Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2020

[deh_tommy]

Although this was published alongside #29, chronologically speaking this ends just before #24 so I thought that works best placed here.

“Big’s Big Adventure”
Written by Ian Flynn, Art by Jonathan Gray, Colours by Reggie Graham


















"Darkest Hour"
Writing and Art by Evan Stanley
Nite the Owl is a jubilant disc jockey/radio guru who runs a popular evening news/advice station from a shack in the hills outside Sunset City. Don the Rooster isn’t really a night person but works as the shack’s custodian. Don’s busy taking out the trash when Nite gets his first caller for the evening...







Shortly after Don leaves the room, Nite gets a call from the Restoration explaining about the zombots and asking for his help. They’re setting up a safehouse in the Grand Gold Flicky Hotel, and as the only station still broadcasting, he’s the only one who can get the message out to so many people in such a short time.








"Reflections"
Written by Caleb Goellner, Art by Aaron Hammerstrom, Inks and Colours by Reggie Graham












"Eggman’s Day Off"
Written by Sarah Graley, Art by Lamar Wells, Colours by Bracardi Curry and Gigi Dutreix, Inks also by Bracardi Curry
Dr. Starline is observing the Metal Virus’ progress with evil glee through his warpholes only to discover Eggman apparently in trouble in some dark room. Starline lunges after him, only to find Eggman was just looking for the lightswitch. Turns out Eggman’s taking time off to relax in his mancave, aka... THE EGGCAVE!








"Flock Together"
Written by Sam King, Art by Jamal Peppers, Colours by Priscilla Tramontano







Vector has a hard time catching Charmy and fending off the Flickies at the same time, but Espio’s smoke bombs are able to stun and disperse the flock and Vector instead relies on his sense of hearing to pick him out of the crowd.





With that, they’re able to get back into the shuttle and safely contain Charmy until they get back to HQ. “Look at us!”, Vector says, “Even in the zombot apocalypse, the Chaotix always finds what we’re lookin’ for.”

“The Catalyst”
Written by Gigi Dutreix, Art by Abigail Bulmer
With Tangle off helping the Restoration, her BFF Jewel is approached by the president(slash vice-president) of Spiral Hill’s Sonic Fan a club to help look for his missing friends. However, said friends are now zombots as Eggman has started gunking up Spiral Hill and Jewel is only able to save him and the vice-president(slash president) as they rush back to town.

Comments

[tinygaylaura]

I'm crying so much :(

The Big story is so upsetting

He's kind and loving and I hate seeing scary or mean things happen to characters like this

The Metal Sonic one is so sad as well given that he believes he's the real Sonic and Sonic is the copy

Giving me His Silicon Soul feelings

I ship Nite the Owl and Don the Rooster :)

[blues32]

It's hard to say what Metal Sonic is thinking about here. Is he disappointed that the fight seems to be ending with some viral infection? Is he amused that a substance that is going to kill Sonic has absolutely no effect on himself? Does he just like shiny stuff? Who knows?

Big's story is jaw dropping. He managed to go that whole time without getting infected. He was there at the fall of Restoration HQ. He went to Cream's house, but all the zombots were gone and they apparently hadn't touched anything organic like trees on the way out. And in the end he gets infected because Froggy was and he failed to notice. Again.

[deh_tommy]

I think the implication is very much supposed to be he’s sad it has no effect on him. He’s got a massive complex about being the one true Sonic, and while on the one hand he’s immune to the virus, on the other this is just another nail in the coffin that he’s really the loathsome copy.

Never underestimate what Big is capable of achieving through sheer ignorance. That’s heart of his charm, he always somehow manages to end up where he’s not supposed to and remains totally oblivious to the larger events going on.

[tinygaylaura]

It's a sad reminder to Metal Sonic that he's not "Real" and is a robot

I'm going to give him a hug

[fra080389]

If the fact to be clearly robotic isn't a give away for him, why being immune to the metal goo should be it?

[deh_tommy]

He knows he’s a machine. He’s aware he’s not the real Sonic. But he really wants to be, and being immune to the goop just reinforces that he isn’t.

[tinygaylaura]

" It's hard to say what Metal Sonic is thinking about here. Is he disappointed that the fight seems to be ending with some viral infection? Is he amused that a substance that is going to kill Sonic has absolutely no effect on himself? Does he just like shiny stuff? Who knows?"

I think he's sad because it's a reminder that he isn't organic :(

"Big's story is jaw dropping. He managed to go that whole time without getting infected. He was there at the fall of Restoration HQ. He went to Cream's house, but all the zombots were gone and they apparently hadn't touched anything organic like trees on the way out. And in the end he gets infected because Froggy was and he failed to notice. Again."

He just wanted to be with his friend :(

[leahandillyana]

Please spoil me - is this series getting a happy ending or is it one of those dark and edgy deconstructions of children's media?

[deh_tommy]

Oh fudge no, this is Sonic we’re talking about, young kids read this stuff. The virus is eradicated and everyone is cured.

[tinygaylaura]

Which is good because I like happy endings :)

[blues32]

The answer is obvious. It's what it always is in Sonic games.

[john_drake1964]

Starline: "Dr. Eggman!"

Eggman: "WHAT!"

Starline: "You're needed on the bridge for that briefing, sir."

Eggman: Knock on my door; knock next time!"

Starline: Yes sir."

Eggman: Did you see anything?"

Starline: No sir, I didn't see you playing with your toy dolls again or the one that look like myself infected with the Metal Virus.

Eggman: Good!

[b_i_beast]

The Sonic 2020 Annual, for readers who have a little bit of hope and happiness left despite seeing everything in the main series.