Joe Hughes, recruited by IDW to run the Sonic franchise in July 2017, has left the company. The announcement was made on the Facebook group IDW Sonic Comics Squad. IDW’s David Mariotte penned the bulletin. Promoting himself as an associate editor on his Twitter bio, It is not clear whether he has been appointed lead editor role, but the announcement claims he will now be involved with the production, along with Megan Brown, who is now on the Sonic comic team as an associate.
No announcement has been made on IDW’s official website nor has anybody on the Sonic comic writing or art team has remarked on the departure either. Hughes was brought in to lead the relaunch of the Sonic comics under the IDW label but has only lasted through the publication of nine issues. As part of the announcements, issue 10’s release is now delayed to Halloween.
According to IDW, though, year two of the comics will have a very exciting future!
IDW announced at NYCC that Sonic The Hedgehog #13 will be an extra-length issue to bring readers up to speed leading into their second year of publishing. “Year two is going to be huge for Sonic,” says editor David Mariotte. “We are upping the stakes with more villains, more adventures, and a new threat that’ll loom over the whole 2019 calendar!”
To start, Sonic takes a break after the momentous Battle of Angel Island. When Tails receives a mysterious tip that a friend has disappeared, he and Sonic race off into a brand-new adventure that’ll put them face-to-face and nose-to-nose with some old foes!