Difference between revisions of "Sonic the Hedgehog (promotional comic)"
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| writer= [[Francis Mao]] | | writer= [[Francis Mao]] | ||
| artist= [[Francis Mao]] | | artist= [[Francis Mao]] | ||
| − | | | + | | releases={{releases |
| − | | | + | | comic_date_us=1991 |
| + | | comic_rrp_us= | ||
}} | }} | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | '''''Sonic the Hedgehog''''' is a 16-page promotional comic released in 1991, meant to advertise the original ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' for the [[Sega Mega Drive]] in North America. The story, which deals with the origin of [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] and [[Dr. Robotnik]], derives from the [[Sonic the Hedgehog Bible]], and was considered the "official" plot for the game in the Western world at the time of release. | ||
| − | + | Despite claiming to be the first issue in a presumed series of ''Sonic'' comics, this comic is a stand-alone publication, unrelated to the later [[Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie comics)|Archie comics ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' series]] which would debut in 1993. It was, however, released several times in slightly different forms - the first seven pages were included as an insert in some DC Comics publications and magazines, while a different portion was included in the May/June 1992 issue of ''[[Sega Visions]]''. | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
==Story== | ==Story== | ||
| − | |||
The story begins on the planet [[Mobius]], with the villainous [[Dr. Eggman|Dr. Ivo Robotnik]] hot on the trail of [[Sonic the Hedgehog]]. With [[badniks]] in tow, Dr. Robotnik attempts to stop our hero, but is unable to catch up to Sonic. His [[Eggmobile|Egg-O-Matic]] crashing into the ground, Robotnik curses the hedgehog, claiming he'll get him eventually. Sonic, his spirit intact, starts attacking the badnik army, in the process releasing the animals that are trapped inside. Laughing to himself as the rest of the badniks retreat, he accidentally stumbles into a spike trap, and is saved at the last minute by [[Pocky|Johnny Lightfoot]], one of the animals he just freed. | The story begins on the planet [[Mobius]], with the villainous [[Dr. Eggman|Dr. Ivo Robotnik]] hot on the trail of [[Sonic the Hedgehog]]. With [[badniks]] in tow, Dr. Robotnik attempts to stop our hero, but is unable to catch up to Sonic. His [[Eggmobile|Egg-O-Matic]] crashing into the ground, Robotnik curses the hedgehog, claiming he'll get him eventually. Sonic, his spirit intact, starts attacking the badnik army, in the process releasing the animals that are trapped inside. Laughing to himself as the rest of the badniks retreat, he accidentally stumbles into a spike trap, and is saved at the last minute by [[Pocky|Johnny Lightfoot]], one of the animals he just freed. | ||
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Later on, Kintobor asks Sonic to get him a soda and a hardboiled egg to munch on as he continues to work on the R.O.C.C., looking for a way to stabilize the machine until he can find a seventh, Grey Chaos Emerald. Due to the doctor's clumsiness, he spills the soda on the control panel, causing the machine to malfunction. It rips apart, the containment rings used to keep the Emeralds in place scattering, and the evil energy that had been collected so far surges through the doctor. In an instant, he transforms into the evil Dr. Ivo Robotnik, who also takes on the shape of the hardboiled egg he was holding. Finishing his story, the animals Sonic freed state it must be hopeless, but Sonic refutes them, and runs off to face the doctor again. | Later on, Kintobor asks Sonic to get him a soda and a hardboiled egg to munch on as he continues to work on the R.O.C.C., looking for a way to stabilize the machine until he can find a seventh, Grey Chaos Emerald. Due to the doctor's clumsiness, he spills the soda on the control panel, causing the machine to malfunction. It rips apart, the containment rings used to keep the Emeralds in place scattering, and the evil energy that had been collected so far surges through the doctor. In an instant, he transforms into the evil Dr. Ivo Robotnik, who also takes on the shape of the hardboiled egg he was holding. Finishing his story, the animals Sonic freed state it must be hopeless, but Sonic refutes them, and runs off to face the doctor again. | ||
| − | The second half of the comic follows the paces of the game, trying to adapt as much as possible. Dr. Robotnik ambushes Sonic within the [[Green Hill Zone]], forcing the blue blur to find a means of escape, spinning through a loop-de-loop to jump into a [[Giant Ring|giant ring]] and enter the [[Special Stage|Warp of Confusion]]. The hiding place of the Chaos Emeralds, it doesn't take long for Sonic to find one, which warps him into the [[Labyrinth Zone]]. Holding onto the Emerald, Sonic is able to swim his way out, pulling himself to the shore where he meets a pair of his friends. He doesn't have long to recover before Robotnik appears, taunting Sonic with the intention of getting the emerald from him. The blue hedgehog makes chase, entering the [[Star Light | + | The second half of the comic follows the paces of the game, trying to adapt as much as possible. Dr. Robotnik ambushes Sonic within the [[Green Hill Zone]], forcing the blue blur to find a means of escape, spinning through a loop-de-loop to jump into a [[Giant Ring|giant ring]] and enter the [[Special Stage|Warp of Confusion]]. The hiding place of the Chaos Emeralds, it doesn't take long for Sonic to find one, which warps him into the [[Labyrinth Zone]]. Holding onto the Emerald, Sonic is able to swim his way out, pulling himself to the shore where he meets a pair of his friends. He doesn't have long to recover before Robotnik appears, taunting Sonic with the intention of getting the emerald from him. |
| + | |||
| + | The blue hedgehog makes chase, entering the [[Star Light Zone]]. Avoiding [[Orbinaut|Orbinauts]], Sonic bounces up to [[Scrap Brain Zone|Robotnik's Secret Base]]. Even after going through all of Robotnik's traps, Sonic is unprepared to see [[Picky|Porker Lewis]] strapped to a conveyor belt, heading straight into a buzzsaw. Robotnik uses this moment to tackle Sonic, making the hedgehog lose his grip on the Chaos Emerald. Knowing he only has time to either save Porker or reclaim the emerald, Sonic chooses to save his friend, letting Robotnik get away. Freeing the rest of the animals in the base, Sonic declares that he will "Eggstinguish" Robotnik once and for all, the comic telling its readers to continue the adventure by purchasing a [[Mega Drive|Sega Genesis]] and a copy of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]''. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Physical scans== |
===Full Issue=== | ===Full Issue=== | ||
| − | <gallery> | + | <gallery widths="80px"> |
| − | + | STHPromoSTHPromo01.jpg|Page 1 | |
| − | + | STHPromoSTHPromo02.jpg|Page 2 | |
| − | + | STHPromoSTHPromo03.jpg|Page 3 | |
| − | + | STHPromoSTHPromo04.jpg|Page 4 | |
| − | + | STHPromoSTHPromo05.jpg|Page 5 | |
| − | + | STHPromoSTHPromo06.jpg|Page 6 | |
| − | + | STHPromoSTHPromo07.jpg|Page 7 | |
| − | + | STHPromoSTHPromo08.jpg|Page 8 | |
| − | + | STHPromoSTHPromo09.jpg|Page 9 | |
| − | + | STHPromoSTHPromo10.jpg|Page 10 | |
| − | + | STHPromoSTHPromo11.jpg|Page 11 | |
| − | + | STHPromoSTHPromo12.jpg|Page 12 | |
| − | + | STHPromoSTHPromo13.jpg|Page 13 | |
| − | + | STHPromoSTHPromo14.jpg|Page 14 | |
| − | + | STHPromoSTHPromo15.jpg|Page 15 | |
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| − | ===Sega Visions | + | ===''Sega Visions'' insert=== |
| − | <gallery> | + | <gallery widths="80px"> |
| − | + | SegaVisions US 08.pdf|page=23|Page 1 | |
| − | + | SegaVisions US 08.pdf|page=24|Page 2 | |
| − | + | SegaVisions US 08.pdf|page=25|Page 3 | |
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| − | ==Early | + | ==Early draft== |
| + | The following scans are from an early draft of the promotional comic, unearthed by former Sega employee [[Dean Sitton]]. These sketches, which only cover the first half of the comic above, features a vastly different art style, far more cartoony than what would be in the final product. The script is also simplified, with events such as Kintobor's transformation happening without any buildup. | ||
| − | + | The artistic style was changed between this draft and the final by the request of Sega, who demanded the visuals be closer to their own promotion for the game. Such visual cues as Sonic using his fists to fight were deemed unsuitable for Sonic, instead telling the artist to focus on Sonic's natural abilities as per the game. | |
| − | <gallery> | + | Even the personality of Sonic was tweaked slightly, Sega telling the writer not to make Sonic a typical comic book superhero, and even preventing the original lines which had Sonic realized why he had turned blue on his own, instead of needing help from Kintobor to understand. |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | <gallery widths="80px"> | |
| − | + | soniccomic01.png|Page 1 | |
| − | + | soniccomic02.png|Page 2 | |
| − | + | soniccomic03.png|Page 3 | |
| − | + | soniccomic04.png|Page 4 | |
| − | + | soniccomic05.png|Page 5 | |
| + | soniccomic06.png|Page 6 | ||
| + | soniccomic07.png|Page 7 | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| − | == | + | ==Releases== |
| + | This ''Sonic'' promotional comic was included in a number of publications the latter half of 1991 and 1992, including: | ||
| + | |||
| + | *''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' (October 1991){{fileref|EGM US 027.pdf|page=146}} | ||
| + | *''Disney Adventures'', Volume 2, Number 1 (November 1991; 1991-10-08) | ||
| + | *''Action Comics'' #672 (December 1991) | ||
| + | *''Detective Comics'' #639 (December 1991) | ||
| + | *''Justice League Europe'' #33 (December 1991) | ||
| + | *''Superman'' #62 (December 1991) | ||
| + | *''[[sega:Sega Visions|Sega Visions]]'' #8 (May/June 1992){{fileref|SegaVisions US 08.pdf|page=23}} | ||
| − | *[[ | + | ==See also== |
| + | *[[Sonic the Hedgehog Bible|Sonic Origin Story Documents]] - The original westernized proposal of Sonic the Hedgehog, on which the promotional comic is based. | ||
*''[[Stay Sonic]]'' by Mike Pattenden, a UK book retelling the treadmill/Kintobor origin story | *''[[Stay Sonic]]'' by Mike Pattenden, a UK book retelling the treadmill/Kintobor origin story | ||
| − | *''[[ | + | *''[[Sonic the Comic]]'' [[Sonic the Comic 008|issue #8]] - ''[[Sonic the Comic|Sonic the Comic's]]'' retelling of the same origin story, based on the ''Stay Sonic'' version |
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic]]'' - Sega of Japan's answer to the promotional comic, sticking extremely close to the original source material. | *''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic]]'' - Sega of Japan's answer to the promotional comic, sticking extremely close to the original source material. | ||
| − | ==External | + | ==External links== |
| + | *[https://web.archive.org/web/20101125052514/http://www.mobianlegends.com/media/goodies/SonicComicFinalScript.pdf Sonic Comic Final Script] - The original script to the promotional comic. | ||
| + | *[https://web.archive.org/web/20101125050745/http://www.mobianlegends.com/media/goodies/SonicComicComments1.pdf Sonic Comic Comments 1] - The first set of suggestions from Sega in regards to the promotional comic. | ||
| + | *[https://web.archive.org/web/20101125062049/http://www.mobianlegends.com/media/goodies/SonicComicComments2.pdf Sonic Comic Comments 2] - The second set of suggestions from Sega in regards to the promotional comic. | ||
| − | + | ==References== | |
| − | + | <references /> | |
| − | |||
[[Category:Comics]] | [[Category:Comics]] | ||
| − | |||
Latest revision as of 14:51, 16 January 2021
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| Sonic the Hedgehog (promotional comic) #001 "First Issue" | ||||||||||
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| Writer: Francis Mao | ||||||||||
| Pencils: Francis Mao | ||||||||||
|
Sonic the Hedgehog is a 16-page promotional comic released in 1991, meant to advertise the original Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Mega Drive in North America. The story, which deals with the origin of Sonic the Hedgehog and Dr. Robotnik, derives from the Sonic the Hedgehog Bible, and was considered the "official" plot for the game in the Western world at the time of release.
Despite claiming to be the first issue in a presumed series of Sonic comics, this comic is a stand-alone publication, unrelated to the later Archie comics Sonic the Hedgehog series which would debut in 1993. It was, however, released several times in slightly different forms - the first seven pages were included as an insert in some DC Comics publications and magazines, while a different portion was included in the May/June 1992 issue of Sega Visions.
Contents
Story
The story begins on the planet Mobius, with the villainous Dr. Ivo Robotnik hot on the trail of Sonic the Hedgehog. With badniks in tow, Dr. Robotnik attempts to stop our hero, but is unable to catch up to Sonic. His Egg-O-Matic crashing into the ground, Robotnik curses the hedgehog, claiming he'll get him eventually. Sonic, his spirit intact, starts attacking the badnik army, in the process releasing the animals that are trapped inside. Laughing to himself as the rest of the badniks retreat, he accidentally stumbles into a spike trap, and is saved at the last minute by Johnny Lightfoot, one of the animals he just freed.
Thankful to Sonic, the animals suggest they go see Dr. Ovi Kintobor, who they believe will be able to assist them in stopping the sudden appearance (and malicious intent) of Robotnik. However, Sonic informs the group that this is impossible, seeing as Kintobor and Robotnik are one and the same. Shocked, the animals ask how this is possible, leading into an extended flashback sequence. Sonic recounts his first meeting with Dr. Kintobor, how he accidentally burrowed into his laboratory just as the kindly doctor was putting the finishing touches on his latest invention, the Retro-Orbital-Chaos-Compressor. Sonic immediately asks what the machine is, and discovers that it is intended to absorb all the evil energy on the planet within the six Chaos Emeralds that power it. While Kintobor absent-mindedly goes into exposition mode, he stops himself once he realizes he is speaking to a prickly, brown hedgehog. The unlikely pair become fast friends, and Kintobor allows Sonic to train on his supersonic treadmill. The doctor is impressed at the speeds Sonic is able to achieve, but is unable to stop Sonic as he runs the treadmill into overdrive, causing it to explode. Though no one is hurt, the resulting explosion changes Sonic from a bland brown into a more stunning blue, which Kintobor calls the "cobalt effect." Now fully understanding the speeds Sonic can muster, Ovi creates a pair of frictionless shoes for Sonic to prevent his shoes from burning up again.
Later on, Kintobor asks Sonic to get him a soda and a hardboiled egg to munch on as he continues to work on the R.O.C.C., looking for a way to stabilize the machine until he can find a seventh, Grey Chaos Emerald. Due to the doctor's clumsiness, he spills the soda on the control panel, causing the machine to malfunction. It rips apart, the containment rings used to keep the Emeralds in place scattering, and the evil energy that had been collected so far surges through the doctor. In an instant, he transforms into the evil Dr. Ivo Robotnik, who also takes on the shape of the hardboiled egg he was holding. Finishing his story, the animals Sonic freed state it must be hopeless, but Sonic refutes them, and runs off to face the doctor again.
The second half of the comic follows the paces of the game, trying to adapt as much as possible. Dr. Robotnik ambushes Sonic within the Green Hill Zone, forcing the blue blur to find a means of escape, spinning through a loop-de-loop to jump into a giant ring and enter the Warp of Confusion. The hiding place of the Chaos Emeralds, it doesn't take long for Sonic to find one, which warps him into the Labyrinth Zone. Holding onto the Emerald, Sonic is able to swim his way out, pulling himself to the shore where he meets a pair of his friends. He doesn't have long to recover before Robotnik appears, taunting Sonic with the intention of getting the emerald from him.
The blue hedgehog makes chase, entering the Star Light Zone. Avoiding Orbinauts, Sonic bounces up to Robotnik's Secret Base. Even after going through all of Robotnik's traps, Sonic is unprepared to see Porker Lewis strapped to a conveyor belt, heading straight into a buzzsaw. Robotnik uses this moment to tackle Sonic, making the hedgehog lose his grip on the Chaos Emerald. Knowing he only has time to either save Porker or reclaim the emerald, Sonic chooses to save his friend, letting Robotnik get away. Freeing the rest of the animals in the base, Sonic declares that he will "Eggstinguish" Robotnik once and for all, the comic telling its readers to continue the adventure by purchasing a Sega Genesis and a copy of Sonic the Hedgehog.
Physical scans
Full Issue
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Sega Visions insert
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Early draft
The following scans are from an early draft of the promotional comic, unearthed by former Sega employee Dean Sitton. These sketches, which only cover the first half of the comic above, features a vastly different art style, far more cartoony than what would be in the final product. The script is also simplified, with events such as Kintobor's transformation happening without any buildup.
The artistic style was changed between this draft and the final by the request of Sega, who demanded the visuals be closer to their own promotion for the game. Such visual cues as Sonic using his fists to fight were deemed unsuitable for Sonic, instead telling the artist to focus on Sonic's natural abilities as per the game.
Even the personality of Sonic was tweaked slightly, Sega telling the writer not to make Sonic a typical comic book superhero, and even preventing the original lines which had Sonic realized why he had turned blue on his own, instead of needing help from Kintobor to understand.
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Releases
This Sonic promotional comic was included in a number of publications the latter half of 1991 and 1992, including:
- Electronic Gaming Monthly (October 1991)[1]
- Disney Adventures, Volume 2, Number 1 (November 1991; 1991-10-08)
- Action Comics #672 (December 1991)
- Detective Comics #639 (December 1991)
- Justice League Europe #33 (December 1991)
- Superman #62 (December 1991)
- Sega Visions #8 (May/June 1992)[2]
See also
- Sonic Origin Story Documents - The original westernized proposal of Sonic the Hedgehog, on which the promotional comic is based.
- Stay Sonic by Mike Pattenden, a UK book retelling the treadmill/Kintobor origin story
- Sonic the Comic issue #8 - Sonic the Comic's retelling of the same origin story, based on the Stay Sonic version
- Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic - Sega of Japan's answer to the promotional comic, sticking extremely close to the original source material.
External links
- Sonic Comic Final Script - The original script to the promotional comic.
- Sonic Comic Comments 1 - The first set of suggestions from Sega in regards to the promotional comic.
- Sonic Comic Comments 2 - The second set of suggestions from Sega in regards to the promotional comic.