Archie Mega Man Issue 50

Archie Mega Man Issue 50 is the fiftieth issue in the Mega Man comic series. It is the fourth part of the "Worlds Unite" crossover.

Official solicitation

 * Celebrate 50 issues of Mega Man with the latest chapter in the globe-smashing SONIC/MEGA MAN crossover event! "Worlds Unite" Part Four: Act One comes to its mind-blowing conclusion! Sigma’s plan reaches its first stage, and the worlds of Sonic and Mega Man have fused! It’s definitely going to take more than one hero to stop the threat from the future—maybe even ten!  Sonic, Mega Man, X, Sticks, the Freedom Fighters, Robot Masters and Maverick Hunters—UNITE!  PLUS: Stick around for a special bonus anniversary story as Mega Man and X meet for the first time!  Featuring a wrap-around cover from the legendary Patrick "SPAZ" Spaziante! PLUS 5 variant covers from Edwin Huang, Irvin Rodriguez, Patrick Thomas Parnell, Roger & Idalia Robinson and part 4 of the epic 12-part connecting variant cover series by artist Ben Bates!

Worlds Unite Part Four: Death and Destruction

 * Writer: Ian Flynn
 * Line Art: Dan Schoening
 * Colors: Luis Antonio Delgado
 * Letters: Jack Morelli
 * Assistant Editor: Jonathan H. Gray
 * Editor: Vincent Lovallo
 * Editor-in-chief: Victor Gorelick
 * President: Mike Pellerito
 * Publisher: Jon Goldwater
 * Special Thanks to: Francis Mao, Noriko Matsunaga, Susan Suarez and Hiromi Iwasaki at Capcom media & Consumer products and to 飛田栄実.
 * Special Thanks to: Eddie Muzuno, Stacy-Arnold Strider and Patrick Riley at Sega Licensing, and to character business and Licensing Department of Sega Corporation.

Summary
At the hidden lab on the Lost Hex, the Maverick mastermind Sigma, alongside the kidnapped scientists Dr. Eggman and Dr. Wily, witnessed the activation of the Unity Engines giving power to the Master Engine, with Sigma mentioning the humming of the device and asking the doctor what it means as the energy is entering him. Wily then whispers to Eggman that they may have done their work too well, but Eggman says that their true plan had not started yet. Sigma then gloated that the Master Engine's power is from the two worlds coming together as one, and explains that with it he will be able to command the Genesis Portals to consume all worlds in existence.

As Mega Man's World and Sonic's World start merging together, the Roboticized Masters Sonic Man and M'egga Man start their secondary objective is activated, attacking each other to neutralize the other target. Amy Rose and Tails, alongside Flash Man and Hard Man, witness this, and also deduced their connection to their original identities of Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man (with Amy Rose wondering what Eggman did to him, and Flash Man expressing suspicion of Dr. Wily's involvement in Mega Man being modified due to the mad scientist doing something similar in the past). Elsewhere, the New Freedom Fighters find Snake Man and Spark Man nearby, with the cybernetic member Bunnie D'Coolette asking Sally Acorn whether they should attack the robots or retreat. Sally, however, is unsure what to do, as while they are robots similar to the one they were fighting, they appear to have been previously fighting against the Sonic robot. Elsewhere, Antoine D'Coolette appeared in front of Break Man and Bubble Man, with Bubble Man telling the other Robot Masters to attack the "giant animal things" before they attack anyone else, with Break Man telling the other Robot Masters not to antagonize them. Part of a nearby building broke apart, endangering civilians, with Sally ordering Bunnie and Gemerl to ignore the robots for now and save those in need, which they proceeded to do by grabbing the woman and the slab with people on it respectively. United by their mutual goal of aiding the citizens, the two sides soon join forces and are met by the third party of the Maverick Hunters and Team Sticks from the Sonic Boom World.

In the federal prison, as Chemical Plant Zone mixes in, causing chaos as many prisoners start escaping or are endangered. Xander Payne knew it would happen, and remembering what he learned during a previous time travel adventure, he discovers that the tachyons exposed to his cybernetic eye during his time travel escape have granted him the ability to create Genesis Portals. Deciding this is where his destiny lies, he travels through the portal.

Back at the battle between Sonic Man and M'egga Man, the two continue fighting and decide to deal a mighty blow to each other with their strongest weapons, only for it to undo the roboticization process on the both and reveal the mad scientist's coding that pins Sigma as the cause of their problems. At the Lost Hex, the doctors and Sigma each have their own realization. The doctors learn they are in trouble as Sonic and Mega Man were to free each other in the lair and attack Sigma, while Sigma learns of their double-cross from the de-robotization, as the powerful attack should have them destroy each other. The docs flee while Sigma sends half of the Deadly Six in pursuit.

On the Unified World, the confused Mega Man and Sonic watch the Letter of Gabriel merging with the government building and exploding, apparently killing all inside, including Mayor Dorado and Team Dark. Thanks to Drs. Wily and Eggman, the two blue heroes know Sigma is the responsible for the chaos, and as the inhabitants of Mega Man's world lost all memory of their previous meeting, Sonic explains the events to them, with Mega Man's skepticism eased when Sonic is able to refer to Roll and Dr. Light as proof. With the threat revealed, all parties unite under the Unified Army to take down Sigma. However, Sigma stands at the ready, having been creating an army with his old Mechaniloid army to take them down.

Appearances

 * Auto
 * Deadly Six
 * Master Zik
 * Zavok
 * Zazz
 * Zeena
 * Zomom
 * Zor
 * Dr. Albert W. Wily
 * Dr. Eggman
 * Dr. Thomas Light
 * Guardian Units of the Nation
 * Abraham Tower
 * Amanda Tower
 * Team Dark
 * E-123 Omega
 * Rouge the Bat
 * Shadow the Hedgehog
 * Honor Guard
 * Mayor Dorado
 * Maverick
 * Sigma
 * Mechaniloids
 * Batton Bone
 * Bospider
 * D-1000
 * D-Rex
 * Eregion
 * Jamminger
 * Mosquitus
 * Pararoid S-38
 * Raider Killer
 * RT-55J
 * Shadow Devil
 * Thunder Slimer
 * Worm Seeker-R
 * Roboticized Masters
 * M'egga Man
 * Sonic Man
 * Unified Army
 * Gemerl
 * Knuckles the Echidna
 * Maverick Hunters
 * Axl
 * Mega Man X
 * Zero
 * New Freedom Fighters
 * Amy Rose
 * Antoine D'Coolette
 * Big the Cat
 * Bunnie D'Coolette
 * Miles "Tails" Prower
 * Omochao
 * Rotor the Walrus
 * Sally Acorn
 * Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Super Sonic
 * Robot Masters
 * Light Robot Masters
 * Break Man
 * Roll
 * Mega Man
 * Super Armor Mega Man
 * Wily Robot Masters
 * Air Man
 * Bubble Man
 * Flash Man
 * Hard Man
 * Shadow Man
 * Snake Man
 * Spark Man
 * Wood Man
 * Rush
 * Team Sticks
 * Comedy Chimp
 * Fastidious Beaver
 * Sticks the Badger
 * Xander Payne

Continuity

 * Sonic Man and M'egga Man engage in battle due to Drs. Eggman and Wily's programming, which started in Sonic the Hedgehog #273, "Worlds Collide Part Three: Clash of the Corrupted".
 * The merging of the Prime Zone and Mega Man's World nears completion, which began in Sonic the Hedgehog #273, "Worlds Unite Part Three: Clash of the Corrupted". This merge would be undone in Mega Man #52, "Worlds Unite Part Twelve: Last Rights".
 * The New Freedom Fighters and Robot Masters recover from the beating they received in Sonic the Hedgehog #273, "Worlds Unite Part Three: Clash of the Corrupted".
 * The Maverick Hunters and Team Sticks arrive on Sonic's World through the Genesis Portal they created in Sonic Boom #8, "Worlds Unite Part Two: Broken Heroes", and X tells Sally that Sigma is behind this calamity.
 * Xander Payne recalls his time-traveling voyage in Mega Man #37-40
 * Xander Payne gains the ability to create Genesis Portals and escape his prison cell through one such portal. It would take him to the Lost Hex in Sonic Universe #77, ""Worlds Unite Part Five".
 * Sonic Man and M'egga Man return each other to normal after having been roboticized since Sonic Boom #8, "Worlds Unite Part Two: Broken Heroes."
 * Realizing that Drs. Eggman and Wily had tricked him, Sigma sends Zeena, Zomom and Master Zik after them. The doctors would escape them in Sonic Universe #77, "Worlds Collide Part Five".
 * The Deadly Six are still under Sigma's mind control, which Sigma used on them through their armor in Sonic Universe #76, "Worlds Unite! Part One: Across Time and Space". The Deadly Six would be freed from their armor in Sonic the Hedgehog #274, "Worlds Unite! Part Seven: Gears and Wills".
 * Team Dark is killed by a merging of a G.U.N. Carrier and a government building. These deaths would be undone in Mega Man #52, "Worlds Unite Part Twelve: Last Rights"
 * Sonic tells about the events of Worlds Collide to the inhabitants of Mega Man's World.
 * The New Freedom Fighters, Light Labs, Maverick Hunters and Team Sticks join forces to stop Sigma until Sigma's defeat in Mega Man #52, "Worlds Unite Part Twelve: Last Rights".
 * Sigma begins resurrecting his toughest Mavericks to form an army. This army would engage the unified heroes in Sonic Boom #9, "Worlds Unite! Part Six: Fire in the Sky".

Trivia

 * In one panel, Ash Ketchum from Pokemon anime can be seen during the worlds' fusion.
 * The Kobayashi family from the OVA Mega Man: Upon a Star make a background appearance amongst the civilians of Mega City, alongside two characters from the Mega Man Battle Network series.
 * Although the fusion of the two worlds took place at night, Sonic did not transform into his Werehog form.

The Choice

 * Writer: Ian Flynn
 * Pencils: POWREE
 * Ink: Rick Bryant
 * Colors: Luis Antonio Delgado and Anna Chher
 * Letters: Jack Morelli

Summary
Mega Man is in a training section onboard the Sky Patrol, and after shooting several targets, ends up exhausted, commenting that he really needs a recalibration. Roll then tells Mega Man that he has already been through a lot that day, and checks his Mega Buster. X appears and is impressed with Mega Man's conviction to be ready to stop Sigma. After Roll is done with the Mega Buster, Mega Man is able to hit all targets. Starting another section, Mega Man and X train together. X comments on Mega Man not being built for combat, to which Mega Man says is due to his decision to fight Dr. Wily, who stole Dr. Light's robots and used them in an attempt to conquer the world. While he does not mind helping others, it seems the fighting never ends. X says that he can sympathize, only wanting to live in peace but being in constant war, explaining the origin of the Reploids, Mavericks, and Maverick Hunters.

X recalls "the Day of Sigma", when Sigma and several other Hunters became Mavericks. Seeing the chaos and realizing after Zero bluntly pointed it out to him that there is no way for a pacific solution, X decided to fight against Sigma's uprising. Noting how Mega Man and Roll were looking to him, he thinks he got a little dramatic. Surprised, Mega Man asks if he went to battle without being weaponized, but X notes that he was equipped with the X-Buster Dr. Light created him with. At one point, he lost direction and considered stopping to fight, but his friends reminded him that it was for the sake of everyone else, and is humbled with Mega Man's choice. Roll and Mega Man note that he said he was created by Dr. Light, and X realizes he slipped it, not wanting to pollute the time-stream. He then admits he considered telling Dr. Light not to build him to avoid the wars Reploids would bring. Mega Man tells X not to, believing that the future is safer with someone there to fight for everyone, and who knows what else could happen, like one Dr. Wily's inventions appearing to attack others, and tells him that his "big brother" doesn't want him talking like that. X's spirits are renewed and they finish the training as Zero and Break Man call them over to the war room.

Appearances

 * Dr. Albert W. Wily
 * Dr. Thomas Light
 * Dr. Cain
 * Gamma
 * Maverick Hunters
 * Axl
 * Mega Man X
 * Zero
 * Robot Masters
 * Light Robot Masters
 * Break Man
 * Fire Man
 * Guts Man
 * Mega Man
 * Roll
 * Wily Robot Masters
 * Quick Man
 * Sigma
 * Xander Payne

Trivia

 * The targets from the training room appear to be the same from the Challenge mode in Mega Man 10.
 * When Mega Man and Mega Man X inquire whether they "fought the red guy" they confirming simultaneously that they had under "complicated circumstances." X's complicated circumstances regarding Zero was most likely a reference to either Mega Man X2 or Mega Man X5, which had X potentially fighting a brainwashed Zero and fighting Zero either due to miscommunication or Zero being forcibly exposed to huge amounts of the Sigma Virus and reawakening his true nature, respectively.

Short Circuits

 * Script: Bill Freiberger
 * Pencils & ink: Jonathan H. Gray
 * Colors: Aleah Baker

Summary
The Sonic Boom counterparts of Sonic the Hedgehog and Knuckles the Echidna congratulate Mega Man for the 50th issue. Knuckles tries to figure out how long he has been around, but is unable to calculate. Sonic says that by the time he figures it out, Mega Man will be in his 100th issue.

Appearances

 * Dr. Thomas Light
 * Robot Masters
 * Light Robot Masters
 * Mega Man
 * Roll
 * Knuckles the Echidna (Sonic Boom)
 * Sonic the Hedgehog (Sonic Boom)

Trivia

 * The first variant cover is a homage to the front cover of The Avengers #4.
 * This is the second milestone issue in the Mega Man comic series, as well as the second to be the fourth part in a crossover with the Sonic comics.
 * This is the third Archie Sonic publication to feature a wraparound cover, and the third (outside of the Sonic Super Special series) to be a 48-page issue.
 * The fact that this issue has five variant covers is likely a nod to the issue number 50.
 * Interestingly, variant covers 2 through 4 make no reference to Worlds Unite in any way. Additionally, no characters from the Sonic universe appear on said covers. The fifth variant cover is part of a set.
 * Variant 6 was available exclusively at San Diego Comic Con 2015.
 * Ian Flynn has confirmed that the deaths of Team Dark are temporary (as Sega would never let them be killed permanently) and was done as a way to raise the stakes and make the fight personal without falling back on the loss of the world.