Sonic the Hedgehog 038 (Archie)

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Sonic the Hedgehog #038 "Sonic the Hedgehog"
Writer: Kent Taylor
Pencils: Manny Galan, Phil Sheeny, Vickie Williams, Barry Grossman, Freddy Mendez and Victor Gorelick
Cover artist: Patrick Spaziante/Harvo
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Sonic the Hedgehog 38 is the thirty-eighth issue of the Sonic the Hedgehog comic.

This comic features two stories: "The Rise of Robotropolis...the Fall of Sonic" and "Bedtime Tails!".

The Rise of Robotropolis...the Fall of Sonic

After the earthquake that destroyed Robotropolis, Robotnik has been conducting repairs. It is a stormy night, and Antoine and Tails are on a scouting mission to check Robotropolis' condition first-hand. Sonic is supposed to be with the two, but he had already gone way ahead of them, brandishing a power ring. They eventually catch up at the side of a factory, where, nearby, many SWATbots are repairing a building. With the storm worsening, the cowardly Antoine suggest they return to Knothole Village. Sonic agrees, thinking they have all the information they need. Just as they prepare to leave, Antoine looks up and notices a large shadow looming over him...just an explosion occurs nearby. The three duck for cover, with Tails carrying Antoine.

They get up and notice Robotnik's combots have returned. They start to attack Sonic, who jumps on their heads, while Tails flies Antoine into the sky. Sonic orders Tails to perform maneuver S-461...or, in plain terms, to drop Antoine onto the combots. He falls down on two of the combots, taking them out despite his protests. Sonic, meanwhile, fights another two of the combots, drop-kicking one into the other and causing them to explode.

The storm continues to worsen as one of the combots grabs and restrains Antoine with a metal rope from its arm. Sonic enters into a spindash and cuts through the metal, freeing Antoine from its grasp. As he lands on the ground, a bolt of lightning hits the combot, destroying it in a huge explosion that knocks Sonic back. With the combots destroyed, Tails runs over to Sonic, who is out cold and not moving. Antoine orders Tails to fly back to Knothole to get help, fearing for Sonic's life, while he remains behind to keep an eye on him.

That morning, the rest of the Freedom Fighters are able to get to Sonic, who has come to, but is very dizzy. Despite his condition, he stands up and tells Sally about the return of the combots, although she was told about them through her spy network and Tails. Nonetheless, he has every intent to get back into the battle and stop Robotnik from getting the combots out. He jumps up and off a rock to get his speed, but instead, falls face-first into the ground. Tails flies over to help him, but Sonic thinks he's fine. He starts to run off again, Bunnie Rabbot calls out to Sonic. He doesn't listen so she starts to follow him...having no problem catching up to him. Sonic is confused as to how she could catch up to him, until she tells him she shouldn't be able to. He stops, realizing that he has lost his super speed.

He tests his theory, trying to swat a mosquito with his power ring, but can't get to it. Rotor tries to understand the situation from the information he has, thinking that the combined power source of the combot with the explosion caused by the lightning covered Sonic in a field of anti-inertia, resulting in a loss of speed. Sonic gets frustrated over his loss, mouthing off to Rotor, forcing Sally to try to cool him down. He does apologize, saying that it is his speed that has been a part of him since he was a child, and one of their best weapons against Robotnik. Sally takes out NICOLE, who notes that having multiple power rings could temporarily restore his speed.

Background Information

• This issue features a number of new artists, including the pencil work of Manny Galan, inking from Phil Sheeny and lettering by Vickie Williams. The stylings of Manny Galan compared to others is noticeable through more cartoonish status indicators, such as x'd out eyes and storm clouds over people's heads.
• The Combots shown in issue 34 return.
• On the first page, Sonic hums the tune of the SatAM introduction song.