Looks cracking. At last, an issue where Sonic and his team are going to be horribly defeated. I might actually pick this issue up now.

I may actually have to read those when they come out. Though hopefully they'll handle it better the OTHER time one of the sides achieved total victory (E.V.E anyone? Heavens what episode was that? 22 I think)

Oh dear. #175 sounds utterly fantastic, but #176 has me worried that Ian is fully aligning the comic into SegaSonic territory. I gotta wonder what the body count is gonna be by the end of this...

Sonic X #20's cover gave me a major Fleetway vibe, though I don't know why. May be the simplicity of it, but I love it.

Woah,#175-6 I HAVE to read!

Issues like this always make me a little nervous. What I am hoping will end up happening is that the comic book will go back to having an Sonic Sat a.m. feel to it, with the focus being mainly on Sonic, the FF's, and the fight againist Robotnic, and that it will end up bringing the FF's closer together(like they were in the old days). Time will tell if this will happen, and if these issues will live up to the hype.

I'm both excited and apprehensive about the Sonic issues. I like that finally Robotnik seems to be stepping it up in the fight and a humbling defeat is good to see sometimes in a hero. I am worried though what will happen to the captives (hopefully not the same fate as the Echidnas) and with the mention of Tails, Amy, and Knuckles as the only other ones free besides Sonic, I too fear the comic may steer towards more of a replica of the Sega realm which isn't what I want. I would prefer, like DC said, a return to a Sat a.m display of sorts.

What I could see happening (and I hope it doesn't) is all the captives from Knothole vanishing like the Echidnas did and the comic turns into some major quest for Sonic, Tails, Amy, and Knuckles to find everyone while Knothole lays in ruins and Robotnik seizes more control (at least until Energek rises again).

I suppose that plot is alright, but like I said, I don't want the focus of the comic to be on those four characters just like Sega does it. I like having the large cast even if they are sometimes unmanageable.

Although this is gonna be a hell of a thrill ride, it reminds a little of ENDGAME, and we all know how that conculed

Still looking forward to it though!

This almost portrays #175 as a LEAD-IN to #176.

...Sort-of how #150 was concluded in #151.

Actually, Ethan, I'm not sure that's exactly the case. I think #175 is going to be a major deconstruction of the status quo, and #176 will be the beginning of building the "rebuilding" process.

In any case, I'm wondering why the #176 cover is credited to Spaz when it's clearly Yardley's work and signed as such on the cover itself.

well atleast now their war against robotnik will be more interesting.

from what it sounds like, i think knothole is destroyed. which isn't hard to imagine considering how small it is compared to The empire.

The status quo? Explain for those of us who have been out of the comic for quite a while.

Sonic X has Starscream. My inner geek is having a nerdgasm.

I don't know wheather it live up to the hype or not, but I do think "things will never be the same again".

I'll admit, this has me quite nervous and anxious, but then I realized, that's a good thing. This is the most I've "felt" for this comic since...well hell, since I can remember.

I'm eager to see where he's going with this, as it is obvious that this completely changes the status quo. Judging from the descriptions and the covers, we've completely lost Knothole. This could be some really awesome stuff, if handled properly.

I am a bit worried about everyone but the original game*squad getting taken. Especially after reading in another topic, answering a question in relation to these issues, if Ian was done killing characters, his answer was NO.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love the original gang. It'll be great to see the Triple Threat get some quality time together, and even better for Amy to get a chance for more actual character development (she's needed that a long time coming), but I hope we're not getting too SEGASonic. I like the comic because it's different than SEGASonic. I hope that doesn't go away.

There's a lot of things I could say about stuff I want to happen and stuff I don't want to happen, but Ian has the reigns, and I'm just going to let him do his thing, sit back, and enjoy the show.

Here's looking forward to one hell of a ride.

Ian said he would not play down the Freedom Fighters. That is all I know.

Looks like the kingdom of acorn is going down (see #176), but not the freedom fighters, who will probably start living up to their name. I hope Eggman doesn't take over the world, though. He's a threat in the games, not a dictator, and I like him that way, especially since Ian has set up plenty of other villains.

We've got hints at Enerjak, Battlebird Armada, Scourge's gang which may or may not be with Enerjak depending on whether it's Finitevus or Dmitri, the Dark Legion (see above), Black Arms, and who knows what else AFTER 176.

Heroes vs. Eggman vs. Mogul vs. Dark Legion/Dmitri vs. Scourge/Finitevus vs. Enerjak vs. Armada vs. Black Arms vs. Metal Overlord in #200!

Okay, that's way too cheesy, but fun to consider.

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I am a bit worried about everyone but the original game*squad getting taken. Especially after reading in another topic, answering a question in relation to these issues, if Ian was done killing characters, his answer was NO.

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Ah, see, this is why I'm keeping tight-lipped. My words are already being misinterpreted. The question was if I was done laying low characters, and I answered no. The question was specified to being about STH175+.

It could still apply of course, but I'd like to try to nip the "But you said!"'s in the bud when I can.

Sweet. I love stories where everything goes to hell.

The other covers are pretty sweet too.

It does bring to mind comics like "Civil War", "Dark Knight Returns" or other comics in that similar context.

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In any case, I'm wondering why the #176 cover is credited to Spaz when it's clearly Yardley's work and signed as such on the cover itself.

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Thsi deserves music.

#176 makes me wonder if Sonic will become the nomadic hero he is portrayed as in the games? Assuming Knothole has bit the dust.

What do you mean "nomadic"?

how bout they just come out the the sonic mega archives where it comes with like the first 50 instead of waiting for more to come out with only a few in it

It would be pretty thick!

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What do you mean "nomadic"?

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Nomadic means roaming from place to place. In the games, Sonic has no real home, he just goes from place to place when he wants/needs to.

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how bout they just come out the the sonic mega archives where it comes with like the first 50 instead of waiting for more to come out with only a few in it

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I was thinking the same thing when Archives 1&2 came out, particularly because I hade just bought the Bone graphic novel around the same time.

NelStone, the Bone One Volume Edition caused printing problems for the publishers and was a very special case. It was a compilation of nine other graphic novels and was originally intended to be available for only limited release. Furthermore, it was a one-time deal for a series which had already been completed.

I would prefer if the archives were larger, yes, but not THAT large. I think eight to twelve issues would be more appropriate. They would, however, be very expensive. Unlike Bone, Sonic is printed in color. At the very least, such large paperbacks would need to pe printed on cheaper paper.

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SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #175
"Eggman Empire": Up until now, Sonic the Hedgehog and Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robobtnik have been fighting for one hundred and seventy four issues. Every time they've fought Sonic has found some way to win the day. This issue, however, Dr. Robotnik pulls out all the stops, and you'll never believe what happens! It's a 175th anniversary issue fans can't miss; and one that Sonic may prefer to forget!

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"OH SHI-" factor in effect.

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SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #176
"Cracking the Empire": The greatest heroes of Mobius have been captured, their homes destroyed and Sonic defeated; but you can't keep a good hedgehog down! With only Tails, Knuckles and Amy Rose at his side, can Sonic manage to recover in time and save his friends and family, or has Dr. Robotnik truly won the day?!

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Incredible.

A throwback to the days when it was just a small band of free Mobians, forced out of their homes, fighting for their lives and the lives of all those captured or scattered by the despot responsible. Granted, this isn't a return to ye olde SatAM "status quo" (there's that term again) lineup of Freedom Fighters, but it's a reasonable (re)start.

These two issiues (175-176) goes back to me saying that reuniting of the Freedom Fighters may occur here, I mean what better way to try and mix in a little of the old with the new.

And besides does Ian want to get in trouble like Ken did, when he wrote ENDGAME and try to kill off Sally (personally I don't that will happen here), I don't think so, do you?

And that's why the way he decrisbes these two issiues, as I said in my pervious post early, It reminds me of when ENDGAME first came out.

Well, if Ian does get rid of her, we all know this time would be for keeps. >=p

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Well, if Ian does get rid of her, we all know this time would be for keeps. >=p

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Yes but I don't think that will happen Toby, cause Ian said he wouldn't mess the orginal FF's by killing them off, which is why I think the FF'S will be reunited after this and just like when the comic first started, then strayed away from, will go back to foiling Eggman's plans by going missions together, and from a personal stand point, this two-parter just might (I said "might") slowly bring Sonic and Sally back to what they were when all they did was missions.

Maybe he told everyone he was'nt killing of the FFs because it would ruin the surprise.

I don't think so, remember their SEGA owned (cause they did appear in Sonic Spinball), a reuniting of the team is most likly.

Now this ...THIS Ian, is making me go buy the comic right now.

Not 175-unless I pull some time warp and jump in the future, but I am hereby lifting my ban on the Sonic Comic I imposed on myself.

As in I'm going to my bank, checking my balance, and going to Jim Hanley's and buying every issue I'm missing, which is like 60 bux worth.

Then I'm going to wait for the summer...when these come out, pick them up damn near immediately, and be super overjoyed because THIS is what I've been waiting for in Sonic again. I honestly haven't felt this excited since #46.

Yeah it got messed up-but I still loved Endgame. I'm glad Sonic gets defeated again...{He hasn't got worked over since when, 22, 39 dosen't count...umm 46, and yeah, we haven't seen the Hedgehog really lose anything since then. Oh wait his father, but I didn't read that issue.}

I'm glad that at least for theoretically a short time-its the Triple threat+Amy.

I'm glad that Robotnik finally beats the crap outta Knothole-he's known its location for what, damn near 80 issues now? I was waiting for him to blow it to smithereens.

I'm ready for the FF's to start acting like FF's again. Yeah they're older. They're smarter-stronger-faster-more mystically inclined and more ready to give it their all than when they were 14 and 15.

>> I just love 176's cover. Its just...crazy! Really crazy. If 175-6 makes Sonic this humble-200 is going to give us all sorts of reason to feel more emotion...

Right IAN >>?!?! Don't make me ban the comic again IAN.

{Note: I also feel the trepidation that others feel. We don't want this to read like Endgame, Or World Tour, or umm wutever was happening with Sonic during issues 89-98, or for the better part of the 100's.

We don't want this to be where something drastic happens, that leads to Segasonic returning forever. I mean, if it takes 6-10 issues to get the Freedom fighters back-cool. NOT 60.}

In any event *relaxes now* Thank you for the surge of adrenaline. Ian you do god work !

It'd be great to see the Freedom Fighters properly back together again, but I wonder if they'll rebuild Knothole?

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a reuniting of the team is most likly.

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not so much. just cause you say it 10+ Times doesn't make it true.

from a writer's standpoint, if anything the freedom fighters would separate.

Here's a thought.. If Knothole falls, maybe many of the surviving Mobians will head elsewhere for refuge..

...Maybe to Station Square?

I was thinking the same thing, though hopefully without the "fake sky" nonsense. BTW, the freedom fighters could still be in action, whether they're reunited or not.

Woah. Those issues sound awesome. Don't wanna overthink about 175-176 but wouldn't it be total irony if they'd cure Max only to have him die in a firey blaze? :">
Sonic X 20 also appeals (poor Sammy, if you ain't first you're last). And I'll probly get the Archives too, even tho the tiny print gives me a headache and I have some of the issues. Most folks can probly guess WHICH story I'm buying it for, anyway.

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NelStone, the Bone One Volume Edition caused printing problems for the publishers and was a very special case. It was a compilation of nine other graphic novels and was originally intended to be available for only limited release. Furthermore, it was a one-time deal for a series which had already been completed.

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Huh, didn't know that. Believe me, I wouldn't want it that big either, but I would like to see more issues covered.

"I was thinking the same thing, though hopefully without the "fake sky" nonsense. BTW, the freedom fighters could still be in action, whether they're reunited or not."

Well, I think Station Square's Fake Sky was destroyed by the Egg Carrier at the end of the Sonic Adventure adaptation, so that shouldn't be an issue.

I'm so, so worried that Ian is tilting towards SegaSonic with #176 with that preview saying its just Tails Knux, and Amy at his side. If that happens, he officially looses me as a reader. I want a comic that stands on its own story, characters and merits, not a piece of product placement for Sega. If I wanted that, I would've backed Sonic X.

Why do you think Ian can't write quality stories centering on the video game characters, with the Knothole crew in supporting roles?

Maybe its my personal distaste with recent storylines and plotpoints in the SegaSonic continuity contributing to my skepticism.

We're dealing with Ian <I>Other-M</i> Flynn here, not the SegaSonic writers themselves. I'm willing to give him a chance and see what he'll do.

Recent stories have downplayed Tails, Knuckles and Amy. If Ian's giving them a bit more attention, then I'm glad for it!

Seems to me you're just afraid of change. You have no idea what's going to be happening in the comic, so why're you so negative? If a drop of the hat such as this is enough to make you stop buying the comic immediately, then maybe you should just stop reading it altogether.

And don't badmouth the Sonic X comic. It's how I get my lighthearted Sonic dosage.

downplayed, Dirk

How about flat out backsmacked Tails as a weak little pansyfoxboy. Even I can't stand what has happened to him for this long.

This coming from a Tailshater.