Penders Q&A: Complete Details

Thanks to tSf, we know quite a few details of what happened at the Chat Session last night.

• First, Sonic will not be cancelled. Ken said already plans for issues beyond #100 are taking place. Penders: As far as I know, Sonic will continue as long as Archie makes money and that’s the most honest I can be about the subject. Speaking of #100, it’s possible an engagement of sorts might be taking place…plus, the Demitri question will be answered by #100.
• Charmy, the bee from Knuckles Chaotix, is returning in Sonic 92.
• Steven Butler’s final comic will be the Knuckles story in Sonic 91. The replacements should be Rom Lim (penciling Knuckles), and Penders inking.
• Knuckles: 20 Years Later is on hold and might be for the next year. Also from Penders on K:TYL: You were going to see Sonic and Sally’s kids for real in KNUCKLES: TWENTY YEARS LATER…K:20YL may or may not get printed, depending on circumstances. (Publishing is a VERY shaky business these days.) I’m having major problems getting retailers to support THE LOST ONES seres I’m working on.
• Queen’s fate is settled in Sonic 89.
• From Penders: The manga special was designed to be the first issue of Sonic if it were created today by Spaz and I and it would be presented in true manga format, where you read from back to front Actually, the manga special stripped away Sonic to his very core…I think Dan asked about Spaz’s style and the best I can say is that it’s an amalgamation of several styles. The manga special wasn’t concerned with continuity. In fact our biggest fear with the book is all the requests we’d get to relaunch the series as a result. Currently the special is on hold.
• The Sonic Movie is currently going through some very tough times. The story is a continuation of the SatAM/Archie version. Oh, and no plans for a new animated series, according to Penders.
• On Sonic and Sally: We’re going to be focusing on Sonic and Sally’s relationship. If it’s true love, they’ll learn once and for all. But to get there, it’s going to be a difficult road for them. Sonic and Sally are 16, so marriage is NOT possible at this stage. The big question I have is WHY is everyone so fixated on this aspect? Why can’t they just date?…… someone will lose something first which in turn leads to a most profound revelation.
• On Chaos, Tikal and Rotor: Chaos and Tikal could return depending on if we come up with a good reason to use them…Ah, yes, Rotor… well, check out Sonic #90.
• And finally from Penders: These days everyone from Sega to the other licensees are using our comics as the bible.

And there you have it! It was a very active chat, and many rumors were silenced.