Sonic the Oz-Hog Act 1/12: Never Forget Your Firsts!
Sonic Super Special issue 3
AU Publication Date: 14th January 1998
Price: $3.95
It's January 1998. The Rural Fires Act had come into effect just in time, for the nation's traditional summer of sports were only superseded by its traditional summer of bushfires. Both east and west coasts had taken a hammering through a combination of record breaking heatwaves and arsonists, leading to at least four preventable deaths. Residents praying for rain got more than they bargained for within days when fires gave way to weeks of floods and cyclones.
Any kids looking to escape the ravaging weather would be disappointed; 1998 was the first summer in nearly 20 years of waking up to a host-less morning show. After one complaint from moral guardians too many, beloved wisecracking puppet Agro was booted from his own program, with Channel Seven instead offering repeats of Gargoyles, The Jetsons and All Dogs Go to Heaven. The lack of Agro meant Channel Ten's rival program Cheez TV had little to worry about, and it showed with their own January lineup of Transformers Generation Two, Spider-Man and The Tick repeats.
Having vowed to never introduce a 10% tax on all goods and services under their watch, John Howard’s conservative Government prepared to backflip on their election promise. A move destined to make teen wallets even lighter when buying CD singles of that month's chart-topping song, Aqua's Doctor Jones. Personally the already high price of CDs was of little concern back then, instead more worried about accidentally sleeping in Saturday mornings and miss another installment of The Dinky-Di's quest to stop Earth's number-one eco enemy Mephisto. Sadly if ratings were any indication, I was the only one waking up early enough to watch anyway.
Names including “Beetleborgs”, “Extreme Dinosaurs”, “Venus DeMilo” and “Pokemon” were unheard of, though would certainly go on to pester parents by year's end. SEGA World Sydney, Australia's largest indoor theme park and last refuge for everyone's favourite rodent, was crawling towards its first anniversary. Two new final volumes of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, a series which hadn't aired on TV in years by that point, trundled onto VHS with all the invigoration of an afterthought. In short the high-speed hedgehog's classic heyday was coming to an end.
Yet things weren't all doom and gloom. For fans still yearning that new hedgey action, Archie Sonic continued to thrive among the mass of imported titles jostling for pole position on newsagent shelves. Quantities were plentiful and demand remained strong, even through a whole dollar price increase by year's end.
As the title boasts, life is built on firsts. Those unforgettable turning points destined to remain etched within our minds. Be them first kiss, first job, first concert or even first Star Wars action figure. When we grow old, the urge swells to reflect or even revisit those small, beautiful starting points. It's a feeling Archie certainly shared, with their appropriately first comic to reach Aussie shores that year: Sonic Firsts.
For a publisher who spent decades following the Mad Magazine bread-and-butter approach of constantly publishing past material, it’s surprising Archie took so long adding their best-selling title to the reprint rotisserie. Within its fancy 48 pages, Sonic Firsts offered a quartet of classic adventures invaluable to new readers while attempting to smooth out what eventually became continuity snares. Michael Gallagher and Scott Shaw! kicked things off with the eponymous Don't Cry For Me, Mobius, a fine starting point for the comic if ever there was one. Rabbot Deployment saw Shaw! superseded by Dave Manak and the introduction of Bunnie, who was granted something of a backstory when such things for anyone outside Sonic and Sally was rare. The pair returned for their flatulence flaunting The Lizard of Odd, an otherwise standard tale if not for Super Sonic's debut. Mike Kanterovich and Ken Penders brought it home with This Island Hedgehog, a straightforward misadventure which nobody could've guessed at the time just how important (or bloated, take your pick) a certain Rad Red's life story would become.
For some newsagents the switch to Sonic Super Special's permanently numbered quarterly format proved difficult to grasp. This issue was often solicited by retailers as Brave New World, raising more than a few eyebrows on parents who already forked out for that edition. It was unusual but ultimately humourous in hindsight when years later, the first eight issues of Sonic Universe were billed as Sonic X. But more on that another time.
The Special was a success for Archie. It showed there was a market for reprints among Sonic fans, even if it took several more years to truly milk its potential. Fans could fork out the standard price for their 48 page floppy, or if feeling a little more extravagant, shell out double the price for a comic book shop exclusive 'perfect-bound' edition. Touted by Archie as "Sonic's first ever Trade Paperback", the simultaneously released special boasted heavier cover stock and a minimally-formatted introduction by former editor/writer Paul Castiglia. If that wasn't enough, both versions were later reissued (either 1:1 perfect reprints or just unmoving warehouse stock, you be the judge.) to comic shops among a slew of 'back catalogue' miniseries and specials around late 2004. Marvellous.
In all, Sonic Firsts was a nifty if unintended celebration just in time and right on the mark for Archie Sonic’s 5th anniversary. The future was bright and the only way was up. Juuuuuust pay no heed to one of the Special's writers banging on about reprint royalties when this issue was announced. They certainly did. :P
Next Time: Take a flier to the comic's future as everyone's favourite embattled Echidna faces a deeply personal dilemma. A true clash for the ages which left both fans and editor reeling from its outcome. Will things ever be the same again? Will this description quit with the cheesy song references? Unlikely.
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‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧ MASTERLIST ‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧
☆click each individual name to access series☆
🧸fluff 🦢angst 💋smut 💌headcannons
🎀platonic fluff ✨AU 💃🏻Latina reader 💐sad
‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧ Sturniolo Triplets ‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧
⭒ Big Sister- Sturniolo Triplets 🎀
summary: Reader is a couple of years older than the triplets, having lived a completely different life to theirs by the age of 25 and is invited onto the Cut The Camera Podcast as a special guest. Reader and triplets retell stories of their childhood and learn more about the readers past.
⭒ Big Sister Pt. 2- Sturniolo Triplets 🎀,🦢
summary: After visiting the triplets in L.A, the reader returns back home and works with her brothers to plan another get together. This time the triplets visit her, taking a trip down to the Lone Star State.
⭒ Big Sister Pt. 3- Sturniolo Triplets 🎀
summary: Your brothers have always been overprotective of you, and they do a good job of showing it while filming with Sam and Colby.
☆N. Sturniolo☆ (click for series)
⭒ Truth or Dare- N. Sturniolo 🎀
summary: Nick and his best friend always find themselves playing truth or dare.
⭒ 4 In The Morning- N. Sturniolo 🦢,🎀
summary: Your best friend Nick comforts you after receiving some unexpected news.
⭒ Talkative- N. Sturniolo 💌,🎀
summary: head cannons of Nick with a yapper bff!
☆M. Sturniolo☆ (click for series)
⭒ Full Set- M. Sturniolo 🧸
summary: Reader is a well renowned nail tech in L.A and due to her growing popularity has become everyone’s go-to nail tech. This leads her to become a workaholic, stunting many of the areas of her life. Three regular customers work towards changing that.
⭒ In Denial- M. Sturniolo 🦢,🧸
summary: It’s hard to admit when you’re in love, especially when the person you love is so different from you. But, as they say, opposites attract.
⭒ Small Town Dreaming- M. Sturniolo 🧸
summary: There’s not much to do in this small town but fall in love.
⭒ Heartbreak Girl- M. Sturniolo 🦢
summary: Matt’s in love with you, but you’re too in love with someone else to realize it.
⭒ Heartbreak Girl PT.2- M. Sturniolo 🦢,🧸
summary: Matt tries moving on, but you reel him back in every time.
⭒ Manage- M. Sturniolo 💋
summary: You’re Matt’s secretary, in charge of overseeing everything related to his schedule. Everyday when you come into the office he suppresses the urge to take you then and there. When on a work business trip, he can’t hold back anymore.
⭒ I’ll Play Your Game- M. Sturniolo 🦢,🧸
summary: You’re the Pastor’s daughter, all eyes are always on you. So, why not put on a show?
⭒ Intrusive Thoughts- M. Sturniolo 💋
summary: You’re forced to sit on Matt’s lap during a long roadtrip and once you arrive at your destination he lets his intrusive thoughts win.
⭒ Intrusive Thoughts PT.2- M. Sturniolo💋
summary: The morning after yours and Matt’s night together, you go for round two.
⭒ Carnal Desires- M. Sturniolo💋
summary: You join Matt and his family on a vacation, and get lost together while on a hike. Instead of freaking out, you two take advantage of the sudden alone time.
⭒ Talkative- M. Sturniolo 💌, 🧸,💋
summary: head cannons of Matt with a talkative, yapper girlfriend!
⭒ A Cold Sunday- M. Sturniolo🧸
summary: You and Matt spend a cold Sunday morning together, snuggling up and keeping warm.
⭒ Urban Cowboy- M. Sturniolo🧸
summary: Matt, a city boy, tries one upping you, the best bull rider in town, only to be met with a painful outcome.
⭒ Why Do You Care?- M. Sturniolo 🦢,🧸
summary: You’re naive and let yourself be led on by someone you believe has good intentions, but one day Matt puts him in his place and ends up confessing his feelings to you in the process.
⭒ Parenthood- M. Sturniolo 💌,🧸,💋
summary: head cannons of dad!Matt.
⭒ Lipstick- M. Sturniolo💃🏻,🧸,💋
summary: Matt’s nervous to meet your family, but after making a good impression you treat him to a night full of kisses and lipstick stains.
⭒ Happy Birthday- M. Sturniolo 💐,🧸
summary: Over the course of working together for years, Matt picks up on everything and despite not understanding it completely, he comforts you through the hurt.
⭒ Tough- M. Sturniolo 💌,🧸,💋
summary: head cannons of Matt with a tough girlfriend!
⭒ Weakness- M. Sturniolo 💋
summary: You fight your inner desires, but ultimately let your weakness consume you.
⭒ Actress- M. Sturniolo 💌,🧸,💋
summary: head cannons of Matt with an actress girlfriend!
⭒ Affectionate- M. Sturniolo💌,🧸,💋
summary: head cannons of Matt being affection with his touch starved girlfriend!
☆C. Sturniolo☆ (click for series)
⭒ Corner Store- C. Sturniolo 🧸
summary: Chris is your annoying coworker who always manages to make your shifts a little more miserable than necessary, but it turns out he has a misunderstood crush on you.
⭒ Way Over Love- C. Sturniolo 💋
summary: Chris struggles to accept that he likes you as more than a friends.
⭒ Shopaholic- C. Sturniolo 🧸
summary: No matter how hard you try, you just can’t stop swiping your card.
⭒ Unplanned- C. Sturniolo 🧸
summary: Becoming a teen mom was never in your plans, but you and Chris had to learn to make the best of it.
⭒ Candy- C. Sturniolo💃🏻,🧸
summary: You were sweet as candy and Chris couldn’t stop himself from taking a bite, leading to an internet scandal neither of you anticipated.
⭒ Talkative- C. Sturniolo 💌, 🧸,💋
summary: head cannons of Chris with a talkative, yapper girlfriend!
⭒ Parenthood- C. Sturniolo 💌, 🧸,💋
summary: head cannons of Dad!Chris.
‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧ Johnnie Guilbert ‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧
(click for series)
⭒ Collab- J. Guilbert 🧸
summary: You and Johnnie pretend to date, faking it for so long that it became real.
⭒ Vampire- J. Guilbert (prologue) ✨.💋,🧸,🦢
summary: You take your relationship with Johnnie, your vampire lover, one step further.
⭒ Vampire- J. Guilbert ✨, 🦢, 🧸
summary: You’re just a princess who fell in love. The only problem is that he’s a vampire and your father has promised your hand in marriage to someone else.
⭒ Bad Day- J. Guilbert 🦢,🧸
summary: Johnnie is the moon and you’re the sun, always bright, bubbly and energetic. Nobody believes that someone as positive as you can ever have a bad day, but when you do Johnnie is ready to comfort you through it.
⭒ Babygirl- J. Guilbert 🧸
summary: You didn’t choose a life in the limelight, you were just famous by association, and now you’ve earned yourself the nickname “babygirl” by the entire internet.
⭒ Monster- J. Guilbert 💋
summary: Tara plays matchmaker, earning Johnnie the night of his life with you in a bar restroom.
‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧Jake Webber ‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧
(click for series)
⭒ Messy- J. Webber 💋
summary: Jake is a regular customer at the diner you work at, eating the same meal everyday before returning back to work. One day, when you’re taking his order, you can tell he has much more sinful intentions than a quick meal.
‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧5SOS‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧
☆ C. Hood
⭒ coming soon…
☆ A. Irwin
⭒ coming soon…
☆ L. Hemmings
⭒ coming soon…
☆ M. Clifford
⭒ coming soon…
‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧Lip Gallagher‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧
⭒ coming soon…
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