Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie Comics)

Sonic the Hedgehog was an American comic book series published by Archie Comics and Sega of America, based on the Sonic video game franchise, and especially the 1993 Sonic saturday morning cartoon. After debuting with a four-issue miniseries cover dated February to May 1993, the first full-length issue was published in July 1993 and ran until December 2016. The series follows the Freedom Fighters, an organization of heroes led by Sonic and Sally Acorn in their battles against Doctor Eggman and other villains.

While largely consisting of its own continuity, certain issues incorporated elements of the Sonic video games into their plots and settings. Over its history, the series had several spin-off series set in the same continuity, including Knuckles the Echidna, Sonic Universe, and two crossovers with Archie's Mega Man series. Alongside the series, Archie also produced multiple comics series based on the Sonic X and Sonic Boom TV series. Following a 2013 lawsuit between Archie and former lead writer Ken Penders, Archie rebooted the series, removing many comics-original characters from its cast, and bringing it closer to that of the games.

Sonic the Hedgehog ran for 290 issues for over 20 years in the U.S.A., earning a place in the 2008 Guinness World Records for being the "longest-running comic series based on a video game". It became the longest-running franchise-based comic series in 2015 (surpassing Marvel's 275 issues of Conan the Barbarian) before it was confirmed cancelled in July 2017, following Sega of America and Archie Comics' decision to discontinue their business relationship.

After IDW Publishing acquired the license through Sega of America, they began publishing their own Sonic the Hedgehog series in April 2018, adhering more faithfully to games continuity. Several artists and writers who worked on the Archie comics, including lead writer Ian Flynn, went on to contribute to the IDW series.

The Sonic the Hedgehog comic debuted in the US as a four-part miniseries running from February to May 1993. The first issue (#0) was previewed in a free six-page Sonic the Hedgehog #¼ (quarter the size of the usual comic), released November 1992. The miniseries was followed up two months later by the series Sonic the Hedgehog (July 1993 – December 2016). Numerous one-shot specials and several reprint series' followed.

The comics follow the adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends, called the Freedom Fighters, who battle against the evil Doctor Robotnik. Initially based on the plot of the 1992 animated series, the comic later incorporated elements from the games and other media. When Ken Penders, former head writer of the comic got sued by Archie Comics because he allegedly breached his contract with them, the comic led to a continuity reboot with all established characters created by Penders and other writers being removed, save those of current writer Ian Flynn, who penned the new continuity, and those created for assorted animated series, to which Sega retains the rights. The new continuity is a world much closer to the world depicted in Sega's games.

The original universe, which remained canon until the comic's 247th issue, is set on the planet Mobius, a science fantasy and post-apocalyptic version of Earth from tens of thousands of years into the future, and where animals were mutated into the anthropomorphic Mobians. Dr. Robotnik is depicted as a tyrant, ruling from Robotropolis, following a coup d'état against the Kingdom of Acorn. A small band of heroes, the Freedom Fighters, fight back against his forces from the secluded village of Knothole. Amongst the group are Sonic, his best friend Miles "Tails" Prower, love interest and team leader Princess Sally Acorn, French-accented Antoine D’Coolette, cybernetic Bunnie Rabbot, technician Rotor the Walrus, and Sally's handheld computer Nicole. Other allies like Knuckles the Echidna, Amy Rose, and Sonic's Uncle Chuck join them in later chapters. Robotnik in turn is aided by his nephew Snively.

Robotnik meets his demise in the fiftieth issue, erased from existence by his own superweapon. An alternate version of Robotnik from a parallel world becomes the lead antagonist, first introduced as "Robo-Robotnik", but later takes on the name of Dr. Eggman. New antagonists were introduced, including the evil sorcerer Ixis Naugus; Scourge the Hedgehog, Sonic's evil counterpart from a parallel universe; and the Dark Egg Legion, a union of other factions like the Iron Dominion and the echidna-led Dark Legion. Game storylines like Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 were adapted, introducing Shadow the Hedgehog as a recurring character.