How to Read the Sonic the Hedgehog Comics
A Beginner's Guide to Sonic in Comics
Sonic the Hedgehog has been an ongoing series for as long as many of our readers take been alive. It's an impressive feat for whatsoever comic, just specially one based on a pop video game. Near adaptations of this sort are produced as a miniseries or collapse due to a lack of plot afterwards a few dozen issues. That was not the case for Sonic the Hedgehog.
The series from Archie Comics ran a total of 290 issues earlier it was announced that IDW Publishing would become the new publisher with their debut appearing in comics stores this week. That all-encompassing run has made Sonic the Hedgehog one of the longest-lasting and about iconic comics in the American marketplace. If you're not familiar with the series, this relaunch at IDW Publishing offers the perfect point to check it out, and we've assembled a quick guide to grab you up on the series to date.
Creation
The kickoff Sonic video game was released June 23, 1991, and was both a critical and commercial success. It launched a franchise that would outlast the consoles information technology was tied to, with many people more readily recognizing the proper name "Sonic" than "Sega". Colorful graphics and quick gameplay helped to ingratiate the character into a lot of households. That quick popularity also built a demand for more. This would take the form of sequels, also as cartoons and comics.
The stop of 1992 heralded the second wave of Sonic-related stories. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was released on November 21, 1992, and the character debuted at Archie Comics in February 1993 with an ongoing serial launched in May. While the cartoon would not premiere until September 1993, many of the early on comics stories were direct tied to the characters and world created on telly by DiC. The basic premise was abiding with Sonic leading a group of heroes called the Freedom Fighters against villains like Doctor Eggman. It was initially produced as a four-issue mini-series before being relaunched every bit an ongoing.
A Long Run
Betwixt 1993 and 2017, in that location would be a total of 290 issues of Sonic the Hedgehog published, as well every bit various spin-offs, mini-serial, and one-shots. This aggregating of cloth would lead to the series receiving the Guinness Globe Tape for beingness the longest-running comic based upon a video game. Information technology also features one of the longest runs of any comics writer in the history of the medium. Ian Flynn joined the series on Sonic the Hedgehog #160 and has remained the atomic number 82 author ever since. His creations have notably joined the universe of the games, and Flynn was invited to continue writing the series at IDW -- at least for now.
As any reader of long ongoing series from other publishers like Marvel Comics or DC Comics knows, that corporeality of time can atomic number 82 to some confusing elements. In Jan 2009, quondam series writer Ken Penders filed a lawsuit against Archie Comics attempting to copyright his various creations while working at the publisher. This has led to subsequent suits and counter-suits, likewise involving video game producers EA and Sega. While various characters' and stories' legal status became unclear, at that place was a decision to reboot the series while at Archie Comics. And so, Flynn rebooted all of Sonic continuity in Sonic the Hedgehog #248. Just key characters from the video game and those created past Flynn remained, avoiding any potential legal problems in the time to come.
Sonic the Hedgehog has been accompanied by a multifariousness of other ongoing series throughout its history. Both Sonic Universe and Knuckles the Echidna focused on supporting characters and their stories. The series also crossed over with Mega Homo, another video game-inspired series written by Flynn that began in 2011.
Key Bug
While the new Sonic the Hedgehog serial at IDW Publishing promises a fresh start, the serial' history at Archie Comics notwithstanding offers a collection of smashing stories worth reading either due to their importance to the series or fun as individual issues:
"For Whom The Bong Tolls": This upshot is an early classic that covers some tough material with a seeming death. It debuted in the ceremony upshot of Sonic the Hedgehog #50 and is a perfect instance of building stakes in a story aimed primarily at a young audience.
"Order From Chaos": This two-part story is a sci-fi thriller that uses nanites as a plot device to push both Sonic and his best pal Tails further than e'er earlier. Taking place in Sonic the Hedgehog #168-169, information technology shows off all of the most iconic characters from the Sonic franchise in a tightly plotted adventure.
"Worlds Collide": The very first crossover between the Sonic and Mega Man franchises took place in Sonic the Hedgehog #248-251, Sonic Universe #51-54, and Mega Human being #24-27. Information technology'southward an incredibly fun story that ties all of the all-time characters and elements of these ii video game franchises into a coherent universe. It also officially rebooted Sonic continuity.
A New Beginning
Given the extensive history between Archie Comics and Sega, it came as a surprise when it was announced in July 2017 that IDW Publishing would be creating a new serial of Sonic-related textile. They too appear that longtime writer Ian Flynn would remain on the new series -- for now -- guaranteeing a continuity to tone and manner. Artist Tyson Hesse, another longtime contributor to the franchise, will too bring together Flynn. The new series is prepared to be a starting bespeak for new fans, even with a familiar phonation all the same working behind the scenes.
Sonic the Hedgehog #ane debuts this week and the serial will be published weekly for all of April with a total of four issues beingness released before settling into a monthly schedule. IDW has stated that the new serial will be more closely tied to the plot of the video games, with the beginning story "Fallout" taking place immediately after the events of the game Sonic Forces. Information technology has too been antiseptic that characters and events introduced at Archie Comics will not be included in the new ongoing serial.
0 commentsThe new issue seems to offer a best of both worlds approach. Popular writers and artists who ensured a record-breaking run at Archie Comics remain on the series. The series itself moves closer to the video games that inspire it and provide a better starting point for new readers. With that combination in identify, fans should expect that Sonic the Hedgehog will remain i of the longest running series in all of comics.
Source: https://comicbook.com/comics/news/sonic-comics-guide/
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