Bunnie backstory I'm gonna start crossing fingers and burning candles 'cause I've been wishing for this ever since I was a little girl. I like the ideas Ian's throwing around. Yay 2010 hurry please.

- the "Iron Dominion Saga" will be ending in 2010 with a cross-over in Sonic Universe.

Wonder how much lasting influence we'll get from there, though. I imagine that in the least Ken will stick around longer then Iron Dominion considering.

It's time for us to do some smaller stories.

Thanks.

- I had so much fun bringing back the Downunda Freedom Fighters in "Echoes of the Past" that I decided to bring back another old FF group. And then another. And then another!

Guessing: The Wolfpack, Secret Intelligence / Rebel Underground / Royal Secret Service (St. John's Team), the Crazy Kritter's (Rob's Team), and the Arctic Freedom Fighters that'll hopefully get a revamp maybe, along with the Downunda Freedom Fighters.

- I also figured it was about time to bring back an old major villain. Only fair, right?

Croctobot! ... I mean ...

- While we're bringing back folks, we'll be seeing some SegaSonic guest stars return to the book - Silver and Big!

I wonder if Cream will ever make it into the comic at this point. It seems more likely we'll see Shade then Cream as a third if we get a third with all this Nocturne humbug going around.

SONIC UNIVERSE
- three arcs for the year, just like this one.

Wonder if the Knuckles arch will be a yearly feature to compensate for the lost of his own comic / place in the backups. That'd seem about right assuming we do get another Knuckles arch next year around the same time.

Edit: Just caught that with the ending of Knuckles' next potential arch the arch following it will be Sonic Universe's first milestone issue. Any guesses who'd they pick to feature?

Tails Adventure? Hopefully, this means Battle Birds!

Wonder if the Knuckles arch will be a yearly feature to compensate for the lost of his own comic / place in the backups. That'd seem about right assuming we do get another Knuckles arch next year around the same time.

I'll probably get howls of dissent from the resident Knux fans, but does anyone else think that it's time that Archie stopped trying to compensate like that, if it's really what they're doing (I'm inclined to think that there may be a degree of fan wish fulfilment in seeing it that way)? Knux hasn't had his own series for longer than some of the comic's target demographic have now been alive, let alone reading - and whilst he was marketed as some big, totemic figure in the Triple Threat back then (in a much smaller cast), I don't think he's that any more.

The marketing's all behind the trinity of hedgehogs now, with Knux nerfed to yet another tagalong rather than even a "friendly nemesis" any more - it's fans in the older age bracket who seem to think that he should get special treatment because "I used to be a contender!".

Tails Adventure? Hopefully, this means Battle Birds!

Oh yeah, he's definitely implying a connection with the old Game Gear title. And because it's Tails and the Armada, maybe Fiona will make an appearance too.

It seems almost too perfect an opportunity to let pass. Major Tails character building story incoming?

*laughs*

Now who's tying the real Fiona to Tails when there's no connection?

Maybe you're right, though. I said on BKP a while ago that it'd be interesting if either Tails or Fiona came across that old auto-automaton again - a sign of what or who they both used to be, much thought of putting away childish things... An interesting introspection moment, perhaps.

it's fans in the older age bracket who seem to think that he should get special treatment because "I used to be a contender!".

Well, with me, I just enjoyed the Knuckles comics more than I did the Sonic comic; so that's why I wouldn't mind a Knux series.

I wonder if Cream will ever make it into the comic at this point. It seems more likely we'll see Shade then Cream as a third if we get a third with all this Nocturne humbug going around.

Well, with Mike teasing her in the letters page of the book, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw Cream and Cheese next year.

Wonder how much lasting influence we'll get from there, though. I imagine that in the least Ken will stick around longer then Iron Dominion considering.

Actually, I wouldn't think so. Ian's already dropped hints that when (or around the time) the ID goes, Ken will follow, and I don't think that's completely unwise. Ken's been fine for this arc, but I think it'll be time to have a break from him and the ID once the whole saga is over. That, and since I don't think the ID will be completely broken up when this saga ends, he might need to go back to fighting them in the DK.

Guessing: The Wolfpack, Secret Intelligence / Rebel Underground / Royal Secret Service (St. John's Team), the Crazy Kritter's (Rob's Team), and the Arctic Freedom Fighters that'll hopefully get a revamp maybe, along with the Downunda Freedom Fighters.

Ian's basically confirmed the Arctic FFs and Wolf Pack already, but if I had to guess the last one I'd say Sand Blast FFs or the Krazy Kritter FFs. I'm happy with his first two choices, I think both groups could use some revamping/focus, and Ian's already written my top pick into the current SU arc (the Downunda FFs). I'm just hoping the last group isn't the Forty Fathom Freedom Fighters.

Edit: Just caught that with the ending of Knuckles' next potential arch the arch following it will be Sonic Universe's first milestone issue. Any guesses who'd they pick to feature?

Assuming everything Ian has teased here actually sticks, I'd guess Team Dark. Might be a way to commemorate them being the focus of the first arc.

Oh, and I'm all up for the Armada coming in. They've been teased at already, and as pointed out, the stress put on "Tails Adventure" would seem to suggest that thet might be involved in some way.

*laughs*

Now who's tying the real Fiona to Tails when there's no connection?

Not me!

...

... it was me, wasn't it? I only implied that since we know Fiona had ties to the Armada, it only stands to reason that there would be incentive to use her when they come into the comic proper. And since the Battle Bird Armada were a group of villains introduced in a game that starred Tails, a run-in between the two is almost guaranteed. And... as a matter of fact, there IS a connection between them now (albeit paper-thin): Fiona is aware of Tails' feelings towards her, and being the requisite villain-ness, might attempt to use that to her advantage. Hence the character-building: Tails gets burned again, realizes he has to separate childish fantasy from reality if he stands half a chance on being a hero in his own right, and finally kicks that crush (and Fiona along with it) to the curb.

Of course, the story will probably go in a whole 'nother direction and all this musing will be for nothing. Ah, Ian you magnificent bastard...

- I also figured it was about time to bring back an old major villain. Only fair, right?

Ooooh, which one?

lemme guess, Ixis Naugus?

Fang?

I would like to see more of Metal, but considering he hasn't really "gone" anywhere for him to be brought back, that sort of dashes my hopes.

I only implied that since we know Fiona had ties to the Armada...

What? Maybe I'm misinterpreting your post, but the only characters we know of that had confirmed connections to the Armada are Predator Hawk, Bean, Jet and presumably the other two Babylon Rogues (Wave and Storm). Am I forgetting something?

Also, this popped up on Bumbleking today:

While it was running, KTE was my favorite of the Sonic books. I love me some Knuckles. My agenda - if I can swing it - is to do a Knuckles arc per year so that he kinda gets "his" book back. Right now, it's looking like I'll be two for two.

THAT SAID - I have tons of story options, so Knux might be bumped from the running in 2011. I have no idea - that's way, way to far ahead to speculate.

So apparently Ian would like to try and sort of compensate for the losses previously mentioned.

But here's my question, what happens when the ID story is done, where does that leave Kahn?

In the Dragon Kingdom with his bride, Sally. Dur. =p

What? Maybe I'm misinterpreting your post, but the only characters we know of that had confirmed connections to the Armada are Predator Hawk, Bean, Jet and presumably the other two Babylon Rogues (Wave and Storm). Am I forgetting something?

Well, she knows Bean. And we aren't entirely sure of what Bean meant by "the good ol' days". But yeah, nothing confirmed.

In the Dragon Kingdom with his bride, Sally. Dur. =p

Be Serious , you what I mean

As a fan of Bunnie i'm very happy that they're finally gonna dig into her backstory, i've wanted to learn more about her for quite some time now. I'm also looking foward to the solo adventures of Tails. I would love to see him run into Fiona along the way, I wonder what exactly they would do with that scenario tho?

What? Maybe I'm misinterpreting your post, but the only characters we know of that had confirmed connections to the Armada are Predator Hawk, Bean, Jet and presumably the other two Babylon Rogues (Wave and Storm). Am I forgetting something?

Well, she knows Bean. And we aren't entirely sure of what Bean meant by "the good ol' days". But yeah, nothing confirmed.

Ah, I was wondering if you meant her association with Predator Hawk from the her time in the Destructix, or more specifically Bean. I figure that "the good ol' days" was a reference to when she was a bounty hunter with him, Bark and Nic; but they might have had a run in with the Armada.

About Knux, when he had his own comic I got the feeling he was more popular than Sonic. Not is terms of sales, but the overall likiblity of Knux and the comic among fans. It probably is a good idea that he still has a presense in the comic, at least it doesn't hurt.

Hmmm, tricky guesses. I've got a few guesses.

1.) Kodos - but I don't know about that one. It seems to me that Ian may want him to stay dead, but perhaps.
2.) Ixis Naugus - but technically he has appeared in STH #162-164. To me, it seems recent, but maybe.
3.) Sanblasters - Possibly Jack Rabbit & his group of FF.
4.) Dr. Ivo Robotnik (original) - It would seem nice to see him again, but i doubt it. Last time he appeared was STH #108. Technically he wouldn't be dead, though wiped from existance. Guess possibly though that sega may not let archie do that. Weird theory, I know.
5.) A.D.A.M. - However very unlikely cause then they'd probably have to bring Tommy Turtle and we all know we'd want him to return (NOT!)

Speaking of Ken and Knux, of course this being another Ken, what's the word on the rumors about Archie doing a Knuckles' Archives from the 32 issue series just like they've been doing with the Sonic Archives in the last few years? Also, is Ken Penders ever going to have any other involvement from Archie? I don't know if there was a falling out or if he just moved on on his own, but he's seemed absent for years now.

The Knuckles series is supposed to get a reprint in some form eventually. I know there were some different ideas floating around but I'm not sure what the current plan (format, etc.) is.

Ken Penders was more or less fired. He last inked a back-up story a few years ago and that was the end of his involvement.

I wonder what role Ian will have Sally and Sonic play in the upcoming year.