Sonic Comics Moved To IDW, Coming 2018

50 Comments

1. Goodbye Sally, Antonie, Bunny, Rotor…

   …Thanks for the memories.

   1. Oh stop it! They might come back! I hope.

      1. Let’s see…

         “We’re been speaking with beloved Sonic fan-favorite CREATORS”

         Forget about the Freedom Fighters now!
         I remember you… Ken Penders? Scott Fulop? Nothing?

   2. “hopeful that familiar names may re-appear.”

   3. I don’t want Sally Acorn to leave when Sonic begins its IDW run next year.

   4. It might not necessarily be that hopeless. If there’s actual fan demand and it’s not a legal nightmare, they might even be able to revive the old series long enough to hit a conclusion at some point. They’ve done it twice before, with the old Marvel GI Joe and Transformers series. I think Larry Hamas GI Joe might still be going, even.

      It’s not something I’d bet on, but the possibility is always there.

      As for whatever new thing they do, even if it’s just Sega Sonic characters as the main characters, unless there’s some legal problem, the Freedom Fighters might show up eventually, judging by how IDW has done things with other properties they’ve acquired. See the IDW Turtles comics, for example. If the Mutanimals can return and get a three issue miniseries, there’s nothing saying the Freedom Fighters can’t be repurposed and used in some capacity.

   5. https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/sonic/images/6/64/SallyslappedSonic.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140318063536

      And such memories they were.

      1. @GUESSWHO

         Personally I didn’t have any issue with that, I thought it showed that Sally can be selfish and flawed at times, in my opinion it made her a more human character (for lack of a better word).

         Still the fan backlash was atrocious and I’m guessing it’s what triggered several mandates from Sega among other things.

         1. I can’t even read what Sally is saying.

         2. @RAW I agree. Also at that time Sally was in a very fragile emotional state, she had just seen Sonic com back after spending a whole year grieving over his supposed Death. And after he came back she saw him almost get killed a bunch of times, so it made sense that she’d want him to stop fighting due to the fear of losing him again.

2. Well, there you have it. Hopefully this means a soft/hard reboot with the old SatAM cast rather than an all-new one.

   1. It’s not very promising that Aaron seemed to clarify that his tweet meant Archie Sonic Artist/Writers and not characters..

      Still will be hopeful and letting Sega and IDW know I want the Freedom Fighter’s to return.. x.X;

3. FIRST!

   AND HELL YES! THIS ABOUT TO GET HOT AS HELL!!!

4. E-123/Transformers crossover when?

5. THERE IS HOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   wait, is out boy Ian onboard?

   1. Well, Aaron said familiar faces may reappear, plus Ian is a freelancer so there is a strong possibility that the Bumble King may return.

6. Well that didn’t take long for IDW to make Sonic comics.

7. At least we have a new publisher.

8. Will it be a continuation of the Post-SGW Archie continuity, or a completely new continuity? That’s what I wanna know.

   1. I’d bet on new. Licensing is messy and can get convoluted – did you know different companies own the rights to do comics based on different sequels in the Terminator franchise, because that insanity is a real thing – so I don’t even know if they have the rights to reprint the Archie stuff, much less continue it. IDW’s typically started from scratch when they get franchises anyway; Ghostbusters, for example, when they got TMNT they started their own thing, same for Transformers and GI Joe and so on. I’d be shocked if they DID continue anything.

9. Rip in spaghetti, never forgetti Archie. Now onto IDW. Hype time

10. That’s awesome! I’m very excited for this, me as many more fans thought about this possibility but I thought it was a longshot!

    Personally I’m loving what Sega is doing with Sonic lately, Sonic Forces and Mania look amazing, IDW feels like a good home for Sonic, they almost lost me as a fan during the last 2 years but now I couldn’t be happier about it, so yeah, criticize me or mock me if you want but Sega has all my praise right now.

    Now I know a lot of fans are mad at Sega for parting ways with Archie but all evidence points that they don’t have all the blame in this situation, so I would suggest to everyone to be open to the new possibilites for Sonic that are unfolding right before our eyes.

    1. The people in charge of Sonic don’t understand how to tell good stories.. They put mandates that keep characters from having any meaningful emotional depth.. The Archie supporting cast is the only place we could get that anymore, and Sega seemed to dislike having those characters around.. so I don’t have high expectations, though I hope it’s good..

       Eh.. I’ll never be as excited to read another Sonic comic knowing that 24 years of being a fan is rewarded with an end that lacks closure.. Hope we still get one before the year is up.. x.X; Then I can honestly be excited..

       1. If you followed the whole story behind the stories you would now that mandates were given and lifted quite constantly, like them not allowing Sonic to cry for a while but then he cries in one of the issues post-reboot.

          I don’t think Sega wants to strip Sonic of all emotional depth and character development as you say, it seems more like they are over-zealous about how is handled and they didn’t always have 100% faith in Archie to deliver.

          1. Eh.. It isn’t just Archie they do that to.. o.O; BigRedButton was going through the same sort of stuff.. and I imagine the Sonic Boom show does as well..

             Sonic can get teary eyed, but he can’t face real loss against his enemies, or have strong negative emotions..

             Post Reboot, the art and character designs have been really awesome.. but it’s been a bit of chore to get through the story..(I’m still in the middle of shattered world crisis..) I hope the IDW stuff just goes for a lot of pure humor.. x.X; Might be the best way to keep things interesting with the mandates.. (Which I don’t think are going anywhere.. Sega seems a more secure and stable company than I’ve seen in a long time..)

          2. @DWAPOOK

             First of all the fact that they did the same to Red Button only adds to my point; Sega is over-zealous of their property and with a very good reason, also you need to remember Sonic has faced loss and strong negative emotions before in the Sonic Team games.

             Case in point: Sonic was very affected by the death of Emerl in Sonic Battle, he even goes in denial briefly, or in Sonic & the Secret Rings he is consumed by anger and the desire of revenge after Erazor kills Shahra, that’s what triggers his transformation, or in the case of losing and charactet depth in Sonic & The Black Knight he loses to Merlina before transforming and he fights against her because he refuses to live in a world without death, and tht’s not even counting what the other character have gone through.

             Secondly your 24 years of being a fan weren’t rewarded with a lack of closure, they were rewarded with 24 years of Sonic stories and good times (apparently), Sega wasn’t going to give you a prize when you got to 30 years or anything, in case IDW Sonic is complete reboot without the satam cast it’s entirely up to you to accept things are changing and give the new comic a chance though sadly it seems you made up your mind already.

             Finally you should avoid starting your pharagraphs with “Eh”, using crutch words when typing makes it looks like you’re not sure of your thoughts or that you’re just writing whatever crosses your mind first.

          3. @RAW

             I am just writing whatever crosses my mind.. These are internet comments, not like.. some formal writing project.. o.o;

             Sonic Battle had the best story I’ve experienced in a Sonic game.. but the mandates don’t apply to Sega themselves, I’m purely talking about the effects they have on the comic book’s storytelling.. and other media aside from the upcoming movie..

             The Archie series meant a lot to many people, I don’t want a prize.. I just a want a real goodbye for the world and characters.. and haven’t entirely given up hope on getting one.. >.>;; I want the IDW comics to succeed, but I’m being given a really strong example of why not to get invested in the way the Archie one is ending.. I know not everyone feels this way, but closure has a really big impact on how I feel about a series as a whole..

          4. @DWAPOOK

             Seriously, its ok to share your opinions and thoughts in the internet but you should think before writing, like in your first comment you stated:

             “The people in charge of Sonic don’t understand how to tell good stories”

             And now you’re backpedalling on that and saying your only issue is the lack of a proper ending for the Archie comics, as heartbroken as you might or might not be you shouldn’t bash anyone just out of spite man, and I love the story of Sonic Battle to pieces too.

          5. @RAW
             I’m not backpedaling.. My story concerns are in regards to not having high expectations for the IDW stuff.. Yeah, saying that current Sonic management doesn’t know how to tell good stories may have been a bit too harsh.. But hamstringing comic books into mediocrity is just another sign of how little they care, which is what I find most frustrating overall..

             I hope it changes.. I hope IDW gets more storytelling freedom and that Archie gets a conclusion.. Though the latter does matter more to me overall because I think the former is inevitable at some point as Sega evolves.. >.>;; It’s not easy for me to get excited or to see people excited, sorry for all the negativity!

          6. @DWAPOOK

             Let’s both hope that things change for the better with IDW, I know you’re more concerned about Sega than the publisher they choose but to be fair Sega and Archie relationship has been shaky at best since the lawsuits started.

             And I understand you feeling upset, I think as Sonic fans we all have been in that situation one time or another, is one of the perks of being a fan of a franchise as big and versatile as this, I think I was feeling the same as you circa 2015.

       2. @DWAPOOK

          “I hope the IDW stuff just goes for a lot of pure humor.. x.X; Might be the best way to keep things interesting with the mandates..”

          While I’m not against humor, I feel that Sonic needs to get his focus back on action and excitement, with humor on the side. Sonic Boom focused almost solely on humor, and it didn’t work out well for the comic or games. The TV show is just barely hanging on as well. The new comic needs to be engaging, and humor alone can’t really accomplish that.

          1. @NICK

             Couldn’t agree more, its good to have humor in Sonic, its part of his personality after all, but we already have Sonic Boom as the comedic branch.

             I would rather have the new comic focus on action and adventure and maybe some of the themes of satam/ Archie Sonic like family, loss and hope.

    2. I realize “how little they care” is the wrong phrase to use and wanted to correct myself! x.X! I take the mandates as a sign of where their focus on.. which is Sonic as a brand to stagnate, not a character to grow.. Which contributes to some cold, out of touch feeling to all this..

11. REALLY excited! Hopefully they go for a teenage targeted tone! And get a writer who’s a fan of sonic!

    ARRGH! Why next year!?

    1. Yeah it may take a while before the first issue comes out, for reference some Marvel Comics runs are planned with a year in advance before the first issue is released (so they can map a couple of years of stories before throwing it out there) ao I think even a late 2018 release window would be understandable.

       Also we got Sonic Forces and Mania in the mean time!!

12. So, we are getting new comics for Sonic from IDW…

    Anyone up for a Sonic/My Little Pony crossover? (Please don’t hurt me.)

    But seriously, this is great! I can’t wait to see what new characters will be in this new comic series.

    1. Hell yeah. I do remember awhile back that either sega or Hasbro put a survey on what they want mlp too crossover with, Sonic was an option. So yeah… I hope that will happen

    2. I’m game. Sonic and MLP are already both large properties with relatively large communities and tons of potential for grand storytelling. I think particularly that Sonic Boom and MLP would be amazing, simply because of the similar tone and deconstructing style, and I hope that that can be realised.

13. YEEESSS! With the way Archie has been handling things especially since the cancelation happened in January they didn’t deserve to have Sonic anymore. As for the Satam team? Sega owns those characters so I’m sure they will show up in the new comics.

    1. …what did archie comics do? Also, it was never cancelled in janurary. It was on hiatus until further notice.

       1. I don’t know if Magicalwinglt is referring to this but they handled the original contracts for their writers very poorly, opening the door to Penders and Pulop’s lawsuits, there is a long possibility that the later was pivotal in Sega changing publishers.

          1. Strong possibility*

14. Yay! MLP and SONIC are now one! Can’t be more excited!

15. The only good move made by sega concerning the comics I bet. I will not accept losing all of the post reboot characters (FFs, new comic characters and remade AoSTH/SATam/game characters)

    I wouldn’t mind seeing sonic mess around in ponyville or cybertron but not if we lose what we had before.

16. Hurray! Sonic in comic books is saved thanks to IDW! My hopes came true! Hope the first Sonic issue by IDW comes out when 2018 begins! Maybe IDW could get the rights with Ken Penders and his wishes for his Lara-Su Chronicles and Lost Ones to see the light of day as well.

17. I feel like Sonic can be treated just like the turtles in this situation. A brand new start to something amazing. I do hope the FF return just the Saturday morning cartoon elements were implemented into the Turtles comic.

    Sonic is in really great hands now

    1. Agreed, not to mention Sonic could use the same tone as the TMNT, that’s actually something I have thought for a long time now.

       Also a crossover would be awesome!

18. I think we all underestimated that hype is Infinite!

19. If it makes anyone feel any better, the Freedom Fighter characters might not disappear into the ether, judging by past approach from IDW. Their Ninja Turtles comics, for example, have remixed and integrated in characters from the old Fred Wolf cartoon and Archie Turtles comic, making them seamless parts of the overall universe. The damn Mutanimals of all characters got their own miniseries. Bebop and Rocksteady returned in it as well. So even if the main cast is just Sega Sonic, that doesn’t necessarily mean the SatAM characters are gone forever or may never show up. It doesn’t mean they will, but IDW seems to like pulling from all across the history of the properties they get.

20. As sad as it is that the Archie Sonic Comics had to be dropped so suddenly but I’m excited at the prospects of a new comic. If I had to guess at what is in store I’d say that the IDW books are going to start fresh and not be a continuation. It will be interesting to see what they do. Unlike when the Archie or Fleetway comics started the IDW comics have 25 years of material to work with. If there is anything I’m worried about it is not that the new comic series strays to far from the source material but rather they stick to close. The Archie Comics at their best were more then game events in comic form. They took the concepts and characters from the games, and TV shows and spun them in an interesting way or added further context to them. To be a world beyond what you see in the games. That’s part of the reason the Archie comics lasted for 24 years. If I wanted something exactly like the games I would just play the games. I hope they use the game’s lore as a starting point and expand from there.

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