Sonic the Comic Issue 22


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

Sonic the Hedgehog - "Girl Trouble, Part 2"

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

Synopsis
The Egg Fortress, in the Special Zone. Doctor Robotnik emerges from his giant egg, transformed into a new and more powerful form.

Robotnik's chief scientist, Grimer, has captured Sonic, Johnny Lightfoot, and Amy Rose. Amy is caged, while Sonic and Johnny are trapped in an impenetrable pink bubble. Sonic seems more concerned about clarifying that Amy isn't his girlfriend than escaping, but Grimer assumes this is a ruse so that he'll let Amy go (it isn't, but in any case it doesn't work). Robotnik makes his grand entrance, and the "new form" elicits surprise from Grimer and mild amusement from Sonic, who comments that Robotnik should "stop takin' those ugly pills!"

Robotnik explains that he intends to turn all three of them into "Super Badniks", and once transformed they will never be able to change back! Amy is taken first, and placed inside an exo-suit by Troopers. Sonic decides he's been trapped long enough, and starts to run inside the bubble... which starts to roll with him! Using the bubble as a bowling ball he destroys almost all of the Troopers (making Johnny feel ill at the same time). The last Trooper takes aim with his gun and - despite Grimer's cry not to shoot - shoots the bubble, bursting it and freeing Sonic and Johnny!

Amy, now locked inside her badnik exo-skeleton, can feel the badnik program trying to take over her mind. Sonic jokes about leaving her behind, but when Johnny objects he frees her with a Super Spin-Attack. As the three escape, Robotnik demands that somebody stop them... only to find that Grimer is attacking the last remaining Trooper with a spanner for not obeying his instructions ("I said 'Don't shoot' ... and I meant ... Don't shoot!"). Robotnik is furious with Grimer, who meekly says he got carried away, and Grimer will have to be punished.

Back at Sonic's Secret Underground Base, Johnny says that Amy will now have to join the Freedom Fighters, since it will be too dangerous for her back in the village. Sonic reluctantly agrees, but insists that Amy admit she is not his girlfriend. She does... and then adds "Not yet, anyway!"

Elsewhere, Robotnik and Grimer (looking worse the wear after his punishment) are putting the finishing touches on a new and deadly experiment. "Yes!" cackles Robotnik. "Even Sonic will be no match for 'Operation Metallix!'"

Appearances

 * Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Johnny Lightfoot
 * Amy Rose
 * Doctor Ivo Robotnik
 * Grimer
 * Miles "Tails" Prower
 * Porker Lewis
 * Kintobor Computer
 * Troopers
 * Metallix

Continuity

 * Doctor Robotnik's transformation, begun in the previous issue is complete. He now resembles the version of Robotnik from the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog TV series. He will keep this form for the duration of the series, although his costume and his exact appearance will evolve over time with changing artistic styles.
 * Amy Rose joins the Freedom Fighters in this issue. She will become one of their most important members.
 * Robotnik and Grimer are revealed to be working on Operation Metallix, and a silhouette of the metal Sonic can be seen in the final frame. Metallix himself will next appear in Sonic the Comic #24.

The Eternal Champions - "Part 4"
In the Cyber-Dome in 2345 AD, six of the Eternal Champions are forced to fight each other in a tournament. Jetta beats Larcen and Xavier beats Midknight. When RAX and Trident go to fight, RAX engineers their escape, but the six of them are cornered by actual cyber-fighters.
 * Script: Michael Cook
 * Art: Brian Williamson, Bambos Georgiou & John M. Burns
 * Lettering: Steve Potter

Back in 1994 Tokyo, Shadow, Blade and Slash locate the main computer room and start searching for information regarding Nakano's Bio-Key technology.

Shinobi - "The Art of War, Part 4"
Joe Musashi is cornered as he attempts to descend an elevator shaft - the Neo Zeed ninja seem to have been ordered to take him alive. He escapes into a ventilation duct, and steals a Neo Zeed costume from a ninja that is sent to search for him. When he rejoins the search party, it becomes apparent that "Kenjei" is actually a poor ninja, and he is sent off alone. However, he realizes that he has been deceived and trapped when metal doors slam shut behind and ahead of him.
 * Script: Alan McKenzie
 * Art: Jon Haward
 * Lettering: Ellie de'Ville

Wonder Boy - "in Ghost World, Part 1"
Shion the Wonder Boy has arrived at the Skyrock Mountains after hearing about ghosts terrorizing the area. He is suddenly attacked by ghostly pterodactyls, which are hard to kill since they are made of jelly-like ectoplasm. One steals his shield before he uses magic to create a fire sword to defeat the others - and melt his sword at the same time. He is greeted by an old woman named Lukout, a cosmologist who takes him up to the Light Tower. She explains that dinosaur ghosts have been attacking for some time, and offers to show him where they come from. She takes him to a ledge below the mountain, but they are surprised by the ghost of a T-Rex!
 * Script: Mark Eyles
 * Art: Bojan Djukac
 * Lettering: Steve Potter

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