Sonic the Hedgehog (manga)


 * This article is about the 1992 manga series. For other Sonic manga, see manga.

Sonic the Hedgehog (ソニック·ザ·ヘッジホッグ) refers to manga series that is serialized on Japanese manga magazines published by Shogakukan between 1992 and 1994. Based of the series with the same name, Kenji Terada has developed the original concept of the manga and the first comic strip was released on April issue of Shogaku Ninensei in 1992.

Overview
The serialized manga takes place on the Hedgehog Town, where hedgehog boy named Nikky Parlouzer lives. Nikki has ability to turn into Sonic the Hedgehog, as this incarnation of the main character is Nikki's alternate persona. During the Sonic along with Miles "Tails" Prower and Charmy Bee, arises to challenge Dr. Eggman. The serialized manga features Nikki with several friends in the Hedgehog Town, including his girlfriend Eimi and his best friend Little Jon. Nikki also encounters a lizard bully named Anton Veruca and his little pet Mud. Nikki's family at home includes his mother, Brenda, his father, Paulie, and his little sister, Anita. Except for Tails, nobody knows that Nikki is actually Sonic the Hedgehog, not even Nikki himself.

Each manga strip is quite simple and recurrent in every strip: Nikki is a peaceful boy that likes to spend time with his beloved girlfriend Eimi, his sister Anita and his friend Little Jon; but his peace will be spoiled by one of Dr. Eggman's plans or by the troublemaker Anton Veruca. In any case Eimi will encourage him to oppose himself at the bad guy, but Nikki, shy and a bit coward, will fail and most of the times Eimi will become captive. But Nikki's desire to save Eimi and be able to win will eventually transform him into the supersonic hero that in no time will save the day.

Few misunderstandings will be made by the figure of the heroic Sonic that succeeds there were Nikki fails, this will bring more than once Eimi to sigh for Sonic than for Nikki, making him jealous of himself; eventually Dr. Eggman and Anton Beruka will start suspecting that Nikki has something to do with Sonic, but Nikki will simply reply that he doesn't even know this blue hedgehog everybody's been talking about.

Main characters

 * Nikki: A sweet and even-tempered hedgehog. His biggest dream is to defeat the forces of evil and be considered a hero; unfortunately he is weak and a bit of a coward. Even if the people near him believe in him, he doesn't have the nerve to take action, which is why he is often bullied by Anton or Eggman. Romantic and reflexive, Nikki loves to spend time with his girlfriend and his friends. Even though Nikki doesn't have the strength to save the day, when his help is really required, he will eventually transform into his alter-ego Sonic.
 * Sonic the Hedgehog: Cocky and overconfident, Sonic seems to be the exact opposite of Nikki. Sonic arrives always just in the nick of time to save the day and he always knows what must be done. Sarcastic and heroic he appears to be perfect. The peculiar thing is he has a conscience and a memory of his own that seems to have nothing to do with Nikki's (explaining Nikki's obliviousness to Sonic's existence).
 * Doctor Eggman:
 * Miles "Tails" Prower:
 * Eimi: She is known to be the girlfriend of Nikki and is one of the most recurrent characters to be seen in the stories. Sweet and innocent, Eimi often seems to be the "damsel in distress" and the "femme fatale" that makes not only Nikki but also Sonic and Anton Veruca (who is always trying to force himself on her at times even making her his captive) fall in love with her. She is shown to be very much in love with her boyfriend and is the one who believes most in him, anyhow it's not rare to see her falling for the brave Sonic, the one that actually saves her every now and then she is in danger. Nikki, on his side, would do everything to make Eimi happy and proud of him; most of the times the transformation into Sonic is forced by the will of saving her.
 * Anton Veruca: He claims himself to be the number one hooligan of the city. Spiteful and arrogant, he enjoys most of all to create trouble. His favorite target is poor little Nikki who is unable to protect himself and his friends from him. Without a doubt he is Nikki's first opponent: fiercely teases and embarrass the hedgehog whenever he tries to react. However he does seem to enjoy creating trouble to all the people dear to Nikki such as Little Jon and, most of all, Eimi for which he shows to be attracted. His worst enemy is Sonic that is the only one that can defeat him without breaking a sweat. Often he swears revenge at the end of the story without being able to do anything against the supersonic hero. Nikki fears him and wishes often to be strong and old enough to beat him, he doesn't even dare to defy him, because he's too afraid, and when he tries to, he gets quickly knocked unconscious.
 * Charmy Bee:

Recurring characters

 * Anita: A young little hedgehog with a tomboy attitude. She is usually seen along her brother, Nikki, and his friends. She is a good friend of Eimi and at times acts like she's a little sister for her. Likes to make fun of people in an innocent way. Contrary of her brother, she seems to have more nerve. When in an episode she was captured by Eggman, not only she was not afraid but actually amused on how she could push around the villain's robots to do whatever she wanted. Anita is featured more in Corocoro Special comic strips.
 * Little Jon: Nikki's best friend and is a fat and gluttonous hedgehog, he spends most of his time eating.
 * Brenda: Nikki's mother, who is rarely shown during the comic's run.
 * Paulie: Nikki's father. Nikki has a great consideration for him and wishes to grow up strong and courageous just as him. Plus, in one story, Poly tells his son about an event that happened 20 years before: he had lost control of his plane, and when he lost all hope, Sonic came to the rescue, not only saving his life, but also making it so that Poly would meet his future wife, Brenda. For him, Sonic is a divine protector, the greatest hero that ever lived and, also, his cupid. This implies that Sonic the Hedgehog had something to do with Nikki's family even before he became Nikki's alter ego.
 * Mud:
 * Eggman's subordinate robots:

Publishing history
There are multiple releases published in Shogakukan's Shogakukan no Gakushuuzasshi (a series of study books aimed at children of several school grades) was written by Kenji Terada and it was illustrated by Sango Norimoto. There are six editions, each targeting its specific elementary school grade, from grade 1 to 6. Sonic has made an appearance in all of these at some point between 1992-1993. Later on the basic story was used with different plotlines and with differently interpreted characters. The styles are of all kinds: some drawings are in black and white, some other are colored by computer and some present a water-color style.

The very first serial story strip of Sonic the Hedgehog manga has been first released on April issue of Shogaku Ninensei in 1992 and the serial comic series has been released on many between 1992 and 1994.

List of serial stories
To this day, the serialized manga remains obscure to many people outside the Japan and original copies of comic strips are extremely rare to find. Unlike later Dash & Spin; Super Fast Sonic!!, none of serial stories hasn't been released as separated tankōbon (volumes). The following list contains incomplete set of translated, documented or discovered serial stories.

Shogaku Ninensei

 * #1 Sonic the Hedgehog (April, 1992)
 * #2 At last, we learn the truth about Sonic!! (May 3rd, 1992)
 * #3 Pops out of the Time Box whenever there's a crisis! (September, 1992)
 * #6 Save Little John (1992?)

Shogakukan's Study Magazines

 * the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog (ソニックの冒険ヘッジホッグ) - Illustrated text stories featuring Sonic with different plotlines, setting it apart from the manga (not to be confused with cartoon of the same name).

Corocoro Special & extra issues

 * Big dreams make Sonic propel forward!! (1992?)
 * Big dreams are my energy! (1992?)
 * Come on, guys! Let's daaance!! (1992?)
 * A new buddy, Tails, enters the stage!! (1992?)
 * Sonic Hurry to the rescue??? (1993?)
 * Eggman uses sport's day to set up a trap...don't lose, Sonic!! (1993?)
 * Untitled serial story (Febuary - July 2nd, 1994?)

Related releases

 * Sonic the Hedgehog Book (1992) - Features characters from the manga series.
 * Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Mega Drive Official Guide Book (1992) - Contains comic adaptation of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Japanese storyline from creators of the manga.

References to games
Despite the universe of the serialized manga series being heavily separated from games, it has connections and references to games. Manga series has also being influence to the games during its time.
 * The manga series is notable to introduce early incarnations of characters (Eimi and Charmy Bee) who will later appear in games and become recurring characters in the series, such as Amy Rose (first appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog CD in 1993) and Charmy Bee (first appears in Knuckles' Chaotix in 1995). The manga is also the first media to feature Tails outside the games.
 * In the title card of Come on, guys! Let's daaance!!, Eimi is seen having maracas. Similarly, Amy is seen waving maracas to the music in the Sound Test of Sonic Advance.
 * Illustrated text story featured in Sonic the Hedgehog Book, has Sonic wearing a leopard costume, as the first is the unused Sonic Alphabet with "A" marked Sonic as a "ape-hedgehog". It is similar to unlockable outfit, that the player can choose to Sonic in Sonic Rivals 2.