Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW Publishing)

Last updated
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog, IDW Publishing, Oct 2017.jpg
Promotional artwork from New York Comic-Con by Tyson Hesse (2017)
Publication information
Publisher IDW Publishing (licensed by Sega of America)
ScheduleMonthly
Genre
Publication dateApril 4, 2018 (2018-04-04)–present
No. of issues
  • 71 (Main issues, including Annuals)
  • 20 (Tangle & Whisper, Bad Guys, Imposter Syndrome, Scrapnik Island, Fang the Hunter)
  • 8 (Misc. one-shots, including 30th Anniversary Specials)
Creative team
Written by
  • Ian Flynn
  • Evan Stanley
  • Daniel Barnes
  • Gale Galligan
  • Ian Mutchler
Artist(s)
  • Tyson Hesse
  • Rafa Knight
  • Edwin Huang
  • Kieran Gates
  • Devin Kraft
  • Ryan Jampole
  • Yui Karasuno
  • Min Ho Kim
Penciller(s)
  • Tracy Yardley
  • Tyson Hesse
  • Nathalie Fourdraine
  • Evan Stanley
  • Adam Bryce Thomas
  • Jamal Peppers
  • Jennifer Hernandez
  • Jonathan Gray
  • Lamar Wells
  • Jack Lawrence
  • Diana Skelly
  • Priscilla Tramontano
  • Aaron Hammerstrom
  • Abigail Bulmer
  • Thomas Rothlisberger
  • Natalie Haines
  • Mauro Fonseca
Inker(s)
  • Bob Smith
  • Jim Amash
  • Adam Bryce Thomas
  • Jennifer Hernandez
  • Gigi Dutriex
  • Rick Mack
  • Evan Stanley
  • Tracy Yardley
Letterer(s)
  • Corey Breen
  • Shawn Lee
Colorist(s)
  • Matt Herms
  • Adam Bryce Thomas
  • Heather Breckel
  • Reggie Graham
  • Leonardo Ito
  • Elaina Unger
  • Valentina Pinto
  • Joana Lafuente
Editor(s)
  • Joe Hughes
  • David Mariotte
  • Megan Brown
  • John Barber
  • Riley Farmer

Sonic the Hedgehog is an ongoing American comic book series based on the Sega video game franchise, published by IDW Publishing. It is the third licensed comic book iteration based on Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog intellectual property, after Fleetway Publications' Sonic the Comic and Archie Comics' Sonic the Hedgehog series.

Contents

Publication history

On July 21, 2017, IDW Publishing announced a deal with Sega 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 Sonic is a brand-new continuity with no connection to the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series by Archie Comics. [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 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]

Synopsis

The comic follows the adventures of Sonic and his friends (old and new) as they thwart Doctor Eggman and other villains.

After the end of the war, Eggman has genuinely 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.

Characters

New characters to the series include:

Publications

(Publications marked with * take place in a separate continuity from the main series.)

Main

TitleIssue(s)Start dateEnd dateNote
Sonic the Hedgehog1–April 4, 2018Began 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 & Whisper0–4April 24, 2019December 11, 2019Miniseries featuring the adventures of two original fan favorite characters from the main series, Tangle the Lemur and Whisper the Wolf.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Bad Guys1–4October 7, 2020December 16, 2020Miniseries centered on Dr. Starline and his crew consisting of Zavok, Mimic and Rough & Tumble.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Imposter Syndrome1–4November 17, 2021May 11, 2022Miniseries focusing on new antagonists Surge the Tenrec and Kitsunami "Kit" the Fennec, as well as their creator, Doctor Starline.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island1–4October 19, 2022January 18, 2023 Psychological horror miniseries focusing on Sonic and Tails trapped on an island full of disused Badniks, including Mecha Sonic.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Fang The Hunter*1–4January 17, 2024May 1, 2024A mini-series set in the Classic continuity featuring Fang the Hunter and his mercenary group, the Hooligans.

One-shots

TitlePublication dateNote
Team Sonic RacingDecember 5, 2018A prequel to the 2019 Sonic game Team Sonic Racing .
Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2019May 1, 2019An annual edition comic which contains 5 new stories.
Sonic the Hedgehog Halloween ComicFest 2019October 26, 2019A Halloween ComicFest special edition comic which contains a reprint of Fallout Part 1.
Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2020July 8, 2020An 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, 2021A one-shot comic book special in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Sonic the Hedgehog series.
Sonic the Hedgehog Free Comic Book Day 2021August 14, 2021A Free Comic Book Day special edition comic.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2: The Official Movie Pre-quill*April 5, 2022A prequel to the 2022 film.
Sonic the Hedgehog Free Comic Book Day 2022May 7, 2022A Free Comic Book Day special edition comic.
Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2022August 17, 2022An annual edition comic which contains 6 new stories about odd pair ups.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Tails 30th Anniversary Special*November 16, 2022A one-shot comic book special celebrating the 30th anniversary of Miles "Tails" Prower.
Sonic the Hedgehog: 5th Anniversary EditionApril 5, 2023A one-shot comic book special celebrating the 5th anniversary of the IDW Sonic the Hedgehog comic series.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Endless SummerAugust 30, 2023Part of the "IDW Endless Summer" event.
Sonic the Hedgehog's 900th AdventureSeptember 13, 2023A 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, 2023A one-shot comic book special celebrating the 30th anniversary of Amy Rose.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Halloween SpecialOctober 11, 2023A Halloween one-shot comic book special focusing on the Chaotix (Vector, Espio and Charmy Bee) from Sonic the Hedgehog series.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Winter JamDecember 13, 2023A Winter one-shot comic book special focused on Sonic & Co competing for a Chaos Emerald.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Spring BrokenMay 8, 2024A Spring one-shot comic book special.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Knuckles' 30th Anniversary Special [18] *2024A one-shot comic book special celebrating the 30th anniversary of Knuckles the Echidna

Graphic novel

TitlePublication dateNote
Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Celebration: Deluxe Edition*October 6, 2021A 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.

Reprints

Compilations

  • Sonic the Hedgehog: Sonic & Tails: Best Buds Forever (February 23, 2022) (a reprint of stories from #1, #13, #34 and #35)
  • Sonic the Hedgehog: Knuckles' Greatest Hits (October 24, 2023; reprints of #3, #10, #11, FCBD 2022 and Annual 2022 stories featuring Knuckles)

Collections

  • Sonic The Hedgehog: Seasons of Chaos (October 10, 2023; collection featuring stories from Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Special and Free Comic Book Day 2021)
  • Sonic The Hedgehog: The IDW Comic Art Collection (October 24, 2023; collection featuring various art pieces from throughout the IDW Sonic comics and the collection also includes various pieces of concept art of characters like Lanolin The Sheep.)

The IDW Collection

  • Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 1 (June 8, 2021) (a reprint of Issues #1–12)
  • Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 2 (March 15, 2022) (a reprint of Issues #13–20, including the 2019 Annual and the Tangle & Whisper miniseries.)
  • Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 3 (March 14, 2023) (a reprint of Issues #21–32, including the 2020 Annual.)
  • Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 4 (March 12, 2024) (a reprint of Issues #33-40, including the Bad Guys miniseries.)

Other

  • Sonic The Hedgehog: Sonic Prime, Vol. 1 (November 19, 2024) (Contains adaptions of the first two episodes of Sonic Prime.)

Cancelled

  • Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper Boxset (would've 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." [20]

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. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonic the Hedgehog (character)</span> Video game character

Sonic the Hedgehog is a character created by the Japanese game developers Yuji Naka and Naoto Ohshima. He is the star of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise and the mascot of the Japanese video game company Sega. Sonic is an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog who can run at supersonic speeds. He races through levels, collecting rings and avoiding obstacles, as he seeks to defeat his archenemy, Doctor Eggman. He is accompanied by supporting characters, such as his sidekick Miles "Tails" Prower, self-proclaimed girlfriend Amy Rose, and friendly rival Knuckles the Echidna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knuckles the Echidna</span> Video game character

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.

Tails (<i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i>) Video game character

Miles Prower, better known by his nickname Tails, is a character from Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series. Tails also appears in several spin-off games in which he stars, comic books, cartoons, and films. He is the first character to consistently appear by Sonic's side in the series as his best friend, appearing in nearly every mainline and spin-off since his debut. 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, hence the nickname.

Chao (<i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i>) Fictional life-forms in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series

Chao are fictional life-forms in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series published by Sega. They are small, childlike creatures that go through a complex life cycle and exist in several visual forms depending on how they are raised. Developer Sonic Team incorporated Chao into the games to encourage players to explore levels and support the good–evil dichotomy of Sonic Adventure 2.

<i>Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog</i> Animated series

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, which was syndicated by Bohbot Entertainment in the United States.

<i>Sonic X</i> 2003 anime television series

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.

<i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i> (Archie Comics) Comic book series

Sonic the Hedgehog was an American comic book series published by Archie Comics, in partnership with Sega. The series was based on Sega's video game franchise, as well as on the 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", and it became the longest-running franchise-based comic series in 2015 — surpassing Marvel Comics' 275 issues of Conan the Barbarian — 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.

<i>Sonic the Comic</i> Comic book series

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tracy Yardley</span> American comic book artist (born 1979)

Tracy Yardley is an American comic book artist best known for his work with the Sonic the Hedgehog comics, originally published by Archie Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Flynn</span> American-Canadian comic book writer

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.

Kenneth W. Penders, II is an American comic book creator and writer. In addition to his comic work, Penders has worked in television on storyboards, backgrounds and character design, and worked on screenplays for his own unpublished films. He is noted for his work on the Archie Comics series Sonic the Hedgehog and its spin-offs, which he worked on for over fifteen years, along with his subsequent lawsuits involving the works.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctor Eggman</span> Video game character

Doctor Ivo"Eggman"Robotnik is the main antagonist of Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Eggman was created and designed by Naoto Ohshima as part of many design choices for Sega's new mascot. After the creation of Sonic the Hedgehog, Ohshima chose to use his previous egg-shaped character to create the antagonist of the 1991 video game Sonic the Hedgehog, making him the arch-nemesis of the series' eponymous main character.

<i>Sonic Universe</i> Comic book series

Sonic Universe was an American comic book series 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.

<i>Sonic Boom</i> (TV series) Animated television series

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyson Hesse</span> American illustrator

Tyson Hesse is an American illustrator, director, and producer known for his work on the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.

<i>Sonic Prime</i> Animated television series

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.

References

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