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Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 3 was the third issue of the main Sonic the Hedgehog comic series.
Summary[]
Story One[]
- "The Bomb Bugs Me" - Part One
The story begins with Sally and Boomer watching Sonic on the Great Forest Monitor in Freedom HQ, with Boomer noting that Sonic is coming in at incredible speeds. When Sally asks how fast he was going, Sonic runs in while the camera still shows him outside, and answers "Faster than your TV camera can transmit pictures of me", much to Boomer's surprise and Sally's amusement. Sonic apologizes to a rattled Boomer for scaring him, but Sally reminds him that they are Freedom Fighters and thus do not scare easily. Sonic remarks that is good, because he brings the bad news that Dr. Ivo Robotnik has acquired what appears to be a nuclear device, which causes the other two to freak out.
Sonic explains that while he was in Robotropolis trashing SWATbots, he overheard the doctor talk to Crabmeat about having arranged something called "The Bomb" that would kill "every last one of them", much to Sonic's horror. Sonic and Sally both agree that it is their worst nightmare come true: if Robotnik uses that weapon, the Great Forest and everyone it in are done for. Sonic, however, point out that the situation could be much worse that than, since Robotnik can get more bombs if he has one, and will use them to turn Mobius into a lifeless planet. This rattles Boomer especially, as they stand no chance of surviving such an onslaught. As Sally notes that they must all demonstrate their resolve for a bomb-free world though, Sonic gets an idea.
A short while later, at Robotnik's HQ, a SWAtbot alerts Robotnik to some picket protesters outside the building. Seeing what appears to be Sonic, Sally, and Boomer protesting with signs in front of a wall, Robotnik assembles a squadron of his SWATbots. Soon after, Robotnik and his SWATbots are ready and charge at the protesting trio, only to crash into the wall behind them. As Robotnik blacks out in the scattered remains of his SWATbots, it is revealed that the protesters were simply an image that Sonic and Sally were projecting on the wall from afar with a video projector. With the doctor and his robots out of the picture for the time being, Sonic and Sally get ready to collect "The Bomb" before their enemies recover.
- "The Bomb Bugs Me" - Part Two
Inside Robotnik's HQ, Dr. Robotnik appears to be yelling at Sonic and Sally. As Sonic and Sally applaud him, however, it turns out to be Boomer in a costume and mimicing Robotnik's voice, with their plan being to have Boomer pose as Robotnik and convince his right-hand Badnik Crabmeat to hand "The Bomb" over to them. Entering the office in his disguise, Boomer calls over Crabmeat and orders him to bring him "The Bomb". While Crabmeat is curious over his fishy breath, Boomer dismisses this and tells Crabmeat to "please do as I say." The word "please" tips off Crabmeat, who calls Boomer into the hallway after a moment. Boomer has Sonic and Sally stand back while he attends to the matter, but Sonic is worried something is up. As soon as Boomer is out of view, however, the pair hear him tussle with someone. Sonic wants to help, but Sally holds Sonic back and says that Boomer can take care of himself.
Eventually, Boomer comes back in without his disguise on with a package labeled "The Bomb". Sally is surprised by how small it is, but Boomer insists that they can analyse it back in Knothole Village. As Sonic wonders what Boomer is rushing over, however, Robotnik comes in with smashed Badniks in his hands and says that Boomer only wants to get "The Bomb" in Knothole so he can blow it up. Robotnik takes off his mask, revealing himself to be Boomer. The Boomer with the package then takes off his mask to reveal he is Robotnik. This continues with each of them taking off several other masks of Robotnik and Boomer, insulting each other, while Sonic and Sally watch.
Eventually having enough of the ridiculousness of the situation, Sonic uses his super speed to strip both Robotnik and Boomer of all their disguises, leaving both pairs dazed on the floor. Sonic proceeds to grab "The Bomb" while Sally gets the disorientated Boomer on his feet. Robotnik tries to follow them, but is too dizzy to follow the trio.
Back in Freedom HQ, Boomer has gotten over his dizziness, meaning the group can focus on dismantling "The Bomb". As Sonic prepares to open the box, both Rotor and Sally remind him of the severity of the situation, much to Sonic's worry. With both Sonic and Boomer looking away as Sonic opens the box, Sonic asks what kind of bomb they are dealing with. However, Sally reveals that it is not a real bomb, but a pesticide, leaving Sonic and Boomer dumbfounded. Meanwhile, back in Mobotropolis, Crabmeat and Robotnik are attacked by a swarm of flying bugs in the pantry, which they cannot get rid of without the Bug Bomb, prompting Robotnik to fume over his hatred for Sonic.
Story Two[]
- "Rabbot Deployment" - Part One
Arriving in Freedom HQ's throne room, Sonic comes to a halt before Sally and Rotor, the former annoyed by the skid marks Sonic leaves on the floor. Unfazed, Sonic asks Sally if she summoned him, and Sally explains that she wants him to check out Boomer's aerial surveillance pictures. After Sonic and Boomer had amused themselves with some bad puns, Sally explains that the photos show Dr. Ivo Robotnik making deep inroads into the southern sector of Mobius. Picking up Boomer, Sonic drags him through the Great Oak Slide with the aid of a Spring, intend on checking out Robotnik's operation.
Some time later, after picking up some roller skates so that Sonic can drag Boomer at fast speeds with a rope tied to him, the pair soon arrives at their destination. Boomer urges Sonic to slow down, but Sonic soon finds trouble. A pair of SWATbot are grabbing a mobian rabbit and taking her into a portable Roboticizer in the form of a truck (Bot on the Spot). The rabbit begs them not to do it, but the SWATbots do not listen. Sonic tries to intervene, but is held back when he forgets that he is still tied to Boomer. A few seconds too late, Sonic manages to destroy the SWATbots with a horizontal Sonic Spin and break into the Roboticizer truck. Sonic watches the truck's Port-O-Bot processing the rabbit, who yells for him to turn it off. Complying, Sonic turns off the device, and the rabbit passes out. As Sonic takes the rabbit out of the truck, he and Boomer discover that she has been half-roboticized, leaving her "half rabbit, half rab-bot".
Noting that the rabbit is hurt, Sonic insists on taking her back to Knothole Village, but Boomer points out that since the rabbit is part machine now, Robotnik could follow them using her. Sonic, however, insists that they cannot abandon a lady in need, and so begins pushing Boomer back to Knothole while the latter carries the rabbit.
- "Rabbot Deployment" - Part Two
Back in the throne room of Freedom HQ, Sonic and Boomer report in with Sally. Sally asks who the rabbit Boomer carries is, just as the half-robot rabbit springs to life and introduces herself as Bunnie while showcasing her eagerness to oppose Robotnik. Intrigued, Sally asks Bunnie what she can do. In response, she showcases her newfound robotic super strength by lifting Sally up by her throne and her karate kicks, with Sonic barely dodging the latter. As Bunnie teasingly asks Sonic for his name, Sonic notes that she should put the princess down first. Surprised, Bunnie apologizes for her impetuousness, and declares that Sally is her hero and that she has always wanted to be a hairdresser. Although she admits that she needs one, Sally invites her to be a Freedom Fighter first, just as Antoine runs in, freaking out. As Sonic introduces Antoine to Bunnie, Antoine warns Sally of something big, just as a rumbling is heard throughout Freedom HQ. Antoine then explains that the rumbling is caused by a giant Burrobot that Robotnik has built, and which is currently tearing up the Great Forest. Sonic proceeds to head into the Great Oak Slide to combat the Burrobot, with Bunnie joining him. As Antoine wonders who Bunnie is, Sally allows Bunnie to go to see what she can do.
Emerging from the stub entrance of the Great Oak Slide, Sonic is ready for a fight. However, Bunnie pulls him back in before the giant Burrobot rolls over the stub. Thanking Bunnie for the save, Sonic starts pursuing the Burrobot with Bunnie by his side. Sonic starts out by creating a tornado next to the Burrobot. Bunnie, amazed by Sonic's skills, notes that she can see why Sally has designs on him. However, as the Burrobot turns, it manages to stun Sonic with an energy blast, which was all a part of a trap to lure him out into the open. Before it can crush Sonic under its treads though, Bunnie uses her super strength to flip it over. Though amazed by Bunnie, Sonic steps in to finish the fight and begins running in circles around the downed Burrobot, quickly creating a huge trench around it that collapses on itself, burying the massive Badnik.
A short time later back in Freedom HQ, Boomer and Sally welcome Bunnie as an official Knothole Freedom Fighters. While happy to be a part of the team, Bunnie reminds them of her original dream, and Sally promises that she can be a hairdresser as soon as they defeat Robotnik. Sonic then points out that she can practice on Antoine's toupée in the meantime.
Bonus Features[]
Pinup Pages[]
- "Robotnik's Rules!"
Dr. Robotnik holds up his list of rules. According to his rules, he will tolerate no laughing, singing, plants, music, books, exercise, friends, pets, fun, healthy food, or complaining about the rules.
Short Stories[]
- "Tails' Fairy Tales!"
Tails tells Sonic, who's napping under a tree, about the classic story, "The Tortoise and the Hare". Sonic tells him that a slowpoke could never beat someone that fast. Tails asks if the tortoise could win if he was on a rocket powered skateboard, and Sonic just yawns and tells him it might just as a turtle on a rocket powered skateboard zooms past them.
- "Double Speak!"
Sonic zips back and forth between two telephones in Knothole, having an argument with himself.
- "Paper Trail!"
Sally angrily addresses the people of Knothole, telling them that there will be no peace until "the perpetrators" are punished. Grabbing her crown and scepter, she drags Antoine off to begin a criminal investigation. Tails, Boomer, and Sonic begin to panic, realizing that Sally is upset about the article they published in the Knothole Inquisitor about her hair changing colors since her first appearance.
Quotes[]
- 1st SWATbot: "Prey is captured!"
- Bunnie: "How dare you, suh? Unhand me, you Yankee contraption!"
- 2nd SWATbot: "Yankee? I'm an Orioles fan!"
Key Events[]
- Sonic, Boomer, and Sally infiltrate Robotropolis to retrieve a package labelled "The Bomb".
- After Crabmeat catches on to the plan and a confusing argument between Boomer and Robotnik takes place, the Freedom Fighters leave with the package and find out it was just a pesticide.
- Bunnie Rabbot becomes a member of the Knothole Freedom Fighters.
Background Information[]
Cameos & References[]
- Most of the zones from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Emerald Hill Zone, Chemical Plant Zone, ect.) are listed amongst the locations on the Great Forest Monitor.
- "Paper Trail" references the change in Sally's hair color between Sonic Miniseries #0-#1.
Errors[]
- The cover date does not reflect the actual publication date of the issue.
- Bunnie claimed in Sonic the Hedgehog #46 that years before this story occurred, Antione saved her from another SWATbot. Neither Bunnie nor Antione recognize each other in this issue.
Reprint History[]
This issue has been reprinted in the following places:
- Sonic Archives Vol. 1
- Sonic Legacy Book 1
- Sonic Super Digest #6
- "Rabbot Deployment" was reprinted in Sonic Firsts, Sonic Super Special #3, and Sonic: Bunny Blast
External links[]
- Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 3 at Sonic Wiki Zone, the Sonic wiki.