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Sonic the Hedgehog 160 (Archie)

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Sonic the Hedgehog #160
"Sonic the Hedgehog"
Release Date RRP Code Rating
Comic
US
2006-03-22[1] $2.25 ?
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Sonic the Hedgehog #160 is the one hundred and sixtieth issue of the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series by Archie Comics.

This issue is known for being the first to feature fan-favorites writer Ian Flynn and artist Tracy Yardley, both of whom would go on to become mainstays of the Sonic comics.

Official solicitation

Stories

Birthday Bash! Part One: Giving And Receiving

Sonic and the recently-crowned King Elias are walking through Knothole, heading towards the old Freedom Fighter base. As they do, Elias explains to Sonic the circumstances surrounding the Metal Sonic Troopers from the previous issue, while Sonic snarks about them having any more ‘brilliant ideas’. Elias admits that he and Sally have one more, and as they enter the darkened base, he reveals what it is.

It’s a birthday party! The lights turn on to reveal the Freedom Fighters wishing Sonic a happy birthday, including Tails, Sally and Fiona Fox - who hugs Sonic, much to Amy’s jealousy. They also reveal that they’ve fixed the base up, giving them all a throwback to simpler times. Fiona asks Sonic how old he’s turning today… but since Sonic isn’t sure anymore (owing to his year-long space trip), he decided to just call himself a teen from then on.

Suddenly, an earth-shattering kaboom is heard. The Freedom Fighters look to its source - to find Bean the Dynamite and Bark the Polar Bear, in their first appearance in the comics. Bean sings a song about how Dr. Eggman hired them to beat him up, and Sonic, thanking Eggman for remembering his birthday, instantly jumps into a pummeling. A fight ensues, with Sonic theorizing that Eggman sent them because Evil Sonic had done something to the doctor under his name.

And on that subject, the scene switches to Rouge and Evil Sonic attempting to steal the Master Emerald from Locke once again. Things don’t go as planned, as Evil Sonic, who is supposed to be on decoy duty, instead opts to try and steal the Emerald on his own. Rouge is upset at this, but their arguing is interrupted by Locke, who menacingly steps towards them.

Back at Knothole, the Freedom Fighters continue fighting their attackers. Fiona, spotting some keys, jingles them for Bean and throws them out the window. Bean, completely entranced by them, jumps out after them. She also convinces Bark to surrender, being that he’s now outnumbered 9-to-1. The other Freedom Fighters are confused, and question Fiona about how she knows Bean and Bark. She admits that she doesn’t have a completely clean past, although Sonic reassures her that she’s welcome in the team. However, he’s surprised when Shadow suddenly appears, wishing him a happy birthday and carrying in a beat-up Bean.

On Angel Island, Rouge and Locke begin duking it out, with Evil Sonic attempting to help but easily getting knocked aside. However, given that it’s his birthday today as well, Evil Sonic gives himself an evil birthday present and attempts to use the Master Emerald to power himself up. As he glows with energy, Locke rushes towards him, and knocks him off the Emerald, slashing him in the chest. He and Rouge then attempt to continue fighting, but they’re soon distracted by Evil Sonic grabbing their attention.

As this happens, the main Sonic questions why Shadow showed up to his party. Shadow admits that he came to thank Sonic for saving Hope Kintobor from the Metal Sonic Troopers in the previous issue. The two then exchange playful rival banter, until Rotor points out that Bean has entered a video call in the brain trust room with Dr. Eggman. The duck admits that he and Bark got beat, to which Eggman is furious. Fiona then orders Bean to sit with Bark, and Sonic taunts Eggman about losing again. However, Eggman taunts back about sending him a new present for his birthday. The Freedom Fighters then hear a thud, and rush outside to see their newest adversary - Croctobot, a gigantic combination of Crocbot and Octobot.

The scene then cuts back to Angel Island, as Rouge and Locke stare in shock at Evil Sonic, sporting two cuts across his chest and - more notably - a new green hue, owing to the energy he attempted to absorb from the Master Emerald. It’s here that he declares that he is no longer Evil Sonic - but a real scourge all the same.


Sonic Rush: Part One of Two

The backup story opens with Blaze the Cat (who goes unnamed in this issue) studying Knothole from a distance. According to her inner monologue, this is where she can find the “blue one”, a being who appeared in her dreams. This totally mysterious and unknown entity is supposedly the key to protecting her Sol Emeralds, which will be endangered in the future. Blaze, however, is annoyed that she has to rely on somebody else to help her - though she values the Sol Emeralds’ safety over her own pride.

Behind her, some SWATbots spot her spying on Knothole. Mistaking her for a male, they note that she’s not within the protective boundaries of Knothole and therefore should be taken in for questioning. They attempt to stealthily subdue her, but she notices them and fights back. Unfortunately, they’re able to knock her out, and restrain her.

Cutting away to Knothole, Sonic is seen eating a chili dog when Rotor calls him into his lab to show him something. This something in question is surveillance footage of two SWATbots carrying Blaze - to them, an unknown person - off somewhere. The two are confused, as it seems the kidnapped person was able to defeat some of the SWATbots, but Sonic decides to rescue them anyways. He’s quickly able to follow their trail, tracing them to a remote bunker, presumably belonging to Dr. Eggman.

Within the base, two medical robots are studying Blaze. They are confused, as her biological data is bizarre to them - almost like she’s from another dimension. They are able to read her thoughts as well, and notice that she has strange-looking emeralds on the mind. They decide that she shows promise, and could be useful to Dr. Robotnik - but it’s at this moment that she awakens.

She immediately sets fire to the place, destroying the monitors attached to her. Sonic, who has been destroying the SWATbots guarding the bunker, hears her screaming, and is about to help - but jumps away as the door to Blaze’s room explodes open, revealing the pyrokinetic cat princess’ silhouette looming over him. She glares down at him, recognizing him as the “blue one” from her dreams.

Other features

Production credits

Story 1
  • Writer: Ian Flynn
  • Pencils: Tracy Yardley!
  • Inks: Jim Amash
  • Letters: John Workman
  • Colors: Jason Jensen
  • Cover: Pat "Spaz" Spaziante
  • Editor: Mike Pellerito
  • Managing Editor: Victor Gorelick
  • Editor-in-Chief: Richard Goldwater
Story 2
  • Written And Pencilled by: Tania del Rio
  • Inked by: Jim Amash
  • Colored by: Ben Hunzeker
  • Editor: Mike Pellerito
  • Managing Editor: Victor Gorelick
  • Editor-in-Chief: Richard Goldwater
  • Special Thanks to: Robert Leffler and Dyna Lopez at SEGA Licensing and Sonic Team
Source: Comic credits page

References

  1. https://blog.gocollect.com/comiclist_for_03_22_2006/ (Wayback Machine: 2022-05-10 04:54)
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