Issue 52

Issue 52 is the fifty-second edition of Sonic the Comic. Released on the 13th May 1995 at the price of £1.15, the issue contains four original stories (one of them new), plus several features plus a Sonic Drift 2 pin-up.

Contents[]

Control Zone
Sonic the Hedgehog - Disaster!: Part 2
Sega Snowboarding
Review Zone
Shinobi - Power of the Elements: Part 6
Knuckles the Echidna - Knuckles Versus the Cybernik
Q Zone
Sonic's World - Face From The Past: Part 2
Speedlines
Next Issue

Strips[]

Sonic the Hedgehog[]

Disaster! is a 2-part story that marks the end of the Sonic 3 & Knuckles story arc. Written by Nigel Kitching, drawn by Richard Elson and lettered by Elitta Fell, the story shows us that Sonic has been captured by the Spikebonker army of Doctor Robotnik and is now his prisoner. The tyrant readys his disintegrator array to fire at the Emerald Hill Zone but before Grimer can fire it, a shockwave hits the Death Egg. Miles above Mobius, the Floating Island is moving and ready to shoot down its target, all thanks to Knuckles.

Shinobi[]

Power of the Elements is an 8-part story by Alan McKenzie, Jon Haward and Tom Frame. The fight between the Roofworlders and the Four Elements continues fiercely, with mixed results on either side. Air almost kills Joe Musashi but the Shinobi pulls things in his favour by riding the woman into a brick wall, killing her. Elsewere, Fire manages to inflict Kotomi-sensei with the Poison Hand Technique, subjecting him to imminent death.

Knuckles the Echidna[]

Knuckles Versus the Cybernik is a complete story written by Lew Stringer, with unique art from John Moore, Elitta Fell completing the team. Shortfuse the Cybernik is fighting a pair of Badniks but has to chase a rogue Balkiry to the Floating Island. There, Knuckles manages to destroy the plane but mistakes Shortfuse as being another Badnik. The two scuffle, but Shortfuse gives in quickly. He earns the echidna's trust by defeating a group of Coconuts Badniks who were ready to ambush Knuckles.

Sonic's World[]

Face From The Past is a 2-part story by Stringer, Gary Andrews and Fell. The Freedom Fighters aren't happy with Sonic's treatment of long-lost brother Tonic but Tails has already discovered the fraud to be Metamorphia. Fortunately, his friends arrive to save him and a battle ensues. Metamorphia tries many different ways of winning but she eventually has to flee over the edge of a waterfall. Back on the Death Egg, Metamorphia explains her escape, but Robotnik isn't happy.

Features[]

The Control Zone, hosted by Megadroid, gives Boomers a look at the stories in this issue as well as some unique features. The countdown for next issue's 2nd birthday celebrations include a new Knuckles story and the new Sparkster adventure, plus a competition to win a Sonic & Knuckles denim jacket. Elsewhere, two lucky readers get their photos published with their Sonic merchandise, although one of them is rather cruelly mocked for his goofy teeth, comparing him to Shorty the Squirrel.

The Sega Charts are largely different to last week, with only the Mega-CD leader remaining (Ground Zero Texas). New entry Road Rash 3 tops the Mega Drive list while the original Road Rash moves to the top of the Game Gear chart. There seems to be a mistake in the Master System chart, as Sonic the Hedgehog 2 appears to have moved "down" despite being in the number one spot.

Sega Snowboarding is a unique feature to this issue that covers the "Sega 32X Professional Snowboarding Team" as they go snowboarding with some famous faces such as PJ and Duncan, Ultimate Kaos, Stiltskin and Normski (all very much 90s personalities, bar Ant and Dec). This week's Review Zone entry is for Brian Lara Cricket for the Mega Drive, awarded 73% by Nick Protz for not being a very good one-player game.

Coverage of Earthworm Jim continues in the Q Zone, with "Durham's Darling" David Gibbon giving a walkthrough for the last few levels. Megadroid answers more letters in Speedlines, with questions on future Sonic Game Gear games (aside from Sonic Drift), mistakes in the Q Zone by Gibbon and a possibility of a solo Knuckles comic (later answered with the Knuckles Knock-Out Special). There's also pictures of a tartan Amy Rose and Sparkster, making his comic debut next issue. An announcement made that, from next issue, the Tomy Sonic the Hedgehog Water Fun Game will be replaced with a Highgrove Sonic Stationary set, as well as the Graphic Zone having a new prize.