Archie Sonic Universe Issue 45 is the forty-fifth issue of the spin-off Sonic Universe comic series published by Archie Comics.
Official solicitation[]
- “Race for the Stars”: It's a special tie-in event as Sonic Universe showcases Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed! Racers from across the Sega games have come together for the second annual All-Stars Grand Prix! But the nefarious Dr. Eggman has joined the roster and plans on not only conquering the race, but multiple worlds as well!! It's the first game crossover event in Sonic Universe history - and its ONLY available in this special stand-alone issue!
Featured stories[]
Racing for the Stars[]
- Writer: Ian Flynn
- Pencils: Tracy Yardley
- Inks: Jim Amash
- Colors: Steve Downer
- Letters: Jack Morelli
- Editor/Executive Director of Editorial: Paul Kaminski
- Assistant Editor: Vincent Lovallo
- Editor-in-Chief: Victor Gorelick
- President: Mike Pellerito
- Special Thanks to: Aaron Webber, Anthony Gaccione, and Cindy Chau at SEGA Licensing
Synopsis[]
The second annual All-Star Racing Grand Prix is about to begin, and multiple racers, including Vyse, Beat, AiAi, Danica Patrick, and Miles "Tails" Prower have gathered. Excited for the races to begin, AiAi notices that Beat's original vehicle is absent, which the latter explains as freedom of expression. Vyse's description of his world amuses Tails, though this amusement is short-lived as Dr. Eggman suddenly arrives, much to the racers' dissatisfaction. Tails explains that the invitations for the current races had gone out to the same competitors from last time, and that including Eggman was only fair. Eggman delightedly declares that he plans on rewarding himself for winning the races with the conquest of every racer's world, adding that Sonic is absent.
On cue, the hedgehog makes his entrance with the Speed Star, his convertible, and surprises Eggman by bumping into his vehicle. Sonic states that his reason for being late was his inability to decide whether he wanted to race on foot or in a vehicle. Tails worriedly informs Sonic of Eggman's plan to conquer all the racers' worlds once he achieves victory. After Sonic calmly mocks the doctor, and instructs the other racers to start their engines, the race begins. Eggman "accidentally" knocks Tails and AiAi off-course, only for the two to activate their convertibles' flight mode. Grinning deviously, Eggman fires a barrage of missiles from his vehicle, which distract the other races long enough for the scientist to take the lead. As the race continues onto a body of water, Eggman tauntingly knocks Vyse away, only for Sonic to come to his aid. The doctor continues to take the lead, which worries Tails.
Sonic orders the other racers to take on Eggman by racing hard, fast, and together, to which they comply. Shifting to his convertible's flight mode, Tails catches up to Eggman, taunts him and lands on the track, giving Beat enough of a window of opportunity to taint Eggman's paint job by tagging it with his spray. This distracts Eggman long enough for Sonic and the others to speed ahead; though indifferent to this at first, Eggman quickly grows enraged. AiAi tries slowing Eggman down by driving in front of him, which causes the doctor to fire another barrage of missiles. Sonic and Vyse divert the missiles elsewhere with their own attacks, inadvertently causing the track to crumble beneath them and the other racers. Eggman taunts Sonic, but the hedgehog quickly catches up, followed by him and everyone else attacking the doctor's vehicle. A defeated Eggman flies off, and Sonic congratulates the other racers on their performance. However, Tails notices that no one explicitly saw who crossed the finish line first. Sonic decides the only way of settling that would be to race some more, and the issue ends with all the competitors, including Eggman, racing through Starlight Carnival.
Appearances[]
Characters:
- AiAi (only appearance)
- Beat (only appearance)
- Blue Rogues (mentioned)
- Vyse (only appearance)
- Danica Patrick (only appearance)
- De Loco (mentioned)
- Dr. Bad-Boon (mentioned)
- Dr. Eggman
- Miles "Tails" Prower
- Noise Tanks (mentioned)
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- The GG's (mentioned)
Races and species:
Locations:
- Crescent Isle (mentioned)
- Dragon Canyon (first appearance)
- Galactic Parade (first appearance)
- Jungle Island (mentioned)
- Tokyo-to (mentioned)
Items:
- Moon Stone (mentioned)
Vehicles:
- De La Custom GGs (only appearance)
- Egg Monster (only appearance)
- Speed Star (only appearance)
- Tails' vehicle (only appearance)
Misc.:
Trivia[]
- This story is a tie-in to the video game Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed.
- The story's title is a reference to the title song "Reach for the Stars" from Sonic Colors.
- This story is the first game crossover event in the Sonic Universe comic book series.
- This story marks the first and only instance of a real-world celebrity appearing in an Sonic-related Archie Comics title, with the appearance of NASCAR racecar driver Danica Patrick.
- Danica Patrick's car is the only one that never transforms during the events of this story.
- Eggman using the phrase "You're too slow!" is a nod to one of Sonic's taunts in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
- Each of the guest racers compares Eggman to a character from their home series. AiAi compares him to Dr. Bad-Boon, the primary villain from Super Monkey Ball 2, Beat compares him to the Noise Tanks, a rival graffiti gang from Jet Set Radio, and Vyse compares the doctor to admiral De Loco, an antagonist from Skies of Arcadia.
Off Panel[]
- Script: Ian Flynn
- Pencils/Inks: Jonathan Gray
- Colors: Aleah Baker
Synopsis[]
The Off Panel asks the question "It's a race. Why is Sonic in a car?" Meanwhile, Sonic, Tails and Vyse are preparing to start the race with Sonic not being in his vehicle. The race starts and Sonic unleashes a Sonic boom, leaving Vyse and Tails at the finish line. The answer is revealed to be; "because...then it's fair!". At the end of the finish line, Sonic is resting by a tree waiting for Vyse and Tails to cross the line to their annoyance, and Sonic has won in a time of 00:00:01. Sonic finishes the Off Panel holding a sign reading "You're too slow!"
Appearances[]
Characters:
Vehicles:
Trivia[]
- The phrase "You're too slow!" on Sonic's sign in this Off Panel is a nod to one of Sonic's taunts in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Quotes[]
- Tails: Sonic! Dr. Eggman says he's going to conquer everyone's world after he wins the race!
- Eggman: And I will, too! My transforming racer can handle any terrain!
- Sonic: Uh-huh. Does that thing run on denial?
- Dr. Eggman: Sorry Sonic! You're too slow!
- Sonic: Oh, no he didn't...
- Dr. Eggman: I hate that rudie! And that fox! And that monkey! And that Sky-Pirate! And that Pro-Racer! AND MOST OF ALL...THAT HEDGEHOG!
Trivia[]
- This issue was revealed after Sonic Universe #46 was revealed.
- This is the first issue of Sonic Universe that is not part of a story arc.
- This is the first Sonic Universe issue that features characters from outside the Sonic franchise.
- The racetrack on the front cover is Dragon Canyon.
Gallery[]
Cover artwork[]
Preview pages[]
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Miscellaneous[]
External links[]
- Archie Sonic Universe Issue 45 at Mobius Encyclopaedia, the Archie Sonic wiki.