“Yesterday’s” Comic> Sonic The Hedgehog #52

Gray streak…speeeeds by…

Sonic The Hedgehog #52

Archie Comics (November, 1997)

INKER: Jim Amash

COLORIST: Karl Bollers

LETTERER: Jeff Powell

EDITOR: J. Freddie Gabrie

“The Discovery”

WRITER: Tom Rolston

PENCILER: Manny Galan

Princess Sally: “First Contact”

WRITER: Karl Bollers

PENCILER: Art Mawhinney

In the main story, Sonic follows an empty leisure suit as it flies into a Zone. After being drawn in, Sonic believes himself to be a detective in a 1940s inspired take on his battle with Robotnik. A woman named Sally asks him to find someone named Nicole, only to find it’s actually something, a handheld computer with info on Robotnik’s operations. The bad doctor catches our heroes but they manage to escape and Sonic agrees to join her Freedom Fighters…and then returns to the normal world.

What they got right: The story itself isn’t bad. It’s an interesting take on Sonic and a fun story. The nod to the Robot from Lost In Space, Tom and Crow from Mystery Science Theater 3000 is a nice little easter egg (sorry Cambot and Gypsy), and setting that Zone in black and white adds to the atmosphere.

What they got wrong: It’s an odd choice for a main story, though. If you’ve read the comic or seen the Saturday Morning show you already know who Nicole is (this is long before she gained a physical anthro design) so there’s no surprise what Sonic is looking for. The Rings are still gold for some reason. The fact that this IS the main story makes one wonder if they ran out of ideas when they killed off Robotnik.

What about the back-up story?: It seems unnecessary. It’s just a brief summary of the events of the Endgame story arc and a cut-off warning about the Zones as Sally tries to use Robotnik’s communications satellites to warn other Freedom Fighters around the planet about the Zones. It would be fine if the main story served as a new jump-on point but it’s just some silly side story and thus isn’t the issue to start on if you want a good idea of what the comic is like.

What I think overall: It’s a fun little comic but not the one to start out on. As a stand-alone alternate universe story it’s fine but basic. As part of the ongoing story it should have been the back-up but the actual back-up wouldn’t have worked as a main story. It’s a nice try but I’m worried they weren’t ready for what direction to take the title after following the SatAM cliffhanger of getting rid of Robotnik.