I'm just getting a spark of interest in the comics again (though my first loves are the games/Sonic X) and wondering about something---did Archie do a full SA2 adaption, or just one of those little teaser thingies and tell you to play the game? I seem to remember looking at #98 in the store and being put-out that there wasn't a full adaption, but I don't know if I'm imagining or not. I couldn't believe the whole story could be contained in one issue, yet when I saw covers a couple days ago for the succeeding issues, they didn't look like they continued it.
... And if they didn't have a full adaption, did they just expect you to decide that everything else happened, since Shadow comes back in later issues?
No, there was no actual adaption of SA2. The story in 98, I woud say, is a little longer than your average go play it adaption, but it still amounted to that. Also, Sonic Universe #2 gave a little more background to ArchieSA2 still not a full on adaption. And, yes, I would presume they did just want you to think what happened in the game happened in the comics, with some slight differences of course, as when they reintroduced Shadow in the comics, they stated the Bem saved him after the fight with Final Hazard or something like that.
Due to the storylines running in the regular series at the time it was pretty much impossible for them to do a full adaption of SA2. They made up for it by gradually fleshing Shadow out over the series of many archs. Since Knuckles (was going through a ... phase), Tails (in school), and Amy (in Mercia) were busy elsewhere and Sonic was supposed to be under House Arrest only Sonic and Rouge had any direct involvement with the events of SA2 without the help of the other Freedom Fighters.
Here's what it basically amounted to:
- Dr. Gerald did work with Black Doom to make Project Shadow. (Sonic 171)
- Black Doom didn't attack Mobius and come for Shadow because the Black Arms are currently at war with the Xorda. (Sonic 170)
- Maria suffered from NIDS; the same disease that Buns Rabbot suffered from in the Moebius arch. (Sonic 98 Backup)
- The ARK incident did happen 50 years ago. Shadow was sent to Mobius by Maria, captured, and imprisoned. (Sonic 98 Backup)
- It's presumed that Dr. Eggman released Shadow similar to SA2 to do his bidding. It was not explicitly stated.
- Sonic 98. Shadow beat up Silver Sonic something awful, stole a Chaos Emerald, and framed Sonic. (Sonic 98)
- Sonic Universe 2's Flashbacks. Sonic and Rouge worked together to stop Shadow and Eggman.
- After Final Hazard Super Shadow fell to Mobius ... but was saved by the BEM. (Sonic 124)
- Super Shadow tried and failed to stop the Xorda. He crash landed on Mobius. (Sonic 124)
- Sonic Adventure 2.5 (Sonic 125)
- On Mobius Shadow began looking for the reason why he existed. It was kind of a progressive thing.
- Eventually he acquired Gerald's Diary which held the same revelations from the game Shadow the Hedgehog. (Sonic 171)
- Shadow decided to become a protector of Earth as Gerald envisioned. He signed up as an Agent for GUN. (After Sonic 171)
Thank you so much! 
That's very informative. Now I have more of an idea of what to try collecting if I want the Shadow issues.
I'm still surprised Shadow decided to become a G.U.N. agent, especially if they're still the organization that killed Maria....
I'm following the comic series through the archives. Waiting to get my hands on 11, 0, and S1. I'm hoping the Archives will eventually cover the entire series.
Thank you so much!
I'm still surprised Shadow decided to become a G.U.N. agent, especially if they're still the organization that killed Maria....
Not really surprising considering Shadow's been a G.U.N. agent in the games since Sonic 06.
Wow... I didnt know that.
