Sonic the Comic Issue 46


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

Sonic the Hedgehog - "The Big Con"

 * Script: Lew Stringer
 * Art: Roberto Corona
 * Lettering: Steve Potter

Synopsis
In the Chemical Plant Zone, Mobians are forced to queue up for Robotnikcon One, "the official convention for all loyal supporters of Doctor Robotnik", featuring such events as "It's Good To Be A Badnik", a panel discussion in which "Guest Dictator Doctor Robotnik talks and you listen!" And as a special bonus, the citizens are "allowed" to swap their life savings for an "exclusive autographed photo or our beloved leader". Any that don't want to are "encouraged" to do so by the Troopers on guard. Once inside the convention centre, however, the animals are grabbed by giant robotic arms and transformed into the organic batteries of badniks!

In the Special Zone, Robotnik's headquarters, Robotnik himself tries on a majestic purple cape in preparation for his appearance. His assistant Grimer compliments him.

Back in the Chemical Plant Zone, a Trooper orders a penguin to speed up the line, only to realise too late that it's really Sonic the Hedgehog in disguise! Sonic attacks the Troopers, but by this time the convention centre is churning out Balkiry and Buzzer badniks. Porker Lewis tries to keep people out of the centre (although they initially think this is part of the show), while Sonic causes a massive statue of Robotnik to topple on the building, destroying the Badnik Creation Plant. The Freedom Fighters are easily able to destroy the remaining badniks.

When Robotnik and Grimer arrive, expecting to be welcomed by a badnik army, they find the convention centre destroyed and the welcome sign defaced to read "Sonic-con 1". Meanwhile, the Freedom Fighters float away on the Chemical Plant's hovering platforms, their mission completed.

Appearances

 * Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Miles "Tails" Prower
 * Porker Lewis
 * Doctor Ivo Robotnik
 * Grimer
 * Troopers
 * Animal citizens:
 * A badger
 * A walrus
 * Birds
 * Dogs
 * Bears
 * Rabbits
 * Cats
 * Hedgehogs
 * Others too numerous to mention
 * Badniks:
 * Balkiries
 * Buzzers

Trivia

 * Tails' disguise includes a pair of Groucho glasses.
 * A walrus in the first panel of the story resembles Rotor Walrus.
 * In the first panel, a queuing bird is wearing a Star Trek: The Next Generation-style communicator badge on his left breast.

Streets of Rage - "The Only Game in Town, Part 5"
The battle van flies off the end of the East River Bridge, but falls far too short, becoming impaled on a girder on the other side of the river. The four heroes are lucky to survive, and barely manage to climb out before the girder gives way and the van plunges into the river. Thankful to have made it to safety, Axel requests an ambulance for his gaping stomach wound.
 * Script: Nigel Kitching
 * Art: Peter Richardson
 * Lettering: Tom Frame

The next day, with Axel bandaged up, the heroes thank Sergeant Feroccio. He refuses to join them, citing Axel's face as his reason. Then the heroes go to Mr X's headquarters. The original Mr X met with an unfortunate "swimming" accident, but his replacement still hands over the two million dollars that Blaze won on her bet (by surviving). He warns them that he intends to recoup his losses.

Trivia

 * The final comment promises more Streets of Rage strps to come, but this was the final Streets of Rage story printed in Sonic the Comic.

Sonic's World - "Enter the Cybernik, Part 2"

 * Script: Lew Stringer
 * Art: Roberto Corona and John M. Burns
 * Lettering: Steve Potter

Synopsis
In the Badnik Processing Plant, Robotnik turns the fiery Shorty the Squirrel into his new Cybernik badnik, locking him inside the indestructible armour from which he can never escape. Shorty tries desperately to resist the brainwashing program, determined to save his friends, but as the program runs its course and he is locked in the Cybernik shell, the fight in him seems to end. Robotnik orders his new Cybernik to demonstrate its powers, and so the Cybernik destroys a nearby Trooper with his arm laser. Impressed, Robotnik sends the Cybernik to lead the other badniks to attack the Emerald Hill Zone, where he used to live. Robotnik orders him to "Destroy! Annihilate! Take no prisoners!" The Cybernik obeys...

Back in the Emerald Hill Zone, the remaining inhabitants contemplate the loss of so many of their people. Suddenly, the Cybernik arrives at the head of a group of badniks! The run for their lives, and are surprised when the Cybernik turns on the badniks, destroying every single one. He reveals that he managed to keep his own mind, presumably because of the damage he caused to the control panel coupled with his own stubborn nature.

When Robotnik hears that the Cybernik still has a free mind, he is furious. But he created the Cybernik, and he intends to destroy it!

Appearances

 * Shorty the Squirrel/"The Cybernik"
 * Doctor Ivo Robotnik
 * Grimer
 * Trooper
 * Emerald Hill Folk:
 * Hopper
 * Dogs
 * Bears
 * A mouse
 * A bird
 * Others
 * Badniks:
 * Burrobot
 * Crawl
 * Buzzer
 * Flasher
 * Motobug

Continuity

 * Characters refer to several events from last issue's "Enter the Cybernik, Part 1", including the capture of the Emerald Hill Folk and Shorty's damaging of Robotnik's computer.

Marko's Magic Football - "Part 6"
Marko tries to defeat Colonel Brown with his magic football, but the Colonel's special suit protects him. Welders try to attack Marko, only to hit a barrel of green sludge with their flamethrowers, causing it to explode. Marko kicks his ball at the Colonel full force, knocking him into the green sludge and destroying his suit. It causes a chain reaction, and Marko barely manages to escape before the tower explodes.
 * Script: Lew Stringer
 * Art: Gary Andrews
 * Lettering: Steve Potter

Captain Smirk reappears, claiming that the future of Earth is safe (although he also admits that history books from this time period were "mislaid", so they don't really know whether Marko changed history). Marko returns home to his Mum.

Other features

 * Control Zone
 * Review Zone
 * News Zone
 * Sonic Star Pin-Up
 * Photo Zone
 * Q Zone
 * Speedlines