Sonic the Hedgehog, as a comic book character, has been able to defy the odds. He has had a multitude of comic book series and spin offs, all of which have lasted longer then the typical video game licensed comic, and licensed comic books in general. Sonic the Hedgehog, it’ multitude of spin offs, Sonic X, and Sonic the Comic (counting the reprints, which went from 185 to the final issue, 223) together amount to nearly five hundred and fifty issues, making Sonic’s comic book career far more extensive then any other video game character to date.
In fact, according to Archie, with the launch of the 200th issue, Sonic the Hedgehog is now 76 issues away from beating the longest lasting licensed comic series ever made. What has allowed for this kind of sustainability? I will be going over that in the review, which will be posted in a few hours. Until then, take a look at the preview pages below. Apologies for the late news, by the way.
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #200
200th ISSUE SPECTACULAR
“Turnabout is Fair Play”: The epic anniversary issue you’ve been waiting for is finally here! Back in Sonic #50, Sonic managed to win against his arch-rival, Dr. Robotnik. In Sonic #175, the doctor got his revenge! Now they duel for the fate of the world! Will freedom come to Mobius? Or will the Eggman Empire rule forever more? Place your bets – but be ready for the startling conclusion! Don’t miss this cranium-creasing, brain-bending, mind-blowing saga!
SCRIPT: Ian Flynn
PENCILES Tracy Yardley!
INKS: Jim Amash
Dimension-crossing cover by Patrick “Spaz” Spaziante
Shipping Date: May 6th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: May 13th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: May 26th, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.50 US
Review:
In trying to write this review, I have found it will take my far longer then I had planned. It will need to wait a few more days.
Wasn’t bad, was expecting more of a twist at the end
C’mon Sonic! You can beat that muscle bond Conan (or at least tie him with 275 issues).
I assume when they calculate this they just take into account the main series not the spin offs. Though I’ve always wonder if these people who do the records take into account the Fleetway series (because then the this record should belong to them not Archie (at least not yet)). As the record states “The longest-running comic series based on a video game is the American Sonic the Hedgehog Published by Archie Comics”. Which, as you even stated above, Fleetway made it to 223, and Archie is just getting to 200.
Though you’re forgetting the Super Specials, Knuckles mini-series, and numerous other mini-series/specials. That goes well past 223.
SOOOOOOOOO AWESOME. I Bought it on MAY 14th ( i have a subscription:))
Boh! Typing on the Wii is hard!
It`s cool that Sonic is going to get another world record in this comic. Now I really need to read all of them from the beginning (using the internet of course)!
@Barry
You could take those into account although if you do teh total number of issues has already surpassed 300. That would mean it beat Conan a while ago. There are about 15 SSS, about 8 regular 48 page specials, currently 200 issues of the main series, 40 Sonic X issues, that’s already 263, then add the original 4 issue miniseries, the 3 issue miniseries for Tails, Sally, and Knuckles, 32 issues of the main Knuckles series, and that brings the total to 308, finally add the current 3 issues of Sonic Universe with a grand total of 311 (if you really want to you could add the Archives, Beginnings, Select, and the original TPB version of Sonic First’s for a new total of 322).
If you look at all the issues released (not counting 2nd editions or 3rd) you either end up with 311 issues in all, or 322 issue in all (if you want to add the TPB collections).
According to this Sonic is (and has been for a long time) the longest licensed comic series ever made.
Whoops almost forgot some. Add the promotional Sonic and thew Secret Rings comic and the 3 Free Comic book day ones for a new total of 315 issues (326 with the TPB).
Sorry about the double post I completely forgot about these.
@STULF: You can do that?! I tried but couldn’t find anything! Alls I found was rubbish trying tom make me BUY stuff, lol, nah I’ll have to get this, though I probably won’t understand it as I’m pretty much a novice to the series.
If there is a way to read them over the internet… then someone please pipe up and say… 0.o
Just got this today, can’t wait to read it fully =D
@TailstheHedgehog: not sure if this post is going to make the cut in terms of legalities, but one word: torrent it. If you have to ask, find some way to PM me or ask around. Wow… Sonic the Hedgehog: the longest running licensed comic book series of all time. That’s mind-blowingly awesome and epic. Maybe they’re only counting the Archie licensed ones inclusive, but what about StC?
@ MilesDX:
Killer numbers man! I myself stopped collecting at #115 or so when I realized that SA2 wasn’t to be adapted. At that point I preferred the games storyline to the comic. Thankfully, by that time all the specials and mini-series were finished. So I’m only 85 or so issues behind.
WOAH looks epic… im gonna need to buy this.
Whenever i see Sonic talking nowadays in the comics i imagine Jason Griffiths reading them out and some of the lines and sentences that the Archie writers give Sonic wouldn’t really suit the character that Jason gives Sonic. If they were to make a Cartoon series out of the comics then they would probs have to find some one else to do the voice of Sonic.
Don’t get me wrong tho, i personally think Jason Griffiths is a great voice actor for Sonic. 🙂
Picked it up. Eggman finally went over the edge. Poor guy.
I can`t belive Eggman went insane ! But I know he`ll be back later
Makes me want to read it, but i dont have a idea to search for this in germany
So Eggman went insane, that sounds familiar… didn’t they do that in the Fleetway series?
It’s times like these I feel proud of being a Sonic fan. 🙂
Way to go, to everyone who made that possible!
Sonic is acting so cool in that introduction!
Eggman’s spider’s design is cool too.
Is it possible to order those comics to Portugal?
@ cool : Yup he was tired of losing to sonic so damn much he freaking lost it btw all you can watch the comic on you tube u know because I don`t want to spoil the ending but I`ll give a hint a “evil queen” returns at the end
sonic the hedgehog comic is fun and great series issue in the comic i don’t want sonic to end 223 i kind of want to end 350. i want sonic universe end at 299 or 330. i never got fleetway series sonic the comic before.
Poor Eggman. I know very little about this ‘Queen’, but I’ll keep reading.
By the way, if you can’t order comics, just come here to download and read them. You need WinRAR to extract them. http://tkaserver.kicks-ass.net:2020/?area=comics
Hey, thanks a lot, June!
I can’t see the “downloadable content”, though. I guess I have to register, right?
@ June : The queen is … I_o_ Queen guess the 2 missing letters