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Sonic the Hedgehog: Chasing Shadows[2] was intended to be a one-shot comic issue published by IDW Publishing and written by Kiel Phegley. Inspired by the 1973 horror film The Wicker Man,[5] the story would have starred Shadow the Hedgehog discovering an isolated town. It was initially slated for release in March 2025, but was cancelled after several delays due to workflow and schedule issues.[1]
Production[]
Other titles considered for the story included "Rites of Bone," "The Nightshade Sect," "The Sundown Sect," and "Mech and Bone."[6]
A new villain was made for Shadow called Bones the Falcon.
Official solicitation[]
- Shadow the Hedgehog is off on a solo-adventure where he finds himself in an old isolated village away from the modern world. As strange happenings begin to occur, he finds haunting clues that point to a dark secret not only in the town but among the villagers who inhabit it. Can Shadow escape their clutches and unravel the dark secrets of the village?[2]
Trivia[]
- The existence of the one-shot was teased in the end-note of Sonic the Hedgehog: Knuckles' 30th Anniversary Special.
- This issue was originally set for a release on 26 March 2025, likely to end off the Year of Shadow campaign, but later got to delayed to 21 May 2025, later to 2 July 2025, and later to 4 March 2026,[7] before finally being announced as canceled on 17 November 2025.[1]
- Kiel Phegley stated that these delays were because of complications to coordinate between the editors and SEGA, and its final 2026 release date was a placeholder for the time being out of caution.[8]
- He later stated that he had e-mailed the editors, who were great and supportive, but that there were just a few things on the back end that have delayed getting the final script locked, however once the final schedule issues clear up, they would finally wrap the final product.[9]
- This issue was planned to be the start of a new series of comics called Sonic the Hedgehog One-shots, that will have Sonic's friends going on their own solo adventures.[10] With the announcement of the one-shot's cancellation, it is currently unknown if this new series will still happen.
- After confirming the one-shot was canceled, Kiel Phegley would go on to say that his design work and characters for the issue had been approved by Sega and hoped they could be reused in the future.[11]
- Excluding the Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper Box Set, this marks as the first printed media from IDW Publishing's Sonic the Hedgehog comic series to be canceled.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kiel Phegley on Bluesky. Bluesky. @kielphegley.bsky.social (17 November 2025). Retrieved on 17 November 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Sonic the Hedgehog: Chasing Shadows Cover A (Fourdraine). Penguin Random House (17 February 2024). Archived from the original on 14 February 2025. Retrieved on 17 February 2024.
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog: Chasing Shadows Variant B (Arq). Penguin Random House (17 February 2024). Retrieved on 17 February 2024.
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog: Chasing Shadows Variant RI (25) (Fonseca). Penguin Random House (17 February 2024). Retrieved on 17 February 2024.
- ↑ Kiel Phegley on Bluesky (17 November 2025). "Our editors at IDW were great all the way through! These things just happen sometimes in publishing, and it's crummy. I'm sorry everyone won't get to see the radical new villain we cooked up. I thought the designs were clutch. Guess the world wasn't ready for "It's The Wicker Man but with Shadow.""
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog 3 by Kiel Phegley (w/ Kiel Phegley and Kris Sundet). Authorized Novelizations Podcast (16 January 2025).
- ↑ SONIC THE HEDGEHOG CHASING SHADOWS #1 CVR B ARQ. Previews World. Retrieved on 29 April 2025.
- ↑ It seems the release of IDW's Shadow one-shot, Chasing Shadows, has been delayed again. Its PreviewsWorld page showed a delay to March 2026, but this is a placeholder.. Sonic Stadium on Bluesky. Retrieved on 29 April 2025.
- ↑ Not sure, but I hope it's sooner than that! I just e-mailed with our editors last week. They've been great and super supportive, but there are just a few things on the back end that have delayed getting the final script locked. My non-scientific, non-authoritative read (hope?) is that once the final schedule issues clear up, we'll be in a sudden rush to wrap the final product, followed by a new solicit with actual dates/more variants/etc. Thanks for your patience!. Kiel Phegley on Bluesky. Retrieved on 9 August 2025.
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog One-shots. Amazon. Retrieved on February 23 2025.
- ↑ Kiel Phegley on Bluesky. Bluesky. @kielphegley.bsky.social (17 November 2025). Retrieved on 17 November 2025.
