Naugus lost his mind? Is he like a vegetable that just takes orders now or what?

He's basically a stupid animal now.

So there's no visible change. Good to know.

Is this supposed to be the plan Antoine hinted at from the last issue or not?

Maybe there is more detail then Dirk is giving us. But I would rather wait.

WHAT? What did I just read? Mogul back but gets pwned in under what 5 pages. No. I'm waiting for it to come out.

Good ol' Mogul, back to normal I see. =D

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Sounds like the two things I've talked about the most is slowing started to take place.

Ian's fianlly starting to get it back together again, espeically for Sally

I was going to edit this in my previous post, but bw1979 said it for me. What are the "two things" that you have talked about the most?

This issue sounds interesting, I will at least have to take a look when I go to the bookstore(sometime after the 27) to check to see if the Sonic Sat a.m DVD is .

Nack takes a beating from Sally? Aww, poor Nack *goes all fangirl-ish and swears revenge on Sally* Or was it Bunnie? *glares at Bunnie*

well this issue sounds really bad. no honestly i'll have to see it for myself. but it sounds terrible.

it seems nack doesnt get the cool villain job position like he did when penders around... Heart held hostage was one of my favortie stories because it had nack at his best. now he appears for maybe one page and he is beaten....

Was that back-up story with the chao really necessary? And do Bark and Bean have to sport those stupid "Extreme Gear" now?
The last thing this comic needs is the injection of more frivolous Sega/Sonic elements.

The last thing, or the best thing? =p

The last thing...I mean it.
Keep the Sega away from my SatAM...Archie has Sonic X for that stuff now.

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The last thing...I mean it.
Keep the Sega away from my SatAM...Archie has Sonic X for that stuff now.

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Except that the "Sonic X comic" is under a "Game elements that not be in the tv-show can't be used in the comic" policy. It's mean that it's the role of the "Sonic The Hedgehog comic" to use them.

Does that include such trivialties such as those wretched "Extreme Gear" and the chao? I always thought the chao were an integral part of Sonic X...they don't need to be in Sonic the Hedgehog.

Chao have been in more video games than Sonic X episodes (unless you count Cheese, but considering Cheese goes wherever Cream goes that's not really fair to count)--and there are more episodes of Sonic X than there are video games since the introduction of chao in Sonic Adventure. No, chao aren't an integral part of Sonic X.

Chao have been considered a part of the Sonic The Hedgehog comic since "Home." Granted, Jon Gray is probably the only artist who made that obvious, but they are. Stuff from Sonic Riders (or any of the video games) is also going to be a part of the Sonic The Hedgehog series.

Personally, I don't see a problem, particularly over such minor stuff such as weapons/vehicles/pet-like creatures being used in the comic. SatAM != Archie Sonic. Sonic video games != Archie Sonic. Archie Sonic = Archie Sonic. Archie Sonic has always included stuff from every single version of Sonic that exists as long as it's able. Being upset about characters/relationships/plot is reasonable to me. Being upset over "trivialities" isn't reasonable to me.

Besides that, Ian can do what he well pleases with the comic, he's earned that right, considering he's worked hard to write for it. If he wants to put more game references in the comic, than I say more power to him.

And I say that the delicate balancing act between SatAM and the modern games I was concerned about is slowly being tipped by the insertion of such trivialties. If things tip too heavily towards Sega/Sonic...he loses me as a reader.

I'm certain he'll be devistated.

I just got the issue today, and I have to agree with Dirk, it was'nt bad at all.

I'm not saying the overall story bad at all...I just don't want any more Sega in my SatAM. Call me an old fogey who doesn't like seeing his favorite childhood cartoon phased out and replaced by contemporary, nonsensical story elements and trivialties from mediocre games.

The comic has never at any point of it's lifespan been completely like SatAM. It has always had game elements thrown into it, and that is'nt going to change anytime soon.
SatAM is more than 10 years dead, and something can't go on if it does'nt change. If the comic stayed like SatAM, then it would have died along with the cartoon a long time ago.

I know it's never precisely emulated SatAM...and I don't mind game elements (read: pre-SA2) injected, either. Like I said, there's a balance going on, I just get testy whenever that balance gets tipped too far one way.

And it didn't die along with the cartoon, because cartoon fans turned to the comic when the series was cancelled. That's what's kept it going for the better part of the last ten years. But the injection of all these subtle elements from the contemporary Sonic titles is turning this universe into something unrecognizable from what it once was.

As a SatAM fan who originally read Archie only because of SatAM (my first Sonic universe), Archie stopped being recognizable as SatAM after Endgame to me. Any ties Archie had to SatAM died then. Oh, and most people that read the comic are not fans of the SatAM show. Some are, but many aren't (particularly because a lot of SatAM fans dropped the comic over the years for a variety of reasons & the comic still hasn't died). Then there are a good number of those that did turn to the comic like me but wanted more than SatAM & are fine with things because they've gotten that. Then there are those who are cool with most (if not all) Sonic universes and consider themselves fans of the games & SatAM (among other Sonic universes).

I don't care about any elements Archie adds (or doesn't add) into the series at the end of the day. My day was made when Knux was given that hat from the OVA--once that was added, nothing else mattered anymore. ;p But even that doesn't truly matter because it's the story that matters. Then again, perhaps your point would make more sense to me if you actually explained how using hover boards/bikes/etc. that look similar to the ones used in the games make a huge difference instead of using hover boards/bikes/etc. that may only be designed a little bit differently. Or people having chao for pets along with dogs/cats/birds/etc. makes a huge difference from just dogs/cats/birds/etc. Mobius is a big planet. There's enough room for all things.

well, scratch and grounder and coconuts were in right at the beginning of the series, and they have no reference whatsoever to the SATAM series, since that Robotnik isnt their original creator in a sense, or atleast not that design of robotnik.. I thought it was the adventures of sonic the hedgehog robotnik that made scratch and grounder and coconuts.. and again, Video game references have been made in the comics many of times, the loop de loops, springboards, the video game based baddies, caterkiller, crabmeat, etc. sonic started out as a video game in the first place thus its going to have ties with what it began as, the only thing that really has to do with satam would be a few characters and its setting. and Ian is doing a bully job on the comic, and I like the fact that ian is trying to intertwine more video game references to the comic, that's something penders never really stuck with, and he is doing a very good job of filling in the plotholes that penders had reaped upon the comics, and with what he has had to mend and clarify from past stories, he has done a superb Job, Rant ended.

Bear in mind that the "Chao" story was the first story Ian ever got greenlighted, only it's been pushed back a year or so. It isn't going to be as deep or dramatic as most, still I liked it. Jules "can we keep him?" line made me grin. It was the same thing I used ages ago when I found a tabby cat. Ma was sold on the idea and that kitty was named "Margarine" in honor of a certain show. Margie and others may be gone but I'm still happy to see a little cute in my life. And I won't say no to it in comics, either.
BTW anyone else think portable satelite is the best use for cyberdreads ever? There were many little visual touches that I loved: Ant jumps a puddle rather than get his feet wet, Bunnie smacks Naugus without turning around, swirly Chao antenna-bobbles show suprise.
That's a win in my book. You should read it. It has funny pictures and no big words.

Bean and Bark having those boards is a hint that the boards will probably be made a standard weapon of the Battlebird Armada. So it's not pointless, but a clue for the readers.

has Ian really stated when the armada will be appearing in the comics, or is it still not set in stone that this will happen, I was hoping for the armada to show up sometime this year.

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has Ian really stated when the armada will be appearing in the comics, or is it still not set in stone that this will happen, I was hoping for the armada to show up sometime this year.

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To quote Ian (as of six days ago):

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No immediate plans for them, but I do want to get to them one day.

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Here's the source:
www.bumbleking.com/forum/...c&start=90

Bean sporting the Extreme Gear probably means he has some ties to the Armada, which is a nice little foreshadowing. It looks like some feathered friends have something up their sleeve.

The comic's target demographic is people between the ages of 8 and 12.

SatAM was canceled in 1995.

Do a little bit of math and maybe you'll realize that it makes no sense whatsoever for the comic to remain rooted in SatAM. I like SatAM and it has had a tremendous influence on the comic and I hope it continues to do so. But putting up a fuss because a vehicle from one of the games has appeared? That's absolutely ridiculous.

And it makes no sense for the comic to root itself into the modern games, either. And that's true now, more then ever. Not just because the post-Dreamcast games have greatly dwindled in quality, but also because all these new story elements and items don't mesh well into the comic.

My favorite period during the run of the comic was from issues 45-70. I remember literally not being able to wait for the next issue to hit store shelves so I could dive right in and read it. Why? Because I'd felt that in that time the comic had grown and evolved to a point where it had become more than just a mere marketing tool for the games, and more than just a companion series of SatAM. And it was good that it was able to grow and change like that. These issues spanned 1997-early '99, a time when SatAM was off the air and all but forgotten, and it the time of the darkest hours of the Sega Saturn, where no Sonic games of any redeemable quality were released. Then came the Dreamcast and Sonic Adventure, and the comic assimilated aspects of the SA games in an effort to attract new readership. I was okay with that. The SA games would hot, new, and well-received, and it only made good business sense to change accordingly. But nowadays, it seems that the comic is once again becoming a mere marketing tool for the games, at a time when the comic should be distancing itself from the games as much as it possibly can for the reasons stated above. Am I overreacting to trivialties such as the Extreme Gear and the chao? Probably. But like I said, there is a balance going on, and with such subtle additions, I see the balance slowly tipping too far in the wrong direction. If that happens, I won't be around for #200.

So basically what you're saying is that the comic should remain rooted in a version of Sonic that almost none of their target audience is familiar with, just because you and a small handful of others would prefer it that way?

If you stop reading, Archie won't be that upset. Archie doesn't care that much about gaining a loyal readership (Although Ian and Mike seem to). This comic is sold based on "impulse buying." A reader sees the comic, thinks it looks cool, and since it's only a couple bucks, they or their parents buy it. Then, MAYBE, if they like it, they'll buy more. But if not, oh well, there will be other impulse buyers. The impulse buyers are buying based on what they know of the franchise, and most of the time that will be the current games. None of the impulse buyers are expecting to see Sally or Antoine or Snively or Nack or Bean or Bark. Most of them haven't even heard of these characters. Maybe they will enjoy these characters, maybe they won't. I hope they do, and I hope the comic continues to reference Sonic's roots in both the games and the cartoons. But there's nothing wrong with giving at least the same attention to the current games.

You think there's nothing wrong with aligning with the current games, even though the current games stink and are commercially flopping? Even Secret Rings isn't selling as well as it should be.

I know the majority of Sonic's sales come in the form of impulse buys, but those impulse buys turn into loyal readers and subscribers, when the readers find out that they're getting into something more than just a marketing tool for a gaming franchise. That's how I became a subscriber. I saw it on the rack, and bought it expecting it to be little more than just an extention of the games. When I realized it was a bit more than that, I came back.

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You think there's nothing wrong with aligning with the current games, even though the current games stink and are commercially flopping?

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I didn't say that there's "nothing wrong" with it, only that it's certainly a better idea that rooting the comic in a version of Sonic that the readership is not familiar with.

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Even Secret Rings isn't selling as well as it should be.

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In February, Twilight Princess sold 130,000 copies. Secret Rings sold 63,000 despite only being released eight days before the month's end. Not too shabby. But that's entirely beside the point.

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I saw it on the rack, and bought it expecting it to be little more than just an extention of the games. When I realized it was a bit more than that, I came back.

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I did the same thing, I bought it and I continued to buy it because I was a SatAM fan. I started buying the comic ten years ago. Times have changed. Most of the kids who are impulse-buying the comic are ten years younger than me. SatAM is not their Sonic.

I just hafta say that it seems kinda silly to complain of game-stuff overtaking SatAM-stuff in an issue that, despite incorporating some very small aspects from the games, is mostly about Sonic, Sally, Antoine and Bunnie going out on a mission together.

My sentiments exactly. In fact, if anyone has anything else to say on the subject, he or she should do so in another topic.

63,000 copies of Secret Rings isn't bad, and I'm not saying it is, but it's not as good as it should be.

I'll just have to judge the issue when I finally get it. But my anticipation is not very high...

Only thing I dislike is how casually Mogul and Naugus were disposed of. I kind of expected them to have some greater impact...or maybe Ian's just screwing with us and planning for them to do something else down the line...

I'd say that he doesn't give many characters (especially villains) a goodbye that's very formal, more of an uncerimonous throw-into-the-scrap-heap, from the issues I've read. And yes, I'm still angry about those poor weasels.

Also, what does Nack exactly do in the issue? I'm curious to know. Does he get put in jail?

I'll describe it with a wall of text since I don't wanna haul out the scans yet. Busy, busy with school and a few late shifts not helping. *yawns* Anywho...
Spoilers (Select To Read):
Nack shows up riding the marvelous queen. Sally asks him to come quietly, he refuses and threatens violence i.e. payback for Sal beating him in #123. Bunnie swings a punch but he dodges. There's a nifty shot of him sproing-jumping with his tail (remember when?) He fires a laser gun and Sally pushes Bunnie outta the way. The rest of the fight is missing as we cut to Ant and Sonic vs B & B. When the girls return Sally is driving, Bun's riding shotgun an Nack is unconsious. Ant is given task of tying up all the villains sans Rouge, but only after she explains to Sal that it was a hoax. She never intended to sell the ME and only wanted to impress Knux. Sonic points out the her plan is a bit contrived and will probly anger Knux but she doesn't seem to care. It ends with the FFs heading home, villains and Rouge in tow. And we get a shot of Nack's boss Eggman in a convo with Snively, planning a big mother-of-all invasions.

Short answer: Nack ain't in jail yet and the window will likely be open for him to make an escape very, very soon.

Wow... They cut it out!
Now I won't know if it's Sally or Bunnie! Ah well, I'll just get them both.
*loads gun*
*gets arrested for overfangirlism*

Some comments, Sonic stay strong when it comes to Amy.

I came to read the comic because of Sonic Sat a.m., because it had Sat a.m. characters. I don't mind some game elements, but I have been disappointed that the comic has gotten away from some of the spirt of Sonic Sat a.m., like the closeness of Sonic and the rest of the FF's. In fact, reading the comic can be painful at times.

Yes, we know, you only say that every other post.

??? Wasn't this issue chock-a-block with SatAMishness? We saw all 6 of the FFs (counting the Chao story). Ant & Bun were in "classic couple mode", Sonic and Sal were at least speaking to one another and had some witty near-flirting banter.
Sonic: (sees Sal on bike) Hey! It's the Marvelous Queen!
Sally: I'm still just a princess, but thanks.
Sonic: I let you have that one.
With a few minor tweaks (no Extreme Gear, Rouge swapped for other girl villain) this coulda run like 10 years ago*
*I'm guessing with the date. Math makes my crain bells hurt.

This is nice. Some slight rebuilding between Sonic and Sally. I'm not really complaining. It took them 13+ years to finally start actual dating. I'm certainly not going to complain over an extra year or so.

Actually, Eraniceas, those figures where wrong. Secret Rings in fact sold 83,000 copies. They where updated on several sites the next day.

The game is selling at a faster rate then any other 3D Sonic game. It's doing good.

As for Mogul and Naugus...they just aren't what they used to be. So really, they wouldn't have much of an impact in any fight. The Egg Grapes made Naugus stupid, and when ADAM took Mogul's emerald, he lost most of his power.