11553 replies to this topic

[leemour84]

@Goku Well said Like you I recentley re-read all the previous Archie stories and tbhissues 1-45 were pretty much fillers obvuously ENDGAME was a good storyline and had potential afterwards but went all silly again, then when the ADVENTURE adaptation came into affect it slowly started gradually start becoming good but it wasnt until issue......118 where things started picking up just before 125, after that we got the tossed in space issues, then the Home saga then the return to angel island (which i liked) but then came the great double act of Ian and Tracy you brought life into the comics again and from 160-present its just got better and better,

@Lucy i just gonna ignore the youtube promoting man now hun, we know Ian's a good writer and archie know it to, yes the comic is goin darker places but think about it look at STAR WARS and the 2 that fans rank the higest are THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK & REVENGE OF THE SITH then with RETURN OF THE JEDI (which has hints of darkness) so goin darker can be a good thing, In Ian we trust.

[The future]

The recent surgery scene was just too dark and out of place, really. It’s just not like the good ol’ days...


Sure, Charmy the Bee lost his best friend, he and the chaotix got hooked on the LSD as they say, but they would never ever EVER-

Spoiler

Wait, is that Charmy's blood?! OH MY GOOOOOOOD!!!

Yeah, Eggman is spooking me out in the last 5 issues (I know that has been mentioned before, but its going to critical mass)

But I get the feeling that the new Death Egg is actually going to accomplish its goal: To roboticize Mobius as a whole.

[Cuz]

Wonder if this has been brought up by anybody yet? It's so far back, and obscure I wouldn't imagine so. I went through issue #46, the bonfire before Endgame ,on a whim. In it Antoine accuses St. John of being a spy. The irony is almost beautiful in retrospect.

Edited by Cuz, 24 February 2012 - 04:58 PM.

[bwrosas]

Today is Friday, February 24, 2012, the time is 11:45 AM.

Greetings fellow Sonic fans, I want to start off by apologizing first of all for making it sound like I have not been standing in the middle as I've been saying. Secondly I want to apologize for what apparently will probably be another long wall of text (as some of you see it).

Now onto the reason for the first apology. You have to understand that I was about 14 years old when I discovered the Saturday morning cartoon of Sonic The Hedgehog, it was also around this time that I also discovered the comic book being published by Archie comics. Now you fast-forward 20 years later or nearly 20 years later and as most of you can tell I am still a fan of the overall franchise. From what I have said in previous posts and of other means of communication, I may have sounded like I didn't care for what Ian Flynn had done. Now I won't lie to you, I am among many that are not too happy with what Ian Flynn did to Princess Sally. However I can respect and understand that the comic book does need to be shaken up every now and then, and that the heroes at times must face and deal with dark days ahead of them.

The problem though that I along with many others have with this is that we understand and respect the fact as I mentioned above that the characters and stories in the comic need a good dark shakeup once in a while, the thing is though we're used to seeing that occur for about 4 to 5 issues at the most, and if necessary as in the case of the Iron Dominion story arc for up to a year, we however and I know some of you may and may not agree are not used to dealing with something like this for which is schudle to be about two years.

It is true that in most comic books that when you reach your 250th issue that you want to do something spectacular, you want to do something memorable, something that it will have people talking for years to come. And with all due respect I can understand why Ian Flynn would want to do that, I mean with the comic book itself entering its 20th anniversary in 2013, wanting to cap that off in a big way is understandable. But many feel that Ian Flynn could have done everything he's doing now story wise by not turning Sally into a robot and putting Antoine quite possibly on deaths door. As a matter of fact they feel he could have gone in a different direction and yet could have gotten the same results. Again I respect and understanding the some you may and may not agree with that, and that's okay.

However when you get a fan as long-time as myself and those that I have mentioned in previous posts, you have to understand and I know I sound like a broken record here, but you have to understand that were not used to seeing these characters in these predicaments especially if it's going to last till next year.
Now one of you here at these message boards pointed out the fact that I am in my 30s and that I shouldn't be obsessed over something that is happened to a fictional character. The truth of the matter is I'm not obsessed, like I said above, I've been a fan for over 20 years or at least going on 20 years, and in those 20 years no matter who wrote the character, no matter who drew the characters design, no matter how much the character evolved and changed, I've been used to seeing them as they are. Now this also goes for other fans that are in the 30s, heck even the fans that are in their 40s and beyond, you can even add fans that in there in the 20s, and they will all agree with the fact that no matter who wrote the character, no matter who drew the character, and no matter how much that character changed over the past 19 to 20 years, we've been mostly used to seeing them as they are/were.

You sit there and you probably read this and say, "Well Brian, in 1999 they changed Amy Rose's design when they did Sonic Adventure, so what's the big deal?" The big deal is the fact that if we were given any clue on hint that are design change for the character was coming, it would have come a long time ago. You know what's funny is that there is a artist over at the DA site who as of today uploaded and posted a picture of Nagus changing Sally back to normal like he did Bunnie, but because of the modifications that were done to Sally as a robot, the end result was Sally and what many could see coming and could be a possibility in a Sega style design. Now looking at the condition that she's in now in the comics, that little comic that this person drew could be a sign of things to come.

Getting back on topic though, many say that this comic book is an all ages comic and its because of that, that people like myself who are in the 30s and maybe even beyond that or below that, have a right to say what we feel about what's going on as well as we have a right to want to create anti-group's on things we don't like.

I do however understand that some you like the dark atmosphere that the comic is currently in and that you cannot wait to see what happens next, believe me I understand we're coming from that, but being the long-time fan that I am and even though I will resubscribe starting next week for another year and even though I may not open the issues I receive, it does not mean that I will not stand in the middle, for you see that is exactly what I'm doing, it's just that with what happened to the Sally character and what's happening with Antoine possibly, these are just a few things that I'm against, everything else I stand in the middle for.

Now you probably want an explanation on that. Okay I understand, here it is, when I figured out along with everyone else that Sally was going to be robotisized, I made a promise to myself that untill the whole thing is resolved and she is return to normal that I would not open one single issue of the comic that I receive in the mail, I also stated that I would not do any reviews if you will untill the whole thing is over. Now what this means is technically I'm standing in the middle to see exactly where Ian Flynn will take this story arc and also because I've been a longtime fan of the character I do not want to read an issue of the comic with her robotisized, now true I do own the 29th issue, but as somebody pointed out on one of these forms, her being a robot in that issue was for that issue only, it wasn't at the level that it's at right now. Some of you will probably read this and continuously look at me as a Sally fan boy, truth be told I am a fan of the character but I'm not a obsessive fan. Yes I do own one of the rare Sally plushes, but that's about it. The thing is I just don't like what's happened to her.

What's happened to her is kind of the equivalent of let's say your favorite NFL team getting screwed in the playoffs and you refusing to watch the rest of the playoffs because of that. I know that's a strange example but you kind of get hopefully what I'm getting at.

In closing let me say this, yes I'm a fan of Sally and yes I am a fan of Antoine and yes I'm a fan, long-time fan of the Saturday morning cartoon just like anybody else, however I am not obsessive and I do stand in the middle and even those that stand in the middle can have dislikments of what they see, in other words we get to stand/sit on the sidelines and watch what happens but we do not have to like what has happened to certain characters involved.

So hopefully and I don't know if it will help, this straightened things out.

Friday, February 24, 2012, ending time at around 12:32 PM

Attached Files

•  SONIC MESSAGE BOARD RESPONSE.rtf   7.71K   1 downloads

[Komodin]

... Abridged version, por favor?

[Vampfox]

... Abridged version, por favor?

Pretty much what he's saying is that he grew up with Sonic being a certain way, it's different now and he doesn't like it.

I made a promise to myself that untill the whole thing is resolved and she is return to normal that I would not open one single issue of the comic that I receive in the mail

So you're basically wasting money subscribing and getting comic books that you are not even reading? I hardly call that standing in the middle.

Edited by Lucy, 24 February 2012 - 11:28 PM.

[Neon Zephyr]

Okay, okay. No. Stop.

I tried to read that, I really did. I ended up trying to at least skim it, until I came across this

I made a promise to myself that untill the whole thing is resolved and she is return to normal that I would not open one single issue of the comic that I receive in the mail

And, right there, you lose any and all credibility you had left, both as being able to comment on the story at all, as well as to say that you're "standing in the middle." By refusing to read them, you're boycotting the comic. THAT IS NOT BEING NEUTRAL. THAT IS TAKING A SIDE.

Also, why is it such a terrible thing to have bad things happen once in a while. My favorite characters in books, movies, and comics of all age-levels and target audiences die ALL THE TIME. I still enjoy the stories and never just say "Oh the writer has such-and-such agenda" or "the writer doesn't understand this group of fans." As a writer myself, I understand that BAD THINGS HAPPEN, both in real life and in fiction. THAT'S WHAT MAKES THINGS INTERESTING. People die. Important people, unimportant, it doesn't matter. It ups the stakes, and since Sega won't let the main game characters ever be in any real possibility of death, the other characters have to pick up the slack, so to speak.

And, just because Ian's writing these things happening to these characters DOES NOT MEAN HE DOESN'T LIKE OR RESPECT THEM. Actually, good writers have a rather strong tendency to make bad and terrible things happen to their favorites. One of my favorite characters in my original works has been destined to die since I created them. I have been a fan of Sally and the others since I was a real little kid (even though I had little contact with the show until later, and mostly just had the comics). But, you know what? I LIKE THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING. I feel INVESTED in these characters and I want to know what happens next. I'm excited to know if they make it or not.

And, as I said. YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOKS. You admitted it. You haven't been reading the current issues, so your opinions are not founded or easily justified other than "I didn't like where the plot was going in the last issue I've read." I haven't said much about the current issues because I have to struggle to get a hold of my subs (I'm on campus for the semester, and I'm too busy to go home), but what I do make solid opinions on, are things I've either managed to have sent to me from home or at least snippets of spoilers PM-ed to me.

I'm not saying you HAVE to like the book or the plot or even Ian's writing. You can dislike or even hate them, if you wish. Just, please, learn to understand that a character dying/being roboticized is NOT the end of the world (or a direct indication of the plot being good or bad), or that the author has a vendetta against them or some sort of secret agenda. And, please, read the issues before commenting on what's going on in them (personal peeve, I guess, but it seems to be annoying others, too. Isn't there a trope on this?).


But, whatever, I'm going to go on continuing to enjoy the plot in both of the series and excitedly await the next issue finally reaching my hands.

[Phos]

So I was looking at the preview pages for 234 and something struck me: Did Bunnie plan to go out and forget that she couldn't shoot lasers anymore? What would she have done had she not forgotten? Quip a more appropriate one liner?

And that Mobo-Cruiser looks like someone mixed up a piece of concept art with the Megaman Comic. Cog wheels, skull themed prowl, swap out the headlights for googly eyes and you have a midboss.

Also of note, this new Metal Sally still has eyelashes but doesn't seem to have any eyelids. And that pose She's in on the last panel, did she fly that way the whole way down? The little establishing shot makes it look like Metal Sonic was 100% spread eagle on the way down. This might seem like a strange thing to harp on, but I can't help but get a "Booga booga booga" vibe from that panel.

And once again the two comics are covering the same arc but are out of sync, this time issues of the main comic are coming in between issues of Universe.

And what once seemed like it was going to be an elegantly simple story is once again weighed down by all this side crap. It's like putting barnacles onto your boat.

[Dead Master]

Not sure if this was posted yet , but previews of 234 is up today on IGN

http://comics.ign.co.../1219354p1.html

[Vampfox]

Here's an update on Penders legel battle against Sega and EA.

Penders’s Lawsuit Against Sega, EA Dismissed…for Now
Oust Not Necessarily Due to Facts of the Copyright Case

TSSZ has learned the side lawsuit Ken Penders filed last year against both Sega and Electronic Arts has been dismissed without prejudice in the US District Court for the Central District of California. We first told you about the filing in June.
Public records obtained by TSSZ show the dismissal stemmed far from the strength of Penders’s case or both Sega and EA’s rebuttal, but rather a procedural technicality. Attorneys representing both corporate defendants cited the first-to-file rule, which in a nutshell means Penders shouldn’t file a parallel legal action concerning the copyrights he currently holds to several characters and stories from the Archie Sonic comics while the main suit–that being Archie’s challenge of those copyrights–remains unresolved. US Distrtict Judge Otis Wright agreed; and according to his order, this is actually the second time this particular matter has been dismissed:

Rather than waiting for a resolution in the New York Action or otherwise challenging this Court’s September 26, 2011 Order in the California Action, however, Plaintiff opted on September 30, 2011—four days after the Court’s Order dismissing the California Action—to re-file in this district an action identical to the California Action. (Dkt. No. 1.) Moreover, in filing the present action, Plaintiff neglected to file a Notice of Related Case. Such procedural maneuvering is not well taken, nor will it be tolerated.

However, because the dismissal was given without prejudice, it means Penders can re-file this lawsuit once Archie v. Penders is resolved, regardless of that outcome.
Of note in the Motion to Dismiss is this passage, which indicates attorneys for the defense did meet with Penders and his counsel once served:

Shortly after they were served in mid-December 2011, Defendants met and conferred with Plaintiff regarding the substance of this motion as required by L.R. 7-3, but were unable to reach any stipulations to avoid its filing.

The bottom line: The viability of this case now rests on the resolution of Archie v. Penders. Should Archie prevail, it doesn’t necessarily prevent Penders from filing a claim, but it could be significantly weakened, especially if Archie successfully wins a court order voiding Penders’s copyrights. But if Penders wins, seeing how little attention was paid to the copyrights themselves in the motion to dismiss, both Sega and EA may be facing a mountain of trouble.

[Juniper]

Am I the only one who started giggling uncontrollably when Eggman said "Act Two"?

Yeah? Just me? Okay then.

[King Edward]

If people didn't read it yet. =p

[Pawn]

Huh. This is the first time a story from the Archie comics has interested me. I love it when things go tits up for heroes, and this looks relatively well-written.

Spoiler

I don't see what was so surprisingly evil about having Eggman self-destructing Metal on one of the characters like people have been saying. Uncharacteristically smart for the villain, maybe, although I'm not sure what Eggman is like in these comics.

[ChaosSupremeSonîc]

Huh. This is the first time a story from the Archie comics has interested me. I love it when things go tits up for heroes, and this looks relatively well-written.

Spoiler

I don't see what was so surprisingly evil about having Eggman self-destructing Metal on one of the characters like people have been saying. Uncharacteristically smart for the villain, maybe, although I'm not sure what Eggman is like in these comics.

Spoiler

It would be like Eggman putting Amy into a (near-)death experience after said character gets caught at lethal proximity of an explosion after trying to save the life of another character. Someone who is generally off the radar pulls an epic move of heroism and may very well end up paying the ultimate price for it.

It really makes us notice someone who we generally don't put much focus on, and really start to care for them.

[bwrosas]

Monday, February 27, 2012
time 11:03 AM

Believe it or not, the video/topic I did has not yet been posted on any of these message boards, yes surprising I know, but I figured why not post a written version first and then if it allows me to just post the link to the video version afterwards, and that's what I plan to do after this possibly long written version of said video/topic. So here we go with the topic I like to call "If it weren't for Sega's mandates, things would be different in Archie's Sonic comic book series no doubt!"


I understand that this has probably been brought up several times on various Sonic message boards and websites. However I have yet to give my two cents on it. So that's exactly what I'm going to do here. Now the things I will say some you may and may not agree on but trust me when I talk about them you'll probably understand and agree that if it wasn't for Sega sticking their nose into the comic as often as they do from what many fans and even comic book critics themselves have said and pointed out that they do, then there's no doubt that things and characters in the comic would all be on an equal basis.


It's hard to believe that despite all the differences that we as a overall fanbase have with each other, the one constant that we can agree on, is that Sega needs to stop sticking their nose into the comic book and its spinoffs, and allow the writers to create development for each and every character no matter if they're from a cartoon series, if they're originally made for the comic itself, or even if they're the exclusive game characters that we all know and play as when any kind of Sonic game is released to the public.


I mean when you look at how much more interesting and more developed characters and the environments they inhabit could be if Sega didn't stick their nose and mandate certain things, the comic overall in the eyes of many would be more enjoyable than as some put it it is right now. The reason being is because you could allow not just the cartoon and the comic exclusive characters to develop even more so, even if we don't like a certain way of how their being developed currently, but it would allow the game characters themselves to have more development even if it's just for the comic book and it's spinoff.


I mean characters like Amy Rose could have more development in character if Sega didn't mandate to Archie comics that she don't be changed much from her game counterpart. Now some fans would agree with these mandates, while others won't and especially if it comes to a character like Amy who does have her share of fans, then there is no doubt that more can be done with her character. I mean as crazy as it sounds you could have had Amy be the one that got turned into a robot and by doing so in a character developing way it would show how much she cares not only for the planet but how much Sonic means to her and the way I see it it would probably create just as much drama and have just as much a long-lasting effect, probably just as much as Sally's current situation right now is having on the comic. But again this could have only happened if Sega didn't mandate and stick their nose in the comic as much as they do.


Another character that gets some development but not as much as he should, is Tails. Fans have said that if it wasn't for Sega and their mandates, that we could see more development in Tails's character. Development which could range from not just his intelligence for building and inventing things. That we could see more character development beyond that. Heck, one of the things fans question and wonder is if Tails would ever get in a relationship, and from what we have seen, and from what fans have speculated on, the possibilities of him having a girlfriend are endless, characters like Mina, Amy, and as crazy as it sounds, Nicole are a few names being thrown around. But yet Sega doesn't allow that to happen in the comic because of their mandates. True when it came to Sonic X, Tails did get a love interest, but it wasn't until the second half of the final season. And what's funny is in the second to last episode, unlike the uncut French and Japanese versions, Tails, vocally wasn't able to show the motion that he showed in the uncut versions in our 4kids American version. And again it goes back to Sega's mandates, which believe it or not upset a majority of the fans. And just like with the comic at times, you can put the blame if you will on Sega's mandates.


Other characters like Knuckles, Shadow, and even Rouge are limited in character development thanks to Sega's mandates on the comic. I mean there is so much more that can be done with these characters and yet Sega doesn't allow Archie comics or any of the writers on both comic books to do anything development wise. I mean sure, Knuckles is the exception in some areas, I mean he does have a girlfriend/soulmate in Julie-Su, but that's about it. The other two you could do so much more with in the comics, instead of just having them appear every now and then. Again however you can thank Sega's mandates.


And speaking of characters, it took what would be/felt like 6 to 7 years to get Cream and her mother Vanilla in the main comic. And what's funny is their debut came after Silver's debut in the main comic. And yet again all thanks to Sega's mandates.


Heck, one villain that fans want to see in the comic, is Eggman Nega. And with the exception of just his ship flying by in the first panel of the first issue of the "Treasure Team Tango" miniseries of the SU comic, we have yet to physically see him in any major role in the comic or it's spinoff. Which again you can blame Sega's mandates. Now I know some you will point out the fact that he appeared in a off panel parody on the last page of one of the SU comics, but have we seen him in any major story arc physically in the comic or the spinoff? Not from what I've seen. And yet again it's all thanks to Sega's mandates.


And speaking of this villain, let's talk about the one that opposes him, no not Sonic, but one of my personal favorites, Blaze. And yet again and I know I'm repeating myself saying that, but yet again thanks to Sega's mandates and what they say can be used and who could be used in the comic, Blaze is another character that only makes appearances every now and then, and there is so much more that can be done with her character and yet Sega because of their mandates and saying what can and can't be done, we're not allowed to see it become a reality. And the same goes for her sidekick and friend Marine, so much can be done with her even though she's a newer character, that a lot more can be done in the comic and spinoff, but yet because of their mandates we don't see it.


Then we come to the biggest one, their mascot, the one character that took their Corporation to levels it's never been to before, and the one character that is not allowed in the comic book and it's spinoff to have more development than he should. And of course I'm talking about Sonic. I mean with the current story arc in the main comic and in the spinoff, so much more emotional character development can be done with him. Now true we are seeing with the Sally situation, character development with him, emotional and as some see it on the verge of literally letting all his rage and anger come out. But yet we don't see much more. I mean wer're not even allowed to see him shed a tear here as much as he should during emotional moments. When the first season of the Saturday morning cartoon happened we only had one episode were he shed some tears, but then in the second to last episode of the second/final season at the end of that episode he has a saddened look on his face but yet we don't see no tears coming down and then we see him standing outside of his Uncle's hideout just waiting and that's it. And again all thanks to Sega's mandates.


This is the one thing many fans, despite their differences with each other feel needs to be changed. They will all agree and some won't though, but most will agree that Sega needs to stop sticking their nose in the comic book's business. As far as they are concerned, let the comic be it's own entity, don't continuously say what can be and what can't be used and let the writers have free range. Because by doing so it puts all characters and I mean ALL characters on equal ground and makes them all vanulable to the same events and situations that the cartoon and comic exclusive characters are vanuable too. Now again some fans may not agree with this, but I think overall many others will.


So in closing, that me say this, it only takes ONE to start a revolution, it only takes ONE to start a fire, and what this means is that it only takes ONE to cause Sega to stop sticking their nose in areas of their Sonic franchise that they do not need to stick into.

And that's all I can say about this issue.

Monday, February 27, 2012
Ending time : 11:53 AM.

Attached Files

•  If it werent for Segas mandates things would be different in Archies Sonic comic book series no doubt.rtf   9.36K   2 downloads

[Scheming Minor]

Hey, I got a great idea!

Let's keep talking about how awesome this issue is. Man is Ian pulling all stops out for the heroes.

I love it when things go balls up for the good guys - it makes their struggles seem so much more worthwhile and it builds character integrity too!

Edited by Kintobor, 27 February 2012 - 10:22 PM.

[The future]

when will Sonic Universe #38 come out?

[Juniper]

Though my brain does not like to rank things, Sally has always been my favorite character. Moreso from the early days of the comic when I remember her having a personality. Even so, I love what's been happening in the recent issues. The Iron Dominion on has been some great reading.

Eggman in particular is probably the biggest part of that. For the first time in the comic's history he's actually a compelling villain. He's doing big things in a big way.

Antoine has always been near to my heart and seeing him blown up like this is just... I really hope he makes it. He likely will but I'm still on the edge of my seat in suspense over the further consequences of his actions.

I guess the backup story explains another one of those retcons that were made because of Genesis? Apparently this Eggman is now the same one we've been seeing for the comic's entire run, and not a replacement from another zone. Cool beans, because that's just the kind of superfluous continuity baggage that just makes things muddled.

[Son1ctrainer]

I guess the backup story explains another one of those retcons that were made because of Genesis? Apparently this Eggman is now the same one we've been seeing for the comic's entire run, and not a replacement from another zone. Cool beans, because that's just the kind of superfluous continuity baggage that just makes things muddled.

Actually, it is still a different Eggman from another zone.

[Juniper]

Actually, it is still a different Eggman from another zone.

Oh! I see it now. "Not quite the man I remember". Haha! Oops.