Archie Sonic Comic Megathread

Couple of things:

The first volume of IDW Sonic is up for preorder on Amazon. Also includes some info.

Also, on the latest BumbleKast episode, around 43:25, Ian confirms that the characters he created for Archie will not be in IDW Comics. Not all that surprising, but it might not look good for those who wanted the Freedom Fighters to come back, going by what he says. Still a possibility they'll return, but we'll have to wait and see.

 

So it continues on from Sonic Forces, I guess?

Eh, I thought the game was alright, nothing special, clearly designed for kids, but a fun little romp anyway. But a comic could probably bring out more lore to the Forces world, such as why GUN weren't involved in events.

 

Cause it takes place on Sonic's world and not earth

 

I see someone's been watching BrainScratchCommentaries.

 

I don't know who that is :v:

I watched (listened to) Segabits' Aaron Webber interview

And so this post has something actually related to the topic I really hope the idw comics don't take place in the game universe. :v:

 

You played no attention to what Sega was trying to force the comic to go then.

 

Eh, they might feel more confident with IDW, especially with Flynn at the helm. Other than past works, they might give them a bit more leeway.

 

Whilst a new original setting would be great, I actually wouldn't mind if the Comics stayed tied-in and fleshed out more of the general game world story, which would keep the games themselves a bit more focused.

Ian's Sonic Forces comics were pretty good example of this. I felt the comics felt more attached to the universe of Sonic more than the game's own events did, so more of that would be fine I reckon.

 

If the games are going to be this light on plot and lore as they have been since Colors for the foreseeable future, the comics fleshing them out and having them make sense is exactly what the franchise needs. At least until good narratives come back to the series. Creating another alternate universe will only make things more confusing. There should be an effort to make the existing canon sensible, rather than create another branch. It makes the series less approachable.

 

Come "back" to the series?

Uh, in any case, I don't mind the cast not being all the Archie dudes. I want to see them again, especially the Egg Army, but focusing on the main game cast is something I'd prefer right now. I only wish we'd get to know more about the plots of games from a longer amount of time ago, instead of just whatever new ones come out that they can adapt.

 

Yeah, I think this would be ideal as it means the regular gaming people can play a streamlined Sonic game that doesn't require you to be so invested in DEEP LORE, whereas those do who want that can have a good resource to turn to.

For example, a Sonic Mania comic adaptation could easily fill in the missing stage transitions from the game, and explain more about the nature of the Heavies and the Ruby amongst other things.

It would also take the weight off Sonic Team or any other devs trying to come up with new confusing plots and risking more contradictions/retcons, etc by having someone who's a bit more tuned into that world and lore keeping everything tied together, preventing a PONTAFF 2.0 situation.

 

Evan Stanley art. Sonic is holding onto...something. I thought it was Sally's hands, then I thought it was Tails's tails. Now I don't know what to think.

 

I'd guess its Tails holding onto Sonic with both hands, looking backwards (we're seeing his hands, back of his head, whiskers and ear). If Freedom Fighters were back I doubt those characters would be the first shown. Still skeptical they'll show up, but crazier things have happened.

If they DO show up, I'll be fascinated by what exactly that means when it comes to who on earth now holds the rights to the DiC characters besides Sega. Would that mean Sega is the sole rights-holder, or is there some sort of clause in the Archie contract that allows for their use to be transferred to a new publisher?

90's Sonic elements seems like a huge legal minefield, honestly.

 

I'm pretty sure SEGA's always been the holder? That's why they've never been the subject of any copyright issues.

 

Those hands (assuming they are hands) look a bit feathery, so I'm guessing it's a completely new bird character, possibly based on the bird Avatar from Forces. The synopsis for the first arc makes it sound like the comic will be taking place after Forces, so it'd make sense.

Doesn't really look like any Freedom Fighter (unless they've received another major redesign), and an established game character (especially Tails) wouldn't be much of a surprise.

 

So Yardley and ABT have both released their unprinted issues now and I honestly don't know wtf is stopping me from just posting Mega Drive 3?

 

Rolls of red tape and NDAs? :v

 

That's the thing, there were no NDAs at Archie, I've only held off posting as a professional courtesy. But if that statute is lifted the only thing stopping me is that dropping MD3 would be considered a bigger deal than one of the regular issues. I guess the only difference is that it wouldn't possibly fly under the radar.