Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 1 5th Anniversary Edition is a one-shot comic book special published by IDW Publishing in celebration of the 5th anniversary of the IDW Sonic the Hedgehog comic series. It is a reprint of the first issue with some added bonus content.
Official solicitation[]
- It has been five years since Sonic the Hedgehog #1, can you believe it?! Five years of friendship, speediness, and chili dogs! To celebrate, we’re getting the team back together! Join Ian Flynn and Tracy Yardley for a reprint of #1, an all-new bonus short story, a look at how the comics get made, and more! Plus, covers from superstar creators, including a fold out A cover connecting the original #1–#4 covers from Tyson Hesse.[1]
Featured stories[]
Familiar Territory[]
- Story: Ian Flynn
- Art: Tracy Yardley
- Colors: Matt Herms
- Letters: Shawn Lee
- Editors: Riley Farmer & David Mariotte
- Special thanks to: Mai Kiyotaki, Michael Cisneros, Sandra Jo, Sonic Team, and everyone at Sega for their invaluable assistance
Synopsis[]
Sonic runs over to Vista View to stop another attack from the Eggman Empire. He laments the city being under constant attack as he runs to the city gates. Behind the gates, two Shellcrackers are waiting and knock Sonic to the ground as soon as he gets near. As they close in, a local comes in and smashes them with a Cube Wispon. He helps Sonic up and Sonic recognizes him from the last time he saved the city. Sonic notes he learned how to use his Wispon, and the local laughs and says Sonic gives good advice. The local goes on to say Sonic was an inspiration to him; he never saw himself as a hero, but when Sonic came into the city to help them, he believed in him. He realized he had to become stronger after that. As his flashback continues, he says when the Metal Virus hit the city, he did everything he could to protect his neighbors. He said he would not back down because Sonic would not either. At some point he got infected and did not remember anything from his time as a Zombot. He goes on to say he did remember waking up one day cured, thanks to Sonic saving him again. He thought this was another chance to do even better than before.
Flattered, Sonic said it was nothing special and he is just living by his own feelings. The local points out he can turn gold and fly, but before Sonic can explain how he does that, a Buzz Bomber shoots at them. They agree to save the town first, and Sonic says he will go by his lead. The hedgehog calls the local "pal" and, with a tear in his eye, the local and Sonic rush in to save Vista View.
Appearances[]
Characters:
- Badnik Horde
- Buzz Bomber
- Egg Pawn (flashback)
- Shellcracker
- Dr. Eggman (mentioned)
- Super Silver (cameo)
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Super Sonic (mentioned)
Races and species:
- Zombot (flashback)
Locations:
Items:
- Metal Virus (flashback)
- Wispon
Misc.:
- Spin Attack (flashback)
Continuity[]
- Sonic recalls saving Vista View before in Sonic the Hedgehog #1, "Fallout, Part One".
- The local recalls Sonic saving the world by turning into Super Sonic, from Sonic the Hedgehog #29, "All or Nothing, Part 4".
Trivia[]
- During the Vista View citizen's flashback of the Metal Virus leaving him, another character can be seen wearing a shirt with the Sega Saturn logo on it.
- Sonic's line "Just living by my own feelings" is a reference to the line "I'm just livin' by my own feelings" from the song, "It Doesn't Matter".
Reprinted stories[]
Sonic the Hedgehog #1[]
Other features[]
- Cover Gallery: A gallery featuring the covers of Sonic the Hedgehog #1, including all from the Anniversary issue, most from the original issue, and the one-shot cover.[2]
- Sonic Letters Squad: Sonic Letters Squad is a section where the comic staff can post fan artwork and fan letters that have been sent in to them.
- Sonic the Hedgehog Five Years Later: A two page overview of the creation process for first Sonic the Hedgehog issue and the "Familiar Territory" story.[2]
- Sonic the Hedgehog Reading Guide: A two-page spread showing all the trade paperback collections of the series and what order they should be read in.
Trivia[]
- This is the first issue of the IDW Sonic the Hedgehog comic series to include a gatefold cover.
Gallery[]
Cover artwork[]
| Gallery |
|---|
 Cover A colors. Art by Tyson Hesse.  Cover B colors. Art by Tracy Yardley.  Cover C colors. Art by Matt Herms.  Cover D colors. Art by Jennifer Hernandez.  Cover RI (10) colors. Art by Adam Bryce Thomas. Colors by Reggie Graham.  Cover RI (25) colors. Art by Evan Stanley.  Cover RI (50) colors. Art by Jonathan Gray. Colors by Reggie Graham. |
Interior artwork[]
Early covers[]
| Gallery |
|---|
 Cover A. Art by Tyson Hesse.  Cover RI (10). Art by Adam Bryce Thomas. Colors by Reggie Graham.  Cover RI (25). Art by Evan Stanley.  Cover RI (50). Art by Jonathan Gray. Colors by Reggie Graham.  Cover RI (50). Art by Jonathan Gray. Colors by Reggie Graham. |
Preview pages[]
| Gallery |
|---|
 Credits page  Page one  Page two  Page three  Page four  Page five |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sonic the Hedgehog: #1 5th Anniversary Edition Variant A (Hesse). Penguin Random House (20 January 2023). Retrieved on 20 January 2023.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 IDW celebrates 5 years of Sonic the Hedgehog comics with an expanded anniversary reissue. Gamesradar.
