Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Comics (Hit Reset Button?)

[oldmanwinters]

Well, today I bought my first new Archie Sonic comics since November of 1997 when I decided to cut comic collecting out of my life with issue #52. Back in 1997, the epic End Game saga had just concluded, Robotnik was finally out of the way, Sonic & Sally had a prolonged kiss, and the good guys actually won the war for real! I figured that was a satisfying place for me to close the book on my Sonic fandom as I began to move into high school and leave those juvenile (and ever more expensive) hobbies behind. Up to that point, I had read every Sonic-related comic Archie published with the exceptions of issue #48 and "Sonic Quest: Death Egg Saga" #2.

Since then, I read on the internet that ol' "Robo-Robotnik" remade himself into "Dr. Eggman," Knuckles got his comic cancelled then turned temporarily green & evil (but who can blame him?), Tails became a force to be reckoned with, Amy Rose got an "age-advancement," Rotor got a bad back and retired into politics, Bunnie married Antoine, NICOLE looks like a real person, Geoffrey St. John (always hated that skunk) works for Ixis Naugus, Princess Sally's long-lost brother took over the kingdom, and Sonic has gone through about two handful of girlfriends (even fought Tails over one... huh?). Whew...

And now I open up issues 223, 224, and the 2011 Free Comic Book Day issue. And the Death Egg is back. And the editors are promising the world will never be the same after next month. Woah...

There are now so many characters I don't recognize and so many plot references that elude me. I'm so long out of the loop that issues #223 & 224 actually reference back issues through their "Archives" line as opposed to any issue earlier than #170. But this whole "Sonic: Genesis" concept has me intrigued. Is it going to be a total in-universe reboot ala Spider-man: Brand New Day? Is a major character going to die (Personally, I figure Princess Sally is way past due ever since an editorial pardon magically brought her back to life in issue #50)?

So, if #225 is going to be "The Biggest, Most Shocking Issue Ever" as promised in the Sonic-Grams of #224, then perhaps it's time for some recollections of all the most memorable moments from the history of the most successful, longest-running video-game based comic book of all-time. Thoughts, anyone?

[Eiko]

Sonic my fav Comic of all time where can i start man so many good memories. The destruction of Knothole was amazing poor Sonic. Antione and Bunny getting married finally. Nicole now able to walk and be more active becuse of her new AI form which is very cool. Elias my fav charater as King. Robotnik going nuts losing it. The Iron Queen Returns Very cool Knuckles as the new Enerjak. Knuckles Dad dies to save him. Evil Sonic turns Green with the Master Emarald. Starts calling himself Scourge. Geoffrey yea kinda new there was somthing not right about him. the return of the Death Egg this is going to be good. I could go on and on but dont have the time. oldmanwinters if you need to know more on the charaters and what has been happing just let me know big fan of Sonic the hedgehog comics.

[ZariusTwo]

I have to admit, I was so skunnered with how Archie ended Sonic and Sally's relationship that I just accepted the "Twenty-Five Years Later" and "Thirty Years Later" storylines (where the two are married with kids) as the true canon and ignored everything since then....though I had to come back just to see Bunnie and Antwoine get married.

[oldmanwinters]

Well, Sonic #25 really stood out to me on account of its great cover, and Patrick Spaziante's dynamic art style. I don't think that type of art had really been seen in a Sonic comic before [EDIT: oops, loos like I forgot about 21-22, but Spaz's pencils were still a relatively new phenomenon in the book's run]. It quickly changed the tone from cartoony to artistically stylized. Also, it introduced Metal Sonic (referred to as "Mecha Sonic" on the cover), Amy Rose, and tied into the Sonic CD game, which at the time was the great untouchable game that I never had the chance to play.

[oldmanwinters]

I read the supposedly epic #225 today, and to quote the Joker, "It was sadly anticlimatic." I didn't expect the much-hyped "major character kill" to be executed [see what I did there?] off-screen, unceremoniously, and in a vague manner with only about a page or two left for Sonic's reaction.

I'm planning to go ahead and read the next 5 issues or so to see how they pull of the "Genesis" arc and how the epilogue is resolved. Maybe it'll be a fun ride.

Anybody else check this issue out?

[Jester]

Does anyone else think it's interesting that Sonic and the Turtles are rebooting at about the same time?
(I had too.)

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by Jester

Does anyone else think it's interesting that Sonic and the Turtles are rebooting at about the same time?
(I had too.)

lol, I see what you did there.

It's an especially appropriate coincidence since Archie published both titles in the early 90s.

They even had one joke cameo crossover between them during that time.

Also, Sonic & the TMNT have a couple more links.

1. Archie's Sonic-verse crossed over with the Image Universe featuring Savage Dragon, Spawn, and all the other cronies. TMNT, of course, at one point existed in the Image Universe and crossed over with Savage Dragon (multiple times) and Spawn (unofficially).

2. Sonic once met Sabrina the Teenage Witch, who exists in the same universe as Archie Andrews & friends, who had an infamous dimensional crossover with the Archie TMNT thanks to Cudley the Cowlick!

[Eiko]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

I read the epic #225 today, and to quote the Joker, "It was sadly anticlimatic." I didn't expect the much hyped major character kill to be "executed" [see what I did there?] off-screen, unceremoniously, and in a vague manner with only about a page or two left for Sonic's reaction.

I'm planning to go ahead and read the next 5 issues or so to see how they pull of the "Genesis" arc and how the epilogue is resolved. Maybe it'll be a fun ride.

Anybody else check this issue out?

I haven't recived my issue of 225 yet so dont tell me what happens should be here next week.

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by Eiko

I haven't recived my issue of 225 yet so dont tell me what happens should be here next week.

No problemo, I tried to avoid spoilers as much as possible.

Also, the covers for the next three issues alone will probably be enough to convince me to purchase them. They be old-school SEGA Genesis cool!






Now I wonder how they are going to revamp the Sonic & Knuckles box?

[Eiko]

Wow those are some really neat covers now in really looking forward to them even more.

[Eiko]

Finally was able to read Sonic 225 last night awsome poor Sally though. But this has happend to her before in the End Game Saga. mmmm i wonder.

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by Eiko

Finally was able to read Sonic 225 last night awsome poor Sally though. But this has happend to her before in the End Game Saga. mmmm i wonder.

Yeah, but in Endgame I thought it actually carried some dramatic weight, especially given the fact that Sonic was accused of her murder. That page when Dr. Quack (or whatever that duck's name was) came out of the medical center with a solemn face and every Freedom Fighter had a devastated expression on their faces was one of the most unexpected moments I've ever read in a children's comic book.

[ZariusTwo]

I find it a little cold Flynn finally brought Sonic and Sally back together again only to do this...then again, it's only implied she's been killed, not actually offically stated. I suspect she'll be fine once we conclude the Genesis arc.

[Logan]

Really like the Archie Sonic comics and I prefer the tone the later comics went for, especially in comparison to the games.

I've been collecting the Sonic Archives compilations. Thought End Game was awesome and a great conclusion to the story. You could stop reading after that arc and be satisfied.

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by Logan

Thought End Game was awesome and a great conclusion to the story. You could stop reading after that arc and be satisfied.

Heh, that's pretty much what I did. And now... over 175 issues later... I'm picking up a few new issues. I doubt I'll stick around for the long haul though.

[oldmanwinters]

While the cover to the final(I guess?) installment of Sonic: Genesis is undoubtedly cool, I have to admit I'm disappointed they didn't do some creative reimagining of the original Sonic & Knuckles game box:

[Logan]

What are your thoughts, overall, on the Genesis series?

[Eiko]

Wow that cover is becoming my fav cover art second only to Sonic 50 cover.

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by Logan

What are your thoughts, overall, on the Genesis series?

lol, I'll need to read it first to give a judgement!

[Logan]

I just started reading Fleetway's Sonic the Comic again. In terms of early issues, Fleetway totally wipes the floor with Archie. Nevertheless, I absolutely love both continuities.