sonic the Hedgehog - "Mayhem in the Marble Zone"

 * Script: Mark Millar
 * Art: Casanovas
 * Lettering: Elitta Fell

Synopsis
Deep in the Marble Zone, a group of badniks have cornered a squirrel named Tufftee, who is wearing some of Sonic the Hedgehog's red-and-white power boots, an aviator hat and goggles. Even though Tufftee claims he was only trying to be like Sonic and save his friends, the badniks plan to squash him with one of Dr Robotnik's weights.

Back in the Green Hill Zone, Sonic is relaxing under a tree, listening to some music and holding a glass of juice. Tails tries unsuccessfully to get his attention but eventually resorts to kicking him in the side. Tails quickly apologises and reveals that Sally Acorn is upset because Tufftee (her baby brother) has disappeared - he found some of Sonic's power boots and ran off to fight Robotnik. Sonic quickly dashes off to find him. Sonic deduces that Tufftee is probably in the Marble Zone, and decides to stock up on Ring Energy. He attempts to take a shortcut by leaping through a giant ring. However, he ends up in the Special Zone (apparently one of the half-pipe runways from Sonic 2) after picking up too much energy. He hopes he'll manage to get out in time.

In the Marble Zone, the badniks say they are going to turn Tufftee into a badnik. Tufftee tries to escape, but runs straight into a wall (one of the badniks comments that he is "too big for is boots!"). Just as he is approached by a Portable Badnik Processor, the ground begins to shake. Sonic bursts out of a wall, destroying the badniks and freeing the animals inside. As Sonic tries to catch the last badnik, a Motobug, he is nearly crushed by a spiked weight, but Tufftee pushes him out of the way at the last second.

Sonic takes Tufftee back to the Green Hill Zone where he is reunited with his sister. When he claims to be a hero (having saved Sonic), Sonic hoists him upside down and pulls off the old Power Boots, saying: "Don't mess about with things that only work for me! Remember, there's only one Sonic the Hedgehog!"

Appearances

 * Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Miles "Tails" Prower
 * Tufftee
 * Sally Acorn
 * Badniks:
 * Motobug
 * Two Newtrons
 * Crabmeat
 * Roller
 * Caterkiller
 * Bat Brain
 * Portable Badnik Processor
 * Spikes
 * Green Hill Zone residents:
 * A mouse
 * A rabbit
 * Two red birds
 * Captive animals (Marble Zone badniks):
 * A chicken
 * A tiger
 * A pig
 * Two rabbits (one blue, one brown)
 * An owl

Continuity

 * This story features the first appearance of the Special Zone, although it is seen only briefly. The Special Zone next appears in Sonic the Comic #8, "The Origin of Sonic".

Trivia

 * The weight with which the badniks intend to crush Tufftee is one of the checkerboard-pattern balls that was attached to Robotnik's Egg-O-Matic in the Green Hill Zone of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Shinobi - "The Fear Pavilion, Part 3"
Joe Musashi faces off against the first martial arts master: an old priest in a darkened room. The priest gives friendly warning that Musashi cannot win before they begin, and Musashi sheathes his sword. At first, the priest moves so quickly that Musashi cannot touch him. Instead, Musashi grabs the priest's waist sash and ties him up with it. He leaves the priest swearing in Japanese while he proceeds to the next level.
 * Script: Alan McKenzie
 * Art: Jon Haward
 * Lettering: Ellie de Ville

The Legend of the Golden Axe - "Citadel of Dead Souls, Part 3"
Ax-Battler attacks the lizard-woman captain Rigia Mortius, but is defeated when she throws a bottle of sleeping potion on him. She drags him to the dungeons, where he is reunited with his allies Tyris-Flare and Gilius-Thunderhead. The sorcerer Blackspell arrives, and takes Tyris-Flare to sacrifice as part of a ritual to resurrect the evil emperor Dark Guld, then orders Rigia to kill the other two.
 * Script: Mark Eyles
 * Art: Mike White
 * Lettering: Richard Bird

However, once Blackspell has left, Gilius and Ax manage to escape and overpower Rigia, locking her up in their place. They make their way up into the Citadel, only to find it deserted. A trader-wizard named Proffit is waiting for them. He has seen the future and reveals that they will need his Fire Dragon Bizarrians to get to the Corpselands in time to prevent the sacrifice. At the entrance to the Corpselands, Blackspell's apprentice Ul-Tima bars their entrance. Calling the Demons of Death, she summons skeletons to fight the heroes.

Wonder Boy - "Wonder Boy in Demon World, Part 2"

 * Script: Mark Eyles
 * Art: M. DJ. Boynam
 * Lettering: Steve Potter

Shion the Wonder Boy is attacked by demons before he can free the captives. Outnumbered, he attempts to escape, only to be quickly cornered. He conjures up a quake with magic, but it is too strong and he is knocked unconscious until the following morning, when he is woken up by "one of Monster World's stupid monkeys". He finally catches up to the demons at the fishing village of Fisherton, where one of them holds a young girl upside down. Shion demands that the demon put her down or taste his sword.

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