Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2024 is the fourth annual edition comic for the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series published by IDW Publishing.
Official solicitation[]
- The Sonic the Hedgehog Annual is back for 2024! Join Sonic and his friends in four exciting stories as they adventure together across the world in this 40-page anthology![citation needed]
Featured stories[]
Hero's Calling[]
- Story: Ian Flynn
- Pencils: Thomas Rothlisberger
- Inks & Colors: Rik Mack
Synopsis[]
Surge running to save the Chao from getting hit.
In downtown Westopolis, Surge and Kit are running down a street trying to save a train from spiraling out of control when Surge says how she thought the driver was going at a fun speed when the driver yells saying how the brakes are out when Surge tells Kit to uses his tails from his Hydro Pack to grab the train and slow it down. Kit obeys but the train manages to pull him as well and Surge talking to herself saying how he had one job when suddenly she hears a toot and realizes the train is heading towards a marching Chao marching band and Surge rushes downhill saying how the delicate approach is boring anyway. Soon she hits the car to tilt it to avoid the Chao while Kit pulls it and holding civilians. Surge then gloats about their victory saying theirs's no need for applause when an angry citizen says how he might have broken his wrist because of her. In response Surge ask if he wants a broken neck when the citizen responds saying how she could've crippled everyone in there when Surge says how he could've jumped and save himself.
Another citizen tells her to not mind him and thanks them for their efforts when they leave to go to the doctor. The other citizen talks about Surge's speed while the other says how she's still no Sonic the Hedgehog causing Surge to grow angry. Later on, Surge is bouncing a ball when Kit walks in and notices how she is in the same place he left her in and ask what's wrong and in response Surge says nothing. Kit then asks if she's sick, has a headache, or tummy ache, and Surge responds with no. Kit then asks if she's mad at him to Surge responds telling him to calm down when Kit says how she looks mad at him with Surge saying she isn't but is annoying her to Kit saying he's sorry.
Surge and Kit preparing to start their new path.
Surge then says how she's been thinking, and Kit ask what it is, when Surge says how he's not going to like it, but Kit reassures her saying how he will, and Surge says how Starline was right when Kit ask in what regard and Surge saying about the whole "Sonic Cycle" thing and how Eggman causes trouble and Sonic stops him and how it's an endless repeat. She further goes on to say how Sonic keeps letting it happen and nothing will never change, and Surge mentions what happened to Restoration HQ and how they could've walked out and saved themselves. Surge then says how there not bad people but there just lame, stupid and weak. and she says how they can't be angry at the world when it did nothing to them. Kit agrees and asks about Sonic and Tails when Surge says how she's going to end Sonic the first chance she gets and says how Kit can end Tails and asks Surge then asks if he still wants him gone when Kit responds saying how he's a liar and how he hates him and tells him he can as a treat. Surge then says otherwise they will ruin Eggman's plans and soak up the hero worship and love them for loving themselves.
Kit then asks what if they finish Eggman off too, and Surge says how she did not think that far and will cross that bridge when they come to it. Kit thinks to himself saying how if Eggman is gone then there will be no reason to save people then no one will praise Surge saying how he can't allow that. He further goes on to say that he thinks she wants to save people for real and saying how he will remain useful to her if he makes peril for her to overcome when Surge interrupts and sees him smiling saying how he likes the plan and Surge say how new heroes are taking over whether they like it or not.
Appearances[]
Characters:
- Dr. Eggman (mentioned)
- Dr. Starline (mentioned)
- Kitsunami the Fennec
- Miles "Tails" Prower (mentioned)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (mentioned)
- Surge the Tenrec
Races and species:
- Human (mentioned)
Locations:
- Sonic's universe
- Earth
- Restoration HQ (mentioned)
- Westopolis
- Earth
Items:
Vehicles:
Continuity[]
- Surge mentions the events of Sonic the Hedgehog #75.
For My Destiny[]
- Story: Iasmin Omar Ata
- Pencils: Adam Bryce Thomas
- Colors: Iasmin Omar Ata
Synopsis[]
The Master Emerald showing Knuckles the video.
On Angel Island, Knuckles is talking to himself and how another simple day with just him, the Master Emerald, and the sky. Knuckles flops to the ground in exhaustion when he starts to wonder what Sonic and the others are up to. He assumes they're on some unexpected adventure when the Master Emerald starts glowing towards him, and ask if it's trying to show him something to, he then accepts and says to show him what it has. Suddenly, Knuckles sees visions of his closest allies: Sonic, Tails, Amy, Rouge, and Team Chaotix, saying how he has had his fair share of adventures. He further explains how his life may not be as wild and free as Sonic's but there are lots of good things here.
Knuckles' vison of Team Chaotix.
Knuckles further says that even if he's the last of his people and he's the one on the Island by himself it's because of his duty and the need to protect the world that he treasures each day. Suddenly Knuckles looks down and sees a white glowing version of himself who Knuckles says that if there was a version of him without a purpose, the Master Emarald, or friends that he'd feel bad for him when Sonic appears again in a void and Knuckles says that he's thankful for the destiny that led him here. Soon, Knuckles wakes up and stares at the emerald, and says without it, he wouldn't have anything, but because of it, he does and thanks it. Suddenly, Sonic, who is sitting on top of the emerald says how he'd thought Knuckles would never say that when Knuckles responds saying he wasn't talking to him when Sonic starts to tease him. Knuckles yells at him to come down from the emerald when Sonic says he was totally just thinking about him and Knuckles says how he was never thinking, and Sonic says how Knuckles has no idea what he's saying when Tails and Amy tell them to stop arguing.
Knuckles then ask the group what they're doing here and did something happen. Amy responds saying does something have to happen to come visit their good friend and Tails jumps in and says that they just wanted to check in on him and make sure he wasn't getting lonely. Tails further explains that it was Sonic's idea when Sonic says how it was a good idea and saying how he missed their "beautiful friendship" when Tails apologizes for being late saying how they got sidetracked. Knuckles then says how an unexpected adventure happens and knows them to well and asks what happened when Sonic starts by saying it started this morning.
Appearances[]
Characters:
- Amy Rose
- Knuckles Clan (mentioned)
- Miles "Tails" Prower
- Rouge the Bat (vision)
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Team Chaotix (vision)
- Charmy Bee (vision)
- Espio the Chameleon (vision)
- Vector the Crocodile (vision)
Races and species:
Locations:
- Sonic's universe
- Moon
- Earth
- Angel Island
- Altar of Emerald
- Mushroom Hill (vision)
- Marble Garden (vision)
- Sky Sanctuary (vision)
- Angel Island
Items:
- Emerald Shard (vision)
- Master Emerald
- Sonic's shoes
Vehicles:
Continuity[]
- The title card says "To be continued in Sonic #80" which confirms the story is set sometime around that Issue.
- One of the visions shows Rouge handing Knuckles an Emerald Shard, which could be referring to the events of Sonic Adventure 2.
Shattered Diamonds[]
- Story: Gigi Dutreix
- Pencils: Mauro Fonseca & Gigi Dutriex
- Inks: Mauro Fonesca & Matt Froese
- Colors: Leonardo Ito & Valentina Pinto
Synopsis[]
Tangle, Lanolin and Whisper waiting on Sonic to arrive.
Tangle, Lanolin, and Whisper are sitting in the woods surrounding a bonfire when Tangle asks what's taking Sonic so long, and Lanolin responds by saying that Sonic said he was on his way, and that fact had not changed since she asked five minutes ago. Tangle complains, saying that she is dying for action, Whisper then tells Tangle that there is nothing wrong with a moment of calm. Unbeknownst to them, Mimic is watching them, more specifically Whisper, from the shadows. As he watches on, he asks in his mind "Who are you?". He questions what an identity actually is, if not a collection of traits that one absorbs from others. Eyeing Whisper from the bushes, he ponders if Whisper, too, is a "doll, ready to be made", because, according to him, everyone wears a "porcelain facade", yet only he was brave enough to embrace his own. Mimic reflects on his past, how he was inexperienced with the art of masking one's true self, saying how he was too open, readable, and vulnerable. He remembers how acting for minor roles entrapped him in a thankless cycle of never-ending hustle. He admits that it was naive, but the spotlight called to him, further saying the industry and his acting colleagues were harsh towards him, particularly when he shapeshifted into other actors that had main roles. In one instance, security guards caught him and proceeded to drag him out of a film studio. That experience made Mimic believe that they were all selfish for being harsh to him because of his desire to be seen. Just as he was about to be thrown out, an army of Badniks consisting of Egg Pawns with Egg Guns, an Egg Hammer and an Egg Walker attacked, signifying the onset of the Eggman War. Hiding behind some rubble while everyone else in the building began to flee for their lives, Mimic shapeshifted into an Egg Pawn, surviving the onslaught. As he remembers this moment, he says how his future in the arts was shattered as war tore through everything, rhetorically asking if others knew that restarting one's entire existence while the world ends is bad for your psyche.
Mimic betraying his team.
Burying his grief deep inside himself, he ventured away from conflict as much as he could until he began to see groups of teams from the war shelters starting to fight back against Eggman's army. Again feeling the desire to be noticed and belong, he joined four separate teams over the course of the worldwide discord. He subsequently abandoned all four teams each time he felt that his own survival was being threatened, claiming that it was foolish to fight alone, but even more foolish to value the lives of one's "teammates" over their own survival. Eventually, he found a spot to rest near a destroyed Egg Hammer, unwrapping an energy bar and mulling over his belief that his skills were never appreciated by any of his former teams. Upon this notion, he realized that each and every teammate he knew was playing a character, despite none of them knowing that they were pretending in the first place. These experiences in the war created the idea in Mimic's mind that everyone has a little emptiness inside them, and that utilizing activities like the arts or playing hero only serve as a way to cover the void within, as if that darkness is something to be ashamed of. He believes that his previous desires for others and of wanting to be seen were childish and that he should not hide his own "empty void".
Whisper meeting Mimic and interested in his abilities.
As he reverted into his true form to eat, Whisper the Wolf and her Wisp, Orange, witnessed his shapeshifting capabilities and approached him. As Mimic tried to introduce himself to Whisper, she excitedly interrupted him, saying that "they" will love his ability. He inquired who "they" are, and Whisper apologized for cutting him off, introducing herself and Orange to him. She went on to explain that she is part of a mercenary group for hire known as the Diamond Cutters that destroys Eggman bases and "saves the day". At the mention of her team's building, Mimic became more interested. Whisper noted that the team itself severely lacked in stealth and that they could use someone like Mimic. She asked if he is a good actor, and he responded by shifting into Whisper while saying that he is good enough to fool an Eggman battalion, astonishing both her and Orange.
Mimic goes on by noting how he rarely remembers the names of those he worked with as a character actor or the faces of his first teams. In spite of this, Slinger the Ocelot, Claire Voyance, Smithy the Lion, and Whisper the Wolf's names are vividly imprinted on his essence, no matter how hard he has tried to erase their "stain". Whisper would then bring Mimic, who was still assuming Whisper's form, to the Diamond Cutters' base out at Clove Sea. As she introduced him to Slinger the Ocelot, Claire Voyance, and Smithy the Lion, they were all baffled by his shapeshifting powers. Reverting to his true form, he complimented them on their base, to which Smithy replied that the base was their reward for taking the hard jobs that no one else wants. Slinger added on by saying that war is great for business, which Smithy berated him for. Mimic's interest was peaked at the mention and notion of rewards, which cemented his decision to officially join the team as their infiltrator. Once he did, the team gave him his own private room and access to a high-quality wardrobe, both of which were unheard of luxuries for him, even before the Eggman War began.
In the first few missions, Mimic was essential to the Diamond Cutters' success, and he did not require any of the others' help. However, during a mission set at a base surrounded by snow, he was surprised that Eggman would leave the base door standing open. Disguised as an Egg Pawn, he pushed aside the surrounding Badniks and advanced past the base gate. This did not go unnoticed by the Egg Walker standing guard, who immediately recognized Mimic as a defect. An Egg Pawn shot at him with its Egg Gun, causing him to shift back into his true form. A nearby Egg Hammer poised to crush him, but before it could do so, Whisper jumped in front of him and shot at the Badnik's hammer wielding arm with her Rocket Wispon. Having spotted the base's main control hub, she told Mimic to deactivate the whole fleet as she and the other Diamond Cutters covered him. As Slinger, Smithy, and Claire lunged forward, Slinger called dibs on the Egg Hammer. Smithy let out a laugh and wished him luck as he ran towards the large Badnik firing at its face. This barely phased the robot, and Claire had to save him, which was the ninth time she had done so during a mission, from getting crushed. When Smithy called out to Slinger as he was shooting at the robot he had called dibs on, Slinger vocally expressed his frustration. Once Mimic had accessed the main control hub, Smithy started to dramatically express his dismay, saying that he was about to show off. Slinger responded by calling him a big baby, and Claire told the two to stop joking around since she saw a platoon advancing toward the base's entrance. Whisper excitedly offered to blow the robots up, unnerving Smithy with her apparent bloodthirst. Mimic instead decided to shapeshift into Eggman and order the reinforcements to leave. His plan was successful, and the Diamond Cutters praised him for his risky idea. Mimic considers this memory to be dangerous.
Mimic continues, saying that the missions since then were successful with only rare close calls, and he delighted in the opportunities to push his abilities' boundaries. Eventually, Smithy brought the team to a spot in the middle of a forest to bond around a fire. As the other Diamond Cutters happily talked and joked with each other, Mimic sat on in silence, with only his Blue Wisp noticing his annoyed expression. Smithy then acknowledged the hardships the team has attempting to share their portfolio with the Resistance and other rebel allies, as well as the fact that Eggman's facial recognition technology was getting better. He then proceeded to unveil and hand out his newly built metal Concealers, which he explained could record their missions, project, were Badnik-proof, Eggman-proof, and comfortable to wear. Slinger was excited at the prospect of getting a "cool new toy". Whisper noted that Slinger's mask was different than hers, and Slinger told her that the difference was likely on purpose. Whisper asked Mimic what his new mask looked like, but he just stared at the mask in silence.
The Diamond Cutters celebrating.
Smithy then stood up and stated that he was an engineer before he joined the Diamond Cutters, which the other members already knew. He expressed that it felt right that each of them was made up of millions of numerical problems that, when solved, created their astounding team. He noted that without every single one of the members and their Wisps with him in that moment, he would not be giving a speech about friendship mathematics. He went on to say that the masks were more than just a way to protect themselves. When they were out on the battlefield, they were one as a unit stopping the Eggman Empire one tower at a time. Claire expressed that if there ever was an end to the war, she wanted them to stay a team. She suggested that they could possibly become a faction of their own, like the Resistance. Slinger said that their faction would be way cooler, and she responded by saying that his "genius" never stopped. Whisper stands up and asks to say something herself, with present-day Mimic warning, "don't". She complimented Smithy by saying that he is the "smartest, biggest teddy bear" that she had ever met. She expressed her gratitude to Claire for always keeping an eye out for everyone in the team. She told Slinger that he was hilarious, to which he winked at her, saying that he knew. Finally, she addressed Mimic, snapping him out of his blank stare at his mask, and personally thanked him for making her feel better by watching the others' backs and making the team complete. The rest of the team, excluding Mimic, stood up in enthusiasm with their Wisps and cheered "Diamond Cutters".
The other Diamond Cutters' actions gave Mimic what he wanted, causing him to feel extremely conflicted. He managed to muster to Smithy that the masks were beautiful gifts. He then left the others under the premise of stretching his legs, asking Whisper to save his rations. As he walked out to a lake, he asked himself if he just craved validation instead of the spotlight. He realized that he could not be his true self around the team because they did not realize what he had done. At that moment, he felt emotionally hurt by the Diamond Cutters' friendship. He feared that once they learned of his true self, they would throw him off the team. Splashing the lake's water on his face, he decided then and there that he could not afford to be so vulnerable or fragile. He looked back at his acting days with the soul-wrenching truth that things are no different from back then staring back at him. As he walked back to the team, he convinced himself that every word that came out of the Diamond Cutters' mouths was a rehearsed charade; that they were all mirrors, only saying what he wanted to hear until they got what they wanted out of him. He believed that they could no longer be trusted and refused to play their "game" anymore.
Mimic reflecting on himself.
Mimic admits that he readily took the opportunity Eggman provided him to betray the Diamond Cutters so that he would never have to be hurt by their "fake" smiles again. As Smithy, Slinger, and Claire perished, he genuinely believed he was beginning to heal as the pain he felt inside nearly vanished. Yet still, he sees Whisper as one final annoying headache for him to deal with, and he believes that he cannot fix what the Diamond Cutters did to him until he shatters every last one. Mimic prepared his knife, thinking to himself that only with it would he finally be "cleansed". He picked up a small stone, threw across the way against a tree, getting the attention of the Diamond Cutters, and moved to stab Whisper in the back. However, Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles "Tails" Prower's arrival forced him to recoil into the underbrush, the former apologizing for the wait because they had a few Badnik's to pummel. Tangle responds that she could have helped, so Tails reassures her that there would be plenty of Badniks in the Eggperial City. He asked if the girls needed to get ready, but Whisper spoke up, saying that they were good, and she walked on with the heroes while Mimic watched her leave in anger. Mimic then emerges from the bushes, acknowledging the fact that he could not seem to think straight. He wonders what the point of reflecting on his memories is, and asks himself if he was either afraid or just tired. He comforts himself with the notion that the pain he feels deep within himself will soon be washed away and reduced to nothing more than a bad dream. He then tells himself that he is "selfish, arrogant, and colder than a frozen lake"; that he loves the fact that he enjoys the chase and watching others struggle. He decides that knows what he is, and he asks once again, "...Who are you?"
Appearances[]
Characters:
- Badnik Horde
- Cyber Singer Mika (picture)
- Diamond Cutters
- First Generation
- Second Generation
- Dr. Eggman
- Miles "Tails" Prower
- Mimic the Octopus
- Resistance (mentioned)
- Sonic the Hedgehog
Races and species:
Locations:
- Sonic's universe
- Moon
- Earth
- Diamond Cutters Base
- Eggperial City (mentioned)
Items:
- Concealers
- Death Egg (mentioned)
- Wispon
- Egg Goggles
- Egg Gun
- Sonic's shoes
Misc.:
Continuity[]
- The card once Sonic, Tails and the Diamond Cutters leave says "Find out what happened in #57" establishing the story is set after Sonic and Tails return from the events of the Scrapnik Island miniseries.
- Before Mimic the Octopus joined the first generation of the Diamond Cutters, he was an actor and betrayed four other groups.
Trivia[]
- This issue was originally set for release on 14 August 2024, but later got delayed to 11 September 2024. It was then later delayed to 2 October 2024. It was further delayed to 9 October 2024.
- Despite the fact the solicitation mentions four stories, there are in fact only three in the 2024 annual.
- The extras on page 25 are a reference to the characters of the Brazillian comic franchise Monica and Friends.
A Hatsune Miku Easter egg?
- On first panel of page 27, on the background, the picture behind Blue Block very seems to be a direct reference to Hatsune Miku.
Gallery[]
Cover artwork[]
Preview pages[]
| Gallery |
|---|
 Story one, page one  Story one, page two  Story one, page three  Story one, page four  Story one, page five  Story two, page one |
Interior Artwork[]
| Gallery |
|---|
 Story three, page 11  Story three, page 11  Story three, page 14  Story tree, page 20 |
References[]
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2024. league of comic geeks (26 August 2024). Retrieved on 26 August 2024.
