I think the last time St. John had a speaking role was in " Home ". It's been a while, Stinky.

Your new hat is silly.

Exactly what I didn't want to see SU used for (tying directly into the main book's current arc), but I am curious as to how this will work, so I'll wait and see.

Exactly what we were told that SU wasn't going to be used for. Then again, that went out of the window in the first issue.

*shrugs*

I'm liking the Asiatic makeover on Nicole, though.

Some things of note,

Tracy said this about #210's cover:

Just to let everyone know, and this is highly unusual, but 210 will 99.9% certainly have a COMPLETELY different cover than this one. This is because the current cover was needed very quickly for solicitations, and after some thought, we all thought we should take it in a different direction. I'll be mean and not post my inks for it right now.

And, by the way, Ben Hunzeker did do the colors for SU13's cover, and I must say I love the color scheme he went with.

And Ian said this about the new SU arc:

Okay, so I have no idea how much I can say right now, but considering the cat's out of the bag, I do want to point something out:

"Journey to the East" will be directly tied to the events of "Iron Dominion," but it won't be required reading. If you read only STH, you will still get the beef of the story. Likewise, the adventuring in SU will be pretty self-contained.

We did not want to force people to read both books. That's just a cheap gimmick. If you want the 100% whole story, yes, you'll need to read both. But if you stick with just regular STH you won't be left out in the cold.

Hmmm so then what direction would people want SU to be taken?

Hmmm so then what direction would people want SU to be taken?

Focused on side-character-centric arcs/stories would be my preference.

Hmmm so then what direction would people want SU to be taken?

Focused on side-character-centric arcs/stories would be my preference.

That should still sort of come out of this story. MK, Tails, Sally, the Brides, the clans and the DK in general should be getting some focus. The only thing that kind of trips up this arc in SU is that it seems like Sonic is along for the ride. I'll be interested in seeing how Ian handles the 8 issues during those four months.

Either way, the solicit for #210 is out now (I'll update the main post):

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #210

Written by Ian Flynn, art by Steven Butler.

"Home Invasion Part One": In the aftermath of the "Iron Dominion" saga, things are bleaker than ever for our heroes, as one after another is "legionized." Amy, Geoffrey St. John, Rotor and the others do their best to be brave in the face of impending doom. But Eggman, the Iron Queen and Snively aren't exactly seeing eye to eye, which may provide hope for our heroes. Not to mention the intrepid team of first-rank heroes waiting for the proper moment to swoop in like the cavalry! Ties into this month's Sonic Universe #13.

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on March 3.

And another update on the 210 cover from Tracy:

Here's the final coloring. We may still get some use out of it somehow. Jason Jensen is doing the colors on the new cover. And Steven Butler is penciling 210 fyi.

Focused on side-character-centric arcs/stories would be my preference.

What he said. Do as the title suggests and do some universe-building. The first arc was okay for that, showing us more of Blaze's world (even if it had to use the tweeny fanboy magnet as an attention grab).

I need to catch up with Bumbleking, though - RL's been hectic recently.

"legionized."

Just a guess, but do you suppose that this is a new method of " Robotization "? Mobians are now immune to Robotization but they probably won't reject cybenetics. The captured mobians are given a set of cybernetics that makes them suspectable to the Iron Queen's / Kommisar's control. Just another way of Regina expanding her already impression army.

I remember there being a " Spoiler " a while back about non-echidna Legion members. This could be it.

So I'm guessing by the excerpt that perhaps the good doctor is back to his sane self?

Geoffrey St. John?

I don't like the attempts to bring back bad characters. The Iron Queen, definitely, make her more interesting and gain a credible villain. Anti-Sonic, well, I believed that it would be better just to write him out, but Ian did so well with anti-Mobius that he convinced me otherwise. However, if I were to write a list of characters I would not want to see again, Geoffrey St. John and Monkey Khan would be near the top. Part of that is that it works better with villains since they provide plots and don't pose competition to better characters for screen time. Also part of it is that they are both very generic designs. Anybody who doesn't know Sonic comics couldn't even guess what cartoon they come from.

Do you mean bad as in villains? Or bad as in they are written poorly and should be written out entirely?

I didn't mind the reappearance of Kahn at first but he's done a lot of emo since then and it's getting a little old. I'm aware of the stuff he went through but...STILL. As for Geoff, I'd like to see Ian do something with him, flesh him out a bit more.

I remember there being a " Spoiler " a while back about non-echidna Legion members. This could be it.

I think that was a reference to the new DELs that are popping up on Mobius. We're slated to see the new Platypus DEL in Downunda (SU#9-12), and there were major hints in the FCBD issue that there were more Mobians like them.

However, you're idea for cybernetics doesn't seem too bad. Maybe the Mobians will (also or instead) have those chips installed into them that were meant for the DEL, then they'll be the slaves of the ID, similar to robotization.

I don't like the attempts to bring back bad characters.

It's a bit of hit or miss for me. Scourge, Dr. Finitevus, the Iron Queen, and to a lesser extent Lien-da are older characters who were fleshed out to be much better then what they were previously. Monkey Khan still doesn't set well with me even with the attempts to make him a better character. He always seems to be swinging between being too depressed or being too angry / serious like an on and off switch. He hasn't even been a " regular " for ten issues and I want him to go away already.

Would I want him to bring in someone completely new? Come to think of it he didn't really bring in many completely " new " characters over his run. Conquering Storm is the only one who immediately comes to mind and we haven't seen much of her. The current " situation " in Mobotropolis could be a good ground of bringing in someone completely new about Geoffrey's physical strength (an average mobian) but someone who's stronger (like Amy/Sonic's strength) would seem forced.

In general Mobotropolis is a bit short handed at the moment. Bunnie is out for the foreseeable future seemingly replaced with Ken though they share the same weakness. Just what I didn't want to happen. The Chaotix have problems of their own. Since the group's now splintered Group A has Amy, Antoine, Rotor, and whoever else they can find. If they wanted to try someone new I'm sure anyone who was still free would be willing to help. They'd be a rookie, sure, but a rookie could be trained up into someone who can help the cause.

Admittedly St. John isn't on the top of my " return " list (that'd be Dulcy) but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now.

I think that was a reference to the new DELs that are popping up on Mobius. We're slated to see the new Platypus DEL in Downunda (SU#9-12), and there were major hints in the FCBD issue that there were more Mobians like them.

Yeah. I faintly remember something being said about there really being mobian supporters of Robotnik / Eggman out there. I suppose they got some perks during the Eggman Empire era (Cybernetics) that work against them now in Iron Dominion.

"Legionised?"

I like Nicole's new style. Everythings going Eastern. But mewonders.........

.......Is this Archies take on the weeabooism taking over the internet?

Amy: "OMG Sonnikku! He's so kawaii!"

Antione: Sacre bleu! She's one of them!

Amy: No, wait! Hey watch it with that sword!

I tend to draw a distinction between "bad characters" and poorly written ones. I've said enough times that St. John struck me as a valid counterpoint to Sonic that just wasn't being grasped as well as he could be, so I'm interested to see if Ian can do what he did forScourge and properly bring that out.

I'd rather see old characters re-energised than yet another load of new characters added to the cast, when there're so many with that potential that've just been thrown away over the years.

Anybody else notice that the old version has been replaced?

Dear god, Amy? XD

I think that was a reference to the new DELs that are popping up on Mobius. We're slated to see the new Platypus DEL in Downunda (SU#9-12), and there were major hints in the FCBD issue that there were more Mobians like them.

Yeah. I faintly remember something being said about there really being mobian supporters of Robotnik / Eggman out there. I suppose they got some perks during the Eggman Empire era (Cybernetics) that work against them now in Iron Dominion.

Yeah, the hints were basically that they gave in to be spared and hold power in his empire.

I'm willing to wait and see what Ian does with St. John. Admittedly, he's definitely not on the top of the list for heroes I'd like to see return, but I'll give him a chance. Khan's been okay, but I'd agree I haven't been as excited with him as some of the villains Ian has reworked and revitalized (Iron Queen, Finitevus, and Scourge being great examples).

EDIT:
Forgot to mention the new cover. I like the cover we previously saw more, but this isn't too bad.

I'm gonna say I like the old version better...The new cover isn't bad...I just don't like how Amy looks.

Mhm. That was it.

Don't know why but I feel like the newer Non-echidna Legionaries will be treated second class by default which'll lead to some conflict in the group. Lien-da who's running the show now might be overwhelmed by it all and cave under the pressure. It's not easy being leader. Maybe she'd realize that one of these days.

EDIT:
Forgot to mention the new cover. I like the cover we previously saw more, but this isn't too bad.

First thing I saw was Gigantic Disproportionate Amy-Head. Then I saw " Bring It " and grimaced.

One thing I noticed is that it seems as though they modified Mobotropolis' Barrier from Semi-Transparent to Iron (Lulz). I immediately thought " EggDome 2.0 ". Guess they'll be stationed there for a while. The people coming in from Iron Dominion didn't like the old Eggdome anyway.

.......Is this Archies take on the weeabooism taking over the internet?

Lately we've been having a lot of " modern " aspects worked into the comics. Snively met Regina over what was essentially the Internet. The whole Iron Dominion thing seems to be a nod in that direction. " Kids like Asian Influence. Let's give them Asian Influence! " type of thing. Memes found their way into the comic too. It definitely feels like Ian is taking in the trends he sees now in his writing.

'Course if Amy starts acting like a Japanese Schoolgirl I'll have to draw the line. That's just uncalled for.

I also prefer the Sonic version.

What happened to the rule that every cover must include Sonic looking at the camera? Is it any character that is Sega licensed now?

I tend to draw a distinction between "bad characters" and poorly written ones. I've said enough times that St. John struck me as a valid counterpoint to Sonic that just wasn't being grasped as well as he could be, so I'm interested to see if Ian can do what he did forScourge and properly bring that out.

Meh, at least they could make him look like a Sonic character. Oh wait, what's that? They kind of did. He almost looks like he has Sonic unified eyes (but it's just the mask hiding the black) and he's got more dynamic elements. I very much do not like his suit, but I approve of redesigning Archie's generic anthros to be more series appropriate.

Mhm. That was it.

Don't know why but I feel like the newer Non-echidna Legionaries will be treated second class by default which'll lead to some conflict in the group. Lien-da who's running the show now might be overwhelmed by it all and cave under the pressure. It's not easy being leader. Maybe she'd realize that one of these days.

Actually, I was wondering if Lien-Da would be head honcho of the whole system as well, but apparently, Ian's working with the idea that a Grand Master=a Grandmaster (see question 24), which does make sense. So working with that idea, technically the Grandmaster of the Platypus DEL would be of equal power/sway as Lien-Da. Since I think most of these new DELs are working as sub-bosses, I think they're basically just united by name, cybernetics and allegiance to the Empire, but work completely separate from one another.

First thing I saw was Gigantic Disproportionate Amy-Head. Then I saw " Bring It " and grimaced.

One thing I noticed is that it seems as though they modified Mobotropolis' Barrier from Semi-Transparent to Iron (Lulz). I immediately thought " EggDome 2.0 ". Guess they'll be stationed there for a while. The people coming in from Iron Dominion didn't like the old Eggdome anyway.

Actually, I think Amy's head is what throws the cover off the most. The rest of it looks fine enough, but her head looks a bit awkward. I know she's excitable, but I think that it went a little overboard. Of course, that might have been what they were going for.

And I surmise that the ID will set-up camp for a little while in New Mobotropolis as well, if only to rub it in the heroes faces while they finish crushing and "legionizing" the resistance. They'll definitely convert it to their city since Regina can basically make it look like whatever she wants. So chances are that it will suit them and their needs a little bit more than the Egg Dome has. Either way, I'm looking forward to seeing how they change the city, aside from the new shield.

Memes found their way into the comic too. It definitely feels like Ian is taking in the trends he sees now in his writing.

I've noticed. For example, I specially like Shadow vs. KnucklesEnergak, and Sonic coming in and poking fun at the way they shouted out their attacks as they fought. Bit of a poke at DBZ maybe?

'Course if Amy starts acting like a Japanese Schoolgirl I'll have to draw the line. That's just uncalled for.

You mean she isn't already?