It is the second US licensed comic book adaption of the franchise after Archie Comics' Sonic the Hedgehog series, and the third overall licensed comic book series after the British Sonic the Comic series by Fleetway Publications. Unlike those series, which had their own continuity, IDW's Sonic the Hedgehog is set in the same continuity as the Sonic the Hedgehog game series.
Publication history
2017 Promotional artwork from New York Comic Con by Tyson Hesse, depicting (counterclockwise from bottom right): Sonic, Knuckles, Amy and Tails
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.[18] During the Sonic Central broadcast on September 24, 2024, it was announced that the Sonic franchise would cross over with the DC Universe in a 5-issue miniseries written by Ian Flynn that would feature Team Sonic teaming up with the Justice League. The DC X Sonic the Hedgehog book began publication in March 2025 and lasted until July of the same year.[19]
On April 25, 2025, IDW Publishing began releasing the comic series on Webtoon.[20]
On July 22, 2025, IDW teased the debut of an AI character in January 2026. The next day this character was confirmed to be Sage from Sonic Frontiers, along with further confirmation from Evan Stanley that the 84th issue will take place after Frontiers.[21][22][23]
Synopsis
Following the war over Eggman's global conquest,[a] the doctor 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 Dr. Starline kidnaps Mr. Tinker and successfully reverts him back to Eggman after a defeated Metal Sonic returns to him. Considering the war's last loose end tied, Knuckles disbands the former Resistance, which Amy reorganizes into the Restoration.
While Tangle helps Whisper apprehend her former comrade turned criminal Mimic, Eggman hatches a new scheme involving the Metal Virus, which turns organic life 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. Tangle's childhood friend Jewel subsequently assumes leadership of the Restoration, relieving Amy.
As the world rebuilds in the Metal Virus' wake, Sonic and company set out to fix E-123 Omega, whose body was destroyed by zombots. Sonic and Tails investigate an Eggman base to find blueprints while Rouge, Amy, Cream, and Cheese enter a Chao race to win parts; the former group discovers a peaceful Badnik created by Mr. Tinker named Belle, while the latter group and Shadow come 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 Mimic 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. In an attempt to cause havoc, they cause a forest fire near a campground; however, the plan is foiled by Amy, Belle, Jewel and Tangle, who were camping there. 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 begin plotting against everyone. 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 by strip-mining it, 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 is destroyed by the Restoration and their allies, including the newly reformed Diamond Cutters consisting of Tangle, Whisper, and Jewel's aide-de-camp Lanolin.
Clutch, seeking to revive his criminal empire, hires Rough, Tumble, Mimic, Surge, and Kit to infiltrate the Restoration so he can take it over and profit off of it. After conning Jewel into a business partnership, Clutch sponsors an Extreme Gear tournament, during which his agents capture the Chaotix, who have been investigating him, and get Sonic, Tails, and Amy disqualified. Eggman, provoked by the tournament's mocking advertisements, secretly helps Sonic, Tails, and Amy investigate Clutch's activities. Surge and Kit eventually have second thoughts after first experiencing heroic acclaim and, when Clutch tries to coerce them, retaliate by incriminating him, instigating a chain of events that publicly expose Clutch's true nature. An enraged Clutch endangers Central City out of spite and tries to escape, but is stopped and defeated by Sonic, Surge, Kit, and Eggman. The Restoration, with help from the Babylon Rogues, sacrifice their own headquarters to save the city, while the other villains abandon Clutch and scatter as Eggman captures him. In the aftermath, Surge and Kit attempt real heroics to mixed results while Sonic and company assess the fallout of Clutch's actions, finding the Restoration's network intact and thriving despite its headquarters' destruction. Simultaneously, Jewel resigns as leader and the Diamond Cutters disband again; Lanolin stays with Jewel while Tangle, Whisper, and Silver try to recapture Mimic, who seemingly dies in a failed suicide attack against them. Unknown to all, Eggman has enslaved Clutch and seized his assets, allowing Eggman to profit off his own waste.
Tangle the Lemur: an energetic ring-tailed lemur who can elongate her tail for use in combat.
Whisper the Wolf: a reserved wolf who uses a Wisp-powered rifle and becomes Tangle's best friend. She is the last survivor of an anti-Eggman mercenary group called the Diamond Cutters.
Jewel the Beetle: a cautious and worryful beetle museum curator and Tangle's childhood friend who later becomes the Restoration leader following the Metal Virus plague.
Belle the Tinkerer: a clumsy but kindhearted marionette-like robot created by Eggman when he was "Mr. Tinker".
Lanolin the Sheep: an uptight and strict sheep who joins the Restoration after Sonic and Amy saved her village. She later reforms and becomes the leader of the Diamond Cutters. She has a Wisp companion named Maggie.
Doctor Starline: a platypus scientist who admires Eggman. He dies at Eggman's hands after trying to take over his empire.
Rough & Tumble the Skunks: a pair of trouble-making skunk brothers and former mercenaries.
Mimic the Octopus: a shapeshiftingmimic octopus and former comrade of Whisper who betrayed his team to Eggman. He assumes the form of "Duo the Cat" while infiltrating the Restoration. He is believed dead after a failed suicide attack against Whisper, Tangle, and Silver when they try to recapture him.
Surge the Tenrec: a punkishlowland streaked tenrec cybernetically enhanced by Starline to be Sonic's doppelgänger. Like Sonic, she can move at superhuman speeds. Her name also references the electrical powers that she displays. She is deeply traumatized by Starline's experiments and has no memory of her prior life.
Kitsunami "Kit" the Fennec: a somber fennec fox cybernetically enhanced by Starline to be Tails' doppelgänger and Surge's sidekick. Kit possesses the ability to control water, and his name is a fusion of the word Kitsune, a reference to his powers making it seem as though he has multiple tails, echoing the multi-tailed fox of Japanese myth, and the word Tsunami, which denotes a massive tidal event. Like Surge, he is also deeply traumatized by Starline's experiments and has no memory of his prior life.
Clutch the Opossum: an opossumcrime boss who collects Eggtech and uses it for personal profit.
Lunar: a mischievous sugar glider jester and master thief who is a member of a circus performer group the Celestial Troupe, who are also Lunar's family.
Publications
Series
Title
Issue(s)
Start date
End date
Note
Sonic the Hedgehog
1–
April 4, 2018
—
Began weekly publications in April 2018, then 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.
A mini-series set in the classic era featuring Fang the Hunter and his mercenary group, the Hooligans. This miniseries takes place before the game Sonic Superstars.[24]
An annual edition comic that contains 6 new stories about odd pair-ups.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Tails 30th Anniversary Special[b]
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 reprints #1 and adds a new story based on it.
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, including the Fleetway and Archie comics.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Amy's 30th Anniversary Special[b]
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.
An annual edition comic that contains 3 new stories about varying worldviews.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Knuckles' 30th Anniversary Special[b][25]
November 20, 2024
A one-shot comic book special celebrating the 30th anniversary of Knuckles the Echidna. This one-shot takes place after the events of Sonic Superstars.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Chaotix's 30th Anniversary Special[26]
October 22, 2025
A one-shot comic book special celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Chaotix.
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 1: Fallout! (September 18, 2018): Reprint of #1–4
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 2: The Fate of Dr. Eggman (February 19, 2019): Reprint of #5–8
Team Sonic Racing Plus Deluxe Turbo Championship Edition (May 22, 2019): Reprint of the story featured in Team Sonic Racing One-Shot and bonus features
Sonic the Hedgehog: Bonds of Friendship (2019): A Scholastic-exclusive collection of several reprinted issues in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 3: Battle For Angel Island (July 23, 2019): Reprint of #9–12
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 4: Infection (September 3, 2019): Reprint of #13–16
Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper (April 14, 2020): Reprint of Tangle & Whisper issues #1–4 and the 2019 Annual
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 5: Crisis City (February 11, 2020): Reprint of #17–20
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 6: The Last Minute (June 23, 2020): Reprint of #21–24
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 7: All or Nothing (December 8, 2020): Reprint of #25–29
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 8: Out of the Blue (March 30, 2021): Reprint of #30–32 and the 2020 Annual
Sonic the Hedgehog: Bad Guys (May 11, 2021): Reprint of Bad Guys issues #1–4
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 9: Chao Races & Badnik Bases (January 11, 2022): Reprint of #33–36
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 10: Test Run! (March 22, 2022): Reprint of #37–40
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 11: Zeti Hunt! (June 7, 2022): Reprint of #41-44
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 12: Trial by Fire (September 13, 2022): Reprint of #45–49
Sonic the Hedgehog: Imposter Syndrome (October 11, 2022): Reprint of Imposter Syndrome #1–4
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 13: Battle for the Empire (February 7, 2023): Reprint of #50-51, FCBD 2022 and the 2022 Annual
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 14: Overpowered (June 20, 2023): Reprint of #52-56
Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island (August 29, 2023): Reprint of Scrapnik Island #1–4
Sonic The Hedgehog: Seasons of Chaos (October 10, 2023): Reprint of the 30th Anniversary Special and FCBD 2021
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 15: Urban Warfare (October 24, 2023): Reprint of #57-61
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 16: Misadventures (April 23, 2024): Reprint of #62-66
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 17: Adventure Awaits (October 22, 2024): Reprint of #67-68, Endless Summer, 900th Adventure and Halloween Special
Sonic the Hedgehog: Fang the Hunter (November 19, 2024): Reprint of Fang the Hunter #1-4
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 18: Extreme Competition (April 22, 2025): Reprint of #69-71, Winter Jam and Spring Broken
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 19: Collision Course (August 19, 2025): Reprint of #72-75
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 20: Cause & Effect (December 2, 2025): Reprint of #76-78 and the 2024 Annual
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 21: Reprise (April 7, 2026): Reprint of #79-83 and Chasing Shadows
The IDW Collection
Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 1 (June 8, 2021): Reprint of #1–12
Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 2 (March 15, 2022): Reprint of #13–20, the 2019 Annual and Tangle & Whisper #1-4
Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 3 (March 14, 2023): Reprint of #21–32 and the 2020 Annual
Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 4 (March 12, 2024): Reprint of #33-40 and Bad Guys #1-4
Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 5 (March 18, 2025): Reprint of #41-50 and Imposter Syndrome #1-4
Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 6 (May 26, 2026): Reprint of #51-56, FCBD 2022, the 2022 Annual, and Scrapnik Island #1-4
On The Go
Sonic the Hedgehog: On The Go, Vol. 1 (September 30, 2025): Reprint of #1–12
Sonic the Hedgehog: On The Go, Vol. 2 (February 10, 2026): Reprint of #13–20, the 2019 Annual and Tangle & Whisper #1-4
Compilations
Sonic the Hedgehog: Sonic & Tails: Best Buds Forever (February 23, 2022): Reprint of stories from #1, #13, #34 and #35
Sonic the Hedgehog: Knuckles' Greatest Hits (October 24, 2023): Reprint of stories from #3, #10, #11, FCBD 2022, and the 2022 Annual featuring Knuckles
Sonic the Hedgehog: Best of Shadow (January 22, 2025): Reprint of stories from #6, #36, #59 and #61 featuring Shadow
Collections
Sonic The Hedgehog: The IDW Comic Art Collection (October 24, 2023): Collection featuring various art pieces from throughout the comics and concept art of IDW original characters
Sonic the Hedgehog Boxset: Contains #1-4
Other
Sonic The Hedgehog: Sonic Prime, Vol. 1 (May 13, 2025): Contains adaptations of Sonic Prime episodes 1-2
Sonic The Hedgehog: Sonic Prime, Vol. 2 (October 21, 2025): Contains adaptations of Sonic Prime episodes 3-5
Sonic The Hedgehog: Sonic Prime, Vol. 3 (April 7, 2026): Contains adaptations of Sonic Prime episodes 6-8
Cancelled
Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper Boxset: Would have contained issues #1–4 in a collectible slipcase
Reception
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."[28]
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.[29]
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