INFO BURST

Format: Manga chapter
Initial Release Date: June 1991
Feature characters: Sonic the Hedgehog
Villain: Doctor Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik
Other Characters: Animal Friends (Picky, Cucky, Ricky, Pecky, Pocky, Rocky, Flicky), Badniks (Construction Robot Army), Sonic’s Bodyguard Platoon, Sonic the Hedgehog Band (Sharps the Parakeet, Vector the Crocodile, Mach the Rabbit)
Locations: South Island (Green Hill Zone)
Items: Chaos Emerald
Continuity: Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic
Synopsis: Keen to conquer the world, Doctor Eggman makes moves to construct a fortress in the Green Hill Zone. He learns one of the legendary Chaos Emeralds is nearby and has his Construction Robot Army commence excavation of the Green Hill Zone in an attempt to find the gem. In doing so, Eggman interrupts a concert performance of the Sonic the Hedgehog Band, earning him the ire of Sonic himself. Sonic smashes the construction robots and sends Eggman packing after handily defeating him in battle. As Eggman retreats, Sonic restarts his concert, to the adoration of his fans.
Notes: The first manga adaptation in the Sonic series and the first Japanese
adaptation overall.

CREDITS

Writer: Currently unknown
Artist: Currently unknown

Review

Sega, knowing they had a good thing on their hands, wasted no time in promoting Sonic and his series. To get Japanese fans excited for the game ahead of its launch, a manga mini-series ran as a free gift with three issues of Mega Drive Fan. This series effectively provides a backstory for the original Sonic the Hedgehog game, though none of it is reflected in the game itself, nor would it be referenced in future instalments. As a result, Sonic Story Comic becomes its own little thing and it’s really rather lovely.

Immediately, one can’t help but notice the striking art style, with South Island- and specifically the Green Hill Zone- brought to life in a vibrant, verdant rendition. It really helps drive home the nature-versus-machinery theming of Sonic’s first Mega Drive outing, particularly with the Construction Robot Army quite literally barging into the scene to tear up the landscape and erect a fortress for Eggman to serve as his base of operations. This, in turn, feeds further storytelling as Sonic, quite rightly, sticks up for the Green Hill Zone and its inhabitants, cementing him immediately as a character who stands up for what’s right.

Speaking of Sonic, he’s drawn in an absolutely charming style. There’s a particular kinetic element to his posing, evident even in the still images of the art. The addition of a little fang is particularly cute as well. The Animal Friends are similarly adorable, fretting as they watch their home get invaded by the robotic forces of Eggman before being saved by their hedgehog hero. Perhaps most interestingly of all, however, is the addition of Sonic’s Bodyguard Platoon. This army of fans obsessed with Sonic and in attendance at his concert, are all female and all seem to be groupies. It’s a distinct possibility they’re a remnant from early elements of production, specifically Sonic’s human girlfriend Madonna (who, naturally, didn’t make the final cut). The fact they’re dressed in animal costumes does rather bring to mind bunnygirls- particularly Playboy models- but considering one of the Platoon is wearing a blue costume, complete with pointy blue ears and a little pointy tail, emulating Sonic himself, it’s perfectly easy enough to compartmentalise it as cute rather than anything more unsuitable for young readers.

Eggman is given a strong focus in this first story as well, with the revelation of his plan to conquer the world. More than that, we’re given his motivation for hunting down the Chaos Emeralds- specifically, with the power they give off, he could power a huge pan and boil the world’s largest egg. Perhaps it’s for the best this aspect of his character never made it to the games, though his love for eggs certainly made it across other forms of media.

If there’s anything to criticise this instalment for, it’s the ease with which Eggman is dispatched. In expending so much of the limited page count on setting up the backstory of the villain and showing off Sonic’s rock band, we don’t end up with very much time for the two leads to actually fight. As a result, Sonic defeats the threat with minimal effort. Whether this makes Sonic look cool or it makes Eggman look like a chump is a matter of your personal discretion.

Overall, though, this is a delightful introduction to the characters of Sonic, Eggman and the world of the Sonic video games. Little did any young Japanese reader know at the time just how big Sonic was going to be. It all seems rather quaint looking back…