Sonic the Hedgehog 025 (Archie)

Sonic the Hedgehog #025
"Sonic the Hedgehog Vs. Mecha Sonic"

Cover date: August 1995

Release	Date	RRP	Code	Rating
US	1995-05-24^[1]^[2]	$1.50	?
CA	199x	$1.65	?

← Previous issue | Next issue →

Sonic the Hedgehog #25 is the twenty-fifth issue of the ongoing Sonic the Hedgehog comic series published by Archie Comics. The first milestone issue for the series, it features a cover with silver ink to give it a "polished metal" look.^[3] The issue is a loose adaptation of Sonic the Hedgehog CD, featuring the first appearances of Metal Sonic (referred to as "Mecha Sonic" in the issue) and Amy Rose within Archie's Sonic the Hedgehog publications. Additionally, Espio the Chameleon and Vector the Crocodile have cameo roles in the issue, predating their official comic debuts in Sonic the Hedgehog #30.

The issue would be reprinted in Sonic the Hedgehog Archives Volume 7, Sonic Legacy Series Book 2, Sonic Super Special Magazine #3 and the digital collection Sonic: The Games - Classic. Parts three and four of "Go Ahead... Mecha My Day!" were also reprinted in Sonic Universe #50.

Official solicitation

“	The milestone issue #25 features the first comic appearances of both the evil robot Metal Sonic, as well as cute little Amy Rose, Sonic's #1 fan (or so she claims)! When Robotnik kidnaps poor Amy and uses her as bait to lure Sonic into a deadly trap, it is up to our true blue hero to race past Robotnik's newest creation, Metal Sonic, to save the day! But even if Sonic manages to beat Metal Sonic, is he truly safe from Ivo's diabolical booby trap?^[4]	„

Stories

Go Ahead... Mecha My Day!

Part 1

The Freedom Fighters are all together in Rotor Walrus's laboratory. Sonic the Hedgehog is forced to stand still on a podium as Rotor is installing a gadget into one of his shoes, boring the hedgehog. He finishes up his work as Princess Sally Acorn, at a monitor display, calls out that a feed is coming in. As Rotor looks closely at the work he's done on Sonic's shoe, a large image of Rotor's eye appears on Sally's monitor. She tells him to back away, as Rotor officially reveals to Sonic his Sonicam; A small camera attached to his shoe. He starts revving up to run, causing the screen to show a dizzying image which makes Antoine D'Coolette feel ill. Rotor tells Sonic to hang on, as he activates a slow-motion compensator in the camera that allows them to see through the camera more clearly. Sonic gets distracted from having to slow down, however, and crashes into a wall.

Sally thanks Rotor for a job well done, noting the camera will come in handy. This statement piques the interest of Miles "Tails" Prower, who asks Sally for clarification. She answers by revealing that the Freedom Fighters and Knothole Village are in danger, as a new Zone portal has been discovered. The portal leads to Collision Chaos Zone, a new Zone which appears unstable and must therefore be explored.

In Robotropolis, the Zone's creator Dr. Robotnik introduces it in a speech. He walks over to a Jaws in a fish bowl, revealing that he had intentionally let the Freedom Fighters to discover the portal. He assumes that Sonic wishes to test out his skills in the Zone, but also has an additional incentive to lure the hedgehog there; He takes out one letter from a bag of stolen Sonic-Grams letters and reads it. The letter contains fan mail written to Sonic by a young hedgehog named Amy Rose. Robotnik then walks over to a control panel and presses a button, opening a door nearby. A robotic figure comes out, whom he commands to kidnap Amy.

Robotnik proceeds to make a broadcast to the Freedom Fighters, appearing on the monitor in Rotor's Lab. Sonic makes an insulting remark at him, but Robotnik remains unfazed, insisting that Sonic is too cowardly to come visit the Zone. Sonic is upset by this, but Sally stops him from running off into danger. Before he continues on, Robotnik jokingly states that he's received a bulletin. He brings out Amy Rose, revealing her as Sonic's biggest fan. She calls out to Sonic to help her, sending Sonic into a mad frenzy. He ends the transmission and ties Amy up with a rope as a Robotnik doppelgänger enters the room, stumbling around. The doppelgänger falls over, revealing itself as a disguised Snively. Robotnik lifts him up in anger, telling him to fly behind Sonic in his Robo-Pod and burn the trail as Sonic proceeds through the Zone. He puts Snively down as he gloats over his presumed victory, as his plan will force Sonic to proceed to a second Zone, where he'll face a much greater challenge.

Part 2

To determine their next course of action, the Freedom Fighters arrange a meeting. Sonic, however, is well aware of Amy Rose and wishes to head to the Zone to save her right away. Sally, however, insists that heading directly into the unknown could prove dangerous. Sonic dismisses her concerns, declaring danger to be his middle name while noting that Tails could scope the situation out from above. He jumps for joy as Sonic tells him to head on out and check out the new Zone from the sky, despite opposition from Antoine. He arrives over one of Robotnik's new factories, supposedly located east of the Zone's entrance, deciding to fly low in order to avoid detection. This doesn't work, however, and he's easily caught by SWATbots, who proceed to bring him to Robotnik.

Not having heard from Tails, Sonic decides to head out to the Zone by himself. Following a map he got from Rotor, he arrives at its portal. Before he can jump in, he's greeted by Robotnik on a monitor. He reveals that he's captured both Tails and Amy, giving Sonic even more incentive to proceed. Sonic jumps into the portal and enters the Zone.

Things initially seem easy to Sonic as he's running through the Zone. Unknown to him, a disguised Snively is following behind in a Robo-Pod, and proceeds to begin "Operation Burnt Bridges" at Robotnik's command. Meanwhile at Knothole, Rotor and Sally notice a being following behind Sonic while watching his progress on the Sonicam. After looking at a freeze frame of the footage whle standing upside down, they realize that Snively is following Sonic and burning the path behind him with the Robo-Pod's laser.

Having reached the end of the zone, Sonic finds himself surprised at how relatively safe his journey has been so far. As he enters the second zone through another portal, he comes face to face with a robotic figure.

Part 3

Mecha Sonic, a robotic doppelgänger of Sonic, gloats, telling Sonic that his friends are at the end of their current location, the Stardust Speedway Zone. Sonic thinks about doubling back, but notices that Snively has arrived to keep burning the path behind him. With no other option, Sonic jumps at Mecha Sonic and begins fighting him. Robotnik laughs about how Mecha Sonic has engaged Sonic, while Amy starts to cry. Tails asks her what's wrong, as she reveals that she wanted Sonic to be engaged to her instead. Back in Knothole, Rotor reports that the Zone's energy field prevents the Sonicam from working, to which Sally responds by declaring that the two need to head on over to Sonic's last known location and take direct action.

Sonic and Mecha Sonic begin to race through the Zone. Although they are able to pass eachother on numerous occasions on the race course through a city, neither of them can make any great leads, keeping a stalemate as they go through. At the end of the road, Crabmeat and Robotnik stand at a finish line structure. Robotnik demands the Badnik to check the lettering below a metallic archway. He goes under the structure and checks the 'FINISH' writing on the ground. As he confirms the correct spelling, Robotnik hits a trigger, sending a huge wall down and crushing Crabmeat. Robotnik explains that he is planning on crushing Sonic with the mechanism as he runs through the archway.

Part 4

As the race continues, Sonic is ahead of Mecha Sonic by a bit, and the two continue to exchange taunts. A speed bump pops up on the road, causing Sonic to trip and fall. He looks over to see Mecha Sonic manning a control panel and explain that he had been waiting for Sonic in order to ambush him, while the Mecha Sonic he was just talking to was merely a hologram.

Above the Zone, Rotor and Sally arrive in a biplane. They fly over the finish area and easily notice Robotnik's figure. Sally puts on a parachute, telling Rotor to complete his mission while she completes hers. She jumps out to confront Robotnik. Elsewhere in the Zone, the race continues between Sonic and Mecha Sonic, who are approaching the race course's final stretch. Sonic decides to use his new move: the Figure Eight Super Peel-Out. He charges up and launches ahead at very high speeds. Mecha Sonic increases his output and tries to match the speed, but the speed requires him to exceed its maximum exertion levels. His legs begin melting due to heat generated by friction, causing him to malfunction and ultimately fall apart as Sonic approaches the finish line.

Right as he arrives at the finish line, Sally drops down and kicks Robotnik away from the barrier control, allowing Sonic to pass through the archway unharmed. Amy and Tails celebrate with joy while Rotor chases after Snively with his plane, getting the Overlander to surrender. Robotnik is upset that the Freedom Fighters were able to survive his seemingly foolproof plan, while Sonic insists that he saw the trap coming regardless. Sonic volunteers to stand under the line arch to help Robotnik regain his composure, even telling him to activate it. He does so with pleasure, but Sonic is able to dash out of the way before the crusher can hit him. Robotnik is confused at his failure, stepping below the trap in order to identify any potential malfunctions. While under the crusher, Sonic invites the reader to press a button, activating the trap and crushing Robotnik.

Sonic and the others pose for the reader while Rotor flies by with a banner celebrating the 25th issue of Sonic the Hedghehog. Robotnik, meanwhile, yells about his hatred of Sonic from beneath his own trap.

Other features

Pro Art - A gallery of art by the staff of Sonic the Hedgehog including:
- Paul Castiglia (Manager, Direct Sales & Promotions)
- Mike Gallagher (Writer)
- Angelo DeCesare (Writer)
- Freddy Mendez (Associate Editor)
- Mike Kanterovich (Writer)
- Joe Pepitone (Art Director Computer Graphics)
- Rich Koslowski (Inker)
- Mindy Eisman (Letter)
- Frank Gagliardo (Production Artist)
- Ken Penders (Writer & Penciler)
- Scott Fulop (Editor)
Sonic-Grams
- Background on who has helped with the book over the last twenty five issues
- Announcements of Sonic Triple Trouble special, Knuckles' Chaotix special, and the forthcoming Knuckles mini-series.

The Adventures of Scott & Paul

Main article: Off Panel

Paul Castiglia celebrates in Scott Fulop's office over Sonic's anniversary issue, sharing in the credit. Freddy Mendez asks Scott what he means by "we," in which Scott replies, "always be prepared to deal with pesky intruders like Paul!" Pressing a button, Scott opens a trap door, Paul falling through it much to Freddy's delight.

Sonic the Hedgehog 025 (Archie)

From Sonic Retro

Contents