Sonic the Hedgehog is an American comic book series based on Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog video game franchise and is the second American Sonic Comic adaption after Archie Comics' Sonic the Hedgehog. It is distributed by IDW Publishing and began on 4 April 2018.[1][2]
The comic series began with the first four issues being released each week in April, followed by a monthly release of subsequent issues starting in May 2018.[3] Unlike the Archie series, the IDW comics are also being translated by SEGA of Japan for Japanese audiences, with a slight import lag between the original and the translated releases.[4]
Staff[]
- Writers: Evan Stanley, Ian Flynn
- Cover artists: Aaron Hammerstrom, Abby Bulmer, Abigail Oz, Adam Bryce Thomas, Aleah Baker, Ben Bates, Bracardi Curry, Dan Schoening, Devin Kraft, Diana Skelly, Edwin Huang, Elaina Unger, Eric Lide, Evan Stanley, Gigi Dutreix, Heather Breckel, Jack Lawrence, Jamal Peppers, Jennifer Hernandez, Joana Lafuente, Jonathan Gray, Kieran Gates, Lamar Wells, Leonardo Ito, Luis Antonio Delgado, Matt Herms, Min Ho Kim, Natalie Haines, Nathalie Fourdraine, Nibroc Sarkaria, Priscilla Tramontano, Rafa Knight, Reggie Graham, Ryan Jampole, Thomas Rothlisberger, Tracy Yardley, Tyson Hesse, Valentina Pinto
- Art: Adam Bryce Thomas, Priscilla Tramontano
- Lineart: Adam Bryce Thomas, Bracardi Curry, Evan Stanley, Jack Lawrence, Jamal Peppers, Jennifer Hernandez, Natalie Haines, Priscilla Tramontano, Thomas Rothlisberger, Tracy Yardley
- Pencilers: Aaron Hammerstrom, Diana Skelly, Evan Stanley, Lamar Wells, Mauro Fonseca, Tracy Yardley
- Inkers: Bob Smith, Gigi Dutreix, Jim Amash, John Wycough, Maria Keane, Matt Froese, Priscilla Tramontano, Reggie Graham, Rik Mack
- Colorists: Bracardi Curry, Elaina Unger, Matt Herms, Heather Breckel, Leonardo Ito, Reggie Graham, Valentina Pinto
- Letterers: Corey Breen, Nathan Widick, Shawn Lee
- Assistant editors: Megan Brown, Nick Niño, Riley Farmer
- Editors: David Mariotte, Joe Hughes, Riley Farmer
- Managing Editor: Lauren LaPera
- Editor-in-Chief: John Barber
- Publishers: Chris Ryall, Greg Goldstein, Nachie Marsham
- Presidents: Chris Ryall, Greg Goldstein, Jerry Bennington
- VPs: Robbie Robbins
- Art directors: Jack Levesque, Robbie Robbins, Shawn Lee
- Licensors: Aaron Webber, Anoulay Tsai, Mai Kiyotaki, Michael Cisneros, Sandra Jo, Sonic Team
Development[]
The Sonic the Hedgehog comic series was first announced on 21 July 2017 when the official Sonic the Hedgehog Twitter account revealed that Sega and IDW Publishing would be collaborating together to create a new Sonic comic after the cancellation of the Archie Sonic the Hedgehog comic two days prior.[5] The first official creative summit was conducted on 3 August 2017.[6]
During the New York Comic Con 2017 event, more information regarding IDW's Sonic comic was revealed on promotional flyers (drawn by Tyson Hesse, known for his work on the Archie Sonic comics and Sonic Mania), where it was revealed that the comic will contain characters old and new, and feature brand new stories.[1] Following this, Ian Flynn, former writer of the Archie Sonic comics, was confirmed to be the lead writer for the IDW Sonic comics.[3] On December 28, 2017 though, Flynn revealed that none of the characters he created for Archie Comics will appear in the IDW Sonic comics.[7]
On 11 January 2018, IDW opened an official family friendly IDW Sonic Facebook group, called "IDW Sonic Comics Squad". This page will feature updates, art reveals, link to the IDW editorials and more related to the IDW Sonic series.[8] A few days later, on 16 January 2018, it was revealed that Tracy Yardley, a long-time Sonic artist at Archie Comics, would be joining the IDW Sonic team as well.[9] As more information about the first four issues went public, it was revealed that each of the four first issues will feature a different artist, and then rotating art teams would be taking over once the book went monthly.[10]
After its introduction, IDW Sonic Comics Squad revealed that a new character was set be announced on January 24. After five days, this character was revealed to be Tangle the Lemur.[11] On that very same day, the solicitations for the first four issues were revealed.
In an interview with Game Informer, Flynn established that IDW Sonic was a brand-new continuity with no connection to Archie Comics' Sonic the Hedgehog. He further stated that the comics will, at the moment, only draw inspiration from the Sonic game continuity and will go in a fresh new direction not dictated by an already-established canon. Flynn also stated that older elements and fringes of the franchise might be incorporated into the comics at some point, but for the beginning of the series, he wanted to focus on the core style of storytelling for the Sonic series. Flynn also revealed bits of the storyline for the first few issues, which will follow up on Sonic Forces and will deal with the fallout of the War to Take Back the Planet. As for the Sega relationship, it was revealed that they this time around are more directly involved with the stories themselves, namely by offering suggestions here and there on where to tweak things. In return, Flynn makes sure that the comic elements fit into the Sonic universe.[12]
On 21 February 2018, IDW opened its pre-orders for the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series. On the same day, the IDW Sonic Comics Squad surmised the returning Archie Comic artists for the IDW Sonic series, with Matt Herms being among them. It was also revealed that Sega had placed restrictions on the comics, that no crossover had been planned, and that the series will be a mix of various genres.[13]
During a Q&A on Facebook, it was revealed that the Sonic the Hedgehog series would be an ongoing title with no end date determined.[13]
On 16 March 2018, at "Gotta Go Fast: The Official Sonic the Hedgehog Panel", the official Sonic the Hedgehog panel at the 2018 SXSW Gaming convention, Sega announced the "Sonic the Hedgehog IDW Comic Series Exclusive Bundle", which was a limited edition bundle up for pre-order on their online store, Sega Shop. This bundle included IDW's Sonic the Hedgehog #1-#4, an additional exclusive variant cover of IDW's Sonic the Hedgehog #4, an exclusive mystery t-shirt (both of which were only available on the Sega Shop), and digital downloads of Sonic the Hedgehog #1-#4 as they were released.[14] The bundle was released on 1 May 2018 and costed $40 USD. It was also possible to select a shirt size from the following options: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, and 2X-Large.
On 23 August 2018, it was announced at Gamescom 2018 that the-then upcoming Nintendo Switch app InkyPen would feature the IDW comics from launch.[15]
In October 2018, Mana Books began releasing European French translations of IDW Publishing's Sonic the Hedgehog graphic novel compilations. The releases follow the same format as their American counterparts.[16] In April 2019, ECC Ediciones stated that they would begin releasing Spanish translations of the comic series beginning 14 May 2019, under their Kodomo line.[17][18] It was later stated that the comic series will be translated to Russian with plans to expand it to other languages.[19] On 21 November 2019, it was announced by IDW Publishing that in June 2020, they will also publish Spanish-language editions of the graphic novel compilations of the comic series.[20] On 27 March 2020, it was announced that the comic will be published in Japan by Wise Publishing.[21] On 4 March 2021, it was announced that the comic will be published in Brazil by Novo Século, under their Geektopia line.[22] On 17 March 2023, it was announced that Kamite will start publishing the comic in Mexico.[23] On 14 December 2023, it was announced that Tunué will start publishing the comic in Italy from 12 March 2024.[24]
On 27 May 2021, during Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary, it was announced that IDW Publishing would start June with a "Sonic Month", where a new comic or graphic novel would be released every week. Every Saturday would be tagged as "#SonicSaturday" where special content was planned just for Sonic fans, and on 9 June 2021, a major announcement for sweepstakes for a big Sonic collection was made.[25][26]
Setting[]
The comic is set in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game continuity, with the visuals of the comic being heavily inspired by the recent games. Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends live on a planet named Earth inhabited by anthropomorphic animals like themselves and humans, which is constantly under threat from the evil human scientist Dr. Eggman, who wants to take over with his army of Badniks and establish the Eggman Empire.
Prior to the start of the comic, the battle between Sonic and the Eggman Empire has been going on for quite some time, with the heroes having fought Eggman multiple times before. Many flashbacks to previous Sonic game events are shown throughout the comic series. When the comic's storyline begins, Sonic and his friends are dealing with the fallout caused by Eggman's recent conquest of the planet, as depicted in Sonic Forces, which was the most recent Sonic game at the time.
Canonicity[]
On November 18, 2022, Ian Flynn stated that the IDW Sonic comic series is canon on his BumbleKast podcast. In the seventh episode of the seventh season of Sonic Official, Chris Hernandez, one of the Lore Managers, reiterated that the IDW Sonic the Hedgehog comics were 100% canon and takes place after the events of Sonic Forces.[27] In Sonic Frontiers, Sonic mentions Tangle while Eggman mentions the Eggnet, further solidifying its inclusion. In the "TailsTube" debut episode, Sonic receives questions from Tangle and the Spiral Hill Fan Club, and in "Surprise Gift Exchange Bonanza" Tails mentions Jewel when asked by Eggman about the holiday plans.
Storyline[]
After Sonic the Hedgehog and his allies defeated Dr. Eggman and liberated the world from his Eggman Empire during the Eggman War, the evil doctor went missing. However, his Badniks remained. Initially directionless, these robots eventually began launching coordinated attacks on villages, suggesting that someone had taken control of them. Sonic thus begins traveling from town to town to stop the Badniks, receiving help from both old friends and new allies (like Tangle the Lemur) along the way.
With the aid of the Chaotix Detective Agency, Sonic finds the missing Dr. Eggman, only to discover that he is suffering from amnesia and has become a model citizen. Just as Sonic and the Chaotix settle on leaving Eggman to his new life however, Shadow shows up with Rouge to destroy the Doctor after hearing him mention Eggman Land. Sonic, however, manages to convince Shadow to give the amnesiac Eggman a chance to prove his benevolence. In the aftermath, Eggman shows that the Eggman Land he mentioned was but an amusement park for children, thus clearing out any doubts about his amnesia being legit. In the meantime, the ringleader behind the Badnik attacks is making his next move. Sonic and Tails reach the Egg Fleet with the Tornado in order to get some information but as soon as the hedgehog enters the battleship, he discovers that the ringleader is Neo Metal Sonic, who assumed Eggman's appearance to lead the Eggman Empire and finish Eggman's incomplete plans. Amy and Knuckles were eventually informed and they decided to reunite the Resistance to stop Neo's scheme. Sonic soon after infiltrates one of Eggman's bases with the aid of Silver and a new ally named Whisper, where they find out that Neo Metal Sonic has conquered Angel Island in order to seize the Master Emerald.
Assembling their various allies, Sonic and the Resistance launch an attack on Angel Island in an attempt to liberate the island and stop Neo Metal Sonic. Shortly after arriving, Sonic and Knuckles confront Neo, who used the Master Emerald to become Super Neo Metal Sonic. In the meantime, the Resistance manage to free Angel Island. However, when Shadow intervened with Sonic and Knuckles' battle with Neo Metal Sonic, the robot managed to transform into an even more dangerous form: Master Overlord. Though Master Overlord puts up a bigger challenge for the heroes, he is eventually brought down by the combined strength of everyone, and Angel Island is restored once more. Afterward, Knuckles, as the Resistance's commander, disbands the organization, having concluded that it has served its purpose, so he can remain on Angel Island and guard the Master Emerald. Sonic accepts Knuckles' choice, and everyone eventually sets off from Angel Island.
In the meantime, unbeknownst to Sonic and the others, Eggman has been kidnapped by Rough the Skunk and Tumble the Skunk and brought before Dr. Starline, a Eggman fanatic who wishes to return Eggman to his former glory and is eventually successful. After providing Eggman with the seven Chaos Emeralds, Starline is taken in by Eggman as his newest lackey. Eggman afterwards goes to work creating the Metal Virus, a virus that can convert organics into robotic slaves. To keep Sonic distracted, Eggman and Starline lure Sonic and Tails into the clutches of Rough and Tumble after they learn of Eggman's abduction. While the heroes are able to beat the skunk brothers, they disappear before they can ask them some questions. Suspecting that Eggman was back to his old ways, Sonic goes in search of answers. Along the way, Sonic met and clashed with Dr. Starline, who almost succeeded in destroying Sonic. As he returned to Eggman though, Starline was reprimanded for trying to kill Sonic (and in the wrong way no less), which Eggman saw as his privilege. Meanwhile Sonic resumes his search for Eggman. While hacking into the Eggnet with Amy in an abandoned Eggman base where they discover Eggman's plans for a Faceship, the duo come under attack by Rough and Tumble. During the subsequent fight, due to Eggman's manipulations, Rough and Tumble unwillingly let themselves get infected with a batch of the Metal Virus, which turns them into Zombots. While Sonic is able to contain Rough and Tumble by knocking them into a pit, Sonic gets infected with the Metal Virus in the process.
Returning to Tails for aid, Sonic and his friends discover that Sonic can burn off his infection and keep it in check with his speed. Not wanting to risk his friends' safety and let them get infected by the Metal Virus as well, Sonic leaves to find Eggman's Faceship, which they have concluded will be used to distribute the Metal Virus. However, Sonic is too late, as Eggman has already taken off in his Chaos Emerald-powered Faceship with his lackeys and begun spreading the Metal Virus with his ship by administering it in key locations. As the doctor carries out his plan, the Chaotix's home city receives a batch of the Metal Virus, creating a Zombot outbreak. While Sonic and the Chaotix are able to evacuate a handful of survivors with the aid of the Restoration, Charmy falls victim to the Zombot hordes. Soon after, Eggman creates another Zombot outbreak in Cream's home village in order to lure Sonic into the Zombots' grasp. However, Eggman soon discovers that the Zombots are beginning to ignore his commands, presumably due to a mutation in the Metal Virus coding. While Eggman is unconcerned by this development, Starline starts to get worried and begins to second-guess Eggman's brilliance. Meanwhile, Sonic manages to help Cream and Vanilla evacuate while Gemerl safeguards the family. In the process, Cheese and Chocola get turned into Zombots. Soon after, Sonic heads towards Sunset City to help Team Dark intercept the Faceship. By the time Sonic arrives however, a Zombot outbreak has already erupted, leaving him and Team Dark to rescue as many civilians as possible from an overwhelming horde of Zombots. During the commotion though, Sonic begins to feel the fatigue from his constant running. Meanwhile, Shadow gets overwhelmed by the Zombots and is turned into a Zombot himself. By the time Sonic arrives at the site, he is attacked by the Zombot Shadow. Sonic manages to keep Shadow at bay while Rouge drives off with the uninfected civilians. Omega stays behind to fight the remaining Zombots but soon gets torn apart. Silver and Tails come to Sonic and Omega's rescue, leaving Shadow behind. Tails later reveals that he created a sensor for Sonic to give more insight as to how his speed combats the Metal Virus. Meanwhile, Starline begins to devise a plan to control the Zombots that would involve Deadly Six.
Tails goes to Central City to research a cure for the Metal Virus, with Tangle and Whisper. After Dr. Eggman creates another Zombot outbreak there, Tangle and Whisper lead evacuation duties. However, Tails work is ruined by Cheese and Chocola, and other Zombots. Following Tails' failed mission, he goes on to help Tangle and Whisper evacuate the rest of the uninfected citizens. Elsewhere, Dr. Starline goes to the Lost Hex and meets Zavok. He manages to convince him to help with their current crisis. Zavok accepts Starline's offer but unbeknownst to the latter, this was not done without malicious intent. Meanwhile, Vector and Espio return to Restoration HQ with many refugees and a captive Zombot Charmy. They planned to keep the bee at the HQ until Tails found a cure for him. Wanting to protect Cream, Gemerl objects to this. Soon, a refugee reveals that he is infected, which causes a panic among the other survivors. Due to the commotion, Charmy breaks out and begin infecting others. An emergency evacuation is ordered. However, Vanilla is not able to escape but makes Amy promise to get Cream to safety. Only one pilot was able to make it out of the building, leaving only one Rescue Shuttle available for use. Before anything else could happen, Charmy attempts to attack the ship's passengers but is stopped by Vector. Knowing he was lost to the Metal Virus, Vector had Gemerl seal him in Restoration HQ with the rest of the Zombots so that everyone else could escape. Following this, the Rescue Shuttle went to Central City to help pick up Tails, Tangle, Whisper and the survivors there. During this, Sonic is busy running to provide Tails' bio-scanner with data. He soon finds Eggman and Starline in Barricade Town, where the duo is attempting to find frequencies to control the Zombots once again. It is here that Eggman tells Starline and Sonic that there is no cure for the Metal Virus. Sonic foils the plot of the evil doctor duo, forcing them to retreat back to the Faceship. As Starline has deemed Eggman to be self-destructive, he once again visits the Deadly Six to ensure that they could exert their will over machines. Starline already knows that the Zeti plotted to turn on him, which prompts him to retrieve the Cacophonic Conch.
Following a Zombot outbreak in Spiral Hill Village, the Restoration fly there to help with evacuation and Sonic is called in to help out as well. Sonic soon discovers that Tangle has been infected by Jewel and she chooses to stay behind to hold Zombots back from following the Restoration. Much to the Restoration's upset hearing this news, the team retreats. Back onboard the Faceship, Starline wastes no more time and brings the Deadly Six onboard. Helpless against the Zeti's powers, Starline attempts to control the Deadly Six with the Cacophonic Conch, but it is taken away from him when he lets his guard down. Starline thus retreats via his Warp Topaz with Eggman and Metal Sonic in tow. Zavok shifts priorities and have each of the Deadly Six equip themselves with a Chaos Emerald so that they can control the thousands of Zombots around the world which they will use to infect the whole world and destroy all that Sonic and Eggman hold dear. Meanwhile, Sonic and the others fly to Angel Island to use it as a safe haven. After being abruptly joined by Eggman, Starline and Metal Sonic, the group received word from Rouge (who snuck onto the Faceship days earlier) about the Deadly Six's plan and how she was coordinating with Orbot to spy on their deployments and coordinate a counterattack. Now, the heroes and villains join forces to figure out a way to combat the Metal Virus. Eggman suggests using the Warp Topaz charged by Super Sonic's power, though Starline refused to comply. Soon, with the help of Metal Sonic, Eggman takes the Warp Topaz from Starline and had him thrown off of the island via a Warp Portal. To increase their numbers against the Deadly Six in case any of, the heroes recruit the Babylon Rogues.
Eggman and Tails manage to build a Multi-Portal Generator that lead to each of the Deadly Six. After some teams have been formed, the heroes go after the Zeti. Ultimately, the heroes are able to retrieve the five Chaos Emeralds in possession of Zazz, Zomom, Zeena and Master Zik, but not without a cost; Cream has been infected and the Babylon Rogues are left to fight a horde of Zombots on their own. As the survivors regroup on the island, they find that the Zavok is approaching the island in the Faceship with a large group of Zombots following him. Fortunately, Rouge crashes the Faceship after she removes the Chaos Emerald that was powering it. This does not stop Zavok though, as he grows to his giant size and used his enhanced powers to toss a large group of Zombots onto the island. While the survivors keep the Zombots preoccupied, Sonic, Metal Sonic and Silver go after Zavok's Chaos Emerald. Amidst the chaos Sonic finds himself nearly fully infected, only for Metal Sonic to swiftly rescue him. Sonic then procures the last Chaos Emerald, and with Silver coming in with the rest, the two transform into Super Sonic and Super Silver, with the transformation completely ridding Sonic of his infection. After Super Sonic defeats Zavok, he uses the Warp Topaz to open up a Super Warp Portal to the sun while Super Silver uses his enhanced psychokinesis to pull away the Metal Virus from around the world. This cures every one of their infections. The Metal Virus is sent into the sun, completely destroying it. Once this is done, Super Sonic attempts to toss the Topaz through the portal, only for it to cause a large explosion.
After being thrown back onto the island, Silver explains that they completed their mission, but that Sonic disappeared when the explosion occurred. Meanwhile, Zavok is captured and imprisoned while the other Deadly Six go into hiding. Taking advantage of the situation while everyone else is concerned with Sonic's disappearance, Eggman makes his escape with his lackeys and the disembodied head of Omega. Meanwhile, Blaze finds Sonic after he crashed down into her world. However, Sonic is soon revealed to be suffering from amnesia. As everyone on Earth picked up the pieces from the from the Zombot apocalypse, the heroes eventually come together for a party in Tangle hometown, only for Eggman to attack them with a mech that incorporated a repaired Omega. While the heroes fight, Sonic has his memory restored by Burning Blaze, and he returns home just in time to help defeat Eggman and free Omega (who breaks apart shortly after). With Eggman having left to plan a new scheme, Sonic soon heads out on his own once more.
Soon after, Rouge and Amy turn to Tails in hopes of having Omega repaired. However, Tails needs the ciphers for Omega's blueprints and rare E-100 Series parts to complete the repairs. As such, Amy, Rouge, Gemerl, Cream and Cheese go to White Park Zone to compete in the White Park Chao Racing Circuit to get the parts they need from the shady champion Chao racer, Clutch the Opossum, while Sonic and Tails head to an abandoned Eggman base to get the code ciphers. However, in the base, Sonic and Tails are being watched by Belle. Meanwhile, Rouge's group catches Clutch's interest, who gives them an offer: if Cheese can come out on top in the races, he will give them the parts they need in exchange for Cheese. Adding to the mystery, a cloaking figure with incredible powers roams around White Park Zone. They briefly engaged Shadow when he came to White Park Zone, looking for a lead leading to Eggman. The next day, Cheese wins the races and Clutch gets ready to the trade, only to have the tables turned on him thanks to Rouge's planning and interference from Shadow, who had been following a lead leading him to Clutch. Rouge's group then gets ready to acquire the parts they need and free the Chao Clutch had been mistreating. Meanwhile, Sonic and Tails come face-to-face with the friendly Belle, only for the base's alarm to trigger and flood the base with Badniks.
In the end, the trio manage to escape. They soon after setting off to White Park after Rouge has send a message to Tails for help. While Sonic and Belle check up on Amy, Cream, Cheese, and Gemerl, Tails goes to give aid to Rouge, only to be knocked out by her. Meanwhile, Sonic leaves Clutch's penthouse to look for Tails and Rouge. Soon after, Clutch activates his Badniks to attack the group and makes his exit. Meanwhile, Tails and Rouge find themselves tied up on a roller coaster, with the latter claiming she was hypnotized into doing someone else's bidding. Sonic and Shadow catch up to the roller coaster to find Dr. Starline behind the kidnappings and the one who evaded Shadow earlier. The doctor then sets off an avalanche aimed for the White Park Grand Chateau, posing the hedgehogs with the choice of rescuing their allies or the innocents unaware of the avalanche. In the end, Sonic and Shadow end out to stop the avalanche. At the same time, Tails and Rouge free themselves and escape to the chateau to warn the others while Starline gets startled off the roller coaster by Omega. At the chateau, Amy's team finishes off the Badniks and unites with Tails and Rouge to ensure the evacuation of the guests. At the same time, Sonic and Shadow try in vain to slow down the avalanche. Meanwhile, Starline shows up at the chateau to kidnap Tails, but is defeated and buried by the avalanche as it hits the chateau, which is able to withstand the impact. In the aftermath, Sonic and Shadow reunite with their allies and friends, and Tails is able to repair Omega with the aid of Belle, who is able to translate Omega's blueprints, and the parts Amy's team got from Clutch. However, this makes Tails suspicious about who Belle's creator is. Meanwhile, Starline, who has survived the avalanche, has managed to acquire a sample of Tails' fur for his long-term plans.
Sometime after, Sonic and Tails give Belle a place to stay by having her join the Restoration, which has become a much larger and well-established organization under Jewel the Beetle's leadership. While there, a clumsy Belle finds a friend in Tangle. Meanwhile, the Restoration detects a strange tower that is creating devastating storms. Suspecting Eggman has something to do with this, Sonic, Tails and Amy head to the tower to investigate. Within the tower however, the trio ends up inside a strange, self-altering space. Meanwhile, Belle persuades Tangle to follow Sonic and his friends with her, hoping secretly to find someone at the tower. Eventually, Sonic's group discover they are inside a space where Eggman can circumvent spatial laws. As they proceed to another section, Sonic and his group find themselves under attack by Quasi-Badniks during their investigations. Forced to take cover, Tails tries to find a way out until Eggman contacts the group and reveals that they are inside the test chambers for his robotic creations, and that he now intends to test his creations on them. In the meantime, Tangle and Belle manage to infiltrate the tower and learn about Eggman's plans. As they start to look for Sonic's group though, Belle accidentally appears in front of some Badniks, only to get ignored. Wanting answers, Tangle had Belle tell her that she is a Badnik and that she wants answers about herself from Eggman. Deciding to trust Belle despite this, Tangle continues onward with Belle. Inside the test chambers, Sonic and co. are forced to content with the changes in spatial laws Eggman is forcing upon them until they let themselves fall into a close-off room. There, Sonic, Tails and Amy are attacked by various models of Egg Vipers. While the trio fights for their lives, Tangle and Belle find Orbot and Cubot and ties them up. Afterward, Tangle heads into the test chambers herself to find Sonic and the others. After Tangle has left, Belle comes into contact with Dr. Eggman, who remembers that he created Belle back when he was "Mr. Tinker". After Eggman then has explained his cruel intentions for creating the tower Belle is in, Belle succumbs to despair. At the same time, due to Tangle's interference, the test chambers have begun overloading, which would result in the tower imploding. Meanwhile, inside the test chambers, Sonic and co. find themselves fighting the Egg Vipers until Tangle arrives and helps them out. With Eggman distracted by Belle, the heroes manage to cripple the Egg Vipers, which Eggman eventually commands to launch one final attack. However, the heroes manage to escape the test chambers and return to the tower. However, the tower has already begun collapsing into itself, so Sonic has both friends and foes hold onto him while he takes them out of the tower, just before it is destroyed. Afterwards, the heroes let Orbot and Cubot go. Belle also explains her past to her friends, and that he was looking for Eggman in hopes of convincing him to abandon his evil ways. However, she now knows it is impossible.
Later, Eggman goes on a hunt for the Deadly Six, but is intercepted by Sonic. Overhearing from the pair that Zavok is still alive and on the lose following a series of events, Master Zik decides to meet Zavok halfway by regathering the Deadly Six. Meanwhile, Zavok, who is still wounded after his battle with Eggman, regathers his resolve to find the Deadly Six and exact his revenge on his enemies. After Zavok finds Zazz and Zomom, the trio encounter Master Zik, Zeena and Zor. The regathered Deadly Six then decide to make a big move by attacking Restoration HQ to reprieve the masses of hope. Before this, they start misleading their enemies in thinking that their target is Sunset City with a series of attacks. To capture the Deadly Six, Jewel hires the Chaotix Detective Agency, who deduce the Deadly Six's apparent movements. Meanwhile, after Sonic defeated Eggman and blew up his nearest base, he is called in to help stop the Deadly Six. Sonic decided to await the Deadly Six in Winterburg, which the heroes have decided to be one of the two potential sites for the Deadly Six's next attack. Meanwhile, the Chaotix have arrived in Sunset City while Tails prepared two new inventions to contain the Deadly Six and return them to the Lost Hex: the Zeti Zapper and Zeti Launcher. However, the heroes realize that they have been played when the Deadly Six attack Restoration HQ. Jewel, Tangle, and Whisper barricaded themselves in the main control room, while Belle stays in the machine shop. However, Belle is soon kidnapped by Dr. Starline, who has taken advantage of the chaos the Deadly Six to sneak into the Restoration HQ and seek out Belle, whom he needs for his long-term plans. Soon after however, Sonic arrives in the Restoration HQ where he faces all of the Deadly Six. Thankfully, due to the timely arrival of Tails and his Zeti Zappers, Sonic and is able to defeat the Deadly Six, only to learn of Belle's kidnapping in the aftermath. Taking the Deadly Six outside, Sonic and Tails have the group board the Zeti Launcher, although not before Sonic and Zavok have a little exchange about the consequences of their actions. In the meantime, Starline has hooked a restrained Belle up his computer to copy her systems' emulation of emotions. He then provokes Belle through a series of emotional phases as he has her recount her past: that she was created by Eggman's Mr. Tinker persona and lived happily with him and the villagers in Windmill Village until Mr. Tinker was kidnapped, and the Metal Virus pandemic began. Later, after the pandemic was over, she would set out on her quest to get Mr. Tinker back after being scorned and rejected by the villagers. Though the Chaotix soon arrive and rescue a heartbroken Belle, Starline escapes, having secured the data he needs for his long-term plans. At the same time, after landing on the Lost Hex, the Deadly Six resolve to return to Earth to exact their revenge.
With everything that has happened lately, Amy decides to go on a camping trip to the Forest Ridge Zone Campground with Tangle, Jewel and Belle. However, each of Amy's friends has something on their minds that raises tensions among the group despite Amy's attempts to have them relax. Eventually, Belle goes out in the middle of the night, only to get knocked out by Motobud. Soon after, a forest fire erupts around the campground. While Amy and Jewel work on keeping the scrambling masses organized, Tangle heads into the forest to find the park ranger's son, Ashe. She eventually finds Belle, who was saved from the fire by Motobud from earlier, and they team up to find Ashe. They eventually find him and his Red Wisp companion, Red Hot, and they learn from Ashe that the fire was started by two anonymous figures. As the group tries to escape the forest fire, they end up falling into a ravine. Fortunately, they manage to catch a ride on a stray log and ride it down the river in the ravine. As this occurs, Jewel, with Amy's assistance, manages to quell the panicked campers and get their help to assist the other campers and contain the fire. Once everyone is reunited, Jewel comes up with a new plan that successfully quells the fire throughout the forest. With a happy ending for everyone assured, Tangle decides to quit the Restoration, having never felt comfortable in it. Jewel accepts this and encourages Tangle to go out on her own. Later on, Tails repairs Belle's burned hand and wishes to learn more about small defective Badniks like Motobud. Meanwhile, Tangle finishes recounting her tale to Sonic and Amy before heading off to find Whisper. Elsewhere, the park ranger discovers that the fire was indeed begun on purpose. Not long after, the Chaotix learn about some chaos having occurred in Central City, and heads there to investigate. As they check out the city, they end up investigating the sewers where they someone carrying Badnik parts through the tunnels. Though they lose their suspect, they manage to trace him to a warehouse. There, they discover their suspects are Rough and Tumble, and that they are helping Clutch, who has decided to rebuild his criminal empire in order to content with the world's new generation of heroes. Though the Chaotix manage to strip Clutch of Badnik parts to sell, he and Rough and Tumble evade capture.
Later, Sonic, Tails, and Belle conduct a successful experiment where they are able to transfer Motobud's programming over to other Badniks, rending them friendly and harmless. During the following night however, Sonic and Tails discover that a control signal is being broadcasted to every Badnik around the world that is compelling them to gather in one place. With Belle and Motobud affected by the signal too, Sonic and Tails manage to block the signal's hold on Belle and follow Motobud to the source of the signal: Eggperial City. After then being forced to shut down Motobud and finding a confession for Belle from Eggman's "Mr. Tinker" persona inside said robot, Sonic, Tails and Belle head into Eggperial City. During this time, Dr. Starline has invaded the city and uploaded an override program to take control of Eggman's Badniks across the world. Not taking kindly to this, Eggman soon arrives and enters a battle of mech suits with Starline. In the meantime, Starline sent Surge the Tenrec and Kitsunami the Fennec, his latest "creations", after Sonic and Tails while Belle tries to help fix a damaged Metal Sonic. Surge, who secretly plots to destroy Starline as well, directly disagrees with Sonic's resolve to let his enemies live in hopes of them turning over a new leaf instead of just ending them before more evil can arise. She also plots to destroy not only Sonic and the doctors, but everyone else in the world as well due to her life having been stolen from her by Starline. Though Sonic sticks to his principles, he fails to reason with Surge. Sonic thus continues to battle Surge until she is lost to a giant chasm in the city. Tails similarly tries to reason with Kit, whose only wish is to do everything that pleases Surge. Tails attempts to appeal to their mutual dislike of Dr. Starline to take him down, only for Kit to fight Tails again once he realizes that they would interrupt Sonic and Surge's fight. In the end though, Tails outplays Kit and disarm him. Meanwhile, Eggman and Starline both destroy each other's mechs, leaving the former to reveal that he had predicted how this entire fight would play out and that Starline would exhaust his main weapon, the Tricore, trying to beat his mech. After proving he had taken precautions against Starline's hypnosis gear as well, he easily defeats the platypus. Afterwards, Belle returns a repaired Metal Sonic to Eggman and decides to finally say goodbye to her creator. The room they are in soon after caves in, seemingly crushing a hysterical Starline in the process. Belle proceeds to meets back up with Sonic and Tails, who has a dejected Kit with him, finding out about Surge, Kit, and Starline's potential plan. Before any more can be done however, Eggman sends his Badniks after the trio. After that, the trio get ambushed by a badnik horde. Tails and Sonic and Belle find a shuttle which they use to escape but Metal Sonic ambushes them and destroys the shuttle.
After the crash of the shuttle, Tails, Belle and Sonic wake up with Sonic having his leg hurt. Metal Sonic prepares another attack while Kit wakes up meanwhile Surge survived the fall from Issue 50. Tails, Belle, Kit and Sonic run from Metal Sonic to evade the attack. They find a water container which they use to suspend Metal Sonic. Sonic gives a recap to Kit and then Kit refills his pack and beats Metal Sonic. Sonic and friends escape the city while Surge finds the Dynamo Cage and also escapes. Surge tests out her powers in Central City when Whisper is about to fight Surge. A fight engages between the two and Surge uses the Dynamo Cage to absorb all the wisps and when Surge is about to kill Whisper, Surge has another hallucination of Starline. Jewel informs Sonic and Tails about what is happening and Sonic and Tails go to investigate while Belle consoles Kit about losing Surge. Sonic and Tails see Surge and Whisper so Tails drops Sonic onto a car and Sonic greets Surge. Sonic and Surge start fighting while Tails consoles Whisper about losing her wisps. Tails joins the fight by carrying Sonic and Surge beats them in the air with a Spin Attack. Sonic tries to move but his leg is hurting him while Whisper sends her Cyan Laser Wisp towards Sonic which he uses to beat Surge but Surge goes on the defensive with the Cube Wisp and then takes the Laser Wisp and absorbs it. Tails has a plan and Sonic leads Surge into Tails's trap and is knocked out. Kit finds out that Surge is alive and Kit leaves with Surge. Sonic, Tails, Eggman and Metal Sonic trace Surge to Egg Base Sigma. Sonic and Metal Sonic have a fight while Eggman gets ambushed by Surge and Surge gets surrounded by her enemies and retreats. Surge absorbs all the energy in the base while Sonic, Tails, Eggman and Metal Sonic find Surge and Kit and engage in a fight. Sonic and Metal Sonic fight Surge while Tails fights Kit. Sonic and Metal Sonic are beating Surge when Surge says the fight is not fair as she finds Eggman sneaking away while Metal Sonic is knocked out by Surge. Surge breaks the water containers and uses her electric powers to try and hit Sonic but Eggman saves him. Tails and Kit finish their fight while Surge is using all of the wisps to try and beat Sonic when he says that Surge can take freedom but she can't. Surge tries to kill Sonic with her electric powers but the Dynamo Cage knocks her out. Kit tries to kill everyone but to no avail and the two groups split ways.
Sonic enters Restoration HQ and meets Jewel, Tangle, Whisper, and Lanolin. Sonic asks what they are doing and they say they are making a group to infiltrate Eggperial City. Sonic happily joins and they make way to Eggperial City. Sonic uses Green Hover to get a view of Eggperial City. The group scouts the area and find an underground part of the city. A trap activates and Sonic gets disconnected from the trio. After beating a few badniks, Sonic finds a place to hide and he asks Jewel for backup. Sonic is still fighting some badniks and Silver uses his psychokinesis to destroy a badink and then Blaze uses a fire beam to destroy more badniks. Meanwhile Tangle, Whisper, and Lanolin go to the main tower. The team starts to beat more badniks and Tails is able to figure out how to win by using his Miles Electric. A big explosion happens so Sonic and Tails go to find out what is happening while Silver, Blase and Amy go to destroy more badniks. Sonic and Tails find Team Dark at the scene of the explosion. Silver, Blaze and Amy arrive at the scene while Tangle, Whisper, and Lanolin are looking at Shadow Androids. Eggman unleashes his Shadow Androids on Sonic and friends. Sonic says they should retreat so Silver uses his psychokinesis to form a ramp and they launch off onto a building. Tails tells Shadow that the huge crystals are generating Chaos Energy so he uses their chaos energy to beat more Shadow Androids. Shadow starts to feel a strange sense of energy and Giant Fake Chaos Emeralds emerge from the ground. Sonic and others go to higher ground but Shadow and Omega are left behind. Meanwhile, Lanolin, Tangle and Whisper escape the trap because of the huge power outage. Eggman captures Whisper, and Lanolin in his hexagonal trap and Tangle barely escapes by falling out of the tower. Tangle falls into the ground and is taken back up but she doesn't have any time to rest because Metal Sonic sends the hexagonal trap after her and she escapes Metal Sonic's sight. She is panicking that she can't warn the others or save Lanolin and Whisper but she finds the courage and looks for them while Metal Sonic uses her as a tracker to Sonic's friends. She finds them as her head is in the Miles Electric and Amy is scared so she breaks the Miles Electric. Tangle warns everyone about the hexagonal trap and Sonic dodges one and they see Metal Sonic. Sonic fights Metal Sonic while everyone else dodges the hexagonal traps. When Sonic and Silver are about to use a plan Amy just breaks the floor and suspends Metal Sonic. Tangle tells them how to destroy the city so they split up. Rouge, Blaze and Silver go to find Shadow and Omega while Sonic, Tails, Amy and Tangle go the the central tower. Sonic, Tails, Tangle and Amy are confronted by Metal Sonic so Tangle blinds Metal Sonic and Tails and Amy carry Sonic and Tangle to the Central tower. Meanwhile, Blaze, Silver and Rouge find Shadow and Omega so they try to free them but they run into Shadow Androids. Rouge and Blaze fight the Shadow Androids while Silver was able to free Shadow. Meanwhile, the other group arrive at the central tower. Amy shoves Eggman while Tails finishes removing the safeguards while Amy gets knocked out by Eggman while Sonic is distracted and Metal Sonic knocks out Sonic with a punch. Sonic gets trapped in the hexagonal trap. Whisper and Lanolin appear and Sonic appears to fight Metal Sonic. Sonic friends jump out of the tower and Metal Sonic uses a Turtloid to hit Sonic in the air. They defeat Metal Sonic by Sonic kicking Metal Sonic so Omega can shoot him. They see the others and land on the Emeralds that Shadow is controlling. Sonic gets a boost from Tails, Amy, Tangle and Sonic destroys Eggman's city. As the emeralds are about to explode Shadow uses Chaos Control to teleport the emeralds into space. After everyone leaves the city, Rouge gives Amy a relic and wants to return it to Knuckles.
Amy uses her Pink Cabriolet from Team Sonic Racing to go to Angel Island to give Knuckles the relic, Rouge stole from him. When Amy leaves the car, the ground falls and she falls into Hydrocity and Knuckles catches her. Amy returns the relic to Knuckles and Amy asks if he needs assistance to protect the island and he says no. Meanwhile Clutch meets Jewel and asks her if she wants to do a partnership with his company and Jewel agrees. Meanwhile, Tangle, Whisper, and Lanolin are reflecting on what happened in Eggperial City. While they are doing this, a cat enters the room and his name is Duo. He wants to join the Diamond Cutters and Lanolin starts interviewing him. After the interview, Tangle gives Duo a place to stay and after Tangle leaves, Duo is actually Mimic and tells Clutch he has infiltrated Restoration HQ. The Diamond Cutters meet Silver on their way to train and Silver asks if he can join the group and Whisper allows him. While they are training, Lanolin asks Silver to pick up some rocks and while he is holding them, Duo kicks his shoe and he drops the rocks. A Giant Chopper tries to eat Silver as he goes to pick up the rocks but Whisper shoots the Badnik with her wispon in Orange Rocket mode. Silver is told by Lanolin to do better next time and Whisper hears of what happened so the two are suspicious of Duo. While this is happening, Sonic is taking Blaze sightseeing. They run around Spagonia and they run to the top of the clock and they go back down using Grind Rails. Whisper and Silver try to prove that Duo is Mimic by spooking him but to no avail. Silver then uses his psychokinesis to put Duo on a chair and he jumps off hurting himself as he lands on the floor. Jewel sees what happens and takes Duo to a nurse. Lanolin tells Silver to stay away from the Diamond Cutters and he leaves. Sonic and Blaze find Silver sulking at his garden. Blaze asks Silver what happened and Silver told her what happened. Sonic compares Blaze and Silver to him and Tails. Sonic says he has to leave and they part ways. Blaze compares Silver to Sonic and Blaze suggests that they should go to Soleanna and the two to head off. Back on Angel Island, the Babylon Rogues ambush Knuckles and steals the relics that Knuckles has but he tries to catch up but the Babylon Rogues are too fast on their Extreme Gear for Knuckles to keep up. Meanwhile, Cream and Vanilla make a dinner but Vanilla forgot some ingredients and she heads to the local market to get ingredients while Rough and Tumble are looking out the window of the house. Knuckles hires the Chaotix to get the relics and get them back. Rough and Tumble ruin the dinner and Vanilla shows up and saves her daughter.
Sonic meets up with Amy at Restoration HQ and is shocked to Surge and Kit sitting with Amy. Amy explains that Surge and Kit came in peace and want to change their lives. Surge says you made it sound simple. A flashback begins with Surge and Kit in Starline Base Sigma running out of food. They hear a noise outside an think it's Eggman and they dash outside to see what's happening. Surge and Kit destroy the badniks and Surge quickly takes out Rough and Tumble with a Spin Attack. Surge asks them if they are working for Eggman and the skunks say no. Clutch appears and asks for their help in taking over Restoration HQ in exchange for information about what Surge and Kit's lives were like before Starline kidnapped them. Surge and Kit agree and figure out a way to trick Sonic and friends. In the present, Sonic and Amy give Surge and Kit a tour of the Restoration, along the way they meet Silver and Blaze. Sonic greets the duo and asks what are they doing here and they want to get an aid container for Mazuri. Sonic and his friends think about the times they all fought each other. Surge asks Blaze and Silver if she's part of the Restoration. Silver and Blaze says they just help from time to time. Sonic, says bye to Silver and Blaze and move on to the next part of the tour. The hedgehogs and Surge and Kit go to the machine shop and meet Belle there. Belle asks Sonic why Surge and Kit are here and says they are here for a do over. Surge sees Whsper's Wispon and takes it from Belle. The group find the Neo Diamond Cutters and they are hostile towards Surge and Kit. Duo says it would be cool to have Surge and Kit in the Diamond Cutters. Surge gives the wispon to Whisper and tells her to shoot her. Whisper doesn't shoot her and the group walks off. Surge admires the Restoration and would be said if the place was destroyed and Sonic says which fool would do that. Amy says security has been tightened. Duo comes to take Surge and Kit to their room while Sonic says everyone deserves a second or third chance. Duo transforms into Mimic and says that he will be happy to work with Surge and Kit. Sonic and Tails test out Tails's new Extreme Gear design to find a Chaos Emerald. Tails is able to locate the Chaos Emerald and finds out the Chaos Emerald is beneath them. An earthquake starts and Sonic falls so Tails tries to save him but his head gets hit by a rock. The two wake up in a cave and Tails's scanner picks up the location of the Chaos Emerald and the duo head off to find it. They walk into a part of the cave with some plants and they split up to find the Chaos Emerald. Sonic finds the Chaos Emerald but a Salamander ambushes him so Tails gives him the Yellow Tail Turbo so the Salamander can't attack him. Tails observes that the Salamander attacks when someone harms the environment. Sonic goes to the Salamander and offers the Chaos Emerald in exchange for the exit. The Salamander shows them the exit and lets them leave without the Chaos Emerald. When the duo get out of the cave, Sonic covers the exit with soil so no one can disturb the Salamander. Tails is sad that the exit is gone so Sonic cheers him up by asking Tails what they should eat for dinner. Tails and Sonic head off into the sunset with the Chaos Emerald.
Stories and arcs[]
First saga[]
Fallout![]
"Fallout!" revolves around Sonic the Hedgehog and his recent adventures in the aftermath of the Eggman War. He discovers that after Dr. Eggman's disappearance his Badnik forces had become more organized, attacking several towns on command. Sonic decides to find the source of these attacks and stops several of them with the help of his friends such as Tails, Amy, Knuckles, Blaze, and a new ally named Tangle the Lemur.
- Sonic the Hedgehog #1, "Fallout, Part 1" (April 2018)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #2, "Fallout, Part 2" (April 2018)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #3, "Fallout, Part 3" (April 2018)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #4, "Fallout, Part 4" (April 2018)
The Fate of Dr. Eggman[]
The Chaotix Detective Agency receive an anonymous tip which leads them to a mountainous village where they find Dr. Eggman, only to discover that he is suffering amnesia and has become a model citizen. The tip was given by Rouge the Bat, who followed Shadow the Hedgehog in the research. Sonic convinces Shadow to leave "Mr. Tinker" to his new life. Sonic then discovers that the mysterious ringleader behind the Badnik attacks is Neo Metal Sonic, who took the leadership of the Eggman Empire once again, but only to conquer the world for Eggman in his absence. Sonic and Silver soon discover Neo's plans and alert Knuckles and Amy to gather their allies.
- Sonic the Hedgehog #5, "The Fate of Dr. Eggman, Part 1" (May 2018)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #6, "The Fate of Dr. Eggman, Part 2" (June 2018)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #7, "Meet the New Boss" (July 2018)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #8, "Silent Support" (August 2018)
Battle For Angel Island[]
Having discovered that Neo Metal Sonic has taken over Angel Island, Sonic, the Resistance, and their allies began an assault to take back the island. However, with the Master Emerald under the control of Neo Metal Sonic (who has more than a few tricks up his sleeves) and the entire Egg Fleet guarding Angel Island, liberating the island proves not to be a simple task. Eventually, Metal Sonic is defeated and the island is freed, though Knuckles decides to disband the Resistance in the aftermath. Meanwhile, Eggman is kidnapped by Rough the Skunk and Tumble the Skunk and has his memories restored by the shadowy Dr. Starline, who becomes Eggman's new lackey while Eggman goes to work on a new plan.
- Sonic the Hedgehog #9, "The Battle for Angel Island, Part 1" (September 2018)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #10, "The Battle for Angel Island, Part 2" (October 2018)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #11, "The Battle for Angel Island, Part 3" (November 2018)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #12, "The Cost of the Battle for Angel Island" (January 2019)
The Metal Virus Saga[]
Infection[]
When trying to relax from his latest adventure, Sonic is called back into action after learning that Dr. Eggman has gone back to his old ways. While Eggman works on the Metal Virus, Sonic is kept occupied by threats in the form of Rough and Tumble, and Dr. Starline as he looks into Eggman's latest operations. Along the way, Sonic gets infected with the Metal Virus, which is slowly turning him into a Zombot. Eventually, Eggman completes his Faceship and begins distributing the Metal Virus across the planet.
- Sonic the Hedgehog #13, "Calling Card" (February 2019)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #14, "Misdirection" (February 2019)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #15, "Patient Zero" (March 2019)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #16, "Infection" (May 2019)
Crisis City[]
With Dr. Eggman creating Zombot hordes across the world by downing entire cities in his Metal Virus using his new Faceship, Sonic races to catch up to the doctor while at the same time struggling to keep his own infection in check. With the help of his allies, Sonic fights to save as many civilians as he can from a crisis that is steadily spinning out of control while Eggman slowly begins to lose his hold over the Zombots. Along the way though, some of Sonic's closest allies fall victim to the virus, such as Charmy, Cheese, Chocola and Shadow. Meanwhile, Dr. Starline slowly realizes that Eggman has no plan to properly contain the virus and plots to employ the Deadly Six to counter this.
- Sonic the Hedgehog #17, "Plague" (May 2019)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #18, "Victims" (July 2019)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #19, "Crisis City, Part 1" (July 2019)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #20, "Crisis City, Part 2" (August 2019)
The Last Minute[]
Tails tries to research a cure for the Metal Virus while Tangle and Whisper help the locals in Central City evacuate following another Zombot outbreak. Due to Zombot Cheese and Chocola's interference, Tails fails his mission. At Restoration HQ, Vector butts heads with Gemerl over whether or not an imprisoned Zombot Charmy could be kept there. One of the refugees reveals that they were infected, which causes a Zombot outbreak in the HQ. Despite all efforts, many survivors were infected in the process, including Vector and Vanilla. Elsewhere, Sonic uses Tails' bio-scanner to help discover how his speed counters the Metal Virus. He finds Dr. Eggman and Dr. Starline in Barricade Town attempting to find ways to control the Zombots once again. Though Sonic foils their plans, the bio-scanner is destroyed. Following this, Sonic helps the Restoration in evacuating Spiral Hill Village after a Zombot outbreak occurred there but at the cost of losing Tangle to the virus. Meanwhile, Dr. Starline meets the Deadly Six and proposes an alliance that they accept, with each party having external malicious intent.
- Sonic the Hedgehog #21, "The Last Minute, Part 1" (October 2019)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #22, "The Last Minute, Part 2" (October 2019)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #23, "The Last Minute, Part 3" (November 2019)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #24, "The Last One Out" (December 2019)
All or Nothing[]
After Dr. Starline invited the Deadly Six onboard the Faceship but failed to control them with the Cacophonic Conch, he, Dr. Eggman and Metal Sonic flee the scene. The Zeti decide to use the Chaos Emeralds to empower themselves and control the thousands of Zombots around the world. Rouge, who managed to sneak onto the ship earlier, relays this information to Sonic and the others, who are now using Angel Island as a safe haven. Unexpectedly joined by Eggman and Metal Sonic, who later fires Starline, the group gets to work on a counterattack against the Deadly Six that involves the Warp Topaz. A Multi-Portal Generator is created, which allows the survivors, including the Babylon Rogues, to fight and retrieve the Chaos Emeralds from the Zeti. When all but Zavok's are assembled, Sonic, Silver and Metal Sonic team up to get it, resulting in the hedgehogs becoming Super Sonic and Super Silver. They manage to manage to defeat Zavok and destroy the Metal Virus, curing everyone infected. However, after Super Sonic tries to get rid of the Warp Topaz, he vanishes.
- Sonic the Hedgehog #25, "A Sudden Shift" (February 2020)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #26, "All or Nothing, Part 1" (March 2020)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #27, "All or Nothing, Part 2" (March 2020)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #28, "All or Nothing, Part 3" (June 2020)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #29, "All or Nothing, Part 4" (July 2020)
Out of the Blue[]
With the Metal Virus gone, the Deadly Six decide to lay low, though Zavok ends up imprisoned. As everyone else is caught up in the commotion of Sonic's disappearance, Dr. Eggman makes a quick getaway with his lackeys and Omega. In the following days, several events occur; Amy gives control of the Restoration to Jewel; Rough and Tumble are freed from Echo Mine by Tails and Tangle; Silver returns to a restored future; Vanilla, Cream, Cheese, Chocola and Gemerl help the Chaotix with missing persons cases; Shadow reflects on Sonic's previous warning. Later on, Eggman crashes Tangle's party at Spiral Hill Village with a more weaponized Omega. Meanwhile, Sonic turns up on Blaze's world and becomes amnesiac. She helps him regain his memories and sends him back home to aid the others in defeating Eggman once more.
- Sonic the Hedgehog #30, "Cured" (August 2020)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #31, "Recovery, Part 1" (September 2020)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #32, "Recovery, Part 2" (September 2020)
Third saga[]
Chao Races and Badnik Bases[]
Following the end of the Zombot apocalypse, Omega has been damaged, and his allies turn to Sonic, Tails and Amy for help. The only way to rebuild him is to trade parts with the mysterious champion Chao racer Clutch, so it is off to the White Park Chao Racing Circuit for Cream, Cheese, Amy, and Rouge. Meanwhile, Sonic and Tails find a new ally named Belle while trying to look for ciphers in an abandoned Eggman base. She later aids Cream, Amy and Gemerl once they discover Clutch had imprisoned several Chao for his races. Shadow, who was also at White Park, runs afoul of a hooded figure who is revealed to be Dr. Starline. He kidnaps Rouge and Tails and also sets off an avalanche as a distraction. The pair manage to free themselves while Omega startles Starline. While Belle prevents Starline from taking Tails again, Sonic and Shadow try their best to stop the avalanche. Though they fail, no one is harmed as everyone else manages to escape the chateau. Following this, Omega is repaired.
- Sonic the Hedgehog #33, "Chao Races and Badnik Bases, Part 1" (October 2020)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #34, "Chao Races and Badnik Bases, Part 2" (November 2020)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #35, "Chao Races and Badnik Bases, Part 3" (December 2020)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #36, "Chao Races and Badnik Bases, Part 4" (January 2021)
Test Run![]
Belle is accepted as a member of the Restoration as she has nowhere else to stay. There, she finds a friend in Tangle. After a mysterious tower that causes freak storms appears, Sonic, Tails and Amy set off to investigate it, but get caught inside the testing chambers for robots where Dr. Eggman controls the spatial laws. Once he becomes aware of the group's incursion, Eggman decides to take advantage of the situation by pitting his robots against the heroes. Meanwhile, Tangle wishes to join the trio, but is prohibited by Jewel. She and Belle nonetheless set off to follow the others to the tower. There, it is revealed Belle is a Badnik created by Eggman back when the doctor was the amnesiac Mr. Tinker. Thanks to Tangle though, Sonic and co. escape the test chambers, who proceed to flee from the tower with their allies and enemies before it implodes from a feedback loop.
- Sonic the Hedgehog #37, "Test Run, Part 1" (February 2021)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #38, "Test Run, Part 2" (March 2021)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #39, "Test Run, Part 3" (May 2021)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #40, "Test Run, Part 4" (June 2021)
Zeti Hunt![]
Overhearing that Zavok is around, Master Zik decides to help his former student. Meanwhile, Zavok is madder than ever and wishes to reunite with the Deadly Six. Finding Zazz and Zomom, the trio meet up with Master Zik, Zeena and Zor. The reassembled Deadly Six then decide to make a big move by attacking Restoration HQ. To stop the Deadly Six, Jewel calls in the Chaotix Detective Agency while Sonic joins in. As the heroes make preparations though, the Deadly Six manage to sneak into Restoration HQ and wreak havoc while Dr. Starline sneaks in and kidnaps Belle. Sonic, however, quickly arrives to stop the Deadly Six, which he accomplishes with a little help from Tails and his Zeti Zappers. In the aftermath, Sonic and Tails send the Deadly Six back to the Lost Hex while the Chaotix save Belle. However, before escaping, Starline has gotten the data he needs from Belle for his long-term plans.
- Sonic the Hedgehog #41, "Zeti Hunt, Part 1" (June 2021)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #42, "Zeti Hunt, Part 2" (July 2021)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #43, "Zeti Hunt, Part 3" (September 2021)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #44, "Zeti Hunt, Part 4" (September 2021)
Trial by Fire[]
After everything that has happened lately, Amy, Jewel, Tangle, and Belle head off on a well-deserved camping trip in hopes of getting some rest, relaxation and peace. Unfortunately, tensions are high between the girls. Not long after, a forest fire erupts around the campground. Belle gets caught up in the expanding fire, only to get unexpected help from Motobud. Amy and Jewel work on keeping the masses organized while Tangle looks for a missing child named Ashe and his companion, Red Hot. Eventually finding Belle and teaming up with her and Motobud, Tangle and her group find Ashe and learn that two anonymous figures are behind the fire. Eventually, Tangle, Belle, Ashe, Red Hot, and the Motobug manage to find their way back to the campground and aid Jewel in her plan to quell the fire. Following this, Tails repairs Belle's hand and Tangle leaves the Restoration with Jewel's blessing to find Whisper.
Following an investigation in a power surge, the Chaotix find Clutch, Rough, and Tumble. Following his recent setback, Clutch intends to revive his old arms dealership empire. The Chaotix tussle with the group, leading to Vector destroying Clutch's entire Badnik collection, but the trio escape. Not long after, following a successful experiment to turn Badniks non-hostile, Sonic, Tails and Belle discover that the world's Badniks are being called to Eggperial City, prompting the trio to head there and investigate.
- Sonic the Hedgehog #45, "Trial by Fire, Part 1" (October 2021)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #46, "Trial by Fire, Part 2" (October 2021)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #47, "Trial by Fire, Part 3" (December 2021)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #48, "Hit the Pavement" (February 2022)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #49, "Wound Up" (April 2022)
Battle for the Empire[]
In Eggperial City, Sonic and Tails find themselves battling Surge the Tenrec and Kitsunami the Fennec, new "creations" of Dr. Starline's that despise him and seek destruction upon the world. The heroes try to reason with their imposters to no avail but manage to defeat them. Meanwhile, Dr. Eggman prevents Starline from taking over his empire and leaves him to his demise. Meanwhile, Belle, who has repaired Metal Sonic, tells Eggman that she is saying goodbye to him for good. Eggman then sics his Badniks on Sonic, Tails, and Belle. After that, the trio gets ambushed by a horde of badniks. Sonic, Tails, and Belle then find a shuttle which they try and use to escape, but Metal Sonic attacks them and destroys the shuttle.
- Sonic the Hedgehog #50, "Battle for the Empire" (June 2022)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #51, "Escaping the Empire" (July 2022)
Overpowered[]
After the crash of the shuttle, Tails, Belle and Sonic wake up with Sonic having his leg hurt. Metal Sonic prepares another attack while Kit wakes up meanwhile Surge survived the fall from Issue 50. Tails, Belle, Kit and Sonic run from Metal Sonic to evade the attack. They find a water container which they use to suspend Metal Sonic. Sonic gives a recap to Kit and then Kit refills his pack and beats Metal Sonic. Sonic and friends escape the city while Surge finds the Dynamo Cage and also escapes. Surge tests out her powers in Central City when Whisper is about to fight Surge. A fight engages between the two and Surge uses the Dynamo Cage to absorb all the wisps and when Surge is about to kill Whisper, Surge has another hallucination of Starline. Jewel informs Sonic and Tails about what is happening and Sonic and Tails go to investigate while Belle consoles Kit about losing Surge. Sonic and Tails see Surge and Whisper so Tails drops Sonic onto a car and Sonic greets Surge. Sonic and Surge start fighting while Tails consoles Whisper about losing her wisps. Tails joins the fight by carrying Sonic and Surge beats them in the air with a Spin Attack. Sonic tries to move but his leg is hurting him while Whisper sends her Laser Wisp towards Sonic which he uses to beat Surge but Surge goes on the defensive with the Cube Wisp and then takes the Laser Wisp and absorbs it. Tails has a plan and Sonic leads Surge into Tails's trap and is knocked out. Kit finds out that Surge is alive and Kit leaves with Surge. Sonic, Tails, Eggman and Metal Sonic trace Surge to Egg Base Sigma. Sonic and Metal Sonic have a fight while Eggman gets ambushed by Surge and Surge gets surrounded by her enemies and retreats. Surge absorbs all the energy in the base while Sonic, Tails, Eggman and Metal Sonic find Surge and Kit and engage in a fight. Sonic and Metal Sonic fight Surge while Tails fights Kit. Sonic and Metal Sonic are beating Surge when Surge says the fight is not fair as she finds Eggman sneaking away while Metal Sonic is knocked out by Surge. Surge breaks the water containers and uses her electric powers to try and hit Sonic but Eggman saves him. Tails and Kit finish their fight while Surge is using all of the wisps to try and beat Sonic when he says that Surge can take freedom but she can't. Surge tries to kill Sonic with her electric powers but the Dynamo Cage knocks her out. Kit tries to kill everyone but to no avail and the two groups split ways.
- Sonic the Hedgehog #52, "Overpowered, Part 1" (August 2022)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #53, "Overpowered, Part 2" (September 2022)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #54, "Overpowered, Part 3" (October 2022)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #55, "Overpowered, Part 4" (December 2022)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #56, "Overpowered, Part 5" (January 2023)
Urban Warfare[]
Sonic enters Restoration HQ and meets Jewel, Tangle, Whisper, and Lanolin. Sonic asks what they are doing and they say they are making a group to infiltrate Eggperial City. Sonic happily joins and they make way to Eggperial City. The group scouts the area and find an underground part of the city. A trap activates and Sonic gets disconnected from the trio. After beating a few badniks, Sonic finds a place to hide and he asks Jewel for backup. Sonic is still fighting some badniks and Silver uses his psychokinesis to destroy a badink and then Blaze uses a fire beam to destroy more badniks. Meanwhile Tangle, Whisper, and Lanolin go to the main tower. The team starts to beat more badniks and Tails is able to figure out how to win by using his Miles Electric. A big explosion happens so Sonic and Tails go to find out what is happening while Silver, Blase and Amy go to destroy more badniks. Sonic and Tails find Team Dark at the scene of the explosion. Silver, Blaze and Amy arrive at the scene while Tangle, Whisper, and Lanolin are looking at Shadow Androids. Eggman unleashes his Shadow Androids on Sonic and friends. Sonic says they should retreat so Silver uses his psychokinesis to form a ramp and they launch off onto a building. Tails tells Shadow that the huge crystals are generating Chaos Energy so he uses their chaos energy to beat more Shadow Androids. Shadow starts to feel a strange sense of energy and Giant Fake Chaos Emeralds emerge from the ground. Sonic and others go to higher ground but Shadow and Omega are left behind. Meanwhile, Lanolin, Tangle and Whisper escape the trap because of the huge power outage. Eggman captures Whisper and Lanolin in his hexagonal trap and Tangle barely escapes by falling out of the tower. Tangle falls into the ground and is taken back up but she doesn't have any time to rest because Metal Sonic sends the hexagonal trap after her and she escapes Metal Sonic's sight. She is panicking that she can't warn the others or save Lanolin and Whisper but she finds the courage and looks for them while Metal Sonic uses her as a tracker to Sonic's friends. She finds them as her head is in the Miles Electric and Amy is scared so she breaks the Miles Electric. Tangle warns everyone about the hexagonal trap and Sonic dodges one and they see Metal Sonic. Sonic fights Metal Sonic while everyone else dodges the hexagonal traps. When Sonic and Silver are about to use a plan Amy just breaks the floor and suspends Metal Sonic. Tangle tells them how to destroy the city so they split up. Rouge, Blaze and Silver go to find Shadow and Omega while Sonic, Tails, Amy and Tangle go the the central tower. Sonic, Tails, Tangle and Amy are confronted by Metal Sonic so Tangle blinds Metal Sonic and Tails and Amy carry Sonic and Tangle to the Central tower. Meanwhile, Blaze, Silver and Rouge find Shadow and Omega so they try to free them but they run into Shadow Androids. Rouge and Blaze fight the Shadow Androids while Silver was able to free Shadow. Meanwhile, the other group arrive at the central tower. Amy shoves Eggman while Tails finishes removing the safeguards while Amy gets knocked out by Eggman while Sonic is distracted and Metal Sonic knocks out Sonic with a punch. Sonic gets trapped in the hexagonal trap. Whisper and Lanolin appear and Sonic appears to fight Metal Sonic. Sonic friends jump out of the tower and Metal Sonic uses a Turtloid to hit Sonic in the air. They defeat Metal Sonic by Sonic kicking Metal Sonic so Omega can shoot him. They see the others and land on the Emeralds that Shadow is controlling. Sonic gets a boost from Tails, Amy, Tangle, and Sonic destroys Eggman's city. As the emeralds are about to explode Shadow uses Chaos Control to teleport the emeralds into space. After everyone leaves the city, Rouge gives Amy a relic and wants to return it to Knuckles.
- Sonic the Hedgehog #57, "Urban Warfare, Part 1" (February 2023)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #58, "Urban Warfare, Part 2" (March 2023)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #59, "Urban Warfare, Part 3" (April 2023)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #60, "Urban Warfare, Part 4" (May 2023)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #61, "Urban Warfare, Part 5" (June 2023)
Fourth saga[]
Misadventures[]
Amy uses her Pink Cabriolet from Team Sonic Racing to go to Angel Island to give Knuckles the relic, Rouge stole from him. When Amy leaves the car, the ground falls and she falls into Hydrocity and Knuckles catches her. Meanwhile Clutch meets with Mimic and they begin a partnership with Clutch asking Mimic to infiltrate the Restoration for his company Clean Sweep Inc. Amy returns the relic to Knuckles and Amy asks if he needs assistance to protect the island and he says no. Meanwhile, Tangle, Whisper, and Lanolin are reflecting on what happened in Eggperial City. While they are doing this, a cat enters the room and his name is Duo. He wants to join the Diamond Cutters and Lanolin starts interviewing him. After the interview, Tangle gives Duo a place to stay and after Tangle leaves, Duo is actually Mimic and tells Clutch he has infiltrated Restoration HQ. The Diamond Cutters meet Silver on their way to train and Silver asks if he can join the group and Whisper allows him. While they are training, Lanolin asks Silver to pick up some rocks and while he is holding them, Duo kicks his shoe and he drops the rocks. A Giant Chopper tries to eat Silver as he goes to pick up the rocks but Whisper shoots the Badnik with her wispon in Orange Rocket mode. Silver is told by Lanolin to do better next time and Whisper hears of what happened so the two are suspicious of Duo. While this is happening, Sonic is taking Blaze sightseeing. They run around Spagonia and they run to the top of the clock and they go back down using Grind Rails. Whisper and Silver try to prove that Duo is Mimic by spooking him but to no avail. Silver then uses his psychokinesis to put Duo on a chair and he jumps off hurting himself as he lands on the floor. Jewel sees what happens and takes Duo to a nurse. Lanolin tells Silver to stay away from the Diamond Cutters and he leaves. Sonic and Blaze find Silver sulking at his garden. Blaze asks Silver what happened and Silver told her what happened. Sonic compares Blaze and Silver to him and Tails. Sonic says he has to leave and they part ways. Blaze compares Silver to Sonic and Blaze suggests that they should go to Soleanna and the two to head off. Back on Angel Island, the Babylon Rogues ambush Knuckles and steals the relics that Knuckles has but he tries to catch up but the Babylon Rogues are too fast on their Extreme Gear for Knuckles to keep up. Meanwhile, Cream and Vanilla make a dinner for them and the Chaotix but Vanilla forgot some ingredients, so she heads to the local market to get ingredients while Rough and Tumble are looking out the window of the house. Knuckles hires the Chaotix to get the relics and get them back, with them successfully defeating the Babylon Rogues and having to rush back for the dinner at Vanilla's. Rough and Tumble ruin the dinner and Vanilla shows up and saves her daughter, and when the Chaotix arrive they all decide to get takeout instead. Meanwhile it is revealed that the Babylon Rogues were hired by Clutch to distract the Chaotix whilst Clutch meets with Jewel, and asks her if she wants to do a partnership with his company to which Jewel agrees.
Sonic meets up with Amy at Restoration HQ and is shocked to Surge and Kit sitting with Amy. Amy explains that Surge and Kit came in peace and want to change their lives. Surge says you made it sound simple. A flashback begins with Surge and Kit in Starline Base Sigma running out of food. They hear a noise outside an think it's Eggman and they dash outside to see what's happening. Surge and Kit destroy the badniks and Surge quickly takes out Rough and Tumble with a Spin Attack. Surge asks them if they are working for Eggman and the skunks say no. Clutch appears and asks for their help in taking over Restoration HQ in exchange for information about what Surge and Kit's lives were like before Starline kidnapped them. Surge and Kit agree and figure out a way to trick Sonic and friends. In the present, Sonic and Amy give Surge and Kit a tour of the Restoration, along the way they meet Silver and Blaze. Sonic greets the duo and asks what are they doing here and they want to get an aid container for Mazuri. Sonic and his friends think about the times they all fought each other. Surge asks Blaze and Silver if she's part of the Restoration. Silver and Blaze says they just help from time to time. Sonic, says bye to Silver and Blaze and move on to the next part of the tour. The hedgehogs and Surge and Kit go to the machine shop and meet Belle there. Belle asks Sonic why Surge and Kit are here and says they are here for a do over. Surge sees Whsper's Wispon and takes it from Belle. The group find the Neo Diamond Cutters and they are hostile towards Surge and Kit. Duo says it would be cool to have Surge and Kit in the Diamond Cutters. Surge gives the wispon to Whisper and tells her to shoot her. Whisper doesn't shoot her and the group walks off. Surge admires the Restoration and would be said if the place was destroyed and Sonic says which fool would do that. Amy says security has been tightened. Duo comes to take Surge and Kit to their room while Sonic says everyone deserves a second or third chance. Duo transforms into Mimic and says that he will be happy to work with Surge and Kit. Sonic and Tails test out Tails's new Extreme Gear design to find a Chaos Emerald. Tails is able to locate the Chaos Emerald and finds out the Chaos Emerald is beneath them. An earthquake starts and Sonic falls so Tails tries to save him but his head gets hit by a rock. The two wake up in a cave and Tails's scanner picks up the location of the Chaos Emerald and the duo head off to find it. They walk into a part of the cave with some plants and they split up to find the Chaos Emerald. Sonic finds the Chaos Emerald but a Salamander ambushes him so Tails gives him the Yellow Tail Turbo so the Salamander can't attack him. Tails observes that the Salamander attacks when someone harms the environment. Sonic goes to the Salamander and offers the Chaos Emerald in exchange for the exit. The Salamander shows them the exit and lets them leave without the Chaos Emerald. When the duo get out of the cave, Sonic covers the exit with soil so no one can disturb the Salamander. Tails is sad that the exit is gone so Sonic cheers him up by asking Tails what they should eat for dinner. Tails and Sonic head off into the sunset with the Chaos Emerald.
- Sonic the Hedgehog #62, "Misadventures, Part 1" (July 2023)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #63, "Misadventures, Part 2" (August 2023)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #64, "Misadventures, Part 3" (September 2023)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #65, "Misadventures, Part 4" (October 2023)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #66, "Misadventures, Part 5" (November 2023)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #67, "Second Chances" (December 2023)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #68, "The Protector" (January 2024)
Phantom Riders arc[28][]
- Sonic the Hedgehog #69 (May 2024)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #70 (July 2024)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #71 (July 2024)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #72 (August 2024)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #73 (September 2024)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #74 (October 2024)
- Sonic the Hedgehog #75 (December 2024)
Scattered Pieces[]
- Sonic the Hedgehog #76 (February 2025)
Reception[]
Bleeding Cool gave the first issue a score of 6.5/10, praising the art and creativity of the story but criticizing Sonic's characterization, saying that "Sonic is an insufferable character... He’s smug, annoying, and radical in that 1990's sense."[29]
The first four issues sold about 60,000 copies, making the IDW series one of the greatest successes of printed Sonic media, surpassing Sonic Boom.[30]
Trivia[]
- An unused image that was made by Tyson Hesse was used for the cover of a catalogue from PREVIEWSworld, which is a catalogue of upcoming comics for comic shops.
- The comic launched in what would have been the 25th anniversary year of its predecessor.
- On 9 October 2017, Flynn stated on BumbleKing that there could be a chance that the Pre-Super Genesis Wave continuity from the Archie comics could be concluded in the IDW comics along with the Post-Super Genesis Wave continuity, as he also said that IDW is famous for bringing back and completing older runs of fan-favorite franchise comics when they can.[31]
- While the comic's logo is the same of the official video game franchise, the one shown on the promo art from the New York Comic-Con is similar to the latest one from the Archie Comics.
- "Modern" versions of characters like Ray, Mighty and Team Hooligan will not appear in the comics due to the fact that SEGA has currently requested a distinct division between "Classic Sonic" and "Modern Sonic".[32]
- On 26 August 2018, Flynn stated several things in an interview at SAGE 2018 about the IDW series:
- Flynn stated that the "Modern Sonic" universe was set neither on Earth nor Mobius; just like the games' canon (at the time) and Sonic X, Sonic and friends lived on one world, while the humans lived on another world.[33]
- It was later stated by Flynn that the "two worlds" canon no longer mattered to the series.[34] The reason was later revealed to be because of the main series finally settling to take place on one world (as explained in "TailsTube No. 1 (feat. Sonic)") and the comic series would follow suit.
- However according to Ian, humans would not still appear in the comic on the near future, but it might change if Sega demands it.[35]
- It was later stated by Flynn that the "two worlds" canon no longer mattered to the series.[34] The reason was later revealed to be because of the main series finally settling to take place on one world (as explained in "TailsTube No. 1 (feat. Sonic)") and the comic series would follow suit.
- Flynn has stated that he wishes to do a prequel of Sonic Forces so he can explore the six months of stories the readers did not get to see during Eggman's conquest.[33]
- Flynn stated that the "Modern Sonic" universe was set neither on Earth nor Mobius; just like the games' canon (at the time) and Sonic X, Sonic and friends lived on one world, while the humans lived on another world.[33]
- On 17 September 2018, during the BumbleKast, Flynn confirmed several things about the IDW comic series:[36]
- He does not have any plans for the Knothole Freedom Fighters at the moment and stated that Sega will declare if they can use them.
- Only some places will have a name if they are important for world building.
- He has plans for making an entire new rogues gallery for the comic, but that it will take time.
- On December 7, 2018, David Mariotte announced that the schedule was being adjusted so more comics can be released in 2019.[37]
- The initial reason why the "Classic Sonic" universe was not included in the series was because the creative team could not state if it took place in the past or if it was in another dimension.[38] Flynn stated later that the "Classic Sonic" universe takes place sometime after Sonic Mania.[39]
- Flynn established that though there will be comics that will feature the "Classic Sonic" universe, they will only have characters that are considered "Classic" exclusive, so there will not be anything related to the "Modern Sonic" universe.[40]
- However according to Ian, Sega has eliminated the "split timeline" canon, making the events of both "Classic Sonic" and "Modern Sonic" take place in one timeline.[41]
- This can be corroborated as Sega hired a Sonic lore manager to ensure the game's universe is "more meaningfully connected".[42]
- Flynn has stated that there are characters in the series inspired by some characters from the comic series published by Archie Comics.[43]
- Infinite will not appear in the comics as Sega has established that he is off-limits.[44]
- Likewise, although the series is set in the "Modern Sonic" universe, characters such as Chaos and Tikal are forbidden from appearing, due to Sega stating that officially they are dead.[45]
- One of the first pitches Flynn presented to the creative crew before officially writing Sonic the Hedgehog was to begin with a villain that was not Eggman as there have been many Eggman-focused stories beforehand. Flynn believed he should use someone familiar to Sonic fans but not someone readers would necessarily expect. For that reason, he chose Neo Metal Sonic as the main villain for the first eleven issues of the comic as he was able to impersonate Eggman.[46]
- The series is the first Sonic comic book series to receive merchandising and promotion in the video games. Notably, the comic's signature original characters, Tangle the Lemur and Whisper the Wolf, have merchandise in the form of enamel pins, shirts, pillows, a fleece blanket, and plush toys and appear as playable characters in the mobile games Sonic Dash and Sonic Forces: Speed Battle. They have also received their own recipes and commentary in Sonic the Hedgehog: The Official Cookbook.
- Sonic Origins also has the covers of both the Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Special and the Sonic the Hedgehog Free Comic Book Day 2021 as unlockable content in the game's Museum.
- Sticks the Badger was going to appear in the comic, according to Ian, there was an original pitch where after the end of the first arc Sticks would appear at the end revealing that she was living in Angel Island in secret.[47]
- Despite the fact the paperback version of the Misadventures arc covers issues #62-#66, according to Evan Stanley, the Misadventures arc also includes issues #67 and #68.[48]
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 T-Bird (5 October 2017). IDW Sonic Comic Teaser Features Tyson Hesse Artwork. Sonic Stadium. Retrieved on 6 October 2017. "Thank you for joining us for the first ever IDW/Sonic Town Hall! IDW and SEGA are proud to bring you an all-new chapter of Sonic the Hedgehog comics! After more than 25 years, Sonic’s adventures have captured the imaginations of countless fans, and have inspired one of the most passionate fan bases in the world. We look forward to bringing you brand-new stories, featuring characters old and new, that continue this proud legacy of the fastest comics around! SPEEDING YOUR WAY APRIL 2018!"
- ↑ Frank, Allegra (9 October 2017). Sonic the Hedgehog’s next comics get a fantastic facelift (correction). Polygon. Retrieved on 25 October 2017.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 IDW Publishing and SEGA® Welcome Veteran Sonic Writer Ian Flynn. IDW Publishing (8 October 2017). Retrieved on 8 October 2017. "A new era of Sonic comics will begin next April with a four-week event. IDW will be moving at Sonic-like speeds to publish the first four issues of the new series in the span of four weeks. Those issues will be written by Flynn with a team of artists joining him to be announced at a later date."
- ↑ "Sonic Station LIVE!" JUNE 2022 English Highlights ft.Ed & Rena. YouTube. ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ【公式】 (8 August 2022). Retrieved on 3 March 2023.
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog on Twitter. Twitter (21 July 2017). Retrieved on 21 July 2017. "Sonic the Hedgehog: SEGA and IDW are thrilled to announce a partnership to bring Sonic Comics to fans new and old. The new series arrives 2018!"
- ↑ Chris Ryall on Tumblr. Tumblr (3 August 2017). Retrieved on 3 August 2017.
- ↑ SSF1991 (28 December 2017). Ian Flynn Confirms That IDW Sonic Comics Will Not Have Archie Sonic Characters He Created. TSSZ News. Retrieved on 28 December 2017.
- ↑ SSF1991 (11 January 2018). Official IDW Sonic Facebook Group Opens. TSSZ News. Retrieved on 11 January 2018.
- ↑ SSF1991 (16 January 2018). Tracy Yardley! Confirmed For IDW Sonic Team, One Of Multiple Covers For Issue #1 Released. TSSZ News. Retrieved on 17 January 2018.
- ↑ Holub, Christian (22 January 2018). New Sonic the Hedgehog comics coming in April. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 23 January 2018.
- ↑ Yehl, Joshua (24 January 2018). Sonic the Hedgehog's Newest Ally Is Tangle the Ring-tailed Lemur. IGN. Retrieved on 24 January 2018.
- ↑ Thurmond, Joey (15 February 2018). Writer Ian Flynn Discusses Giving The Sonic Comic Series A Fresh Start. Game Informer. Retrieved on 16 February 2018.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 SSF1991 (2 March 2018). Sonic IDW Facebook Q&A Highlights. TSSZ News. Retrieved on 3 March 2018.
- ↑ SSF1991 (16 March 2018). SEGA Shop Begins Selling Special IDW Comics Bundle. TSSZ News. Retrieved on 21 March 2018.
- ↑ Plagge, Kallie (23 August 2018). Nintendo Switch Getting App To Read Comics, Including Dark Souls And Sonic. GameSpot. Retrieved on 12 September 2018.
- ↑ Sonic rejoint le catalogue Mana Books !! (French). Mana Books. Retrieved on 1 November 2018.
- ↑ Sonic Reikai on Twitter. Twitter (5 April 2019). Retrieved on 5 April 2019.
- ↑ Sonic Paradise on Twitter. Twitter (6 April 2019). Retrieved on 6 April 2019.
- ↑ Sonic Official - Season 3 Episode 8. YouTube (21 June 2019). Retrieved on 21 June 2019.
- ↑ IDW Debuts Spanish Graphic Novel Line with Takei's 'They Called Us Enemy'. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved on 24 November 2019.
- ↑ Wise Publishing on Twitter (Japanese) (27 March 2020). Archived from the original on 27 March 2020.
- ↑ Sonic está na #Geektopia on Twitter. Twitter (4 March 2021). Retrieved on 4 March 2021.
- ↑ Sobrinos. ¡#Sonic, el erizo, repito, #SONIC!, ya disponible con un primer tomo y portadas variantes. on Twitter. Twitter (17 March 2023). Retrieved on 17 March 2023.
- ↑ Samuele "SamWolf" Zaboi (14 December 2023). Tunué svela le prime uscite del 2024 - Nerdgames (it). Nerdgames.it. Retrieved on 24 December 2023.
- ↑ IDW Publishing announces "Sonic Month". Tails' Channel (27 May 2021). Retrieved on 27 May 2021.
- ↑ IDW's giving away trades, games, and a custom PS5. Sonic Stadium (10 June 2021). Retrieved on 10 June 2021.
- ↑ Sonic Official - Season 7 Episode 7 (timestamp 15:57)
- ↑ @SpiritSonic on Twitter (22 March 2024). Retrieved on 22 March 2024. "I forgot to post the solicit for the start of the Phantom Riders arc oops."
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #1 Review: Creative Action Scenes Make Up for an Annoying Lead. Bleeding Cool (5 April 2018). Retrieved on 16 July 2018.
- ↑ IDW Sonic Smashes Sales Expectations, Becomes Best-Selling Sonic Comics on Record. Sonic Stadium (7 May 2018).
- ↑ Lost Hedgehog Tales "Update". BumbleKing (9 October 2017).
- ↑ Flynn, Ian . Sonic the Hedgehog FAQ. BumbleKing.
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 Schneckloth, Ryan . SAGE 2018: Interview with Ian Flynn Summary. TSSZ News.
- ↑ BumbleKast Q&A for July 26th, 2021. YouTube (26 July 2021). Retrieved on 27 July 2021.
- ↑ BumbleKast for April 13th, 2022 - Priority Q&A Podcast with Ian Flynn. YouTube (13 April 2022). Retrieved on 13 April 2022.
- ↑ BumbleKast #75: Q&A Bonanza!. Sonic Source (17 September 2018). Retrieved on 19 September 2018.
- ↑ IDW Sonic Comics Squad. Facebook (7 December 2018). Retrieved on 9 December 2018.
- ↑ BumbleKast #81 - MST3K. YouTube (10 October 2018). Retrieved on 10 October 2018.
- ↑ BumbleKast Q&A for June 14th, 2021 - SEGA Smash Bros.. YouTube (14 June 2021). Retrieved on 15 June 2021.
- ↑ BumbleKast Q&A Live Special! For June 7th, 2021. YouTube (7 June 2021). Retrieved on 7 June 2021.
- ↑ BumbleKast Mini! For November 16th, 2022 - Q&A Podcast with Ian Flynn. YouTube (16 November 2022). Retrieved on 16 November 2022.
- ↑ Sega hiring Sonic lore manager to ensure universe "more meaningfully connected". eurogamer (16 November 2022). Retrieved on 16 November 2022.
- ↑ BumbleKast #82 - The Final (For Real) Smash Bros. Ultimate Episode. YouTube (7 January 2019). Retrieved on 7 January 2019.
- ↑ BumbleKast #83 - Into the Cinematic Spider-Verse. YouTube (21 January 2019). Retrieved on 21 January 2019.
- ↑ BumbleKast Q&A for April 26th, 2021. YouTube (26 April 2021). Retrieved on 26 April 2021.
- ↑ Ian Flynn on Facebook. Facebook (19 April 2019). Retrieved on 19 April 2019.
- ↑ BumbleKast Monthly Livestream for April 2022 - Q&A with Ian Flynn!. YouTube (30 April 2022). Retrieved on 30 April 2022.
- ↑ @SpiritSonic on Twitter (4 January 2024). Retrieved on 4 January 2024. "Welp, with Sonic #68 out that's the end of the Misadventures arc. It was nice to do something a bit more chill, but after the Fang miniseries we'll be hitting the ground running with a new arc in #69. It's gonna be an action-packed ride!"
External links[]
- IDW Sonic the Hedgehog at IDW Sonic Hub Wiki, the IDW Sonic wiki.
- Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW) on Sonic Retro
- Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW Publishing) at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia