For 24 years, Archie Comics' and Sonic the Hedgehog have been partnered to create the longest-running video game comic series. However, after a hiatus that started earlier this year, SEGA of America has announced that the two will be parting ways. The current comic series will be ending, but SEGA said future endeavors are planned for Sonic comics, with a new team behind it. The series started in 1993, and has more than 300 issues, with multiple side series and spinoffs.

UPDATE: SEGA is going with IDW Publishing for further installments of Sonic Comics.

Source

 

[spotanjo3]

That's ok. I need read it anyway.

 

[luisedgarf]

If I have to suppose the reasons, it's very probable that it has something to do with the whole mess regarding that artist who own some characters from the comics. And from Sega's side, it's very probable they want someone who doesn't screw with the characterization of their own characters, after years of letting them doing whatever they please with them.

 

[Alex4U]

b-but i didn't finished all the comics!
WHY SEGAA ;O;
now i want to die.

 

[SANIC]

I've gotta check that one out.

This is what you'll be reading

 

[Saiyan Lusitano]

This is what you'll be reading

Sonic's really a dick in this version. xD

 

[Maximilious]

Is there anywhere to actually read Sonic The Comic in order? Online? Tried searching before but never found anywhere.

I used to get these as a kid when they came out and actually have the first 50 issues, albiet they are in dissaray since I was so young with them. I haven't found them online, but I have been purchasing the "Sonic Archive" books latley which have 4 comics each. They also have other collection books out there for the side series and spin offs available. It wasn't until now after re-reading them that I found out how much of a cash-grab comics were, and still are.

"You're reading the main series, BUT something happened in this side series that's relevant to the story now!!" *Read side series and realize they were talking about one panel and two bubbles of text in the whole comic they were referencing in the main story.

Either way, I enjoy the main series and wish they incorporated at least Sally into the games rather than Amy, but oh well.

EDIT: I loved when Spaz did the cover for the issue.

Spaz still did covers for the series up until the very end. He even did alt covers for the Sonic/Megaman joint comic series over the past few years. Very talented artist, loved all of his work, especially issue 25 with Metal Sonic.

 

[cvskid]

I used to get these as a kid when they came out and actually have the first 50 issues, albiet they are in dissaray since I was so young with them. I haven't found them online, but I have been purchasing the "Sonic Archive" books latley which have 4 comics each. They also have other collection books out there for the side series and spin offs available. It wasn't until now after re-reading them that I found out how much of a cash-grab comics were, and still are.

"You're reading the main series, BUT something happened in this side series that's relevant to the story now!!" *Read side series and realize they were talking about one panel and two bubbles of text in the whole comic they were referencing in the main story.

Either way, I enjoy the main series and wish they incorporated at least Sally into the games rather than Amy, but oh well.



Spaz still did covers for the series up until the very end. He even did alt covers for the Sonic/Megaman joint comic series over the past few years. Very talented artist, loved all of his work, especially issue 25 with Metal Sonic.

The only official sonic the hedgehog video game that i know of that has sally and the main freedom fighters in it is sonic spinball for sega genesis/megadrive, and that is only in bonus stages. Don't know if they are in the sega gamegear version of the game.

 

[chrisrlink]

Haaent read it since end game pt 4 #50 my fave was issue 37 (I think) when dr. robotnick captured sonic and roboticizeed him then the special Mecha maddness and SATAM was my favorite show when i was 7 (ended too quickly only 2 seasions iirc Archie was planning on a season 3 but ran out of money T_T

 

[59672]

It was inevitaable to happen. Archie was going a bit too far with their creative "freedom" and they poorly managed their business with screwups like Ken Penders. Segea enjoys making money but wants none of this headache that archie kept making for sega. Sega wanted to lock it down further and archie wanted to focus a lot more on their own brands.

 

[BlueFox gui]

GUD

 

[Lumstar]

To think the Ken Penders issues, especially Knuckles, were the only ones that actually held my interest.
Looking back now at the fallout from removing him. Just wow.

The other thing is this reunites Sonic and TMNT under the same company. We'll see if that means anything.

 

[chrisrlink]

Btw Alex4U nintendo ripped of Sega/Archie they took Snivly's likeness dropped the "l" and made Snivy SEGA SHOULD SUE lol jk

 

[Ace_Axel]

I liked the specials. Freedom Fighters vs. Chaotix was dope. The cover was epic.

 

[Pokem]

sad react only

 

[TheDarkGreninja]

Probably sad for the fans who enjoyed it. Never really hooked me.

 

[tech3475]

Looking it up, really the thing seemed to be going downhill considering the lawsuit and Sega's increasing control/restrictions.

Shame as they could do some decent storylines and considering how Sega have been handling Sonic script wise.

 

[SANIC]

The only official sonic the hedgehog video game that i know of that has sally and the main freedom fighters in it is sonic spinball for sega genesis/megadrive, and that is only in bonus stages. Don't know if they are in the sega gamegear version of the game.

And ironically it's a noncanon spinoff as it wasn't developed by Sonic Team, but rather in the US I believe

 

[SonicfanCEMUTesting]

This year is sadly not a good year for the Sonic Comics fans, but well too bad.

 

[joten]

Aw man, this sucks not only for the fans, but also for the artists that are going to have to look for work now.

And to Ken Penders ---
Get bent, you Sonic-OC copyrighting, trademark trolling piece of scum.

If you don't know who Ken Penders is, he's the reason the comic started to die.

This rotund wank was hired in the 90s to do the Knuckles the Echidna stories (They SUUUUUCKED). In 2009, he secretly copyrighted the (original the) Echidna characters and decided to sue Sega and Bioware over Sonic Chronicles' echidna characters.

Penders lost, then sued them again, and lost with prejudice.

Then, Penders turned to suing Archie for ownership of the Knuckles series, as well as the echidna characters.

This time, the little troll decided to use a contract that Archie lost in an office fire against them. Archie agreed to settle out of court, and were forced to retcon and reboot the entire series of comics, removing each and every one of Ken Pender's precious OCs.

Then, Sega, sweating its britches in fear of more lawsuits, imposed new strict guidelines for Archie. Such as, no crying, no strong emotion, no romance, etc.

What's worse is that in the new Sonic game, Sega decided remove the option to be make the Custom Hero an echidna.

This lead to more and more collapsing of the Sega-Archie partnership -- long hiatuses, retconned pages, Archie killing off other comics to focus on their new Riverdale series, etc.

And now, the death of the Sonic comic.

Now, you might be wondering, what did that Ken Penders fellow do with his precious OCs?

Well....

Spoiler

This is meant to be sold to kids, by the way.

TL;DR Work for hire hack sued Sega and Archie for his ORIGINAL Knuckles the Echidna OCs (DO NOT STAEL) and started the steady death of the Sonic Comics.

 

[Ev1l0rd]

This is meant to be sold to kids, by the way.

I have no clue on how the original characters looked, but that goes waaaay too much in the Uncanny Valley. Like, spoiler it please Uncanny Valley.

The first image has clear lighting issues. The second one is creepy.

Work for hire hack

Aren't work for hire contracts implicitly handing the copyright over to the persons that they work for in the US? I've been doing some reading up about them (guess why). SEGA/Archie should just have sued and won the case.