Sonic 50: Director's
Cut
Corner Box:
No. 6 $2.25
Cover: A collage of the events from Sonic the Hedgehog #50
"For Whom the Bell Tolls"
by Ken Penders
with Karl Bollers, Michael Gallagher, Kent Taylor, Steven Butler, Patrick
Spaziante, Manny Galan,
Nelson Ortega, Sam Maxwell, Dave Manak, Art Mawhinney, Harvey Mercadoocasio,
Pam Eklund, Andrew
Pepoy, Jim Amash, Rich Koslowski, Brian Thomas, Jeff Powell, and Vickie
Williams.
Editor: Justin Gabrie
Managing Editor: Victor Gorelick
Editor-in-Chief: Richard Goldwater
This is a revisit to Sonic the Hedgehog
#50, which is the version that should have been the original version.
The End Game series was the critical battle between the freedom fighters
and Robotnik.
Julian, son of Ivo, is being chased by two figures named Londo and Jakkar.
Julian collapses and two hedgehogs named Charles and Jules rescue Julian.
Jules says the overlander may be what they need to win the war. Later,
Julian explains that the overlanders would be vulnerable to a direct attack.
King Acorn appoints Julian to the position of Warlord. Warlord Julian
soon leads King Acorn's forces into battle against the overlanders.
Two swatbots notice that Robotnik is having a pleasant dream and then proceed
to wake Robotnik. The swatbots inform Robotnik that they have captured
a male overlander and that there is enough energy for a beta test.
Robotnik makes his way to the overlander and is pleased. The overlander
is shocked; he never imagined that Julian was Robotnik. Although the
overlander tries to beg, Robotnik tests his newest creation and is pleased
with the results. Robotnik contacts Snively and states that he will
use his deadliest weapon once he receives a package from Downunda.
Snively smiles to himself, thinking that they will see who laughs last.
Sonic tries to explain his situation while Geoffrey St. John orders Knuckles
to stop Sonic. When Knuckles learns that Sally is dead, he attacks
Sonic. Sonic runs in front of a tree, and Espio appears, grabbing
Sonic from behind. Dulcy becomes conscious again and yells at everyone
to stop. She explains that dragons cannot lie and tells everyone that
Sonic is telling the truth that he was framed. Geoffrey realizes that
the real enemy is trying to divide them and orders Fleming to bring the plane.
Knuckles says he must help Sonic out of respect for Sally.
Back at Knothole, Tails and Rotor make their way to the underground canal
systems so they can use the Bathysphere and Sea Fox. Once the two
land on the dock, they find Drago waiting for them.
Meanwhile, in Downunda, Antoine pleads that Bunnie refrain from tampering
with her collar. The collar activates, destroying the jail cell door.
A combot reports to Crocbot that all four prisoners are dead. Crocbot
is a little disappointed, but replies he can always torture the other three
prisoners. He orders the combot to the loading dock. Bunnie
uses the rockets in her feet to hover by the ceiling. Walt and Barby
believe that their friends are still alive and must go find them.
Antoine says they must then travel to the loading dock.
At the loading dock, Barby uses her binoculars to report that the robots
are up to something. She states that they will distract Crocbot and
the robots while Bunnie and Antoine escape on the airbus. The Downunda
Freedom Fighters attack Crocbot and the combots, who are caught off guard.
Bunnie flies up to the airbus as Antoine holds on to her arm.
Robotnik contacts Crocbot, who says that the prisoners are revolting.
Crocbot also assures Robotnik that a shipment of mineral ore is on its
way. Robotnik is pleased since the ore is the last material needed
for his Ultimate Annihilator, which will destroy Knothole. Robotnik
decides to go to his slumber chamber so that he is well-rested for his
future victory.
As the swatbots and Drago escort Rotor and Tails, a sound approaches.
Knuckles glides as Sonic and Geoffrey St. John parachute to the ground.
Everyone begins to fight the swatbots, and Sonic begins to chase Drago.
Elsewhere, Bunnie and Antoine find themselves in a strange room on the
airbus. Bunnie hacks into the system and uncovers Robotnik's personal
log for the Ultimate Annihilator. The irradiated ore from Downunda
is being shipped to Robotropolis, which is needed to power the weapon of
mass destruction. Robotnik states that he plans to use the Ultimate
Annihilator on Knothole and the rest of Mobius will surrender to him.
Antoine suggests they blow up the airbus, but Bunnie mentions that Crocbot
could be of use. The airbus prepares to land.
Drago runs and Hershey calls him over to her. She hints that Sonic
is coming and to trust her. Drago accepts and embraces Hershey, who
turns on him and scratches his face. Hershey kicks Drago in the stomach,
sending him to the ground. After scratching him, she picks up a large
rock and throws it at his head. Drago rolls over and dodges the rock.
As Drago runs, Hershey throws another rock and hits Drago's head.
Sonic appears and is shocked to find an angry Hershey standing over Drago.
Hershey explains that she was tricked with Robotnik's technology.
When she cut the rope, she thought she saw Snively when it was really Sally.
Hershey begins to cry, and Sonic says that everyone has been tricked.
Robotnik exits his slumber chamber, and swatbots inform him that the
ore has arrived and that Sonic has freed Knothole. Robotnik says
that Sonic means nothing to him. High above Robotnik, Antoine and
Bunnie hang on to a steel beam. Snively points out that Sonic is approaching.
Changing the frequency of his speed, Sonic creates multiple images of himself.
Once inside, Sonic is confronted with Snively. Snively tries attacking
Sonic with a device, but Sonic kicks Snively aside. Sonic then literally
runs into Bunnie and Antoine, who explain that plan on placing a bomb to
stop Robotnik's weapon. There will be ten minutes before the bomb
detonates. Sonic says he will buy Antoine and Bunnie some time.
As Sonic leaves, he tells Bunnie and Antoine to make sure that the bomb
detonates. Bunnie and Antoine begin to leave and find a robot.
Bunnie destroys the robot and Antoine leads the way to the Ultimate Annihilator.
The sky roof opens and it appears that the Ultimate Annihilator has been
activated. Bunnie exclaims that they have failed.
Robotnik confirms that a satellite has been activated and begins the
countdown to destroy Knothole. Sonic enters the room and begins destroying
the swatbots in the room. Robotnik orders the swatbots to attack
and then activates the Ultimate Annihilator. Sonic watches in fear
as a beam of energy fires directly at Knothole, leaving behind a crater.
Sonic is furious and attacks the swatbots to get to Robotnik. Meanwhile,
Antoine plants the bomb and escapes with Bunnie.
Robotnik stands up from his chair as a computer says that the Ultimate
Annihilator system crashed and the war room will be destroyed with no chance
of survival. Sonic and Robotnik face off and Sonic is the first to
throw a punch. As the two fight, a light begins to surround the room.
Out of the nothingness, Sonic finds himself appearing from a ring in
the floor. Exhausted, Sonic collapses. A voice says that Sonic
was close to ground zero and needs medical attention.
Sonic wakes up in the medical facility in Knothole. Sonic is shocked
and says that he saw Knothole being destroyed. Rotor explains that
Knothole was not destroyed; since it was struck before the Ultimate Annihilator
overloaded, Knothole exists in a "temporal rift" that is three hours in
the future, just as if it was its own zone. He adds that many zones
were created by Robotnik's device. Doctor Quack says he wished he
was as brave as Sonic. With Sonic still confused, Doctor Quack explains
that the neutron chip inside the Dream Watcher (from Sonic #43) allowed Robotnik to learn about
King Acorn and the location of Knothole. While Sonic tried to recover
King Acorn's sword (in Sonic vs. Knuckles
Battle Royal special), Robotnik captured Doctor Quack and replaced
King Acorn with a robot duplicate. Robotnik told Doctor Quack that
his device would help Robotnik conquer the world. Doctor Quack tried
to refuse, but his family was already captured. Afraid that Sonic
would ruin Robotnik's plans, Robotnik convinced Drago to help by promising
him a good life. Drago was the one responsible for setting Sonic up
in the first place.
Doctor Quack continues to explain that Snively altered the Ultimate Annihilator
so that only Robotnik's organic pattern would be affected. Since
Doctor Quack was aware of what happened, he kept quiet and hoped things
would turn out for the best. When asked what happened to Sally, Doctor
Quack explains that she almost died from her fall. He placed her in
a stasis tube in hopes that she would recover. Sally is still alive,
although she is in a coma. When Sonic hears the news, he jumps out
of bed and runs past the freedom fighters.
Sonic approaches the stasis tube and lifts the cover. He gives
Sally a kiss on the cheek and tells her that he loves her and wants her
to come back. Sally regains consciousness and asks Sonic to repeat
himself. Sonic embraces and kisses Sally before saying that he is
happy to see her again.
Order was soon restored, and Doctor Quack was pardoned from his actions.
Doctor Quack began taking care of King Acorn again, now that his family
is safe. Hershey was forgiven for being tricked by Drago and now acts
like a model citizen. The freedom fighters are now beginning to plan
a celebration, happy to have Sonic back. Geoffrey St. John resumed
his position as Commander of the Secret Service. For his crimes, Drago
was sentenced to the Devil's Gulag for an indefinite period of time.
However, what happened to Snively is unknown at this time.
Sonic-Grams Special highlights:
~ The next 48-page special will be an Image Comics crossover
~ Artist Nelson Ribeiro's name was misspelled in the Sonic Kids
special
(Pin-up by Scott Shaw! and script by Paul Castiglia)
This is a full-page comic book cover (which was seen in color for Sonic #50)
