Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 57

Sonic the Hedgehog #57

Publication details

Issue

57

Date

January 1998 (release date) (Citation needed for release day)
April 1998 (publication date)

Publishing company

Archie Comics

Cover price

$1.75 (US)
$1.85 (CAN)

ISSN

10705090

Production staff

Writer

Karl Bollers

Cover artist

Colors

Karl Bollers

Editor

J. Freddy Gabrie

Managing editor

Victor Gorelick

Editor-in-Chief

Richard Goldwater

Publisher

Michael I. Silberkleit

Issue chronology
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Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 56	Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 58

Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 57 is the fifty-seventh issue of the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series published by Archie Comics.

Official solicitation[]

Back To Basics[]

Witness the past unfold as Sonic and the Freedom Fighters reminisce about times gone by-- the joy, the sadness, the losses, and the victories!

Featured stories[]

Back To Basics[]

Writer & Colors: Karl Bollers
Pencils: Art Mawhinney
Inks: Jim Amash
Letters: Jeff Powell
Editor: J. Freddy Gabrie
Managing Editor: Victor Gorelick
Editor-in-Chief: Richard Goldwater

Synopsis[]

The Knothole Freedom Fighters, Jules Hedgehog, Bernadette Hedgehog, Uncle Chuck, Dr. Quack, and Geoffrey St. John watch as Sonic finishes packing in preparation to pursue Ixis Naugus, accompanied by Tails. As Sally expresses her amazement and Sonic replies that he is a little uncertain about facing the wizard as well, Rotor enters with a surprise: a device salvaged from Dr. Robotnik's lab. Uncle Chuck warns the pair about messing with one of Robotnik's old inventions, but after learning from Rotor that the device is meant to let its wearer see into the future, Sonic is eager to try it on, despite Sally's protests. He argues for the advantage it could provide, and Sally grudgingly consents as Sonic activates the device. While impressed, Sonic learns that the device doesn't work as advertised: instead of letting him see into the future, he's seeing the past.

History rolls on past the Hedgehog, from Robotnik's coup d'état to the formation of the Freedom Fighters. Previously unrevealed events include Sonic and Sally escaping Robotropolis together, and an early success of the Freedom Fighters in thwarting an attempt by Robotnik to subject Sally to roboticization. Sonic also recalls his first failure to save Uncle Chuck and Muttski, followed by his earliest confrontations with the Krudzu and Orbinaut. The memories go on to fighting the Super Special Sonic Search and Smash Squad, meeting Verti-Cal and Horizont-Al in the Unknown Zone, Rotor disguising himself as Robotnik in order to plant a bomb, and his rescue of Bunnie Rabbot and her decision to join the Freedom Fighters. The walk down memory lane continues on to Super Sonic's first battle—against Universalamander—the attack of the Termite-Nator, the assault on Robotnik's fortress atop Mt. Mobius, the hunt for Uncle Chuck's secret treasure, and even the battle against the Super-powered 'Bots.

Sonic then recalls being reduced in size at the Mobius Concert Hall, being immobilized by Poison Sumac Blossoms while Pseudo-Sonic threatened Freedom HQ, their encounters with Thorny, the Nerbs, and the Anti-Freedom Fighters, a second battle with Coconuts, and even traveling back in time to Prehistoric Mobius. The fond memories continue as he remembers his first meetings with Cyril Eagle, Larry Lynx, and Knuckles the Echidna, as well as dealing with Robotnik's Robostorm, Beetle 'Bot, and Tails' brief tenure of super intelligence. Further memories included Robotnik's use of Magnabot and then a virtual reality simulator against the Freedom Fighters, which he followed up with King Gong and an attack on Sonic and Sally's play wedding. Then came the debut of Nicole and Sally's first adventure with the computer in the Badlands, the invasion of Robo-Robotnik v1.0 and Giant Borg and the necessary team up with various Sonics from across the Cosmic Interstate, and Sonic's brief period of invisibility when the Freedom Fighters thought he had perished.

His train of thought continuing, Sonic recalls the rise of E.V.E., the near disaster of Operation: Wasteland, Robotnik's return and Car-Heem's visit, a second attack by the Anti-Freedom Fighters and the debut of Metal Sonic v1.0, confrontations with Knuckles and Robotnik's Weather Annihilator, and his first encounter with Nack the Weasel. Remembered even less fondly are his bout with amnesia, Sally's brief time spent as a robian, and the battle between himself in Super form against Hyper Knuckles. Good memories came again with the thought of Uncle Chuck's return thanks to the Transdimensional Transporter, teaming up with Geoffrey against the DYNAMAC, and getting Muttski back with help from Mobie. Unfortunately, this preceded the introduction of the Combot, Sonic collecting his One Billionth Power Ring and meeting the Ancient Walkers, facing an amnesiac Maximillian Acorn in the Zone of Silence, and dealing with an earthquake that nearly leveled Robotropolis. To make matters worse, Sonic shortly lost his super speed for a time, and then was turned against his friends after becoming Mecha Sonic.

Despite not wanting to relive his victory over Knuckles on that occasion, Sonic admires the Guardian's willingness to become Mecha Knuckles in order to stop him. Sadly, he is then forced to relive his trial for treason following his return to normal, though meets a positive memory in King Acorn's rescue. Sadly, this was followed by the rise of the Death Egg and Carl Condor's Roboticization, as well as Sonic's epic battle against Robotnik utilizing Silver Sonic v1.0 against the Eggs-O-Skeleton. More memories of King Acorn-specifically the attempts to find a cure for his crystallization with Knuckles' help and that of the Dream Watcher. Then Evil Sonic returned, this time paired up with Anti-Knuckles, followed by Sonic stopping Robotnik's Eco-Destroyer from leveling the Mobian Jungle and the events surrounding the doctor's Operation: EndGame. However, even with Robotnik defeated at last, other trials emerged, like the nightmare caused by a virus that was implanted on a reward he received for his bravery against the doctor. Other such difficulties included new Zones, including the Discovery Zone, the emergence of Naugus and Monkey Khan, and the titanic battle between Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, and Mammoth Mogul.

The device's effects conclude with the memory of the groups recent success in reuniting the king with the Sword of Acorns, restoring him to normal. The device begins to emit sparks, and Sonic throws it out the nearest window, where it explodes. While Sonic is dismayed to lose the possibility of getting an edge on Naugus, he is comforted by Chuck, who points out that if Robotnik's device had actually been able to see the future Robotnik would have been able to defeat them. As Sonic and his friends and family walk to where Sonic's plane is waiting, Sonic apologizes to his parents for not expressing his happiness over their return, and puts down his father's claims that he doesn't need them. Sally then calls him over for a private chat, during which Sonic shyly admits that he thinks the world of his old friend. Sally reciprocates his feelings, but wants to know when Sonic will return home; the hedgehog can't give her a timeframe, but makes up for it with a bouquet of flowers, the suggestion that she reconnect with her father, and a request that she not change while he's gone. Sally kisses him on the forehead in farewell, and soon he and Tails are aboard their plane, the Winged Victory. Sonic questions who made the change, and is informed that it was the decision of the Mobotropolis Council, of which he is a member. An embarrassed Sonic takes off. Rotor wonders who's going to take Sonic's place on the council, but Sally assures him that they will manage.

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Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 57

Official solicitation[]

Back To Basics[]

Featured stories[]

Back To Basics[]

Synopsis[]

Appearances[]

Trivia[]

Other features[]

Trivia[]

Gallery[]

Cover artwork[]

Preview pages[]

External links[]