Sega is determined to make 2014 the year of Sonic, launching its Sonic Boom spin-off universe with two games — Rise of Lyric on Wii U and Shattered Crystal on 3DS — accompanying a CGI animated series and a range of toys. Ahead of San Diego Comic-Con, Archie Comics has confirmed that there'll also be a comic book series based on the franchise; well-known writer Ian Flynn will head the project, while Evan Stanley will produce art.
Collectors may also be pleased to know that the first issue will come with four alternative covers that combine to form a single image, below.
In terms of the character traits and story style that can be expected, Flynn had the following to say to IGN.
Sonic is still pretty much what you’d expect – quick-witted, playful, and snarky. Tails is likewise very much the same as he’s been in the current games – an equal partner in Sonic’s adventures. Knuckles has gotten a bit goofier, but his friendly rivalry with Sonic remains. Amy has traded in her total fixation on Sonic for being the sensible one of the group… mostly.
...I’m really excited to be writing the series since it’s a very different Sonic than our other books, Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Universe. It’s a more casual read with a focus on comedy and adventure than an on-going action-adventure drama. I think anyone will be able to grab any issue and enjoy themselves.
Are you a fan of Archie Comics and Sonic, and perhaps tempted to pick this up when it arrives later in the year?
[source uk.ign.com]
Comments 39
Archie's killed.
New Sonic suddenly appears.
Just how far down does the knothole go?
"Based on the new hit video game and T.V series"
And in other news Thor is now officially female. For real. Uh. Comics...what a joke.
@TimLatshaw Huh?
Can't wait for November.
@ModestFan93 Just some silly conspiracy theory-ing. Pay me no mind. ; )
Well... this is a long-standing tradition at Archie Comics after all. When their Sonic the Hedgehog comic series launched waaaay back in 1993 (not counting the original four-issue mini-series from the year before), the setting was initially heavily based on a fusion of the two original TV series which for some reason aired concurrently to each other in their prime, despite having two very different canons!
Albeit the comics did also have video game references, the series heavily expanded on both TV series canons, and in later years changed its tone to more darker mature story lines with much originality added whilst taking more stuff from the official video game stories, whilst apparently staying true to character and focused that the comics are suitable for younger readers, simultaneously keeping the appeal strong for their older fans as they grew up! Ian Flynn happens to be one of those kids who grew up reading the early comics, and this is why he is the best thing to happen to the series as it keeps moving forward!
Also, keep in mind Archie Comics did manage to later adapt the short-lived Sonic Underground TV series, as well as the Sonic X anime. This announcement for a Sonic Boom comic book adaptation should not be to anyone's surprise. Hopefully, with Ian Flynn taking care of this spin-off this time, it should see longer days than the Sonic X one, which for some reason failed to cover the third season.
Anyone enjoyed the 12-issue-spanned "World Collide" arc when Archie Comics performed a marketing stunt to crossover their Sonic the Hedgehog comics with their relatively new Mega Man comic series?
Buff Knuckles is buff. I gotta get used to this...
Intresting looks ferly good.. no point in me or my frend geting intrested as its unlikely to even come here (UK)
"Based on the new hit video game and TV series!"
The game and TV series aren't out yet, and they're already calling them hits?
Atleast the comics are showing Sonic some respect. Honestly, I think Archie Comics should make stories for Sonic games as well.
I'm looking forward to Shattered Crystal since its a lot more interesting than Rise of Lyric, but I'm still skeptical about this though. Come on SEGA, bring back a new modern Sonic game and I'm good to go.
Surely they can find a way to do the Wii U VC for Megadrive (Take it out of the marketing budget for this and it won't make any difference).
Cool. I've got some catching up to do in the comicverse, but I'll be sure to- wait just a minute!
...Did I just read an NLife Sonic article that didn't take any cheap digs at the series!?
You can't call your products a hit if it isn't even out yet. May give this separate canon a try don't think I'll get the comics and toys though
What's up with sonics head? Looks all deformed
I'll be getting this along with all the covers. I own the complete run of the Archie Sonic comics since they began in 1993.
All I can say is that it's already a huge mistake by calling it a "hit" even before it "hits" the shelves.
...No one knows if it will be a success or a flop, that's all I'm saying shrugs
Wowzers they're pushing a lot of dollars into Sonic Boom. I haven't bought any comics in years but I'll definitely be picking up these when they come out, at the very least to support the new Sonic franchise & because I'm hoping for the funnies... Don't think I'll buy four copies of the first issue though haha.
@mr_nihilism No, "he" isn't. The female Thor is a new character altogether, the old Thor simply isn't worthy of carrying the hammer anymore (like 99.99999% of the Marvel Universe). Considering Thor: GoT's writer is absolutely fantastic, no one should be worried.
@ModestFan93 @TimLatshaw - Story line - Tails comes out of the closet as bi (he's got 2 tails) and Sonic gets killed defending him from Dr. Eggman Robotnik
I can't believe you managed to get that in 1st post.
I met Ian Flynn at Heroes Con a month ago! Really nice dude, and his work is really great. Everyone is skeptical about Sonic Boom, but this could still be good.
"based on the new hit video games and tv series" wow, getting alil cocky before anythings released, aren't we?
I love Sonic, I really do, but I think the Sonic Boom games will be a huge flop, and SEGA is putting too much faith in this series. What they need to do is make a Sonic ONLY game that feels like the 3D levels in Sonic Generation, not a Nathan Drake Sonic with a steroid abusing Knuckles game
It's been years upon years, but I will never grow tired of how Pat Spaziante illustrates Sonic covers. I'm glad he's still at it.
I'm not a big fan of Sonic Boom. On the other hand, I'm a huge fan of Ian Flynn. So I'm a bit torn over this new comic.
Sega is throwing a lot at this game.
ANOTHER Archie Sonic series to follow?!
Gahhhhhh Archie. Y U make me spend my monies? D:
I adore Ian Flynn's Sonic and Sonic Universe (and Mega Man). But I'm going to skip this one.
I surely wish Flynn can help write stories for future Sonic games. He surely knows how to handle the Sonic franchise in a more appealing and darker way than Sonic Team. Sonic Universe is amazing, heck thanks to him I actually want Marine back to the Sonic games but in his style of writing!
@mr_nihilism you do realize that regular old Thor is still a guy, right? There will be a new girl calling herself Thor, whom is somehow worthy of wielding Mjolnir, but our guy-Thor isn't going anywhere.
@TimLatshaw Archie hasn't really been killed though. He died in an alternate future story. So now we know that one day, he will die. Just like everybody else.
The way Knuckles is drawn there, his pose looks really painful...
Wow.
The archie sonic compilations/digests are fun. I'll keep an eye out for this.
Probably why Nintendo won't make it the year of anyone they have in their portfolio.
If they're nice enough to 'em Sega might even support the Wii U VC. Maybe.
I would love this, I even still have some of the of Sonic the Comics from the late 90's, I wonder if they will get a UK release?
No offense to everyone who likes Archie, but i hate Archie to death!
But since this is based on the cartoon series, i might let this slide.
@anthonysea You hate Archie the character? Because Archie the character, and Archie the publisher aren't the same thing.
Personally, I love the Archie Comic Sonic the Hedgehog series, (regardless of it's ups, and downs, luckily I missed most of the downs like the notorious "Sonic Live" issue that nobody liked...) and I feel Ian Flynn does a great job writing both Sonic & Megaman, (he's been writing Sonic sense 2006, and seems to do a better job then the past writers did) and I like his comic relief style in them, (he even includes in-jokes for Sonic & Megaman fans to spot) so he should be able to handle a more comedy-oriented series.
So I'm looking forward to seeing what it'll be like. It's also nice knowing Sonic's going to have 3 simultanious comic series now. (And that's not even including the quarterly magazine, and Digest books. Nor all the collection/reprints.) It's amazing how popular his comics are now.
@Beau_Skunk I was about 8 when the Sonic Live issue came out, and my friends and I all used to pass that around to see the absurdity of it. Little me didn't think it was terrible or anything, but we all agreed that it was really weird.
I owned every issue from #0-120, including all the specials are related side-series. Sonic comics kind of defined a large portion of my childhood.
@Jim_Purcell Actually, no. I hate the publisher. Well, used to. I actually kinda like the comics now.
Also, sorry for the late reply
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