“Yesterday’s” “Comic”> Sonic The Hedgehog Free Comic Book Day 2009

The Sonic Family Reunion is always an interesting event.

Sonic The Hedgehog Free Comic Book Day Edition or I go by the line on the cover, “Evolution Of A Hero”

Archie Comics Publications (May, 2009)

“Sonic Of The Ages!”

WRITER: Ian Flynn

ARTISTS: various

DESIGNER: Paul Kaminski

EDITOR: Mike Pellerito

This was an interesting idea for Free Comic Book Day. Rather than post a sample story or preview, this is more like those giveaway pamphlets Marvel Comics used to have at comic stores catching readers up to date about where the series is. I miss those things. They were a great way to let potential comic readers in on the differences from other media and give potential new or lapsed readers a way to catch up to see if they wanted back in or not. More comic companies should do that, like an annual or bi-annual event since the regular annuals are lost to the trade writing.

The presentation is in the form of various files, with the main cast each getting their own files, files of some of the supporting cast in groups, and key events in the Archie Sonicverse’s history (minus Amy Rose artificially aging herself). Apparently most of the derobotization was a magic reset button by some aliens called the BEM, so now I have that info. There’s also set-up for stories in the upcoming issues of Sonic The Hedgehog and the then upcoming Sonic Universe series, the first story of which will focus on Shadow after his reforming.

While not a comic, it was a good way to get caught up, but if you’re going for the complete collection you might not need this since you’ll have all those stories. The magazine does credit previous writers and artist (“various” is listed as the various artists whose panels were used in the book, and they’re also credited in individual files along with the writers of the events mentioned) and prepare for the next stage in the characters’ lives. I wouldn’t want all of Free Comic Book Day to be like this, since I don’t think it would succeed in making fans happy, but as something different I think it’s okay.