Sonic Archives

Archives #5: Everything Old is Newt Again
While on a motivational speaking tour of his forces, Dr. Robotnik becomes frustrated with his lack of success in defeating Sonic. Asking for ideas from his minions, he is surprised when Universalamander volunteers to attack the Freedom Fighters again. Robotnik agrees, promising to throw in an added twist that will spell doom for his foes. Meanwhile, in the Great Forest, the Knothole Freedom Fighters are enjoying a game of flag football-which Sonic dominates-when Universalamander arrives. Kicking Sonic out of sight, he attacks the other Freedom Fighters first, and briefly engages Bunnie Rabbot before handily defeating her.

Having landed in the middle of a desert, Sonic begins finding his way home by running in an ever-widening spiral in hopes of spotting a familiar landmark. Rotor attempts to defeat Universalmander by shrinking him as Sonic did in their last battle, only for him to grow larger due to Robotnik's FX Flip Device, which reverses any energy directed against it. Just as the larger Universalamander is about to crush the Freedom Fighters, Sonic returns. After hearing the deal with Universalamander's new powers, he directs Sally and Rotor to come up with a countermeasure while he, Bunnie, and Tails hold off the giant robot. Sally whips out her new NICOLE 7000, and the two are able to create a new and improved "reducer". When fired at Universalamander, however, the device is revealed to be an enlarger, which takes advantage of the FX Flip's effects to reduce Universalamander to molecular size. NICOLE predicts that similar strange events will continue to happen, which Sonic brushes off. Meanwhile, Robotnik fumes at the impromptu victory party being held by his henchmen.

Publication Dates

 * Sonic Archives #0 (February 2009) - issues #0-#3 of the Original Sonic Miniseries (smaller reprint of Sonic: the Beginning (July 2003))
 * Sonic Archives #1 (November 2006) - issues #1-#4 of Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Sonic Archives #2 (December 2006) - issues #5-#8 of Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Sonic Archives #3 (May 2007) - issues #9-#12 of Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Sonic Archives #4 (June 2007) - issues #13-#16 of Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Sonic Archives #5 (September 2007) - issues #17-#20 of Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Sonic Archives #6 (October 2007) - issues # 21-#24 of Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Sonic Archives #7 (June 2008) - issues #25-#28 of Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Sonic Archives #8 (July 2008) - issues #29-#32 of Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Sonic Archives #9 (October 2008) - issues #33-#36 of Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Sonic Archives #10 (March 2009) - issues #37-#40 of Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Sonic Archives #11 (August 2009) - issues #41-#44 of Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Sonic Archives #12 (January 2010) - issues #45-#48 of Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Sonic Archives #13 (July 2010) - issue #49 of Sonic the Hedgehog, "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (SSS #6), "Down and Out in Downunda" (SSS #4), and "Total Re-Genesis" (SSS #5)
 * Sonic Archives #14 (December 2010) - issues #51-#54 of Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Sonic Archives #15 (June 2011) - issues #55-#58 of Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Sonic Archives #16 (October 2011) - issues #59-#62 of Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Sonic Archives #17 (February 2012) - issues #63-#66 of Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Sonic Archives #18 (2012)

Background Information

 * A number of canon discrepancies are included on the Sonic the Hedgehog Archives covers as the result of artistic license. For example, Buns Rabbot appears on the cover of #6 despite not appearing in the comics until issue #151. Several of the situations included on the cover art also never occurred in the comic itself, but this can all be attributed to the creative license of the cover artist.
 * There are at least two editions of Sonic the Hedgehog Archives Vol. 1 and 2. The originals were printed with glossy covers and the newer versions had updated the back page with an extended list of the entries in the series.
 * There are a number of printing differences between Sonic the Hedgehog: The Beginning and its reprint. For example, on page 56 in the newer version, some of the top of the page has been cut off including the logo.
 * Being dedicated entirely to the final installments of the "Endgame" saga, Sonic Archives #13 is currently the only volume to include material from outside the main comic series; the book contains one issue from the main series, as well as three stories from the Sonic Super Specials (one of which being the "Director's Cut" version of Sonic #50 which was originally printed in SSS: #6)
 * The covers for the series are drawn in the style of the classic Japanese Sega Sonic illustrations. Archiverse exclusive characters, such as the Freedom Fighters, while keeping their distinctive look, are slightly altered to resemble the small animals that are freed from destoying badniks in the classic games, of which they are based (For example, Sally is made to resemble Ricky the Squirral). Many other cameos and Easter-eggs relating to the classic games are also present on these covers, such as backdrop designs being based heavily on levels from the games, and the inclusion of the original Japanese design of Robotnik appearing in some form (though Robotnik himself retains his comic and SatAM design). References to modern-day Sonic games have also been made, such as the appearence of the "Sonic & Sega All-stars Racing" logo on a blimp on Volume 15's cover.
 * The cover of Sonic Archives #15 is a slight spoof of the cover of Sonic the Hedgehog issue #57.
 * In the cover of Sonic Archives #16, Ixis Naugus's face slightly resembles Dr. Robotnik from The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog TV series.