| Sonic the Hedgehog | |
|---|---|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Archie_Sonic_issue_0.png) Sonic the Hedgehog No. 0 (February 1993) | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Archie Comics Sega of America |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Genre | |
| Publication date | November 22, 1992 – December 28, 2016 |
| No. of issues | 290 |
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Sonic the Hedgehog is an American comic book series published by Archie Comics, in partnership with Sega. Although this continuity was based on Sega's video game franchise, it had much more in nature with the American 1993 animated series of the same name. After initially beginning with a four-issue miniseries from February to May 1993 (with issues appearing on newsstands three months earlier), the first full-length issue of the comic was published in July 1993. The series ran for 290 issues for over 20 years, earning a place in the 2008 Guinness World Records for being the "longest-running comic series based on a video game" in U.S. history. .[1] It became the longest-running franchise-based comic series in 2015 (surpassing Marvel Comics' 275 issues of Conan the Barbarian) before it was confirmed cancelled in July 2017, following Sega and Archie Comics' decision to discontinue their business relationship.[2][3] The series features a cast of hundreds of characters, consisting of both those derived from the Sonic games and those original to the comics, with stories focused on a crime-fighting organization called the Freedom Fighters, led by Sonic, as they face off against series antagonist Doctor Eggman alongside a variety of other villains.
While the series largely consists of its own continuity, certain issues implemented aspects of the Sonic video games into their plots and settings. Following a lawsuit in 2013 between Archie Comics and former writer Ken Penders, Archie rebooted the series, removing several characters from the comics' continuity and moving it closer to that of the Japanese games and media. Over its history, the series had a number of spin-off publications being created. These include Sonic Universe, which focuses on stories revolving around different side characters from the main series; Knuckles the Echidna, focusing on adventures involving Knuckles and his friends the Chaotix; Sonic X, a comic series based on the 2003 Japanese anime of the same name; and Sonic Boom, a comic series based on both the cartoon series and the video game series of the same name. In addition, the comic series had crossovers with Image Comics character Spawn. Archie's Mega Man comic-book series, based on the Mega Man video games from Capcom.
A succeeding series of Sonic comics by IDW Publishing began serialization from April 2018, following IDW's acquisition of the SEGA license through SEGA of America. Ian Flynn, who formerly worked on the Archie series, was recruited by IDW to help with producing stories for the new series.[4][5][6]
- ^ "Sonic the Hedgehog enter Book of World Records". Archie Comic. July 7, 2008. Archived from the original on September 12, 2008. Retrieved September 13, 2008.
- ^ "Sonic The Hedgehog". facebook.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022.
- ^ Couto, Anthony (September 20, 2017). "EXCL: Archie Comics' Sonic Team Reuniting on Cosmo Revival". CBR.com. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ Hedgehog, Sonic the (July 21, 2017). "SEGA and IDW are thrilled to announce a partnership to bring Sonic Comics to fans new and old. The new series arrives 2018!pic.twitter.com/neT3oAMNUE". Twitter.
- ^ "SEGA® and IDW Publishing Dash Forward with Partnership Deal". IDW Publishing. July 21, 2017. Archived from the original on September 30, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
- ^ "IDW Publishing and SEGA Welcome Veteran Sonic Writer Ian Flynn – IDW Publishing". idwpublishing.com.