Video games have found some popular mascots over the years, but Sonic the Hedgehog is a character that's transcended video games in many respects. Sonic's home is still in gaming and he's one of Sega's most valuable properties, but he's found a presence in multiple animated series, a live-action feature film, and a long-running series of comics.

There are many comic book adaptations of video games, but Sonic the Hedgehog is a natural fit for the medium. The character's run in Archie Comics recently ended, but the blue blur is back with a vengeance in IDW Comics. Sonic's IDW Comics have been an exciting journey, but there's a lot about this new series that many fans don't know about.

10/10 Its Canon Is Completely Unique From The Archie Sonic Comics

Sonic IDW Comics Silver Sonic Metal Sonic

Sonic the Hedgehog is no stranger to comics and the character had a robust series that ran for nearly 25 years in Archie Comics before it ended in 2017. The end of this one partnership led to Sonic's transition to IDW Comics.

These new comics share a lot of the same creative staff and characters, but none of the original creations from the Archie Comics series are allowed to show up for legal reasons, even though the creator of these characters is still involved and would like to provide some closure.

9/10 It Introduces A New Character Named Tangle The Lemur

Sonic IDW Comics Tangle Whisper Constellations

The Sonic the Hedgehog comics for IDW have done an excellent job to incorporate the extended cast of characters that have been featured throughout many Sonic titles. However, these comics also forge their own path with original characters that it works into the continuity, like Tangle the Lemur and Whisper the Wolf.

These new characters are important Resistance members and are close with Blaze the Cat. They've become popular enough that they not only got their own spin-off miniseries comic, but they've been worked into actual Sonic games, like Sonic Forces: Speed Battle and Sonic Dash.

8/10 The Comics Have Creative Input From Sega

Sonic IDW Comics Extended Cast Explosion

The Sonic the Hedgehog comic that ran for decades through Archie Comics could basically do what they wanted with the franchise without major interference from Sega. However, the IDW Comics have much more involvement from Sega, which can both help and hinder the product.

Sega has helped come up with some valuable story arcs, but they've also restricted certain characters from use (like Infinite) as well as pushed the idea that these stories can't draw from the "Classic Sonic Universe." Sega's involvement has also allowed the comics to work together with new Sonic games in a satisfying way.

7/10 Its Lead Writer Also Wrote For The Previous Sonic Comic

Sonic IDW Comics Sonic Hangs From Eggman Robot

There's lots of love for Archie Comics' Sonic series and many fans were gutted to learn that it was coming to an end. This could have made people naturally resistant to a new Sonic comic that ostensibly replaced it. It's a lot of easier to accept this change when it involves some of the same production team.

Audiences could feel that the series is in safe hands because its head writer, Ian Flynn, previously wrote for theSonicArchie comics, so he knows the characters well. It's also used artists who have done work for the previous Sonic comics, too.

6/10 It's Set In The Modern Sonic Universe

Sonic IDW Comics Shadow Sonic Clash

Sonic the Hedgehog has been running for so long that it's branched into different continuities to reconcile certain differences in the games. There's the "Classic Sonic Universe" and "Modern Sonic Universe," which cover the unique generations of gaming that Sonic has appeared on.

IDW's Sonic comics are firmly set within the Modern Sonic Universe due to Sega's interest in these comics distinguishing themselves from the Classic Universe material. This means that older characters like Mighty, Ray, or Team Hooligan can't show up, and the series is also set on a distinct world without humans that's neither Earth nor Mobius.

5/10 It Wants To Do A Prequel To Sonic Forces

Sonic IDW Comics Sonic Forces War

The Sonic the Hedgehog comics for IDW Publishing really fixate on the war that takes place between the Eggman Empire and the Resistance force that Sonic and company have put together. This setting is the tumultuous backdrop for Sonic Forces , but the lead writer for the comics, Ian Flynn, has also expressed an interested in turning the clock back further on the Sonic universe.

If given the opportunity, Flynn would love to explore to a greater degree the six months of Eggman's conquest that predates the events of Sonic Forces. It could make for some fascinating prequel material.

Sonic IDW Comics Neo Metal Sonic Attacks Sonic

Most people that are familiar with Sonic the Hedgehog in any medium are used to seeing Eggman/Dr. Robotnik as the primary antagonist. Ian Flynn, the lead writer for the IDW Comics, wanted to get away from Eggman fatigue and do something different.

For this reason, the first villain in the comics is Neo Metal Sonic, a more obscure villain that originated in the video gameSonic Heroes. The IDW Comics not only flesh out the character a lot more, but they even give him an upgraded form, Super Neo Metal Sonic, when he accesses the power of the Master Emerald.

3/10 It Features Rotating Art Teams

Sonic IDW Comics First Issue Sonic Tails

Storytelling and characters are fundamental in any comic series, but the art style and drawings are just as crucial. The IDW Sonic the Hedgehog comics made a big splash with how its four-issue debut used a different artist for each issue to tap into a different energy of the series. This included talent that had previously worked on Sonic comics, like Tracey Yardley and Matt Herms.

After the Sonic the Hedgehog comic moved to a monthly release schedule it's adopted rotating teams of different artists to keep up with the demands, but to also provide consistent quality to the material.

Sonic IDW Comics Sonic Zombots

There's obviously a lot of love and respect for the Sonic video games that's apparent in the Sonic IDW Comics, but it's impressive to see what niche corners of the franchise the comics will incorporate. Eggman's Metal Virus is a major threat for several story arcs in the comics.

The Metal Virus slowly turns organic creatures into Zombots. This may seem similar to the concept of Badniks, but Flynn actually based it on the hidden metal skin texture that can be unlocked in Sonic Heroes. It's a crazy way to incorporate a bonus feature from the games into canon.

1/10 They Dig Into The Lore Of The Games For Story Inspiration

Sonic IDW Comics Charmy Versus Deadly Six

Sonic the Hedgehog established itself as a fast series of platformers and even though some fans lament the overly complicated storylines that have invaded modern Sonic video games, the IDW Comics use it to fuel their narrative in a way that works.

The IDW Sonic digs heavily into the events of Sonic Forces and Sonic Lost World for its story arcs and even delivers a prequel for Team Sonic Racing in a one-off issue. It's important to understand that the comics aren't the same universe as these games, but rather a highly similar one that's gone through comparable events.

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