It is the second U.S. licensed comic book adaption of Sonic the Hedgehog after Archie Comics' series of the same name, and the franchise's third overall licensed comic book series after the British Sonic the Comic series by Fleetway Publications. Unlike those series, which had their own origin stories, IDW's Sonic the Hedgehog is part of the video games continuity.
Publication history
On July 21, 2017, IDW Publishing announced a deal with Sega of America to produce a new series of Sonic comics after the cancellation of the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series by Archie Comics after a 24-year run.[1] The new series began with a four-week long event where the first four issues were released each week in April 2018, followed by a monthly release of subsequent issues starting in May 2018. Archie Sonic writer Ian Flynn was later confirmed to return as the series' lead writer, alongside artist Tyson Hesse.[2] In an interview with Game Informer, Flynn established that IDW's Sonic continuity is separate from Archie's.[3]
During New York Comic Con 2017, Ian Flynn confirmed that characters old and new would be featured in the series, hinting that characters from the games and the original comics might possibly return.[4][5][6][7] In January 2018, IDW revealed that Tracy Yardley, who originally worked on Archie's Sonic the Hedgehog comics, would be one of the pencillers for the IDW series.
On April 14, 2020, it was announced that Evan Stanley, one of the series' artists, would be writing for the series.[8]
On June 28, 2020, two original characters from the series, Tangle the Lemur and Whisper the Wolf, were announced to appear in the Sonic mobile game Sonic Forces: Speed Battle as part of its events,[9][10] with them doing so next month.[11] Surge the Tenrec would also join Speed Battle on November 21, 2023.[12] Merchandise, including a plush toy, of the former two have been released also.[13][14] Tangle was also briefly mentioned in the 2022 Sonic game Sonic Frontiers.[15] It is confirmed by the Lore Manager Chris Hernandez that the comics are canon to the games.[16]
In November 2023, Sonic editor David Mariotte announced that the series would be taking a hiatus in 2024 until the miniseries Sonic the Hedgehog: Fang the Hunter is concluded.[17]
On July 3, 2024, a crossover between the Sonic comics and an unknown third-party franchise was announced to be in the works, with more details to be revealed in the coming months.[a] During the Sonic Central broadcast on September 24, 2024, it was announced that the Sonic franchise would crossover with DC Universe in a 5-issue miniseries written by Ian Flynn that would feature Team Sonic teaming up with the Justice League. The book will begin publication in March 2025 and last until July of the same year.[18]
Synopsis
Following the war over Eggman's global conquest,[b] Eggman has lost his memory and ended up in a remote village where he has taken on the more friendly moniker of Mr. Tinker. Sonic learns that Neo Metal Sonic is now leading the Badniks, plotting to take over the world in Eggman's stead. While Sonic and his friends fight Neo Metal Sonic and his army on Angel Island, an Eggman admirer named Starline kidnaps Mr. Tinker and successfully reverts him back to Eggman after a defeated Metal Sonic returns to him.
While Tangle helps Whisper apprehend her former comrade turned criminal Mimic, Eggman hatches a new scheme involving the Metal Virus, which turns organic material into mindless robots dubbed "Zombots", but it quickly mutates beyond his control. Starline brings in the Deadly Six in hopes that they can control the Zombots, but they betray him. This leads to a falling-out between Starline and Eggman and forces the latter to help Sonic and his friends cure the world.
Afterwards, Sonic and company decide to fix E-123 Omega, whose body was destroyed during the plague. Sonic and Tails investigate an Eggman base to find the blueprints while Rouge, Amy, Cream, and Cheese enter a competition to win parts; the former group discovers a peaceful Badnik created by Mr. Tinker named Belle, while the latter comes into conflict with former crime boss Clutch. Meanwhile, Starline, hoping to regain Eggman's respect and rejoin him by proving his own superiority, sets his own plans in motion by allying himself with villains like Zavok and stalking Sonic's friends. Zavok reunites the Deadly Six and they attack the Restoration's home base, but are defeated and banished to their homeworld of Lost Hex.
From the bio-data he has collected, Starline creates Surge and Kitsunami, two cyborgs meant to replace Sonic and Tails and end the status quo between them and Eggman. Upon learning that he has been conditioning them and wiping their memories to create their personalities and being unable to find any trace of their past, Surge and Kit vow to destroy all heroes and villains. Starline, oblivious, moves to accomplish his vision by conquering the Eggman Empire's new capital, Eggperial City, which is expanding itself until it covers the entire planet, and lures Sonic, Tails, and Belle there. However, Eggman defeats Starline and leaves him to die, while Kit flees with Surge in tow after several defeats incapacitate her. Eggman himself is subsequently defeated, and Eggperial City destroyed by the Restoration and their allies.
Clutch, seeking to revive his criminal empire, hires Mimic, Rough and Tumble as well as Surge and Kit to infiltrate the restoration so he can profit off them. To that end, Clutch sponsors an extreme gear race competition and has his workers tamper with the extreme gears of Sonic, Tails and Amy so they would be disqualified, but the trio grow suspicious and Eggman offers them assistance so they can discover the one using his technology while also mocking him. Sonic disrupts the races as Phantom rider to cause a distraction so Tails and Amy can unravel the mystery. Eventually a series of mishaps, including Surge's temptation to become a real hero, exposes Clutch's true colors who tries to have his ship crash into a populated area so he can escape but fails by the combined efforts of Sonic, Surge and Eggman. The heroes with the help of the Babylon Rogues change the course of the crashing ship into the Restoration HQ while also evacuating the personnel of both, while Mimic, Surge and Kit go into hiding and Eggman captures Clutch.
Tangle the Lemur – an energetic ring-tailed lemur who can elongate her tail for use in combat. She joins the Neo Diamond Cutters with Whisper and Lanolin.
Whisper the Wolf – a reserved wolf who uses a Wisp-powered rifle and becomes Tangle's best friend. She is the last survivor of an anti-Eggman mercenary group called the Diamond Cutters. She eventually reforms the Diamond Cutters with Tangle and Lanolin.
Jewel the Beetle – a cautious and worryful beetle museum curator and Tangle's childhood friend who later becomes the newest Restoration leader following the Metal Virus pandemic.
Belle the Tinkerer – a clumsy but kindhearted marionette-like robot created by Eggman when he was "Mr. Tinker".
Lanolin the Sheep – an uptight and strict sheep who joins the Restoration after Sonic and Amy saved her village. She later becomes the leader of the Neo Diamond Cutters. She has a Wisp companion named Maggie.
Doctor Starline – a platypus scientist who admires Eggman. He dies at Eggman's hands after trying to take over his empire.
Rough & Tumble the Skunks – a pair of trouble-making skunk brothers and former mercenaries.
Mimic the Octopus – a shapeshifting mimic octopus and former comrade of Whisper who betrayed his team to Eggman.
Surge the Tenrec – a punkishlowland streaked tenrec cybernetically enhanced by Starline to be Sonic's doppelgänger. Like Sonic, she can move at superhuman speeds. Her name also references electrical powers which she displays. She is deeply traumatized by Starline's experiments and has no memory of her prior life.
Kitsunami "Kit" the Fennec – a somber fennec fox cybernetically enhanced by Starline to be Tails' doppelgänger and Surge's sidekick. Kit possesses the ability to control water, and his name is a fusion of the word Kitsune, a reference to his powers making it seem as though he has multiple tails which echoes the multi-tailed fox of Japanese myth, and the word Tsunami, which denotes a massive tidal event. Like Surge, he is also deeply traumatized by Starline's experiments and has no memory of his prior life.
Clutch the Opossum – an opossumcrime lord who collects Eggtech and uses it for personal profit.
Publications
(Publications marked with * take place in a separate continuity from the main series.)
Main
Title
Issue(s)
Start date
End date
Note
Sonic the Hedgehog
1–
April 4, 2018
—
Began weekly publications in April 2018 and then it became monthly in May 2018. Features Sonic, Tails and friends battling the forces of Doctor Eggman and other foes. The series is set after the events of Sonic Forces.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper
0–4
April 24, 2019
December 11, 2019
Miniseries featuring the adventures of two original fan favorite characters from the main series, Tangle the Lemur and Whisper the Wolf.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Bad Guys
1–4
October 7, 2020
December 16, 2020
Miniseries centered on Dr. Starline and his crew consisting of Zavok, Mimic and Rough & Tumble.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Imposter Syndrome
1–4
November 17, 2021
May 11, 2022
Miniseries focusing on new antagonists Surge the Tenrec and Kitsunami "Kit" the Fennec, as well as their creator, Doctor Starline.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island
1–4
October 19, 2022
January 18, 2023
Psychological horror miniseries focusing on Sonic and Tails trapped on an island full of disused Badniks, including Mecha Sonic and Mecha Knuckles.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Fang The Hunter*
1–4
January 17, 2024
May 1, 2024
A mini-series set in the Classic continuity featuring Fang the Hunter and his mercenary group, the Hooligans. This miniseries is a prequel to the game Sonic Superstars.[19]
An annual edition comic which contains 6 new stories about odd pair ups.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Tails 30th Anniversary Special*
November 16, 2022
A one-shot comic book special celebrating the 30th anniversary of Miles "Tails" Prower.
Sonic the Hedgehog: 5th Anniversary Edition
April 5, 2023
A one-shot comic book special celebrating the 5th anniversary of the IDW Sonic the Hedgehog comic series. it reprint #1 and a new story based on Sonic #1.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Endless Summer
August 30, 2023
Part of the "IDW Endless Summer" event.
Sonic the Hedgehog's 900th Adventure
September 13, 2023
A one-shot comic book special celebrating the entire Sonic the Hedgehog comic book run, which includes the Fleetway and Archie eras.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Amy's 30th Anniversary Special*
September 27, 2023
A one-shot comic book special celebrating the 30th anniversary of Amy Rose.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Halloween Special
October 11, 2023
A Halloween one-shot comic book special focusing on the Chaotix.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Winter Jam
December 13, 2023
A Winter one-shot comic book special focused on Sonic and his friends competing for a Chaos Emerald.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Knuckles' 30th Anniversary Special[20]*
November 20, 2024
A one-shot comic book special celebrating the 30th anniversary of Knuckles the Echidna. This one-shot takes place after the events of Sonic Superstars.
Graphic novel
Title
Publication date
Note
Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Celebration: Deluxe Edition*
October 6, 2021
A graphic novel starring Classic Sonic as part of the franchise's 30th anniversary. Is a reprint of the 30th Anniversary Special one-shot with some additional, exclusive stories.
Reprints
Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 1: Fallout! (September 18, 2018) (a reprint of #1–4)
Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 2: The Fate of Dr. Eggman (February 19, 2019) (a reprint of #5–8)
Team Sonic Racing Plus Deluxe Turbo Championship Edition one-shot (May 22, 2019) (a reprint of the story featured in Team Sonic Racing One-Shot, which also includes bonus features)
Sonic the Hedgehog: Bonds of Friendship (2019) (a Scholastic-exclusive collection of several reprinted issues in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series)
Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 3: Battle For Angel Island (July 23, 2019) (a reprint of #9–12)
Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 4: Infection (September 3, 2019) (a reprint of #13–16)
Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper (April 14, 2020) (a reprint of Tangle & Whisper issues #1–4 including the 2019 Annual)
Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 5: Crisis City (February 11, 2020) (a reprint of #17–20)
Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 6: The Last Minute (June 23, 2020) (a reprint of #21–24)
Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 7: All or Nothing (December 8, 2020) (a reprint of #25–29)
Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 8: Out of the Blue (March 30, 2021) (a reprint of #30–32 including the 2020 Annual)
Sonic the Hedgehog: Bad Guys (May 11, 2021) (a reprint of Bad Guys issues #1–4)
Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 9: Chao Races & Badnik Bases (January 11, 2022) (a reprint of #33–36)
Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 10: Test Run! (March 22, 2022) (a reprint of #37–40)
Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 11: Zeti Hunt! (June 7, 2022) (a reprint of #41-44)
Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 12: Trial by Fire (September 13, 2022) (a reprint of #45–49)
Sonic the Hedgehog: Imposter Syndrome (October 11, 2022) (a reprint of Imposter Syndrome issues #1–4)
Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 13: Battle for the Empire (February 7, 2023) (a reprint of #50-51 including the 2022 Free Comic Book Day and 2022 Annual)
Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 14: Overpowered (June 20, 2023) (a reprint of #52-56)
Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island (August 29, 2023) (a reprint of Scrapnik Island issues #1–4)
Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 15: Urban Warfare (October 24, 2023) (a reprint of #57-61)
Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 16: Misadventures (April 23, 2024) (a reprint of #62-66)
Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 17: Adventure Awaits (October 22, 2024) (a reprint of #67-68 including the Endless Summer, 900th Adventure, and Halloween Specials)
Sonic the Hedgehog: Fang The Hunter (November 19, 2024) (a reprint of Fang The Hunter issues #1-4)
Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 18: Extreme Competition (April 22, 2025) (a reprint of #69-71 including the Winter Jam and Spring Broken Specials)
Compilations
Sonic the Hedgehog: Sonic & Tails: Best Buds Forever (February 23, 2022) (a reprint of stories from #1, #13, #34 and #35)
Sonic the Hedgehog: Knuckles' Greatest Hits (October 24, 2023; reprints of #3, #10, #11, FCBD 2022 and Annual 2022 stories featuring Knuckles)
Sonic the Hedgehog: Best Of Shadow (January 2025) (a reprint of #6, 36, 59, 61)
Collections
Sonic the Hedgehog Box Set (Contains #1-4.)
Sonic The Hedgehog: Seasons of Chaos (October 10, 2023; collection featuring stories from Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Special and Free Comic Book Day 2021)
Sonic The Hedgehog: The IDW Comic Art Collection (October 24, 2023; collection featuring various art pieces from throughout the IDW Sonic comics and the collection also includes various pieces of concept art of characters like Lanolin The Sheep.)
The IDW Collection
Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 1 (June 8, 2021) (a reprint of Issues #1–12)
Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 2 (March 15, 2022) (a reprint of Issues #13–20, including the 2019 Annual and the Tangle & Whisper miniseries.)
Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 3 (March 14, 2023) (a reprint of Issues #21–32, including the 2020 Annual.)
Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 4 (March 12, 2024) (a reprint of Issues #33-40, including the Bad Guys miniseries.)
Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 5 (March 18, 2025) (a reprint of Issues #41-50, including the Imposter Syndrome miniseries.)
Other
Sonic The Hedgehog: Sonic Prime, Vol. 1 (May 13, 2025) (Contains adaptions of the first two episodes of Sonic Prime.)
Cancelled
Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper Boxset (would've contained issues #1–4 in a collectible slipcase)
Reception
Joshua Davison on Bleeding Cool gave the first issue a score of 6.5/10, praising the art and creativity of the story but criticizing Sonic's characterization: "Sonic is an insufferable character... He's smug, annoying, and radical in that 1990's sense."[21]
Dustin Holland's review of the first issue of the Imposter Syndrome miniseries on Comic Book Resources praised the personalities of new villains Surge the Tenrec and Kit the Fennec, action-filled plot, and appropriately expressive art.[22]
References
Notes
^As depicted in the letters page for Sonic the Hedeghog #70.
