Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 4 was the fourth issue of the main Sonic the Hedgehog comic series.
Summary[]
Story One[]
- "The Lizard of Odd" - Part One
Inside his office in his HQ, Dr. Ivo Robotnik promises that Sonic will never defeat him again, and so swears that the next animal that has been captured for him will be turned into the ultimate killer robot. Just then, Crabmeat notices that Robotnik's Bot Brigade has arrived with their newest catch. Excited, Robotnik runs out to the cargo under the impression that the creature is a rhino or elephant, given that the SWATbots are using the extra large container. However, as the SWATbots unload the container, it turns out they had just caught a tiny mobini salamander when they present it to the doctor. Though furious that his SWATbots got him excited over a tiny salamander and made him swear to turn it into a killer robot, Robotnik decides to stay true to his word, although not before he has the Bot Brigade assigned to the Slag Shop, which he has Crabmeat take the group to.
Taking the salamander with him, Robotnik drops him into a roboticizer and orders Buzzbomber to activate the roboticization procedure. However, as Robotnik complains about the heat, Buzzbomber mistakes it for an adjustment to the roboticizer. As such, Buzzbomber accidentally turns the size control knot, which will make the salamander grow out of control, much to Robotnik's horror. An instant later, the whole facility explodes. Surviving the destruction, Robotnik discovers that the salamander has turned into a gigant robot, who dubs itself Universalamander and announces its intend to conquer Mobius.
Meanwhile, in Freedom HQ, Sonic (who is somewhat displeased about being left out of the plot), Sally, and Boomer notice something on the Great Forest Monitor. The monitor shows the Universalamander, which Sonic initially mistakes for a fake image. However, the trio quickly notices that the threat is real and that the robotic salamander is trashing the Great Forest while heading their way. Heading through the Great Oak Slide, Sonic intends to intercept the Universalamander in the forest. Upon arriving there though, he sees Robotnik passing by in his Egg Mobile, determined to escape Mobius before Universalamander destroys the planet, and him with it. Immediately after, the Universalamander arrives through the trees. Though surprised by his size, Sonic tries attacking him with his Sonic Spin, only for Universalamander to chomp down on him.
As Sally, Boomer, Antoine, and Tails observe the events on the Great Forest Monitor, Universalamander struggles to chew on Sonic, who finds himself caught in the robotic giant's mouth. Taking by surprise by this, the Knothole Freedom Fighters believe Sonic to be a goner.
- "The Lizard of Odd" - Part Two
Back in Freedom HQ, the Knothole Freedom Fighters each react to Sonic's apparent demise until Sally points something out on the Great Forest Monitor. As its turns out, Universalamander is not feeling too well, as Sonic is continuing to spin around inside his mouth. Eventually, it becomes too much for Universalamander, making him burp out Sonic. Furious at this humiliation, Universalamander begins chasing after Sonic while throwing trees at him. Seeing that he cannot match up to Universalamander as he is, Sonic finds seven Chaos Emeralds and fifty Power Rings, which he had stashed at a nearby Star Post. Grabbing these items as he leaps into the Star Post's energy ring, Sonic finds himself in a special Zone with both Power Rings and bombs aplenty.
Collecting fifty more Power Rings, Sonic is able to use the accumulated power he has to transform into Super Sonic. With his increased speed and invincibility, Sonic exits the special zone and returns to the Great Forest where he faces Universalamander. Using his Super Form's power of intangibility, Sonic leaps straight through Universalamander without hurting him.
Back in Freedom HQ, the Knothole Freedom Fighters are watching Sonic in amazement on the Great Forest Monitor until his vanishes from view. Appearing behind Boomer, Sonic asks him where the Port-O-Bot they previously salvaged is, to which Boomer says lies in his workshop. Running off again, Sonic notes casually that he needs to borrow its Reduce/Enlarge Component. As Boomer notes that he can do that, however, the entire group realizes that Sonic was with them all along. Hurrying out of Freedom HQ again with the component, Sonic confronts Universalamander at the Great Oak Slide. As Universalamander prepares to crush Knothole Village however, Sonic shrinks Universalamander down to the size of an insect with the component, before scaring him off by threatening to stomp on him.
Later, the Knothole Freedom Fighters are eating when Antoine falls for a whoopie cushion that Sonic (still in his Super Form) placed on his seat, much to the amusement of the others and Antoine's embarrassment.
Story Two[]
- "Tails' Little Tale"
Sonic, tired after his fight with Universalamander, takes a nap under a tree. As Tails explains the situation to the reader, he advises them to be very quiet so that Sonic will stay asleep and allow him to play the hero in the meantime. As an declaration to this, Tails puts up a sign that says "Tails in his first solo adventure". His hammering of his sign nearly wakes up Sonic, but he manages to lull him back to sleep. After that, Tails heads out, declaring that the Great Forest will be safe under his watchful eye.
Tails soon finds himself on a hill, surveying the landscape for any danger. What he fails to notice though, is that behind him, Dr. Ivo Robotnik is holding a company picnic with his Badniks to celebrate his return now that the threat of Universalamander has passed. It is then that Robotnik announces that it is time for them to make their reappearance and get back to work. As such, Robotnik sends his Badniks out in all directions to herald his return and commit atrocities along the way. Buzzbomber and Orbinaut in particular spot Tails on the hill, and Buzzbomber manages to catch him as a hostage, much to the fox cub's shock. Buzzbomber then tries to hold Tails still while Orbinaut takes aim at him with his maceball. As Orbinaut throws his maceball however, Tails, recalling what Sonic would do, knocks the maceball back at Orbinaut with one of his twin-tails, before breaking free from Buzzbomber by smashing him with both his twin-tails. Tails proceeds to stay afloat with his Tailspin technique while the Badniks crash into the ground.
Brimming with overconfidence, Tails believes that he can take on Robotnik on his own. As such, he flies to Robotropolis, with Robotnik, Inc. in sight. Spotting what appears to be Robotnik's shadow in a window, Tails charges straight at it. However, the shadow is actually a SWATbot's shadow puppet, which the Badniks is doing for entertainment in the company of another SWATbot, and Tails files into a wall. Recognizing the incapacitated Tails as one of the Freedom Fighters, the SWATbots grab him and begin taking him to a roboticizer.
As Tails wonders over what Sonic would do, Sonic arrives, much to the surprise of everyone. Sonic explains that he had just woken up and tailed Tails, and the fox cub says that he can now trash the SWATbots. However, the SWATbots instead press their self-destruct buttons, prompting Sonic to grab Tails and leave Robotnik, Inc. moments before the SWATbots explode, taking the factory with them.
Shortly thereafter, out in the open, Sonic asks Tails if he has learned his lesson about patience. Tails happily declares that he has learned to "look before he leaps", just as he is about to step into a hole in the middle of the road.
Bonus Features[]
Pinup Pages[]
- "Super Sonic Pinup"
A full page illustration of Super Sonic surrounded by Power Rings and seven Chaos Emeralds.
Activity Pages[]
- "Free!* Robotnik Birthday Card!"
A page that kids can cut out of the comic and fold into a birthday card. The normally-unseen sides of the "card" provide instructions for folding.
Short Stories[]
- "Antoine's Vain Refrain!"
Antoine mourns, at length, the futility of trying to overcome "vanity". With theatrical flourish, he collapses on the floor. Sally asks if he's done complaining and ready to assemble her new piece of furniture: a vanity set.
- "HorizontAL & VertiCAL"
Verti-Cal and Horizont-Al explain that they come from a secret zone where regular physics don't exist. Al pitches Cal a curveball, but Al can't hit it: the ball simply sits in place in front of him.
- "Bad-niks Bazzar"
Coconuts, Scratch, and Grounder each take turns explaining how they'll defeat Sonic the next time they run into him. A receptionist tells them to quiet down, and it's revealed that they're waiting in line for villain auditions.
- "Hare Styling"
Sonic stumbles upon Bunnie's new beauty salon just as she's getting ready to style Sally's hair. Bunnie tells him that she can do one style in just a few seconds. She then dips her foot in a puddle and touches Sally's hair, the jolt of electricity giving Sally an instant perm.
Quotes[]
- Universalamander: "I forgot the old saying: Never eat anything blue!"
- Antoine: "Sonic will be scavenged!"
- Boomer: "That's AVENGED, Antoine!"
- Sonic: "Hey, Universalmineo! Let's make small talk!"
- Tails: "I'm the Michael Jordan of Freedom Fighters!"
Key Events[]
- Universalamander is created and defeated.
- Sonic transforms into Super Sonic for the first time.
Background Information[]
- A panel from this issue's Verti-Cal and Horizont-Al one-page story is reused in a flashback scene in Sonic the Hedgehog #59.
- This issue marks the first appearance of the Special Zone in the comics. However, its appearance here contradicts later chronological events in which Feist combines the Zone of Silence with the Void to create the Special Zone. This was most likely a retcon, since many events depicted in the early issues are considered semi-canonical.
- A flashback in Sonic the Hedgehog #235 depicts the scene from this issue where Super Sonic places a whoopie cushion for Antoine.
Cameos & References[]
- The title "The Lizard of Odd" is a pun on "The Wizard of Oz".
- In "Tails' Little Tale", a group of SWATbots chant "O-Ree-Oh...Yo-Ho!", a reference to the chant of the Winkies.
Reprint History[]
This issue has been reprinted in the following places:
- Sonic Archives Volume 1
- Sonic Legacy Book 1
- Sonic Super Digest #6
- "The Lizard of Odd", was reprinted in the Sonic Firsts graphic novel, as well as in its re-issue as Sonic Super Special #3.
External links[]
- Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 4 at Sonic Wiki Zone, the Sonic wiki.