Archie Sonic Universe Issue 4


 * Previous Issue ←—→ Next Issue

Archie Sonic Universe Issue 4 was the fourth issue of the spin off Sonic Universe comic series.

Story

 * "The Ultimate Lifeform"

The story opens with Shadow the Hedgehog and Rouge the Bat on Hope Kintobor's Zone-Breaching Platform awaiting to head off to the Special Zone, with Shadow appearing uninterested in his new mission. With a Chaos Emerald installed in the platform, Hope expects it to work perfectly unlike last time. She activates the platform and Shadow and Rouge are teleported off while Commander Abraham Tower watches. When they arrive, they are greeted by the Zone's master, Feist. Feist enquires as to why the two "mortals" are in his zone. Shadow, insulted at being called "mortal", demands to know where the Chaos Emeralds are. Feist says he'll award him a single emerald if he gets through his obstacle course of fire, steel, and cloud. Shadow attempts to use Chaos Control to get to the emerald, saying he doesn't have time to do Feist's challenges, but his Chaos Control fails him. Feist then reveals that he used his control over the Special Zone to stop Shadow from accessing his powers, making Shadow "mortal". Telling them they have thirty seconds left, Rouge flies off with Shadow in hand so he can give her more lift using his shoes. Shadow and Rouge dash to the emerald, but they fail.

Feist then sent them back to G.U.N. HQ, with Shadow pinning the blame on himself for failing the trial. Later on, Shadow and E-123 Omega spar in the G.U.N. gym, with Shadow angrier than usual. He threw Omega before heading to Guardian Mountain. Hope found Shadow out there, sitting on a cliff. They then had a melancholy conversation about Shadow's failure and Hope's time with Snively and the Knothole Freedom Fighters. Hope then consoled Shadow and gave him a hug, telling him that they both look out for each other, reminding Shadow of his long-lost friend, Maria. Later, Hope and Commander Tower sent Shadow back to the Special Zone, along with his new teammates, Omega and Rouge, who have formed the new Team Dark with Shadow.

The trio met up with Feist asking to retry the course. Feist then gave them a minute to find the Chaos Emerald within a cubic maze. After navigating their way through, they find the Chaos Emerald in a room with a spiky floor, and diamonds surrounding the emerald. They quickly try to destroy the diamonds, and Shadow tries to grab the emerald, but fail again. The trio are sent back to Feist, who had the emerald in his hand. Omega then happily fired at him, after permission from Shadow, who snatched the emerald from Feist. Team Dark then returned to G.U.N., after destroying the spherical area. Commander Tower and Hope praise the team for their efforts, now that they have two Chaos Emeralds.

30 years later, Knuckles and his wife Julie-Su ask their daughter Lara-Su to take care of a task, while they temporarily go away. Lara-Su boldly responds saying, "I'm a Guardian! I'm ready for anything!"

Quotes

 * Rouge: We're about to brave the unknown. Excited?
 * Shadow: Not particularly. Another day, another mission.
 * Rouge: You certainly know what to say to a girl.


 * E-123 Omega: Plan B now? Please?
 * Rouge: Yes, Omega. Plan B.
 * E-123 Omega: I enjoy Plan B!


 * Rouge: Come on, Omega!
 * E-123 Omega: But I still have five more salvos--
 * Rouge: Move it, Mister!


 * E-123 Omega: Pursue aquatic life.

Key Events

 * Shadow and Rouge enter the Special Zone by order of G.U.N.
 * Shadow at first fails the retrieve the emerald and blames himself
 * Hope and Shadow bond and cheer each other up
 * Team Dark is formed and they obtain a second Chaos Emerald for G.U.N.

Background Information

 * This issue marks the first assembly of Team Dark.
 * The preview summary of this issue accidentally revealed that Hope Kintobor was alive after the events of StH: #177 instead of when she made her come-back appearance in SU: #1 as was planned, much to the surprise of writer Ian Flynn.
 * The obstacle course Shadow and Rouge go through is based on the Special Stage from Sonic 3D. Specificly, since the zones on the Mega Drive and Saturn are different, it's based off the Mega Drive version.
 * The maze Team Dark go through is based on the Special Stage from the very first Sonic the Hedgehog game.
 * The scope Rouge uses is presumably her "Treasure Scope" from Sonic Adventure 2.
 * The emerald Team Dark obtains is mistakenly coloured green. The out of universe explanation is simple, Jason Jensen accidentally coloured the emerald green, and the in-universe explanation provided by Ian Flynn is that "Feist made it good green to mess with their heads. Once back in the Prime Zone, it eventually turned to it's natural color - red."