Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 31 is the thirty-first issue of the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series published by Archie Comics.
Official solicitation[]
A Robot Rides the Rails[]
- The return of Rebel Underground leader Geoffrey St. John leaves Sally's heart torn between two loves... If the rest of her isn't torn apart by Robotnik's deadly mech-monster: Dynamac 3000!
Featured stories[]
A Robot Rides the Rails[]
- Writer & Pencils: Ken Penders
- Inks: Jon D'Agostino
- Letters: Mindy Eisman
- Colors: Barry Grossman
- Editor: Scott Fulop
- Managing Editor: Victor Gorelick
- Editor-in-Chief: Richard Goldwater
Synopsis[]
Part I[]
While on an information gathering mission in Robotropolis, Sally discovers that a train is leaving for the western part of the continent. Eager to stop it, Sally boards the train. Nicole scolds her for going on an adventure without backup, but Sally tells her that Rotor is tracking them and is probably organizing the Freedom Fighters to assist them. The group realizes the train is probably carrying the Dynamac-3000, Robotnik's latest super robot, and boards their plane to join up with Sally while Sonic runs ahead. Sally finds Dynamac and attempts to scan it, but is subdued by a mysterious figure. Sonic reaches the train, but is shot down by its defense systems.
Part II[]
Sally's assailant is revealed to be Geoffrey St. John. Sally asks what he's doing here, but he just gives her a kiss. She pushes him away and demands answers, and Geoffrey reveals that the Rebel Underground has also been making plans to destroy the Dynamac-3000. Meanwhile, Sonic recovers from his run in with the train and is picked up by the other Freedom Fighters. At the same time, Geoffrey's men cut the power in the engine compartment. This activates Dynamac's fail safe systems, bringing the robot online. Tails drops Sonic on top of the train just as Dynamac bursts through the roof. Dynamac swats Sonic down into the car below, where he runs into Sally and Geoffrey. Sonic nearly starts an argument with Geoffrey when Dynamac changes into the form of a giant spider and grab's the Freedom Fighters' plane.
Part III[]
Sonic and Geoffrey start bickering, but Sally swiftly tells them to put a lid on it. Sonic wants to go after Dynamac, but Geoffrey insists that they need to wait for his team mates to finish their objective. They consult Nicole, who reveals the information they gathered in Robotropolis contains information on the Dynamac's weak spots: it has poor anticipatory abilities and it can be deactivated by plugging a pulse scrambler into the back of its head. Just as Nicole finishes explaining, Dynamac grabs Sally. Both Sonic and Geoffrey's attempts to free her are ineffective. Deciding that they need to work together, they head to the roof and rescue Sally while the Freedom Fighters draw the Dynamac-3000's attention. Sonic inserts the pulse scrambler, allowing Rebel Underground agents Dolph and Jean-Claude destroy the robot with their guns.
Sally and Geoffrey decide to use the now-abandoned train to nick supplies from Robotnik and the Freedom Fighters board their plane. Sally and Geoffrey kiss each other goodbye, prompting a bit of a negative response from the other Freedom Fighters (specifically Antoine and Tails). Sonic thinks Sally's just trying to make him jealous.
Appearances[]
Characters:
- Dr. Ivo Robotnik (mentioned)
- Dynamac-3000
- Freedom Fighters
- Knothole Freedom Fighters
- Rebel Underground
- Dolph (only appearance)
- Geoffrey St. John
- Jean-Claude (only appearance)
Races and species:
- Mobian
- Overlander (mentioned)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
- Robotnik Express (first appearance)
Misc.:
Continuity[]
- This story takes place after Knuckles' Chaotix.
- Sally and Geoffrey are still in an on/off again relationship that started in Princess Sally #3, "Deadliest of the Species - Conclusion".
Trivia[]
- In digital reprints of this story, the first two pages are erroneously swapped.
- The plane used by the Freedom Fighters is an upgraded version of the plane shown in Sonic the Hedgehog #25, "Go Ahead... Mecha My Day!".
- This is the first time that Sonic and Geoffrey St. John meet, thus starting a rivalry over Sally's heart that will span many future issues in the series.
- Dynamac's design differs between the cover and his appearance in the issue.
- When the Dynamac-3000 changes forms, Sonic says that the robot is "more than meets the eye". This is a reference to the Transformers franchise.
Lost... and Found! - Part One[]
- Script: Mike Kanterovich, Ken Penders
- Pencils: Ken Penders
- Inks: Jon D'Agostino
Synopsis[]
Knuckles continues his search for the missing Chaotix members and the mysterious Archimedes. He decides the best place to search is in the ancient ruins nearby. Archimedes is watching him via a surveillance network. Archimedes laments that Knuckles is unable to even see what's right in front of him as he passes by a sign reading "Grand Conserve." Knuckles continues walking through the night, searching for his friends.
Appearances[]
Characters:
- Archimedes (shadow, voice)
- Chaotix
- Charmy Bee (mentioned)
- Espio the Chameleon (mentioned)
- Knuckles the Echidna
- Mighty the Armadillo (mentioned)
- Vector the Crocodile (mentioned)
Races and species:
Locations:
- Prime Zone
- Mobius
- Floating Island
- Grand Conservatory (first appearance)
- Floating Island
- Mobius
Tundra Road - Part One[]
- Script: Michael Gallagher
- Pencils: Art Mawhinney
- Inks: Rich Koslowski
Synopsis[]
Woken from his sleep by the sound of an old radio going off, Rotor is visited by Sonic and Sally (who heard it too). At first dismissing the noise because of the device's antiquated and sentimental nature, Rotor is shocked when his mother's voice once again comes through. Heading to the command center, the trio discovers that there is indeed a radio signal coming from the Frozen North Sea. With Sally's blessings and Sonic's confusion, Rotor sets out alone in his Bathysphere, piloting it through the Undersea Canal Grid to reach the Frozen North Sea.
Once there, he gets out of the Bathysphere and swims to find the Walrus Herd. Once he does, Rotor is shocked to find them in some sort of trance. Robotnik's voice comes on over a loudspeaker, and the herd is directed into a cave by Icebots. Playing along, Rotor discovers that Robotnik has used a Neuron Bomb to short circuit the herd's minds, leaving them pliant to his commands. Revealing his plan to have them freeze all of Mobius, Robotnik is then alerted to Rotor's deception. The Walrus Freedom Fighter flees, only to be hit in the head by an Icebot club and is left sinking into the depths of the sea.
Appearances[]
Characters:
- Badnik Horde
- Icebot (multiple) (first appearance)
- Dr. Ivo Robotnik
- Knothole Freedom Fighters
- Walrus Herd (first appearance)
- Georgette Walrus (first appearance)
- Skeeter Walrus (first appearance)
Races and species:
Locations:
- Prime Zone
- Mobius
- Northamer
- Northern Tundra (first appearance)
- Frozen North Sea (first appearance)
- Mobius
Vehicles:
Misc.:
- Neuron Bomb (first appearance)
Continuity[]
- Rotor recalls having not used the Bathysphere since Sonic the Hedgehog #1 (miniseries), "Something Fishy".
Trivia[]
- While explaining his plan to freeze Mobius, Robotnik says he was originally going to create a "Waterworld", referencing the 1995 film Waterworld, but the budget was too high, which is likely a dig at the film which was a major box office flop.
The Adventures of Scott and Paul[]
- Art: Bill Golliher
Synopsis[]
Dawn Spaziante runs into Scott Fulop's office to tell him that the first issue of the Knuckles Miniseries is ready for print. She ends up running into him and bonking him on the head.
Appearances[]
Characters:
Races and species:
Misc.:
- Knuckles #1 (mentioned)
Other features[]
- Undersea Canal Grid: An in-story maze in "Tundra Road - Part One", for the readers to solve.
- Sonic-Grams
Quotes[]
- Geoffrey: After all, he's not just any ordinary mechanoid Robotnik is sending out to our neck of the woods--He's a tiger of deadlier stripes!
- Nicole: I suggest a strategic withdrawal until sufficient back-up has arrived!
- Sally: Somehow Nicole--I just don't think that's a viable option!
- Nicole: Facing overwhelming odds doesn't seem brilliant to me, either.
Trivia[]
- On this issue's cover, the character Astal from the Sega Saturn title of the same name can been seen carved into the mountainside in the top-left.[1]
- In small print on the cover the train is titled "Robotnik express". This was also the name of an episode in the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog television series.
- Unlike past Sonic the Hedgehog issues, Robotnik does not appear in the main story. His only appearance in this issue is in the last two pages of "Tundra Road - Part One", on a monitor.
Gallery[]
Cover artwork[]
Interior artwork[]
Preview pages[]
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References[]
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #41, "Sonic-Grams"
External links[]
- Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 31 at Mobius Encyclopaedia, the Archie Sonic wiki.
- Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 31 at Sonic Retro