Sonic the Comic Issue 55


 * Managing Editor: Richard Burton
 * Editor: Deborah Tate
 * Designer: Gary Knight
 * Assistant Editor: Audrey Wong
 * Publisher: Rob McMenemy

Sonic the Hedgehog - "The Great Escape! Part 1"

 * Script: Nigel Kitching
 * Art: Rob Corona/Timothy Marx
 * Lettering: Ellie de'Ville

Synopsis
Doctor Robotnik summons the Trooper generals Rust and Bucket into his office in Citadel Robotnik to report on the enslavement of the people of the Emerald Hill Zone. However, when they reveal that the entire Zone is deserted (after the Emerald Hill Folk were secretly evacuated to the Floating Island), and that they took no slaves, Robotnik becomes furious and destroys the both of them (calling Receptionik to bring him two large bin bags).

On the outskirts of the city, a Bob Beaky's Traveling Circus attempts to get inside, claiming to be booked to perform for Doctor Robotnik himself, but the Troopers in guard will not let them through. The penguin leader, Bob Beaky, steps out to speak with the Trooper, but when he removes his top hat and coat, he is revealed to be Sonic the Hedgehog in disguise! He effortlessly destroys the Troopers (even tricking one into shooting another). Porker Lewis claims there was no need to do that when they could have tricked their way through, but Sonic says this way was more fun. Now back in their usual clothes, the Freedom Fighters locate the Badnik Processing Plant, where thirty-five of the Emerald Hill Folk are being held captive. Sonic is determined to save them.

Inside the jail, the prisoners are being led away to be turned into badniks. One of them, a dog named Billy, freaks out about their impending fate and makes a run for it, only to be swiftly caught by the lizard overseer with his whip. However, before he can punish the poor dog, the alarm sounds. He spots five old-style badniks on ground level, carrying a large metal box, and orders them to stay where they are. Their cover blown, the Freedom Fighters jump out of their badnik disguises, ready for action!

Appearances

 * Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Miles "Tails" Prower
 * Amy Rose
 * Porker Lewis
 * Johnny Lightfoot
 * Doctor Ivo Robotnik
 * Rust and Bucket
 * Receptionik
 * "Bob Beaky"
 * Lizard overseer
 * Troopers
 * Emerald Hill Folk:
 * Billy
 * A bear
 * A badger
 * A squirrel
 * A rabbit
 * A fox
 * A canary
 * A pig
 * Badniks:
 * Crawlton
 * Burrobot
 * Two Coconuts
 * Mantis

Continuity

 * Robotnik's new base, the Citadel Robotnik in the Metropolis Zone, is seen for the first time (having been mentioned in Sonic the Comic #54, "Total Chaotix, Part 2"). Receptionik, who was briefly seen on his Egg Fortress in Sonic the Comic #21, "Girl Trouble, Part 1", is once again his secretary.
 * The Emerald Hill Folk were evacuated to the Floating Island in Sonic the Comic #53, "Disaster! Part 3".
 * The silver box that the Freedom Fighters bring with them into the jail is revealed in Sonic the Comic #56, "The Great Escape! Part 2", to be a Star Post.

Kid Chameleon - "Back to Unreality! Part 2"
Teenager Casey seeks to rescue his schoolmate Brad. As Skycutter, he faces off against four monsters in an abandoned subway station. He effortlessly wheels around them on his skyboard, until the frog monster catches him by the ankle and pulls him out of the sky... leading his pilot-less jetboard to smash into the wall and bury the four monsters under falling rubble. Before stepping onto the telepad, he finds a scrawled message on a piece of stone, with a warning to "Beware the dangers of Islecatraz". The Voice tells him that in Islecatraz he will find "the one thing you seek more than most." Casey wonders if the Voice means Brad.
 * Script: Michael Cook
 * Art: Brian Williamson/Steve White
 * Lettering: Tom Frame

Stepping on the telepad, he is transported to the Midnight Graveyard. Clawed hands rise out of the ground, and bats swoop at him. Now without his jetboard, Skycutter feels he may have outlived his usefulness. Lifting his mask, he says the word "Chameleon!" and transforms... into the tank-like, skull-faced Juggernaut!

Knuckles - "Total Chaotix, Part 3"

 * Script: Nigel Kitching
 * Art: Richard Elson
 * Lettering: Elitta Fell

Synopsis
In the Special Zone, two Metallix robots materialise on the Omni-Viewer's screen. He calls to Chaotix for help, but for some reason they can't get through his forcefield. The Metallixes have locked them out, and even Omni himself can't override it! The Metallixes transfer Omni's program onto a small handheld device, then vanish, leaving only an empty frame hanging in space.

Nack the Weasel immediately accuses Knuckles of being involved: surely it's no coincidence that Knuckles turned up shortly before the badniks did. Perhaps he's still working for Robotnik. Espio points out that Omni vouched for Knuckles, who is now Robotnik's sworn enemy. Nack says he still doesn't trust the echidna.

Knuckles immediately takes charge. Vector says the Metallixes would most likely take Omni to Robotnik's abandoned Egg Fortress, so Knuckles and Chaotix head off to save their friend.

Meanwhile, the two Metallixes deliver the Omni-Viewer to their leader, the Emperor Metallix, back in the Egg Fortress. Omni demands to know what's going on, and says they're making a big mistake and they'll be so sorry, then demands to know what's going on and what they're going to do. "Answer me!" In response, the Emperor disables Omni's audio link, then proceeds to the second stage of their plan.

Just then, outside the Egg Fortress, Knuckles and Chaotix have arrived. Knuckles fears it won't be easy to get through the hull, but Mighty just pushes him aside ("Waiting's for wimps!") and smashes a huge hole with a single punch. He's quite proud of his handywork, but the others aren't impressed. They wanted to break in quietly, and now the alarms have been triggered. It looks like they're going to have to do this the hard way!

Appearances

 * Knuckles the Echidna
 * Chaotix:
 * Vector the Crocodile
 * Mighty the Armadillo
 * Espio the Chameleon
 * Charmy Bee
 * Nack the Weasel
 * Omni-Viewer
 * Metallix
 * Emperor Metallix

Continuity

 * Knuckles mentions how a previous version of Metallix fought him and Sonic to a standstill, which happened in Sonic the Comic #50, "Count Down to Disaster, Part 2".
 * Nack's accusation of Knuckles foreshadows the revelation in Sonic the Comic #57, "Total Chaotix, Part 5", that Nack himself is the traitor that allowed the Metallixes to capture Omni.
 * The Emperor Metallix intiates stage two of their plan. It will be revealed in Sonic the Comic #58, "Total Chaotix, Part 6", that they are in fact creating their own copy of the Omni-Viewer's program.

Sparkster - "Last of the Rocket Knights! Part 3"
Captured in an attempt to rescue the ensorcelled Princess Shelly, Sparkster comes face-to-face with King Gedol. Gedol plans to marry Shelly, uniting their two empires under his rule. Gedol reveals his interest in the enchanted armour that Sparkster wears, which once belonged to the original rocket knight. He orders his guards to take Sparkster to the dungeons to be killed, then leave the armour in Gedol's chambers.
 * Script: Nigel Kitching
 * Art: Keith Page
 * Lettering: Steve Potter

However, on the way to the dungeons, Sparkster escapes and defeats his guards. He rockets up the tower.

Gedol introduces Shelly to his mother, Stubb, who assumes he plans to eat her. She offers her special recipe for soup. Gedol is informed of Sparkster's escape.

Sparkster encounters a pair of Shelly's palace guards - also under Gedol's spell of corruption. However, after quickly disarming them, the presence of Sparkster's mystic armour breaks the spell, bringing them back to normal. And it's a good thing too, because Sparkster is going to need their help...

Other features

 * Control Zone
 * Graphic Zone
 * Q Zone
 * Speedlines