- For the other uses of "Sonic Boom", see Sonic Boom (disambiguation).
Main cover for Sonic Boom #1.
Sonic Boom is an eleven-issue comic book series published by Archie Comics. It is based off the eponymous Sonic the Hedgehog spin-off franchise Sonic Boom. The comic began in October 2014 and came to an end in September 2015.
Contents
Development
The Sonic Boom comic book series is based on the Sonic Boom television series and the two video game prequels, Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric and Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal, and takes place within this continuity which is dubbed the Sonic Boom World during Worlds Unite.[1] It was first hinted in the solicitation for Sonic Super Special Magazine #12, but was later officially revealed on 16 July 2014, when Archie Comics revealed Sonic Boom subscriptions.[2]
Unlike other Sonic titles like Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Universe released by Archie Comics at the time, which were more super hero action-drama, the emphasis for the Sonic Boom comic series focuses, like the TV series, squarely on comedy, action and adventure filled with tons of gags, fourth-wall-breaking commentary and physical comedy.[1][3] The series has lots of contained, accessible stories and a few over-arching story arcs, and is meant to serve more as a casual fun read than an ongoing action-adventure drama like the other Sonic titles.[1][3]
The series was written by Ian Flynn with art by Evan Stanley.[1] Later on, it was revealed by Paul Kaminski, Executive Director of Editorial at Archie Comics, that the comics would over its last year be co-written with Ian Flynn by Bill Freiberger, Sam Sandak Freiberger, Greg Hahn and Alan Denton, who were writers on the Sonic Boom TV series, to better integrate the comics into the world of video games and television.[4]
The comic series was launched on 24 October 2014 and ended with the eleventh issue on 2 September 2015, though "its stories and characters will continue in [Archie Comics'] other books."[5] This was elaborated in said issue where it is stated that the stories will continue in the Sonic Super Digest and Sonic Super Special Magazine series. According to Ian Flynn, the cancelation of the series was not due to low sales, as the series was "doing fine," or a decision from Sega.[6] Rather, it was because Archie Comics felt Sonic Boom would be better suited in certain places instead of being a monthly-scheduled series.[7]
Storyline
The main characters of the comics is the title character and hero Sonic the Hedgehog along with his friends Miles "Tails" Prower, Knuckles the Echidna, Amy Rose and Sticks the Badger while Dr. Eggman will be a frequently reoccurring character.[1] Much like in the television series, the comics center around Sonic and his gang of friends, their never-ending search for adventure, and their battles with Sonic’s arch-nemesis, Dr. Eggman, along with other rogues to protect their island home, while facing several wacky experiences.
The first story arc featured in the comics set the comical and whimsical tone for the series, and showed Sonic’s world and introduced the heroes and villains while exploring the character relationships.[1]
Graphic Novel Volume Sets
Archie Comics offered trade releases with the Sonic Boom comic book series as well, starting with issues 1-4.[8]
Stories and arcs
The Big Boom
Serving as an introduction to the series, "The Big Boom" features Team Sonic in their daily lives as they are repeatedly attacked by Dr. Eggman's new Big Boy mech. After warding off the first attack, the team has to retrieve Tails' House that has been stolen by Eggman's rock-cyborg. Then, in an attempt to prove his wits, Knuckles teams up with Eggman for the latter's second attack in an attempt to outsmart Eggman. Although Knuckles' plan does not go entirely as planned, he and the others defeat the Big Boy again, but lose Amy's Hammer in the process. While Team Sonic looks for it and tends to a grieving Amy, Eggman tries to launch a repaired Big Boy, only for Orbot and Cubot to accidently destroy it after finding Amy's Hammer, which finds its way back to Amy. Launching a much more powerful Big Boy for a fourth attack on Team Sonic soon after, the heroes find themselves on the ropes until Sticks defeats it with the Rock of Justice. Afterwards, Eggman returns to his lair with a new plan in mind.
- Sonic Boom #1, "Getting a Little Boulder Part One of... eh... One" (October 2014)
- Sonic Boom #2, "Knuckleduster" (December 2014)
- Sonic Boom #3, "Hammer-Spaced" (January 2015)
- Sonic Boom #4, "Sticks and Stones" (January 2015)
Boom Shaka-laka
In an attempt to win over the villagers trust (so he can later take advantage of them), Dr. Eggman hosts the Eggtoberfest and gets Team Sonic to help him manage the rides. However, when Eggman loses his temper and sics his robots on the villagers, Team Sonic steps in and saves the day. In the aftermath, Eggman gets the idea to host the Go-kart Pan-island Grand Prix to help him with Project Hodge Podge. Getting the majority of Sonic to participate in it, Eggman tries to cheat himself to victory after getting the team's data, but Sonic manages to win on his own terms. Afterwards, following the events of Worlds Unite, Eggman gets himself a gorilla as a new henchman, only for it to go terribly wrong, leaving it to Sonic to fix the mess and find the gorilla a new place in scoiety. Eggman then tries spying on Team Sonic, only to find the team in various comical situations.
- Sonic Boom #5, "Eggtoberfest" (March 2015)
- Sonic Boom #6, "Everybody's Super Sonic Racing Part One" (April 2015)
- Sonic Boom #7, "Everybody's Super Sonic Racing Part 2" (April 2015)
- Sonic Boom #11, "Eggman Gets a Gorilla" and "True Stories" (September 2015)
Worlds Unite
With the arrival of the Maverick Hunters in her world, Sticks joins the group on an adventure of multiversal proportions. With the evil Maverick Sigma seeking to expand his power, Sticks assembles her own team and joins forces with the Unified Army to stop Sigma and his henchmen before their collective multiverses are destroyed.
- Sonic Boom #8, "Worlds Unite Part Two: Broken Heroes" (June 2015)
- Sonic Boom #9, "Worlds Unite! Part Six: Fire in the Sky" (July 2015)
- Sonic Boom #10, "Worlds Unite Part Ten: Justice Across Worlds" (July 2015)
Trivia
- This is the second comic book series published by Archie Comics to be based on an animated spin-off TV series from the Sonic franchise, the other being Sonic X.
- The series was hinted when a fan asked about it in the 'My Sonic Universe' section in Sonic Universe #65. The editor's reply was censored by a 'Top Secret' emblem.
- This is the shortest lived Sonic the Hedgehog spin-off comic series, lasting for only eleventh issues. This beats the Sonic Super Special spin-off series which had fifteen issues.
- It is also the second shortest Sega-related series, with the original NiGHTS into Dreams... series being the first with just six issues.
- As a running gag, the written sound effects in various issues begins with "Ker-".
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Joshua Yehl (16 July 2014). Archie To Publish Sonic Boom Comic Book Series. Retrieved on 17 July 2014.
- ↑ http://archiecomics.stores.yahoo.net/sonicboom.html
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 ronc (9 October 2014). Archie Comics Brings the Funny in Sonic Boom #1 Preview. Retrieved on 10 October 2014.
- ↑ Luke Brown (November 26, 2014). Upcoming Sonic Boom Comics to be Co-Written by TV Creative Team. Arcade Sushi. Retrieved on December 2, 2014.
- ↑ Archie Comics on Twitter. Twitter (1 June 2015). Retrieved on 1 June 2015. “Archie Comics: The SONIC BOOM comic series will end after #WorldsUnite with #11. Fear not - the stories and characters will continue in our other books.”
- ↑ Ian Flynn (2 June 2015). Sonic Boom #11 - The Final Comic. Bumbleking Comics. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015.
- ↑ Luke Brown (10 June 2015). True Blue, Part Seven: San Diego Comic-Con Special Edition. Comics Alliance. Retrieved on 11 June 2015.
- ↑ Sonic Boom Vol. 1: The Big Boom. Amazon. Retrieved on 3 September 2014.
