Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 68 is the sixty-eighth issue of the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series published by Archie Comics.
Official solicitation[]
Surprise[]
- It's birthday time in Mobotropolis as The Freedom Fighters celebrate Sonic's sixteenth birthday. Sonic, Tails and Nate Morgan return to Mobotropolis in an attempt to return unnoticed. But with a new danger on the horizon, not everything is spelled with "happy." Another satellite over Mobotropolis activates, Snively takes charge, meteors rain on Sonic's parade, plus many, many more surprises. Will our heroes make it to the party on time? This one has "Surprise" written all over it. Don't miss the excitement-filled episode as we witness "The Surprise!"
Tales Of The Freedom Fighters - Part II: Survival Of The Fittest[]
- Also, Lupe and The Wolf Pack back-up story (Part Two of Three) continues!
Featured stories[]
Surprise![]
- Writer: Karl Bollers
- Pencils: Steven Butler
- Inks: Pam Eklund
- Colors: Frank Gagliardo
- Letters: Jeff Powell
- Editor: J. F. Gabrie
- Managing Editor: Victor Gorelick
- Editor-in-Chief: Richard Goldwater
Synopsis[]
In Knothole Village; Sally, Antoine, Rotor, Bunnie, Amy, Uncle Chuck, Jules, and Bernadette are discussing Knothole's existence three hours in the future. Antoine wonders if Knothole will always remain this way, but Sally is more concerned if a certain blue hedgehog will be home for his birthday. They wonder where Sonic could be.
While the people of Mobotropolis arrange a party, Sonic, Tails and Nate Morgan arrive in the city. Nate is amazed about how much the city has changed, but asks why they are in disguises. Sonic explains that after Robotnik's rule, the sight of an overlander could cause a panic among the mobians citizens. Sonic assumes the citizens are planning a birthday party for him and decides that he and Tails should keep their disguises, so they don't blow the surprise. In space, just above Mobius, a satellite activates and fires a beam at a group of asteroids.
In the deserted city of West Robotropolis on Big Kahuna Island; Snively sits in charge of the Fearsome Foursome, Drago, Sleuth, and Nack. The group asks Snively what they are going to do with the crystalized Kodos and Uma Arachnis. The group then changes their bickering over how to take over Mobotropolis when Kodos and Arachnis spring to life and attack.
In the Great Forest, the Knothole Freedom Fighters leave through the Great Oak Slide and head back into the city. Nicole sends a transmission to Sally from Maximillian Acorn, who tells them that they're celebrating someone's exciting return. The group runs to Mobotropolis, thinking that the king is talking about Sonic. Meanwhile, Sonic, Tails and Nate pass by Rosie and her wards as they excitedly talk about the parade. Rosie notices them as she recognizes their voices and tries to grab their attention when numerous of asteroids suddenly rain down from above.
Sonic, Tails and the Freedom Fighters save the panicking citizens. In the confusion, Sally spots Sonic and calls his name. Sonic looks back and sees an asteroid headed right for her, swooping in to move her out of the way. The Freedom Fighters happily reunite with Sonic and Tails, who introduce Nate Morgan to the group. Sally asks if her father is safe, but Sonic explains that he hasn't seen the king yet. Rotor realizes the king must have meant someone else had returned and the group heads to Castle Acorn for answers.
At the castle, Sally informs her father of Sonic's victory over Ixis Naugus, but the king ignores them so he can attend to more important matters. He presents Elias Acorn to the people of Mobotropolis explains that he was secretly smuggled to the Floating Island during the Great War along with Queen Alicia. The king congratulates Geoffrey St. John for successfully finding them, but Geoffrey quickly accuses Nate of being an overlander assassin. The king calms Geoffrey down, explaining that Nate is one of the single greatest allies of the kingdom. King Maximillian welcomes Nate back and Sonic celebrates his birthday with his friends and family back home.
Appearances[]
Characters:
- Alicia Acorn (mentioned)
- Amy Rose
- Bernadette Hedgehog
- Dr. Ivo Robotnik (mentioned)
- Drago Wolf
- Elias Acorn
- Fearsome Foursome
- Ixis Naugus (mentioned)
- Jules Hedgehog
- Knothole Freedom Fighters
- Kodos Lion
- Maximillian Acorn
- Muttski
- Nack the Weasel
- Nate Morgan
- Robo-Robotnik
- Rory Bear
- Rosie Woodchuck
- Royal Secret Service
- Sasha Cat
- Sleuth "Doggy" Dawg
- Snaggle Tiger
- Snively Robotnik
- Uma Arachnis
Races and species:
Locations:
- Multiverse
- Prime Zone
- Mobius
- Floating Island (mentioned)
- Devil's Gulag (mentioned)
- Northamer
- Big Kahuna Island (first appearance)
- West Robotropolis (first appearance)
- Great Desert (mentioned)
- Sand Blast City (mentioned)
- Great Forest
- Mobotropolis
- Big Kahuna Island (first appearance)
- Mobius
- Zone of Silence (mentioned)
- Prime Zone
Items:
- Black Singe Ring
- Chili dog (mentioned)
- Crown of Acorns
- Eyewear
- Holo-Transmit
- K-Sat unit (first appearance)
- Great Oak Slide
- Power Ring
- Sonic's sneakers
- Sword of Acorns
Misc.:
- Great War (mentioned)
- House of Acorn
- Kingdom of Acorn
- Propeller Flying
Continuity[]
- This story takes place after Knuckles the Echidna #21, "The Forbidden Zone Part Three of Three: The Many Faces of the Truth", and before Sonic Super Special #8.
- Sonic mentions how Nate helped him and Tails send Ixis Naugus back to the Zone of Silence in Sonic the Hedgehog #66, "A Friend in Deed".
Trivia[]
- "Surprise!" is sixteen pages long, with each page featuring a candle being lit for Sonic's birthday.
- Bunnie's name is mistakenly spelled as "Bunny" in this story.
- Dulcy's Black Singe Ring is miscolored white.
- The famous line "Space-the final frontier" from the Star Trek franchise is used when the Egg Station is depicted seizing the meteors and redirecting them towards the surface.
- This story marks Elias Acorn's first appearance in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series.
Tales Of The Freedom Fighters: Lupe and the Wolf Pack Part 2: Survival Of The Fittest[]
- Writer, Inks & Colors: Ken Penders
- Pencils: Sam Maxwell
- Letters: Jeff Powell
- Editor: J. F. Gabrie
Synopsis[]
Lupe and her Wolf Pack reach the other side of the Great River as a storm brews above them. She explains that they will scout for a place to camp once they are pass through the abandoned city. As the group heads through the ruins of the city, they hear a noise nearby. Following the sound into a warehouse, Lupe finds an overlander child from behind some boxes.
Lupe feels uncomfortable about abandoning the child unless they are sure there's someone who can take care of her her, but Reynard suggests the child would just lead them into some kind of trap. Another child bangs into Reynard, telling him not to hurt her sister. Lupe asks the child for her name. The girl who tried to attack Reynard introduces herself as Aerial, and explains that her sister, Athena, is mute. Lupe asks where their parents are, and Aerial tells her that they are gone. Reynard doesn't believe them, but Lupe tells him to gather the other while she decides what to do.
Appearances[]
Characters:
Races and species:
Locations:
Key Events[]
- Sonic and Tails return with Nate Morgan to Mobotropolis.
- A fourth satellite activates, bringing a shower of meteors down on Mobotropolis.
- Elias is brought back to the kingdom and is introduced to Sally and the gang.
- The Wolf Pack come across an abandoned Overlander city and find Athena and Aerial.
Off Panel[]
- Writer: Mike Gallagher
- Pencils: Dave Manak
Synopsis[]
Off Panel
Sonic and Knuckles are engaged in a fight. Turns out that they were auditioning for "The Jerry Stringer Show" and they are soon stopped by a man, who tells them that they have changed the show's format.
Appearances[]
Characters:
Races and species:
Items:
Trivia[]
- The show mentioned in this Off Panel is a parody of the television program, The Jerry Springer Show.
Other features[]
- Sonic-Grams
- Find Your Name In Print
- Sonic Fan Art
- "Pro Art" pin-up: A pin-up page of Sonic running circles under Dr. Robotnik's legs. Presented in black-and-white as a coloring page. Art by Ramona Fradon.
Quotes[]
- Sonic: Man, that was way past close (And it's a good thing too--I'm a sucker for happy endings)!
Gallery[]
Cover artwork[]
Preview pages[]
| Gallery |
|---|
 Page one  Pages two and three  Page four  Page five |
External links[]
- Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 68 at Mobius Encyclopaedia, the Archie Sonic wiki.
- Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 68 at Sonic Retro
