| << Previous issue | — | Sonic the Hedgehog #264 |
— | Next issue >> |
Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 264 is the two hundred sixty-fourth issue of the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series published by Archie Comics.
Official solicitation
- A-WOOOOOOOOO! THE WAIT IS OVER! Prepare yourself for the terrifying debut of SONIC THE WEREHOG! “Control" Part One: Sonic, Amy and Sally venture deep into the rainforest in search of a Chaos Emerald. What they find are Mighty, Ray – and serious trouble! Will Egg Boss Thunderbolt push Sonic to the breaking point? Then, in “A Nice Day to Start Again,” Bunnie and Antoine experience the effects of the Shattered World Crisis in a very personal way! Featuring new cover art from PATRICK "SPAZ" SPAZIANTE and an "UNLEASHED" SEGA variant!
Featured stories
Control Part One: Breaking Point
- Writer: Ian Flynn
- Pencils: Tyson Hesse
- Inks: Terry Austin
- Colors: Gabriel Cassata
- Letters: John Workman
- Assistant Editor: Vincent Lovallo
- Editor/Executive Director of Editorial: Paul Kaminski
- Editor-in-Chief: Victor Gorelick
- President: Mike Pellerito
- Publisher: Jon Goldwater
- Special Thanks to: Tyler Ham and Anthony Gaccione at SEGA Licensing
In the Rocky Jungle Zone, Sonic the Hedgehog runs from E-113, leading the robot to an area where Sally Acorn and Amy Rose are waiting for an ambush. However, the two ladies are detected and Sonic is forced to keep going so he can later regroup. Sonic uses his speed to run up a small Cliffside, but E-113 shoots at the rock, knocking Sonic down. Before Sonic can hit the ground, Ray the Flying Squirrel grabs Sonic's hand with his tail, saving him. Mighty the Armadillo flings the attacking robot into the cliff, swiftly destroying it. At the nearest Egg Army Base, Thunderbolt the Chinchilla is mad that the robot had been destroyed so quickly, and states that they will get the distinct pleasure of being the Egg Army unit that destroys Sonic.
Back to Sonic and his friends, the hedgehog tells Sally and Amy that Might and Ray helped him, and Mighty says they should come over to his camp. On the way, they briefly talk about the world being broken apart. They arrive and Mighty introduces them to Moss the Sloth, and Mighty states Moss gave him a new level of control and focus. However, Sonic teases Mighty, saying Mighty got lessons from a "fuzzy fortune cookie". Moss points out Sonic's struggle with the Dark Gaia Energy, though in a more vague way. This alerts everybody in the room, and Sonic quickly states he is "fine" and that the world needs help, not him. Amy uses the Mystic Melody to locate the next Chaos Emerald, which is at the Egg Army Base nearby.
Mighty, Ray, Sonic, Amy, and Sally arrive at night, hiding in the bushes. Sally notes the lack of defenses, which prompts Sonic to leap out of the bushes to attack, much to the annoyance of Sally. Suddenly, the top of a large tower spreads out, revealing a machine that creates electricity bolts. Thunderbolt reveals herself and tells Sonic he fell for her trap. The machine, now fully activated, strikes Ray out of the sky with electricity, then Mighty, who was coming to help Ray. Sonic looks on in horror and shock right before a bolt of electricity strikes between him and Sally, who was about to tell Sonic to do something. Amy is struck down soon after. Sonic, on the ground, has a quick flashback to his first feral reaction with the Dark Gaia Energy when he first inhaled it at the same time Ray is struck again. Sonic himself is electrified, causing another flashback to the second feral reaction as Mighty is also hit. Sonic, still being electrocuted, puts his hands to his head as he has a flashback to the third reaction and Sally is electrified. Sonic, now having purplish dark blue fur, curved ears, and claws (Ripping his gloves at the time) has a flashback to the fourth reaction and at the same time, Amy screams in pain as she is struck with electricity. Sonic howls, now transformed fully into Sonic the Werehog, as electricity still courses through him.
A Nice Day to Start Again
- Writer: Benjamin Bailey and Joey Esposito
- Pencils: James Fry
- Inks: Terry Austin
- Colors: Gabriel Cassata
- Letters: John Workman
The story starts off with Antoine D'Coolette and Bunnie D'Coolette following an energy signature of a Chaos Emerald. Near the end of the signature, Bunnie and Antoine find themselves in the ruined, flooded city Harbor Heights to which Antoine suspects the world's current state had made it prone to floods. Noticing endangered civilians, the duo quickly move to save the guests of a wedding ceremony, with the bride and groom themselves stranded atop a sinking car. As Bunnie tries to move the Bride and Groom out of the way, she crashes into Flickies the newly-wed couple had used for their wedding, and accidentally drops them. Trying to save them, Antoine is pushed underwater by a falling billboard, but is able to save himself using his Extreme Gear.
Dangling off the side of a building, the bride and Groom struggle to hold onto one of the building's poles. The bride, slipping out of her husband's grip, falls near the wild rapids of the water. With a last minute save, Antoine is able to catch the bride, and guides the rest of the citizens to safety. Checking their energy sensor one more time, the two find themselves disappointed, as the signature was only an energy shadow. Saying goodbye to the citizens, the Freedom Fighter duo take their leave of the city. As they are flying, Bunnie starts to get emotional, saying that she was worried that she lost Antoine again as he was forced underwater. Comforting her, Antoine reassures her that the two of them will be together, no matter what, forever and ever.
Off Panel
- Script: Ian Flynn
- Pencils: Adam Bryce Thomas
- Inks: Rick Bryant
- Colors: Steven Lisefski
Off Panel
Sonic the Werehog is exasperated that Cream the Rabbit and Big the Cat are using one of his arms as a jump rope. Cream asks Sonic to give the other arm so that she can do the 'double dutch'.
Trivia
- This is the first issue to use a sidebar similar to the border used on the North American box artwork for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles.
- The second story's name, '"A Nice to Start Again", is from the song White Wedding by Billy Idol.
Gallery
Early covers
Cover artwork
| Gallery |
|---|
 Main cover concept 1  Main cover concept 2  Main cover concept 3  Main cover concept 4  Main cover alternate concept  Main cover alternate option 1  Main cover alternate option 2  Main cover alternate option 3  Main cover final concept  Main cover |
Interior page artwork
| Gallery |
|---|
 Page one pencils  Page one colors  Page two pencils  Page three pencils  Page four pencils  Page eight inks  Page fifteen colors |
Preview pages
| Gallery |
|---|
 Page one  Page two  Page three  Page four  Page five |
External links
- Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 264 at Mobius Encyclopaedia, the Archie Sonic wiki.