#also Ian Flynn has been working on Sonic for almost 20 years now
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I wish more people understood that Sega / Sonic Team carefully scrutinizes and approves every single issue of the IDW comics before they get printed and release, down to characters' facial expressions.
This isn't like the wild west of the 90s where people like Penders were allowed to do whatever they wanted. Scripts and storyboards are sent to Sega for approval multiple times for every issue. And the IDW team has to make the requested changes before it can print. One example that has been specifically mentioned was when Amy hugged Sonic in the "Chao Races and Badnik Bases" arc. Evan originally drew a little blush on Sonic's cheeks. Sega said "no" because Sonic doesn't show that much vulnerable emotion, and so Evan had to revise the panel to remove the blush. The oversight is that finite. Absolutely NOTHING gets put in the IDW comics that is against Sega or Sonic Team's ideas for their characters and brands. Like it or hate it, but that's simple fact.
So when you hear, "Sega wants to bring the comics and games (and potentially the shows) under the same canon umbrella" — yeah, it makes sense! Because while Sonic Team might not be crafting the comics themselves, they ARE overseeing their creation and are approving every story beat and facial expression contained within. They know exactly what is happening in the comics, are actively working to keep them in line with the current vision for the Sonic brand, etc. If they're working to keep them in line with their current vision for the games anyway, why NOT tie them all together? Especially when the comics have helped bring a new generation of kids to the franchise (similarly to how the movies did) while also being compliant with the games (unlike the movies). It just makes sense.
I understand that people who are perhaps more used to stories about what the Archie comics were like in the 90s might have reservations. But for good or for ill, the IDW comics are a completely different beast, despite having a lot of the same crew. I'm not saying Sega are overbearing evil overlords who don't let the IDW team have any fun (personally I think it's clear the team has a lot of fun working on the comics), because hell, they let a zombie pandemic arc happen. But I am saying that nothing that happens in the comics happens without Sega's express approval, right down to whether Sonic is allowed to blush when Amy hugs him or not. You still don't have to like the comics, everyone has different tastes and that's cool. But just know that the comics are Sega-approved panel by panel, so if you have an issue, take it up with them. Ultimately, they're the ones who get final say.
#IDW sonic#also Ian Flynn has been working on Sonic for almost 20 years now#since iirc he started in the aughts? so it's at least been over 10 years#it's no wonder Sega trusted him with Frontiers. he has a LONG professional history w/ them#regardless of what an individual thinks abt his writing - Sega likes him#as a writer and a colleague apparently. & since Sega owns Sonic#their opinion matters most 🤷♀️#but yeah I haven't loved every aspect of IDW#Shadow being Like That & Belle are my biggest gripes#(also Mr Needlemouse had way too short a stay)#but I recognize that this wasn't done behind Sega's back. they approved all of it#i just wish others had the same understanding#inspired by a post comparing Ian Flynn to a fan as if he's a rando on tumblr#and not someone who has been working with Sega / Sonic Team for almost 20 years lmao#i usually don't vague & I don't want to fight so i just. made my own post.#but yeah it's a little baffling how this is just . . . missed sometimes#sth
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I have been considering beginning to read some of those Sonic comics people seem to like so much. What would you recommend to be a good starting point/how to access them?
It's all a matter of taste, but full disclosure: I will unapologetically collect anything with the Sonic branding, regardless of quality. 👀
My personal collection is a fair size but far from a full set, with most of my comics being of the Ian Flynn era than the Ken Penders era... and I've met both guys at several conventions before, actually. Ken Penders is very eager to sell you his stories and for a slightly inflated price, you can get an issue signed by him. Ian Flynn gave me a free extra comic book in my purchases because I made him laugh. 👀
I also have the Sonic Comic Encyclopedia, which summarizes a vast majority of the Archie comics up until about issue 250+, and is a good companion to have as a refresher or as a summary for any hard to find issues that are being referenced regardless.
I also have been collecting the IDW reboot in the form of arc books, which are really only about 8 issues behind the retail release right now, with Volume 5 slated to come out in February, which only will put it about 4 issues behind, and personally, I prefer to collect them in the form of trade paperbacks, since it compiles things chronologically and reduces the chance of misplacing a part. Also, the paper quality is higher, and usually there's a few additional bonus pages such as draft sketches or behind-the-scenes, so I recommend arc books highly. 😌
As for where to start... It's a bit convoluted. The Archie run is extensive, all over the place, too many spin off materials, some crossovers, non-canon tie-ins, writers having to clean up other writers messes, several blocks of story that's just dedicated to soap opera teen drama drivel, and some characterization being occasionally appalling depending on who's behind the pens.
The short answer is to just start with the first issue, but it's a bit trickier than that, because there's also a short run mini series that acts as a sort of prelude, that in itself is an adaptation of the 90s cartoons merged into one mega timeline that eventually gets down to business by issue 39.
This wikia does a good job of breaking down the arcs and reboots and spin offs and major shifts of the comics, and should give you a good idea of how to pinpoint areas of interest.
There's about two reboots that happen within the main publication, and I refer to one of them as the "Pendocalypse", to refer to the time we lost all established characters tied to Ken Penders writing, but that's a whole 'nother story itself
I also recommend blogs like @thankskenpenders, which has a great rundown of the series that's is still working on the Ken Penders Archie run, while also pointing out problems or just cringey bits, as well as highlighting the very good of Ian Flynn's run. That is a very thorough blog. 👌🏻
Also, important to note:
There was a separate publication running alongside that was based on the Sonic X universe that would run a fair amount of time before it would set the groundwork for what would eventually be:
Sonic Universe, which was an expansion of the main publication that would focus more on game canon characters and events or would serve as an "elsewhere" sort of stories happening alongside the main stories, and not as tied down by almost 20+ years of established canon creeping into its edges.
There was also:
Sonic Boom, a shorter publication based on the Cartoon Network show based on the spin off game series based on the main series, and was a much lighter hearted take on the characters compared to thier main Archie counterparts, with more emphasis on comedy than massive storytelling.
All of these, sans Sonic X, would eventually crossover with Mega Man's comics a couple of times in a rather incredible multi arc story, so it's established that Sonic Boom's universe is another world entirely.
After Archie comics ended the series it would be picked up by IDW, using much of the previous staff and some fan favorites in the Fandom, and revived the universe as:
Which does not use any characters specifically from Archie, and includes game canon characters, as well as all new characters designed specifically for this comic universe.
Also, the current state of its world right now during its current crisis arc can be described as, without spoilers:
youtube
All in all, there's a lot of places to jump into, and my first Sonic Archie comic I ever bought was #157 (and it was signed) :
Just search "Read Sonic Comics Online" or "Read Sonic IDW Online", and there's a wonderful archive to sift through for most comic books that I'm not allowed to link due to Tumblr rules, and you might want AdBlock for that
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