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− | '''''Sonic the Hedgehog''''' was a series of [[comic book]]s produced by [[wikipedia:Archie Comics|Archie Comics]] in North America between 1992 and 2017. With issues being released monthly for 25 years (including spin-off publications, compilations and crossovers with other Archie properties) it was the longest running and likely most successful form of ''Sonic''-related media after the video games, and was recognised as the longest running comic series based on a video game by [[wikipedia:Guinness World Records|Guinness World Records]].{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20080912135723/http://archie-blogs.archiecomics.com/sonic/2008/07/from_the_cuinness_book_of_worl.html}} | + | '''''Sonic the Hedgehog''''' was a series of [[comic book]]s produced by [[Archie Comics]] in North America between 1992 and 2017. With issues being released monthly for 25 years (including spin-off publications, compilations and crossovers with other Archie properties) it was the longest running and likely most successful form of ''Sonic''-related media after the video games, and was recognised as the longest running comic series based on a video game by [[wikipedia:Guinness World Records|Guinness World Records]].{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20080912135723/http://archie-blogs.archiecomics.com/sonic/2008/07/from_the_cuinness_book_of_worl.html}} |
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| While officially licensed by [[Sega]], the comics featured a continuity separate from the video games, with lead character [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] being a member of a group of animal [[Freedom Fighters]], initially aiming to liberate the planet [[Mobius]] from [[Dr. Robotnik]]. As the series progressed, it would attempt to incorporate the stories of newer ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' video games, while also maintaining its own lore, complete with original characters. | | While officially licensed by [[Sega]], the comics featured a continuity separate from the video games, with lead character [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] being a member of a group of animal [[Freedom Fighters]], initially aiming to liberate the planet [[Mobius]] from [[Dr. Robotnik]]. As the series progressed, it would attempt to incorporate the stories of newer ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' video games, while also maintaining its own lore, complete with original characters. |
Revision as of 12:05, 12 October 2019
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Sonic the Hedgehog
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Publisher: Archie Comics
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Country of origin: United States
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First issue date: 1992-11-24
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Last issue date: 2017-02
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Number of issues: 290
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Frequency: Monthly
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Price: $1.25
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Sonic the Hedgehog was a series of comic books produced by Archie Comics in North America between 1992 and 2017. With issues being released monthly for 25 years (including spin-off publications, compilations and crossovers with other Archie properties) it was the longest running and likely most successful form of Sonic-related media after the video games, and was recognised as the longest running comic series based on a video game by Guinness World Records.[1]
While officially licensed by Sega, the comics featured a continuity separate from the video games, with lead character Sonic the Hedgehog being a member of a group of animal Freedom Fighters, initially aiming to liberate the planet Mobius from Dr. Robotnik. As the series progressed, it would attempt to incorporate the stories of newer Sonic the Hedgehog video games, while also maintaining its own lore, complete with original characters.
Following an undisclosed hiatus in early 2017, Sega announced the cancellation of the Archie Sonic the Hedgehog comics on July 19, 2017[2]. It was succeeded by a brand new comic published by IDW Publishing in April 2018.
History
On the 23rd of July 1992, Archie Comics's Betty and Veronica writer Michael Gallagher was phoned by his editor, Daryl Edelman while on holiday in FloridaMedia:SonicTheBeginning Archie.pdf[3]. While expecting to talk about "new ideas for the girls", he was instead told of Archie's acquisition of the Sonic the Hedgehog license; the "hot new property" from Sega which was in the process of being turned into a cartoon by DiC EntertainmentMedia:SonicTheBeginning Archie.pdf[3]. Given some loose details on Sonic, his love interest "Princess" and arch enemy "Robotnik", Gallagher was tasked with producing a comic series, supervised not only by Archie, but by Sega and DiC, the first script being due within the weekMedia:SonicTheBeginning Archie.pdf[3].
This was not the first time Sonic the Hedgehog was made into a comic book. Sega of America had previously released a promotional comic for the first game in 1991, following the "official" lore as outlined in the Sonic the Hedgehog Bible. DiC, however, were developing their own formula - one which would see a completely new backstory for Sonic, as well as radical redesigns some of the games' rescued animals, many of which would become core parts of the main cast. DiC provided early line art for the charactersMedia:SonicTheBeginning Archie.pdf[3], but much of the world building was up to Archie, with elements loosely on the contents of the first Sonic game.
The first comic to be released, Sonic the Hedgehog ¼ would debut alongside the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 video game in November 1992. A four-issue "Mini-Series" would then be produced, followed by a full monthly comic production starting in July 1993. While based on DiC's designs, Archie's comics would debut ten months prior to the resulting television series ("SatAM"), and while efforts were initially made to unify the two (Princess Sally Acorn sporting an older, pink design for the first dozen issues, and Rotor Walrus being referred to as "Boomer") , Archie's comics would go on to out-live SatAM and become its own self-contained universe.
Sonic the Hedgehog was a big success for Archie, and readership remained high throughout its run. The introduction of Knuckles the Echidna in 1994 led to a separate 32-issue comic series starting in 1997, and in 2009 the Sonic Universe series was spun-off to better flesh out Sonic's world. Archie would also develop tie-in comics for TV show Sonic X in 2005 and sub-franchise Sonic Boom in 2014.
Between January 2009 and October 2015, Sega and Archie Comics faced a number of legal cases directed by former Sonic writer Ken Penders over the rights of characters he created for the comic series. From late 2012, settlements made in court resulted in the comic's continuity being heavily rewritten after the events of issue #247, and a number of characters created and used by Penders (and other writers such as Karl Bollers) were removed from any further use or reference from the comic, including reprints.
Archie used newspaper-grade paper for all of its Sonic comics up until issue #212.
Back issues
Mini-Series
Main Series
Sonic Super Special issues
Mini-series spin-offs
Sonic the Hedgehog Presents: Princess Sally issues
Sonic the Hedgehog's Buddy Tails issues
Sonic's Friendly Nemesis Knuckles issues
Sonic Quest: The Death Egg Saga issues
Special issues
See also
External links
References
Archie Comics ongoing series
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Free Comic Book Day issues
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Single Compilations & Digital Exclusives
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