Query Returrned 128 Items
Sonic The Comic #1 - May 1993
 | "Enter: Sonic"
Writer: Alan McKenzie
Artist: Anthony Williams
Nothing too taxing for the first issue, in any sense: Sonic basically struts his stuff in a lazy chase. En route, he rescues Porker Lewis (sporting a very childlike, Sega-esque look) and a variety of other Sega of Europe/America characters, including the original incarnation of Sally Acorn. They`d love him to stay and chat, but he`s got other things on his mind.
Tails has gone missing. And in true heroic tradition, Sonic has a bad feeling about this.
The artwork is average at most and the story settling for nothing more than a rehash of a game plot, and even using Sega of Europe conventions such as Sonic`s hyperspeed speech. But in doing this, you can`t claim that the first issue doesn't capture the quintessential pre-SA Sonic.
Cover: David Brown Graphics Ltd. |
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Sonic The Comic #2 - June 1993
 | "Robofox"
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Woodrow Phoenix
In a continuation of the last issue`s story, Sonic finds the Green Hill Zone deserted, except for one lone rabbit, who explains that everyone - including Tails - has been kidnapped by You Can Guess Who. Sonic comes racing up to Robotnik`s fortress, only to be met by a two-tailed cyberfox! It immediately sets about pummelling Sonic into the ground, and looks as though it`s going to succeed. But it can`t all end like this! Say it ain`t so, Tails! Say it aint so!
The story is still carrying off a formulaic plot, and in Phoenix, the artwork has improved very slightly. But a climax that could`ve had some serious punch is marred by that unnecessary Eldorado joke on the final page.
Note to non-Brits and anyone under around 20: Eldorado was created by the BBC to be the greatest soap opera ever made. They were so confident that they built an entire village on location in Spain, rather than just a film set. And it was the biggest flop in their history.
I`m afraid that I may have to explain things like this rather a lot. Fleetway has a distinctly Anglocentric worldview, and can never quite resist a joke or two over the heads of the target demographic.
Cover: David Brown Graphics Ltd. |
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Sonic The Comic #3 - June 1993
 | “Mayhem In The Marble Hill Zone”
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Cassanovas
In a rare appearance, bow in hair and blubbering, Sally Acorn is consoled by Tails as she searches for her missing brother, Tufty, who has developed heroic ambitions after finding a discarded pair of Sonic`s old sneakers. Leaving Tails to do the `let the poor helpless girlie bawl into your shoulder` routine, Sonic sets off for the eponymous zone, only to find the errant squirrel under the guard of a gang of badniks who`re only too keen for both animals to join them.
Cassanovas` art was always unmistakable, and I could never be quite sure whether or not that plasticised sheen and those permanently dopey expressions were endearing or wrecked the mood. Although Sonic at least was identified clearly in his role as protector of the average Mobian on the street, the story in itself had very little substance other than Sonic telling anyone with any ambition to beat him that he had no equal. As usual. Tufty takes the hint and is never heard from again.
And somehow, for me, allowing badniks the sentience to speak in perfectly normal voices always lessens the impact of the story, by masking what they really are.
But it does make you wonder how advanced Robotnik's abilities with AI might be, so I suppose that these things even out.
Cover: Ferran Rodriguez |
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Sonic The Comic #4 - July 1993
 | “Day of the Badniks”
Writer: Nigel Kitching
Artist: Ed Hillyer
A blue, hedgehog-shaped creature is going around ripping up star posts, causing animals to disappear and generally giving Sonic a bad name. When Sonic and Tails investigate, they find Robotnik waiting with a small army, using their friends as organic batteries.
Tails` attempt to help with Sonic`s attack causes Sonic to be imprisoned within the robotic replica - and it looks as though the fox is about to be next on the production line, complete with his old RoboFox suit!
All in all, Mr Kitching`s first outing basically sets the tone for a lot of earlier StC fare: hoorah for Sonic, and that fox just gets in the way and whimpers a lot. Also, Hillyer`s exceedingly scrappy artwork and a complete lack of consistency in character designs (Robotnik lookiing like a demented ringmaster in a top hat?) serve to distract from a decidedly filler quality story.
Cover: Jon Howard
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Sonic The Comic #5 - July 1993
 | "Lost In the Labyrinth Zone"
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Woodrow Phoenix
Sonic is going through his usual morning routine of exercising and tucking into a huge breakfast when the tentacles of an Arach-Bot suddenly reach from the ground and grab Tails from beside him.
With the fox dragged underground into the Labyrinth Zone, Sonic, with Sally Acorn, Johnny Lightfoot and a passing random extra, sets off in pursuit...
The Robofox suit makes another appearance.
Cover: Mark White |
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Sonic The Comic #6 - August 1993
 | “Attack On The Death Egg”
Writer: Nigel Kitching
Artist: Ferran Rodriguez
Ho hum. Another issue, another artist... Although these are some of the most accurate SegaSonic renditions that Fleetway has seen to date.
In an attempt to prevent it from colliding with the Emerald Hill Zone, Sonic and Tails take their bi-plane up to the dangerously orbiting but apparently deserted Death Egg satelite and tangle with the Metal Sonic from Sonic 2. Whilst Sonic heroically stays behind to re-direct the satelite`s course, Tails is ordered into the sole escape pod, and has an excellent view of the craft sinking beneath a convenient ocean. And it looks as though there`s nothing for the fox to do but start preparing a eulogy.
The problem is, that after this story, which consists of one TV reference that'd go over the head of even most people my age ("Ironsides"), and Sonic flogging an extremely laboured running gag about how stupid and even more childish than usual Tails must be, there's no real feel of anything momentous happening.
This was the swansong of Sonic 2's Death Egg - even in a seven page story, a sense of accomplishment might've been more pronounced.
With hindsight, the early stories were meant to show Tails developing into a more rounded character - but surely the early stories could have shown him as having some potential, rather than some complete dupe who`s one step away from comic relief? The reader isn`t to know that...
Cover: Carl Flint |
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Sonic The Comic #7 - August 1993
 | “Super Sonic”
Writer: Nigel Kitching
Artist: Richard Elson
Nobody reading this issue could possibly have known that it marked the first appearance of what was to become StC`s most successful partnership. This simple enough little story may do very little other than explain why Super Sonic transforms as he does, but the warm vivacity of Elson`s high-quality artwork gives the narrative that little extra clout that`s it`s thus far been mostly lacking.
Cover: Steve White |
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Sonic The Comic #8 - September 1993
 | "The Origin of Sonic"
Writer: Nigel Kitching
Artist: Richard Elson
Lots of historic moments in this issue. The first sight of over-arching plot. The first appearance of the Omni-viewer. The first use of the same artist for two issues in a row.
But, aside from that, this is the big one: Stay Sonic: The Comic Strip. Herein lies all of the answers to Fleetway`s version of events.
And if that isn`t enough, the unexpected (*round of rapturous applause*) plot twist at the end sets the trend for the next ninety-two issues.
Cover: Carl Flint |
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Sonic The Comic #9 - September 1993
 | "Back to Reality"
Writer: Nigel Kitching
Artist: Richard Elson
The Omni-viewer may have been able to dupe Robotnik with a semantic loophole, and return Sonic, Tails, Johnny and Porker to Mobius... But what lies in store for them in a harsh new world ruled by Robotnik? The dictator may be surprised to see them back, but it`s not as though they can be any threat to him now...
And for the first time, maybe you believe it. That raw, vivid Elson artwork, coupled with Sonic actually being serious for once, is one of the earliest signs of the major plotlines to come, and actually has some emtional drive behind it.
Cover: Cassanovas |
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Sonic The Comic #10 - October 1993
 | "Megatox"
Writer: Nigel Kitching
Artist: Richard Elson
Whilst staging a daring breakout attempt for the inmates of one of Robotnik`s slave-driven factories, Sonic comes up against a creature made entirely of Mega Mack. If only he`d stop wisecracking for long enough to let us enjoy the fight - does this hedgehog ever need to take a breath?
Whoever Mobius is ruled by, Sonic will never shut up. With that level of childishness, Sonic himself is being more appealing to the "kiddie" age group, and the marriage of sly intertextual references and the target age group seems slightly uneasy.
Cover: Nigel Kitching |
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