The year is 2004. Archie’s Sonic the Hedgehog is in dire straits: writer Karl Bollers left the book after a spectacular finale with Return to Angel Island, drawn by Jonathan Gray. In 19 issues, Ian Flynn would come aboard with a complete refresh of the book’s look with artist Tracy Yardley, a position Ian holds to this day. But the history of Archie’s Sonic is the history of roads not taken. From Ian’s Metal Virus Saga being repurposed for IDW, to future installments of Mobius 25 Years Later, Karl Bollers’ plans after Return to Angel Island, and of course, the 2012 reboot. Fans from around the world have taken up the banner of telling more stories with these characters, my team is adding one more story direct from the Archie offices: writer and artist Jonathan Gray’s Loose Continuity.
Loose Continuity was intended to be printed as a two-parter from roughly #149-150, with inventory stories filling the gap between his test rewrites on #144’s Love and Loss. This isn’t an outline or story pitch; this is a full script by one of Sonic the Hedgehog’s greatest storytellers and biggest fans. Adapted with 20 years of hindsight by an all-star team of artists, I couldn’t be more proud to be part of this celebration of Archie’s Sonic. And readers will delight in Archie and IDW veteran Jennifer Hernandez’s work as cover and interior artist, bringing this story to life with style and flair!
The comic will release later this year with a bevy of variant covers showcasing different interpretations of Sonic over the years, and a script by a titan of the Sonic fandom, I can’t wait to show you something truly special.
Official Synopsis: In the aftermath of “Return to Angel Island”, the horrific purpose of Egg Grapes is finally revealed! The machinations of Dr. Finitevus, the cruelty of the tyrannical Dr. Eggman, war and its aftermath, all converge to ask one question: what does conviction mean to those who hold evil in their hearts? Find out in this untold tale of Archie’s Sonic the Hedgehog, 20 years in the making!
Check out the team’s social media to see some of the best collaborators I’ve ever worked with, and the new Discord server- with an EXCLUSIVE cover preview of the Super Special Variant!
Credits
Original Story & Script: Jonathan Gray
Adaptation: Mathias DeRider
Interior Art: Jennifer Hernandez
Letters: Robin Jones
Cover A
Pencils, Inks and Colors: Jennifer Hernandez
Cover B – Super Special Variant
Pencils: Kyler Alston
Inks: Barry O’Sullivan
Colors: Tom Carter
Cover C – Sonic the Comic Variant
Pencils and Colors: Mauro Fonseca
Inks: Rik Mack
Cover D – SEGA Genesis Variant
Pencils, Inks and Colors: Jx_Spindazh
Cover E – Sprite Variant
Artwork: George Porter
Frontispiece
Pencils and Inks: Rik Mack
Colors: Tom Carter
CMYK Avenger