Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 160


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Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 160 was the one hundred and sixtieth issue of the main Sonic the Hedgehog comic series.

Story One

 * "Birthday Bash" - Part One ("Giving and Receiving")

Sonic and King Elias are walking through Knothole Village with Elias explaining the reason for the Metal Sonic Troopers. They enter the old Freedom HQ, where Sonic is greeted by the other Freedom Fighters and wished a happy birthday. However, the party is interrupted by Bean and Bark, who proceed to attack Sonic and the others. Sonic, thinking that they came for revenge because of Evil Sonic, stuns Bark and pins Bean against the wall, trying to explain the misunderstanding, but Bean says there is no mistake.

Meanwhile, in the Master Emerald chamber, Rouge is making her way to the Master Emerald, when she suddenly sees Evil Sonic attempting to do the same. They bicker on who was supposed to distract Locke, but suddenly, Locke appears and confronts them both.

Back at Freedom HQ, the Freedom Fighters are having trouble with Bean and Bark when Fiona exploits their weaknesses by baiting Bean with a set of keys and throwing them outside and reasoning with Bark. Sally then interrogates Fiona, asking how she knew about them. Fiona reluctantly explains that she had a "checkered past." As Sonic proposes that they look for Bean, Shadow suddenly appears, holding an unconscious Bean.

In the Master Emerald chamber, Rouge and Evil Sonic try to double-team Locke, but Locke sends Evil Sonic away by using the Chaos Force. He and Rouge then get into a brief scuffle, and when Rouge calls Evil Sonic for help, he instead gets on the Master Emerald and attempts to power up, but Locke knocks him off before he can complete the transformation. As he prepares to deal with Rouge, Evil Sonic reappears, saying: "The birthday boy gets first dibs, Rouge."

Freedom HQ: Sonic and Shadow are talking in the common room, with Shadow thanking him for saving Hope's life. Meanwhile Bean is in the Brain Trust room telling Dr. Eggman of their recent failure. Eggman then sends a transport pod to Freedom HQ's location. Sonic, Shadow, and the Freedom Fighters go to the pod crash site, to be confronted by the sub-boss Croctobot.

Master Emerald chamber: Rouge and Locke stare in disbelief at Evil Sonic, who is calling himself "a real scourge" due to his new appearance.

(to be continued...)

Story Two

 * "Sonic Rush" - Part One

Blaze the Cat walks toward Knothole Village to search for "The Blue One". As she is looking at the village, a group of SWATbots ambushes her. After a brief struggle, she is knocked out and taken to Dr. Eggman.

Meanwhile, Sonic is going through Knothole Village when Rotor calls him to show him surveillance footage of the SWATbot attack outside the village, and when he sees it, Sonic races off to their base of operations.

In the base, Blaze is hooked to a machine as the robot scientists gather information on her. As they do, Sonic enters the base destroying more SWATbots along the way. Blaze regains consciousness and engulfs the whole room in flames. Sonic hears the commotion, but then the door blows open and he encounters Blaze, who recognizes him.

(to be continued...)

Quotes

 * Bean: Frankly, Cobalt, I don't give a darn.


 * Shadow: (holding Bean) Happy birthday, blue hedgehog. I cleaned your yard for you.


 * Sonic: What are you sending now, Eggman? Your newest toys broke easily.


 * Rouge: Evil Sonic?
 * Scourge: Not quite, babe. But a real scourge all the same.


 * SWATbot: He's so strong!
 * Blaze: Who are you calling "he"?

Key Events

 * Sonic turns 17, though he is biologically 16 due to his time in space.
 * Bark the Polar Bear and Bean the Dynamite attack but are defeated.
 * Arrival of Croctobot.
 * Evil Sonic mutates into Scourge the Hedgehog during a failed attempt to steal the Master Emerald.

Background Information

 * This is the first Sonic issue written by Ian Flynn.
 * This is the first Sonic issue drawn by Tracy Yardley.
 * Although Scourge isn't introduced by name until #161, this issue marks his actual first appearance following his transformation from Evil Sonic.