Mobius Encyclopaedia
Register
Advertisement
The subject of this article appeared before the Super Genesis Wave.
Previous Issue ←—→ Next Issue
This issue takes place between Knuckles the Echidna #11Knuckles the Echidna #12
STH58
Sonic the Hedgehog
Publication Details
Issue 

58

Date Published 

February 1998

Publishing Company 

Archie Comics

Production Staff
Cover Artist
Cover Colorist
Writer
Pencils
Inks
Letters
Colors
Editor
  • Justin Freddy Gabrie
Managing Editor
  • Victor Gorelick
Editor in Chief
  • Richard Goldwater
First Appearances
Characters
Locations
Only Appearance
  

Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 58 was the fifty-eighth issue of the main Sonic the Hedgehog comic series.

Summary[]

Story One[]

"Friendly Rogues & Foul Villians"

Sonic, Tails, and Yanar are chained up in the dungeon of Snottingham Castle when two Roboticized Mobians enter, taking Tails away to see the High Sheriff. Sonic tries to charge after the Robians, but is held back by his chains and hits his head on the wall. Meanwhile, in Deerwood Forest, Rob O' the Hedge confronts a confused Knuckles the Echidna. While Rob shows off his impressive acrobatic skills, Knuckles throws Rob's bow to the side and knocks him into the nearby river. Rob, realizing Knuckles means no harm, asks for help on his crusade.

Yanar asks Sonic how he and Tails ended up in Snottingham. Sonic explains that their plane was struck down during the horrible weather and, when they woke up, the High Sheriff's robots confused Sonic for Rob and imprisoned them. Yanar tells Sonic that his tribe of echidnas ran into some robots, who took his people as slave laborers and locked him up. The Robians return, ready to bring "Rob" before the Sheriff. Yanar attacks them, but is overpowered. The Robians decide to take Yanar to the High Sheriff instead, not noticing that Yanar grabbed their keys and tossed them to Sonic.

Back in the forest, Rob explains to Knuckles that his band was captured and Roboticized by the High Sheriff, Dr. Robotnik's Sub-Boss of Mercia. Rob takes him to the treetops where they spy the Lost Tribe hard at work, cutting down trees in the forest for the High Sheriff. Realizing that the people of the tribe really are his responsibility, Knuckles heads off to fight the Sheriff's robots with Rob in tow.

The Robian guards return to take Sonic to the High Sheriff. Sonic, having freed himself of his shackles, knocks them out and locks them in the cell. Eventually, Sonic finds the torture chamber, where Tails is being tickle tortured for information. Tails explains that their plane crashed nearby, but the Sheriff is convinced that Tails must be a spy. Sonic recognizes the Sheriff as a Roboticized General D'Coolette and leaps into the chamber, freeing Tails and telling the Sheriff that he's a friend of Antoine. The High Sheriff attacks, claiming that he owes his life to Dr. Robotnik. Sonic finds himself unable to attack the Sheriff, so Tails drops a chandelier onto the High Sheriff. Sonic and Tails flee, hoping to find a way out of the castle.

Meanwhile, Rob hails a stranger, calling them a varlet and asking them to "stand and deliver". The stranger feels insulted by the remark and knocks Rob into yet another river with her staff before revealing herself as Mari-An. She helps Rob out of the water and both of them look longingly into the eyes of the other while at a loss for words. Knuckles snaps them out of it by pointing out that he's found the plane of his friends, Sonic and Tails. Rob is sure that they'll find them at Snottingham Castle.

Sonic and Tails wander through the castle while Rob leads Knuckles and Mari-An to Friar Buck's chapel, where he leads them through a secret passage into the castle. Rob accidentally hits Sonic when opening the trapdoor at the end of the passage. The two hedgehogs greet each other when Rob remembers that he's heard of Sonic before and that he sent his cousin, Amy Rose, to Knothole for safety long ago. Knuckles tells them to save the chitchat as they come to a balcony where they see the High Sheriff preparing to execute Yanar.

Story Two[]

Tales Of The Freedom Fighters - "The Living Crown"

King Max is receiving a checkup from Doctor Quack, who is still worried about the king's health since the spirit of Naugus was driven from him. Max tells Quack that he already knows how he was cured and Quack's late father would vouch for him. The king then decides to explain to Quack why the Kingdom of Acorn is a monarchy.

In the past, a young Maximillian was escorted by King Frederick Acorn to a place deep within the palace for his tenth birthday. There he was introduced to the Source of All and instructed to wade in its depths. Max emerged covered in the metallic goo, which was then drained from him and molded to create his personal Crown and Sword of Acorns.

Max explains that he had bonded with the Source of All, which he believes to be the very genesis of all life. Quack asks what the crown and sword are for, and Max tells him that they're his link to the source. During Ivo Robotnik's coup d'état he had a premonition from the Source that he would survive his encounter and handed his sword to Rosie Woodchuck for safekeeping, instructing her to escort a young Sally to safety. The Crown, without the Sword at its side, merged with Max. He explains that the Crown alone couldn't protect him from Ixis Naugus' spells and that regaining the Sword reversed its effects. With both Sword and Crown back in his possession, the king's link with the Source is rekindled and he decides that action must be taken, regardless of the feelings of his daughter.

Quotes[]

  • Rob: "I, King of Deerwood Forest ask the questions! And the name is Rob! Rob O' the Hedge! Not Bub!"
  • Knuckles: "Hedgehogs! All 'tude and no talent!"

Key Events[]

  • Knuckles meets Rob O' the Hedge.
  • The High Sheriff of the region is revealed to be the roboticized Armand D'Coolette.
  • Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Rob and Mari-An discover that Yanar is about to be executed.
  • King Acorn undergoes a medical exam and explains the Source of All.

Background Information[]

  • This issue features the first appearance of the Source of All.
  • This issue's first page has separate credits from that of the rest of "Friendly Rogues & Foul Villains".
  • Although they first appear here, Snottingham Castle would not be named until Sonic Universe #37 and Snottingham itself would not be identified until the The Complete Sonic Comic Encyclopedia.

Cameos & References[]

  • While stunned after attempting to escape chains, Sonic remarks that he sees birds and stars "in marshmallow greens and marmalade skies", a reference to the Beatles song "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds".

Errors[]

  • This issue's second story, Tales of the Freedom Fighters - "The Living Crown" is one of the only stories in the history of Archie Sonic to never credit any of its creators in any form or later publication.

Reprint History[]

This issue has been reprinted in the following places:

External links[]

Advertisement