Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 166 is the one hundred sixty-sixth issue of the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series published by Archie Comics.
Official solicitation[]
- "Mobius 25 Years Later - Tempus Fugit": The most requested storyline in years has returned with answers to the future! The planet Mobius is ruled with an iron fist by King Shadow with his chief enforcer Knuckles the Echidna. Can an old friend and a kid find the once great hero Sonic, and will Sonic be the once great hero he was after all these years? PLUS: "The Chaotix Connection": Renfield T. Rodent is setting up in Station Square, causing Knuckles the Echidna, the Chaotix, and Rouge the Bat to investigate due to Renfield's previous connections with Robotnik.
Featured stories[]
Mobius: 25 Years Later Part One: Tempus Fugit[]
- Writer: Ian Flynn
- Penciler: Tracy Yardley
- Inker: Jim Amash
- Letterer: John Workman
- Colors: Jason Jensen
- Editor: Mike Pellerito
- Managing Editor: Victor Gorelick
- Editor-in-chief: Richard Goldwater
- Special Thanks To: Robert Leffler and Dyna Lopez at Sega Licensing
Synopsis[]
The story starts with Tails over the portal in Angel Island deciding to round up the "Triple Threat" to end King Shadow's reign over Mobius. He first heads to the Guardian tower where Knuckles, Shadow's chief enforcer, is training his daughter Lara-Su. Tails revealed that he knew of the other time-line when things were peaceful. Tails tries to persuade Knuckles to join him, but Knuckles threatens Tails saying that he'll arrest him if he doesn't get out.
Tails leaves to see Lara-Su, who heard everything, sitting on the step outside. She reveals that she too remembers the other time-line, and as Guardian, wishes to correct it. She and Tails then go off to find Sonic, the true king of Mobius.
Meanwhile, in the catacombs under Castle Mobius, King Shadow is torturing Rotor to make him tell him everything he knows. Shadow gives up for the moment and exits Rotor's prison and commends Lien-Da for capturing him. She says that the one to be thanked is Cobar as he made the device that allowed her to remember the other time-line. Shadow says he did "thank" him forty-seven times about the head and shoulders. Shadow then orders Lien-Da to "thank" Rotor should he give any more information. The Dark Eyes then inform Lien-Da of what Lara-Su is doing with Tails. She tells Shadow and he then orders Knuckles to see to it.
Meanwhile, Lara and Tails find Sonic and discuss old times. They then discuss their plan to overthrow King Shadow, but are then arrested by Knuckles.
Appearances[]
Characters:
- Chaotix (mentioned)
- Cobar (mentioned)
- Dark Eyes (first appearance)
- Echidna Security Team (first appearance)
- Espio the Chameleon (mentioned)
- Knuckles the Echidna
- Lara-Su
- Manik Acorn (flashback)
- Maria Robotnik (first appearance) (statue)
- Melody Prower (mentioned)
- Miles "Tails" Prower
- Mina Prower (mentioned)
- Rotor Walrus
- Sally Acorn (mentioned)
- Shadow the Hedgehog (first appearance)
- Skye Prower (mentioned)
- Sonia Acorn (flashback)
- Sonic the Hedgehog
Races and species:
- Black Arms
- Mobian
- Overlander (statue)
Locations:
- Light Mobius
- Angel Island
- Portal
- Castle Mobius (mentioned)
- Guardian Tower (first appearance)
- Portal
- Badlands (mentioned)
- Angel Island
Items:
- Chili dog
- Inhibitor Ring
- Rocket-skates
- Sonic's sneakers
- Spatial armband (first appearance)
- Tachyon Displacement Chamber (mentioned)
Misc.:
- Guardian (mentioned)
- Propeller Flying
Trivia[]
- The name of the story is latin for "Time Flies".
- When Shadow thanks Lien-Da for turning Rotor in, Lien-Da says to thank Cobar for designing her spatial armband after she caught him and Rotor conspiring in Sonic the Hedgehog #141.[1] This introduces a plot-hole, as it was revealed in Sonic the Hedgehog #142 that time travel is a field of research which echidna scientists are banned from exploring.[2]
- It would later be stated in Sonic the Hedgehog: The Complete Sonic Comic Encyclopedia that the armband was built by Rotor alongside Cobar.[3]
- According to Ken Penders, this story and its follow-up in issue #167 were based on unfinished story pitches he created before leaving Archie.[4]
The Chaotix Connection[]
- Plot: R. Chacon
- Dialogue: Ian Flynn
- Pencils: J. Axer
- Inks: Michael Higgins
- Letters: John Workman
- Colors: Jason Jensen
Synopsis[]
In Station Square, a kid is handing out flyers for the grand opening of Casinopolis. Rouge takes one and is surprised to see Renfield the Rodent is opening it. The next day, Rouge and the President have a video call with the Freedom Fighters and the Chaotix to update them on Renfield's whereabouts. Mighty says Renfield was in jail on Angel Island, but since Eggman took it over, he probably set him free. Sally decides to leave the case with Knuckles and the Chaotix. Sonic offers help if they get in trouble, but Sally cuts him off and says Bunnie will help them if needed.
Back in Station Square, a truck is unloading the last slot machines for Casinopolis. Renfield watches the truck unload with glee on a monitor and comments about paying his "Early Parole". Meanwhile, the Chaotix arrive at the Casino with Rouge accompanying them. Julie-Su comments about Rouge being with them despite not being a Chaotix. Rouge replies "I'm just proving I've gone legit. Of course you wouldn't see that...but Knuckles does!". The two almost get physical but Knuckles breaks it up and tells them to save it for later. Knuckles then convinces the doorman to let them in before they open, saying they have business with Renfield. Knuckles notices Mobians are the only workers and tells the Chaotix to blend in with them. Mighty suggests looking around the food to see if Renfield is up to his old tricks. Knuckles agrees and tells them to split up and regroup every few minutes.
Soon, Knuckles finds a secured room and sneaks in after one of the Mobian workers open it. After some snooping, he finds the foreman talking to some workers. The foreman says everything is ready and tells them to contact Dr. Eggman. Knuckles then reveals himself and the Foreman send the workers after him, to which Knuckles easily disposes of. Back in the Casino, the Chaotix can't find anything unusual. As people start to enter, Mighty goes to check out the food while Vector checks out the slots. While Mighty eats a Chili Dog, Julie-Su suggests to get more aggressive since Knuckles is late for his check in. As Knuckles fights the Foreman, he realizes his is one of Eggman's Auto Automatons. Immediately after, he is knocked out by a flying fist from the foreman. He informs Renfield he has one of the Chaotix and then takes Knuckles to him.
Mighty concludes the food is not toxic and Rouge suggests the machines might not be safe. Many of the Station Square inhabitants are hypnotized as is Vector. Rouge and Espio then get hypnotized after glancing at the screen. Things are not looking well as Knuckles is tied to a crate. Renfield wakes him up and shows Knuckles the Chaotix have been scanned. He explains the machines scan the minds of whoever is using it and the data is transferred into an Auto Automation of the person. Renfield says after Station Square has been turned into Eggman's army, he will be free to go. Renfield then notices two of the Chaotix are not scanned. Julie-Su then reveals herself and shoots the foreman with her proton gun. Renfield is not alarmed as he has enough data for a small army of robots. Julie-Su then tells him she pulled the plug so the data can't be transferred. Renfield is still confident he can create an army of mindless robots, but Mighty comes in with a giant metal ball and tells him he destroyed the factory. Renfield is then arrested by the Station Square police and swears he will get his revenge. Knuckles thanks the Chaotix for doing a good job as Rouge and Julie-Su get into another argument. The President then assures G.U.N. will destroy Eggman's devices and thanks the Chaotix for their help.
Appearances[]
Characters:
- Auto Automaton
- Chaotix
- Dr. Eggman (mentioned)
- Guardian Units of the Nation
- Kage Von Stryker (mentioned)
- Knothole Freedom Fighters
- Mack (only appearance)
- President
- Renfield the Rodent
Races and species:
- Human
- Mobian
- Overlander (mentioned)
Locations:
Items:
Continuity[]
- Mighty remembers Renfield poisoning the food at his amusement park in Knuckles the Echidna #15, "The Chaotix Caper Part Three of Three: Picking Up the Pieces".
Trivia[]
- Rouge wears a similar outfit to the one she wore in Sonic Heroes.
- In this story, Sonic makes a face similar to one made by Dr. Eggman in Sonic the Animation.
- This was the last story Jeff Axer penciled for the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics.
Quotes[]
- Sally: The Chaotix have the greatest Connection to this case. Knuckles, I'm Leaving it up to your team.
- Sonic: AND when you need to get bailed out...
- Sally: I'll send Bunnie! Chaotix, Go!
- Renfield: Let it never be said; Renfield T. Rodent didn't put on a good show!
Trivia[]
- Despite Sally from Light Mobius appearing on the cover, she does not appear in the issue.
Gallery[]
Preview pages[]
| Gallery |
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 Page one  Page two  Page three  Page four  Page five |
References[]
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #141, "Mobius: 25 Years Later - Scenario"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #142, "Mobius: 25 Years Later - Moment of Truth"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog: The Complete Sonic Comic Encyclopedia, "Mobius: The Future"
- ↑ Ken Penders on Twitter. Twitter (10 June 2024). Retrieved on 10 June 2024. "@IanWaffles: Hey Ken! You said in the video that two of of Flynn’s stories were based on pitches you’d submitted. Do you recall which stories those were? Ken Penders: They were the M25YL 2-parter that ran in 166 & 167. Mike Pellerito & I went 15 rounds over that story resulting in my rewriting it no less than 3 times. I never had to do that before and Archie didn’t pay enough for me to do so."
External links[]
- Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 166 at Mobius Encyclopaedia, the Archie Sonic wiki.
- Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 166 at Sonic Retro
