"Sonic The Hedgehog" Series Talkback (Spoilers)

[Conekiller]

Originally Posted by JMorgan

I'm REALLY interested in it, but is it worth it, at this day and age, to take the time and money to get into it? I REALLY wish I couldda gotten into it when it was new, and I had a big chance to again four years ago, but I didn't take it... would it even be worth it to get into it now, and/or try to track down/buy the really good-looking earlier portions of the series? Part of me REALLY wants to, part of me thinks I just kind of missed out and shouldn't really bother anymore..

If you liked SatAm, you'll like the new writer/artist team on the book. They just got finished with a major "cleaning house" stroy arc and it looks like they've got quite a bit brewing on the horizon.

Be warned: the comic had since fused elements of Segasonic and SatAm , so don't expect everthing to be exactly the way you remember the in the show. There is 10+ years of continuity here

[JMorgan]

Originally Posted by Conekiller

If you liked SatAm, you'll like the new writer/artist team on the book. They just got finished with a major "cleaning house" stroy arc and it looks like they've got quite a bit brewing on the horizon.

Be warned: the comic had since fused elements of Segasonic and SatAm , so don't expect everthing to be exactly the way you remember the in the show. There is 10+ years of continuity here

Yeah, I know. That's the thing..

I mean, for ages, well at least after I'd given up hope on SatAM coming back, I was all for the games and really didn't care about the other "universes". I would see fanfics or forums or sites based on the Archie stuff and just kind of frown at it, thinking it was some cruddy unimportant comic based very loosely on that cartoon I really liked way-back-when that had little to do with, and was thusly wholly inferior to, the games.

But lately, as I'm getting less and less inclined to play newer Sonic games as they continue deviating further from the original formulas (except the handhelds at least) and the stories and many newer characters are just becoming less satisfactory to me, and especially as of very late since I've become interested in the whole SatAM universe again, I've thought heavily about that darn comic. And now, the whole 'shoving the game stuff into the archie universe' almost seems like a turnoff in a way, though I guess they had to do something to get more modern/younger Sonic fans into it, eh? But that's yet ANOTHER reason for me to be depressed that I didn't find out about this thing when I was a kid. When I'd have liked it most, I had no idea it existed..

But, yeah. You say I'd like it now if I liked SatAM--weird, I've heard from various people who love SatAM that they're becoming increasingly fed up with the comic. But aside from what I mentioned up there, the one I flipped through a week ago looked kind of neat..

My real issue here is, is it WORTH it to get into it now? Like, would I really need to get lots of back issues? I'd actually love to, to be honest, but it seems they're quite rare and hard to come by. I heard you can order as far back as #30 from Archie themselves, though, and considering the story didn't get serious for a little while at least that might be good... but... that'd be a lot of money just to get back at myself for not knowing about something when I should have. And forget all the specials and spinoffs and all that, that would cost even more/be even rarer to find... Oh, bother. I'm just one of those guys who hates missing out on PART of something if he gets really into it, you know? So it feels like something that's 13 years old might be really unwise to put even a penny into if that will make me unsatisfied until I have all of it, or at least a lot.

I almost wish these comic makers would post scans or some crap after something's such and such years old so people don't miss anything, but *shrug*

[Conekiller]

Originally Posted by JMorgan

But, yeah. You say I'd like it now if I liked SatAM--weird, I've heard from various people who love SatAM that they're becoming increasingly fed up with the comic. But aside from what I mentioned up there, the one I flipped through a week ago looked kind of neat..

Up until about....3-4 months ago, I'd completely agree. The comic was an uninspired meandering jumble of bad dialogue and akward action sequences. Then Ian and Tracey took over and the comic finally feels like it is trying to go somewhere.

Originally Posted by JMorgan

My real issue here is, is it WORTH it to get into it now? Like, would I really need to get lots of back issues? I'd actually love to, to be honest, but it seems they're quite rare and hard to come by. I heard you can order as far back as #30 from Archie themselves, though, and considering the story didn't get serious for a little while at least that might be good... but... that'd be a lot of money just to get back at myself for not knowing about something when I should have. And forget all the specials and spinoffs and all that, that would cost even more/be even rarer to find... Oh, bother. I'm just one of those guys who hates missing out on PART of something if he gets really into it, you know? So it feels like something that's 13 years old might be really unwise to put even a penny into if that will make me unsatisfied until I have all of it, or at least a lot.

I almost wish these comic makers would post scans or some crap after something's such and such years old so people don't miss anything, but *shrug*

Yeah, TPBs would do wonders for a 10+ year old comic.(especially for the awesome Knuckles comic) But ,honestly, starting next issue, you should be fine, they just ended a massive "cleaning house" story arc that killed off a handful of long forgotten side characters and shoved aside some comic-only villains who only show up once every handful of years anyway.

[veemonjosh]

Sadly, my grocery store only carries Sonic once every other month (and part 2 of the current storyline is the last issue I could get), so...

Originally Posted by Conan-san

now, calm me down, but the end of the three part series...

Spoiler:

ADAM is the orgional Robotnik?!

OMG OMG OMG!!!

That just leaves one question...

Who is Anonymous?

[Conekiller]

Spoiler:

ADAM is Anonymous, and seems to look vers suspiciously like the old Robotnik. We only saw in deep shadow with the outline

How this will all play out has yet to be revealed.

[PC!]

Head writer Ian Flynn says that trade paperbacks are in the works (maybe coming as early as the end of the summer).

Spoiler:

He also says that ADAM simply fabricated the shape of the original Robotnik. But he has a "dead=dead" policy, so I highly doubt classic eggy will be back. His board has answers to plenty of questions.

[veemonjosh]

Originally Posted by PC2

Head writer Ian Flynn says that trade paperbacks are in the works (maybe coming as early as the end of the summer).

AWESOME!!!

[Pepperidge]

I had forsaken the comic long ago, but now that Ken Penders is finally gone, Ian Flynn really seems to be taking the book into a much better direction. One that will please both SatAM and game fans, which is no small task.

Don't think that the house cleaning is over yet... apparently he plans to address just about everything that's been left open and never resolved in that comic for the past ten plus years. Almost reminds me of the days back when I was a naive ten year old thinking that there would be a payoff for all of the needless convolusion. It seems that we may finally get it now.

[straw_hat]

It's about time they released collections of this series. Even though I stopped reading the comic several years ago I've got plenty of the older issues from back in the 90's that are in a raggedy shape and it'll be nice to finally get to read some of the stories in their entirety.

[JMorgan]

Well, I'm sold. I'm picking up an issue next time I'm at the mall; 3 bucks a pop ain't bad, and I've really badly wanted to do so for awhile, I just needed someone to tell me something hopeful and give me some remote reason, some excuse to get it instead of thinking "oh, but 13 million other guys says it sucks now".

I mean, even if it blatantly sucked, i MUST try it sometime in my life, before I miss /ANOTHER/ opportunity. Now, if only there were a way to get hold of good quality SatAM episodes legally....

*edit*

Well, no one's replied, so I guess I'll just edit my post instead of replying again.

I heard from someone who's supposedly a huge archie comic fan and supposedly knows what he's talking about that you can legally download issues 1-30 online now and legally order 31-current from Archie themselves for ~$1 a pop. Is there any truth to this?

[Conan-san]

Originally Posted by PC2

Head writer Ian Flynn says that trade paperbacks are in the works (maybe coming as early as the end of the summer).

Spoiler:

He also says that ADAM simply fabricated the shape of the original Robotnik. But he has a "dead=dead" policy, so I highly doubt classic eggy will be back. His board has answers to plenty of questions.

That's cool, it's infantely easyer to get Graphic Novels then it is to get singels.

and so I see with the spoiler issue, but why would he do that? He wants a return to orgionality?

[PC!]

It's baaaaack.

Quite a lot has happened since when last we left our spiny blue hero. Highlights include:

SPOILERS FOR ISSUES 165-170

Spoiler:

The wrapup to Mobius: 25 Years Later, the destruction of ADAM, the death of Tommy and Antoine's father, all chaos emeralds in the universe molding into the classic 7 colored emeralds, Tails fulfilling his destiny as the Chosen One, the Zone of Silence becoming the Special Zone, King Acorn recovering, a Xorda/Black Arms war, and the return of Tails' parents, among other things.

And thus, the story continues to shift into overdrive as we make our way to issue 175 (and it looks like they'll be dropping a bombshell in that one, folks)



"I Am." The countdown to issue #175 continues! As Shadow and Dr. Robotnik's personal war intensifies, could it bring an end to life as we know it? When Shadow steals classified information about himself from Dr. Robotnik, he enlists Sonic, Tails and Knuckles to help him crack the code. But is he really ready to learn who he truly is? Plus: "The Enforcers." Without his son's help, Knuckle's father Locke is losing control of Angel Island. Will the help offered by a mysterious new benefactor be accepted by Locke? And if so, will it mean the end of Angel Island?

I love Ian's handling of Shadow's character. He proves to be tough, yet sensitive.

The backup story was definitely the highlight of the issue, and dropped a huge bombshell of it's own:

Spoiler:

Finitevus plans on using the Master Emerald to let "the power and name of Enerjak" be known once more. Eeeee!

So, discuss, discuss.

Oh, and Sonic the Hedgehog Archives Volumes 1 and 2 are out, reprinting the first eight issues.

[Solitude1]

Yeah, I've been reading the comics again ever since Ian's jumped on board. Its awesome how he's cleaning house so to speak but, still gives us excellent stories and characterizations. I also picked up Vol 1 and 2 archives. Classic Sonic is just so weird because it was so goofy back then...can't wait til we start hitting the serious stuff.

Anyway, the last issue with Shadow was really good stuff, I'm just wondering will Shadow stay in Knothole or just brood and travel around the world. Also, I can only guess what Fiona is up to...something bad is brewing for sure.

Supposedly we're supposed to have a couple marry before the 175 issue. My guess is Antoine and Bunnie but who knows? Ian's pulled so many surprises...

....really glad the comic is back on the right track.

[SAMaine]

Well, I don't completely discount any of the Sonic Continuities, considering that at the time of creation, Fleetway's WAS UK canon, Archie's WAS US canon, and Sega's was Japanese canon. Archie's Sonic the Hedgehog, still being around, is still a valid universe, and the fact that Sega adopted the Japanese canon for games since Sonic Adventure does not in validate the existence of Fleetway's Sonic the Comic. I don't really go into this arguement about Archie vs. Fleetway vs. Sega, because to me, each are valid stories of Sonic the Hedgehog.

[Conan-san]

I'll give them credit for incorperateing the Black Doom without turning the whole deal into a emo-fisted train crash.

[danreyes1]

It's the only comic I'm subscribed to, and my largest collection. Im still missing the main segments of the endgame saga though ...

[HellCat]

*looks at cover*

....."I'm the Shadow, b****! Smack ya with ya own pimp!!"

[ShadowGUN]

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #175
"Eggman Empire": Up until now, Sonic the Hedgehog and Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robobtnik have been fighting for one hundred and seventy four issues. Every time they've fought Sonic has found some way to win the day. This issue, however, Dr. Robotnik pulls out all the stops, and you'll never believe what happens! It's a 175th anniversary issue fans can't miss; and one that Sonic may prefer to forget! SCRIPT: Ian Flynn. ART: Tracy Yardley. Combat-crunching cover by Spaz!
Shipping May 2nd, 2007
On sale DCD May 16th, 2007
On sale Newsstand May 22nd, 2007
Full color digest format
$2.49 US.
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US





SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #176
"Cracking the Empire": The greatest heroes of Mobius have been captured, their homes destroyed and Sonic defeated; but you can't keep a good hedgehog down! With only Tails, Knuckles and Amy Rose at his side, can Sonic manage to recover in time and save his friends and family, or has Dr. Robotnik truly won the day?! SCRIPT: Ian Flynn. ART: Tracy Yardley. Utter-chaos cover Spaz!
Shipping May 30th, 2007
On sale DCD June 13th, 2007
On sale Newsstand June 19th, 2007
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US



Robotnik winning ?

[veemonjosh]

Not to nitpick, but this just irks me about the description:

Originally Posted by ShadowGUN

Up until now, Sonic the Hedgehog and Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik have been fighting for one hundred and seventy four issues.

He's only been fighting the current Robotnik for about one hundred issues, not one hundred and seventy four.

[PC!]

Ack! A spoiler tag might come in handy for those bombshells!

Originally Posted by veemonjosh

Not to nitpick, but this just irks me about the description

The people who write those aren't the most knowledgeable Archie Sonic fans out there... ^_^;;