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Publisher | IDW Publishing (Licensed by Sega of America) |
Schedule | Monthly |
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Publication date | April 4, 2018 –present |
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Sonic the Hedgehog is an ongoing American comic book series based on the Sega video game franchise, published by IDW Publishing.
It is the second U.S. licensed comic book adaption of Sonic the Hedgehog after Archie Comics' series of the same name, and the franchise's third overall licensed comic book series after the British Sonic the Comic series by Fleetway Publications. Unlike those series, who had their own origin stories, IDW's Sonic the Hedgehog is closer to the video games continuity.
On July 21, 2017, IDW Publishing announced a deal with Sega of America to produce a new series of Sonic comics after the cancellation of the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series by Archie Comics after a 24-year run. [1] The new series began with a four-week long event where the first four issues were released each week in April 2018, followed by a monthly release of subsequent issues starting in May 2018. Archie Sonic writer Ian Flynn was later confirmed to return as the series' lead writer, alongside artist Tyson Hesse. [2] In an interview with Game Informer, Flynn established that IDW's Sonic continuity is separate from Archie's. [3]
During New York Comic Con 2017, Ian Flynn confirmed that characters old and new would be featured in the series, hinting that characters from the games and the original comics might possibly return. [4] [5] [6] [7] In January 2018, IDW revealed that Tracy Yardley, who originally worked on Archie's Sonic the Hedgehog comics, would be one of the pencillers for the IDW series.
On April 14, 2020, it was announced that Evan Stanley, one of the series' artists, would be writing for the series. [8]
On June 28, 2020, two original characters from the series, Tangle the Lemur and Whisper the Wolf, were announced to appear in the Sonic mobile game Sonic Forces: Speed Battle as part of its events, [9] [10] with them doing so next month. [11] Surge the Tenrec would also join Speed Battle on November 21, 2023. [12] Merchandise, including a plush toy, of the former two have been released also. [13] [14] Tangle was also briefly mentioned in the 2022 Sonic game Sonic Frontiers . [15] It is confirmed by the Lore Manager Chris Hernandez that the comics are canon to the games. [16]
In November 2023, Sonic editor David Mariotte announced that the series would be taking a hiatus in 2024 until the miniseries Sonic the Hedgehog: Fang the Hunter is concluded. [17]
On July 3, 2024, a crossover between the Sonic comics and an unknown third-party franchise was announced to be in the works, with more details to be revealed in the coming months. [a] During the Sonic Central broadcast on September 24, 2024, it was announced that the Sonic franchise would crossover with DC Universe in a 5-issue miniseries written by Ian Flynn that would feature Team Sonic teaming up with the Justice League. The book will begin publication in March 2025 and last until July of the same year. [18]
Following the war over Eggman's global conquest, [b] Eggman has lost his memory and ended up in a remote village where he has taken on the more friendly moniker of Mr. Tinker. Sonic learns that Neo Metal Sonic is now leading the Badniks, plotting to take over the world in Eggman's stead. While Sonic and his friends fight Neo Metal Sonic and his army on Angel Island, an Eggman admirer named Starline kidnaps Mr. Tinker and successfully reverts him back to Eggman after a defeated Metal Sonic returns to him.
While Tangle helps Whisper apprehend her former comrade turned criminal Mimic, Eggman hatches a new scheme involving the Metal Virus, which turns organic material into mindless robots dubbed "Zombots", but it quickly mutates beyond his control. Starline brings in the Deadly Six in hopes that they can control the Zombots, but they betray him. This leads to a falling-out between Starline and Eggman and forces the latter to help Sonic and his friends cure the world.
Afterwards, Sonic and company decide to fix E-123 Omega, whose body was destroyed during the plague. Sonic and Tails investigate an Eggman base to find the blueprints while Rouge, Amy, Cream, and Cheese enter a competition to win parts; the former group discovers a peaceful Badnik created by Mr. Tinker named Belle, while the latter comes into conflict with former crime boss Clutch. Meanwhile, Starline, hoping to regain Eggman's respect and rejoin him by proving his own superiority, sets his own plans in motion by allying himself with villains like Zavok and stalking Sonic's friends. Zavok reunites the Deadly Six and they attack the Restoration's home base, but are defeated and banished to their homeworld of Lost Hex.
From the bio-data he has collected, Starline creates Surge and Kitsunami, two cyborgs meant to replace Sonic and Tails and end the status quo between them and Eggman. Upon learning that he has been conditioning them and wiping their memories to create their personalities and being unable to find any trace of their past, Surge and Kit vow to destroy all heroes and villains. Starline, oblivious, moves to accomplish his vision by conquering the Eggman Empire's new capital, Eggperial City, which is expanding itself until it covers the entire planet, and lures Sonic, Tails, and Belle there. However, Eggman defeats Starline and leaves him to die, while Kit flees with Surge in tow after several defeats incapacitate her. Eggman himself is subsequently defeated, and Eggperial City destroyed by the Restoration and their allies.
New characters to the series include:
(Publications marked with * take place in a separate continuity from the main series.)
Title | Issue(s) | Start date | End date | Note |
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Sonic the Hedgehog | 1– | April 4, 2018 | — | Began weekly publications in April 2018 and then it became monthly in May 2018. Features Sonic, Tails and friends battling the forces of Doctor Eggman and other foes. The series is set after the events of Sonic Forces . |
Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper | 0–4 | April 24, 2019 | December 11, 2019 | Miniseries featuring the adventures of two original fan favorite characters from the main series, Tangle the Lemur and Whisper the Wolf. |
Sonic the Hedgehog: Bad Guys | 1–4 | October 7, 2020 | December 16, 2020 | Miniseries centered on Dr. Starline and his crew consisting of Zavok, Mimic and Rough & Tumble. |
Sonic the Hedgehog: Imposter Syndrome | 1–4 | November 17, 2021 | May 11, 2022 | Miniseries focusing on new antagonists Surge the Tenrec and Kitsunami "Kit" the Fennec, as well as their creator, Doctor Starline. |
Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island | 1–4 | October 19, 2022 | January 18, 2023 | Psychological horror miniseries focusing on Sonic and Tails trapped on an island full of disused Badniks, including Mecha Sonic and Mecha Knuckles. |
Sonic the Hedgehog: Fang The Hunter* | 1–4 | January 17, 2024 | May 1, 2024 | A mini-series set in the Classic continuity featuring Fang the Hunter and his mercenary group, the Hooligans. This miniseries is a prequel to the game Sonic Superstars . [19] |
Title | Publication date | Note |
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Team Sonic Racing | December 5, 2018 | A prequel to the 2019 Sonic game Team Sonic Racing . |
Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2019 | May 1, 2019 | An annual edition comic which contains 5 new stories. |
Sonic the Hedgehog Halloween ComicFest 2019 | October 26, 2019 | A Halloween ComicFest special edition comic which contains a reprint of Fallout Part 1. |
Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2020 | July 8, 2020 | An annual edition comic which contains 6 new stories set during the events of the Metal Virus Saga. |
Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Special* | June 23, 2021 | A one-shot comic book special in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Sonic the Hedgehog series. |
Sonic the Hedgehog Free Comic Book Day 2021 | August 14, 2021 | A Free Comic Book Day special edition comic. |
Sonic the Hedgehog 2: The Official Movie Pre-quill* | April 5, 2022 | A prequel to the 2022 film. |
Sonic the Hedgehog Free Comic Book Day 2022 | May 7, 2022 | A Free Comic Book Day special edition comic. |
Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2022 | August 17, 2022 | An annual edition comic which contains 6 new stories about odd pair ups. |
Sonic the Hedgehog: Tails 30th Anniversary Special* | November 16, 2022 | A one-shot comic book special celebrating the 30th anniversary of Miles "Tails" Prower. |
Sonic the Hedgehog: 5th Anniversary Edition | April 5, 2023 | A one-shot comic book special celebrating the 5th anniversary of the IDW Sonic the Hedgehog comic series. it reprint #1 and a new story based on Sonic #1. |
Sonic the Hedgehog: Endless Summer | August 30, 2023 | Part of the "IDW Endless Summer" event. |
Sonic the Hedgehog's 900th Adventure | September 13, 2023 | A one-shot comic book special celebrating the entire Sonic the Hedgehog comic book run, which includes the Fleetway and Archie eras. |
Sonic the Hedgehog: Amy's 30th Anniversary Special* | September 27, 2023 | A one-shot comic book special celebrating the 30th anniversary of Amy Rose. |
Sonic the Hedgehog: Halloween Special | October 11, 2023 | A Halloween one-shot comic book special focusing on the Chaotix. |
Sonic the Hedgehog: Winter Jam | December 13, 2023 | A Winter one-shot comic book special focused on Sonic and his friends competing for a Chaos Emerald. |
Sonic the Hedgehog: Spring Broken | June 26, 2024 | A Spring one-shot comic book special. |
Sonic The Hedgehog Annual 2024 | October 9, 2024 | An annual edition comic. |
Sonic the Hedgehog: Knuckles' 30th Anniversary Special [20] * | November 20, 2024 | A one-shot comic book special celebrating the 30th anniversary of Knuckles the Echidna. |
Title | Publication date | Note |
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Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Celebration: Deluxe Edition* | October 6, 2021 | A graphic novel starring Classic Sonic as part of the franchise's 30th anniversary. Is a reprint of the 30th Anniversary Special one-shot with some additional, exclusive stories. |
Sonic the Hedgehog Box Set (Contains #1-4.)
Joshua Davison on 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: "Sonic is an insufferable character... He's smug, annoying, and radical in that 1990's sense." [21]
Dustin Holland's review of the first issue of the Imposter Syndrome miniseries on Comic Book Resources praised the personalities of new villains Surge the Tenrec and Kit the Fennec, action-filled plot, and appropriately expressive art. [22]
Knuckles the Echidna is a character from Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series. He is a red anthropomorphic short-beaked echidna who is Sonic's secondary best friend and former rival. Determined and serious, but sometimes gullible, he fights his enemies using brute force and strength. His role is established as the guardian of the Master Emerald, a large gemstone which controls the series' integral Chaos Emeralds, and is the last living member of his tribe, the Knuckles Clan.
Miles "Tails" Prower is a character created by Japanese game designer Yasushi Yamaguchi. Part of Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, he is the first character to consistently appear by Sonic's side in the series, appearing in nearly every mainline and spin-off game since his debut. His role as Sonic's best friend and sidekick is analogous to Luigi from the Mario series. The name "Miles Prower" is a pun on "miles per hour", a reference to the famed speed of Sonic the Hedgehog. Prower is a two-tailed anthropomorphic fox cub, hence the nickname.
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog is an animated series based on the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series, produced by Sega of America, DIC Animation City, Bohbot Entertainment and the Italian studio Reteitalia S.p.A. in association with Spanish network Telecinco. Airing during the fall of 1993, 65 episodes were produced. It was syndicated by Bohbot Entertainment in the United States.
Sonic X is a Japanese anime television series based on Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog video game series. Produced by TMS Entertainment under partnership with Sega and Sonic Team, and directed by Hajime Kamegaki, Sonic X initially ran for 52 episodes, broadcasting on TV Tokyo from April 2003 to March 2004. A further 26 episodes aired in North America, Europe, and the Middle East from 2005 to 2006. The American localization and broadcasting were handled by 4Kids Entertainment, which edited it and created new music.
Sonic the Hedgehog is an American comic book series published by Archie Comics, in partnership with Sega. Although this continuity was based on Sega's video game franchise, it had much more in nature with the American 1993 animated series of the same name. After initially beginning with a four-issue miniseries from February to May 1993, the first full-length issue of the comic was published in July 1993. The series ran for 290 issues for over 20 years, earning a place in the 2008 Guinness World Records for being the "longest-running comic series based on a video game" in U.S. history.. It became the longest-running franchise-based comic series in 2015 before it was confirmed cancelled in July 2017, following Sega and Archie Comics' decision to discontinue their business relationship. The series features a cast of hundreds of characters, consisting of both those derived from the Sonic games and those original to the comics, with stories focused on a crime-fighting organization called the Freedom Fighters, led by Sonic, as they face off against series antagonist Doctor Eggman alongside a variety of other villains.
Sonic the Comic was a British children's comic published by Fleetway Editions between 1993 and 2002. It was the UK's Sega comic, featuring stories about its mascot Sonic the Hedgehog and related characters, as well as comic strips based on other Sega video games, along with news, reviews, and tips for games released for Sega systems.
Tracy Yardley is an American comic book artist best known for his work with the Sonic the Hedgehog comics, originally published by Archie Comics.
Knuckles the Echidna, originally published as Knuckles: The Dark Legion, is an action-adventure comic book series published by Archie Comics. The series starred Knuckles the Echidna, a main character from Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series of video games. The book was a spin-off of Archie Comics' Sonic the Hedgehog, with both series sharing narrative continuity. The series served as a successor to Sonic's Friendly Nemesis: Knuckles, a three-issue limited series from 1996. Knuckles was almost exclusively written by Ken Penders, the former lead writer of Sonic.
James Ian Flynn, also known by his Internet pen name Ian Potto, is an American-Canadian comic book writer. He was chief writer for Archie Comics's Sonic the Hedgehog since issue #160, after the departure of the previous chief writer Ken Penders, until Archie's cancelation on the run at issue #290. As of April 4, 2018, he is the lead writer of IDW Publishing's Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and Sonic Frontiers. He is also known for Archie's Mega Man, New Crusaders, Archie (2015), as well as IDW's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Ken Penders is an American comics artist and writer. Penders is known for his work on the Archie Comics series Sonic the Hedgehog and its Knuckles the Echidna spin-off, which he contributed to from 1993 to 2006, and subsequent lawsuits involving them.
Doctor Ivo"Eggman"Robotnik is a character created by the Japanese game designer Naoto Ohshima. He is the main antagonist of Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Eggman is a mad scientist who seeks to steal the mystical Chaos Emeralds, defeat Sonic the Hedgehog, and conquer the world. Eggman and his "Badnik" brand of military robots serve as bosses and enemies in the Sonic platform games. His distinctive characteristics include his red-black-yellow clothing, baldness, pince-nez sunglasses, and large mustache.
Sonic Universe is an American comic book series that was published by Archie Comics in association with Sega, based on the latter's Sonic the Hedgehog. It is a spin-off of the comic book series of the same name, and shared continuity with that title. Sonic Universe centers on several characters featured throughout the franchise and comics, including Shadow the Hedgehog, Blaze the Cat, and Silver the Hedgehog.
The Ghostbusters franchise spawned various comic books published by various comic book companies through the years starting in 1988 and continuing to the present day. These comics have ranged from being based on The Real Ghostbusters animated series, to the 1984 film.
Sonic Boom is an animated television series produced by Sega of America, Inc. and Technicolor Animation Productions in collaboration with Lagardère Thématiques and Jeunesse TV, respectively for Cartoon Network, Canal J and Gulli. Loosely based on the video game franchise Sonic the Hedgehog created by Sega, the series is the fifth animated television series based on the franchise and the first to be produced in computer-generated imagery animation and in high-definition.
Mega Man is a comic series produced by Archie Comics based on the video game series of the same name by Capcom. It was announced at New York Comic Con 2010, and the series began publication in April 2011 with Ian Flynn, who has written many stories for Archie's Sonic the Hedgehog series, as its lead writer. The series proved highly successful, and in 2013 a crossover took place between the Mega Man and Sonic series, under the title "Worlds Collide". The series does not follow the events of the games in exact order, including an adaptation of the Japanese exclusive game Super Adventure Rockman between those of Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 3. The series later included a few stories set in the time of the Mega Man X series. The popularity of Worlds Collide subsequently led to a second crossover with the Sonic series, Worlds Unite. The series was put into an "indefinite hiatus" after issue 55, concluding with setup for an adaptation of Mega Man 4.
Sonic Prime is an animated television series based on the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series, co-produced by Sega of America, Netflix Animation, WildBrain Studios and Man of Action Entertainment. It is the sixth animated television series based on the franchise, and shares continuity with the main video game series.
Ian Flynn : Classic Era Post-Fighters Pre-Superstars G'nite!