Sonic Investigation
Case #6:  #50 vs 50dx
Question:  What are the differences between Sonic the Hedgehog #50 and the 48-page special “Sonic 50:  Director's Cut?”

There are many differences between Sonic the Hedgehog #50 (#50) and the special Sonic 50:  Director’s Cut (50dx).  The first obvious change would be the cover.
Sonic #50 cover
Sonic 50: Director's Cut cover
#50
 50dx

Once we open the comics, the summary/title page is the next noticeable difference.
Sonic #50's summary page
50dx's title page
#50
 50dx

As you can see, the background picture changes.  The text in #50 summarizes the previous issues of the “End Game” saga (see Sonic #47, #48, and #49).  50dx, on the other hand, states that this is a revisit of the “ultimate battle.”

What about the comic itself?  What exactly has changed?  Some changes are minor, such as coloring.  But, since 50dx is longer, there are bound to be some pages added.  For this comparison, let’s take 50dx and see how it holds up to the original #50:
Page Number 50dx
 Page Number #50
 Differences
1
 1
 Coloring.
2
 2
 Coloring.
3
 3
 Coloring.
4
 X
 Added page – shows how a male overlander was taken prisoner.  Robotnik wants to do a test on him.
5
 X
 Added page – Robotnik tests his weapon and Snively says they’ll see who laughs last
6
 4
 Coloring.
7
 5
 Coloring.
8
 6
 Coloring.
9
 7
 50dx has different dialogue at the bottom of the page, which is because the next page is different.
10
 X
 Added page – Bunnie detonates her collar, tricking a combot into thinking that Bunnie, Antoine, Walt, and Barby are dead.  Crocbot orders the combot to the loading dock.
11
 X
 Added page – the other Downunda Freedom Fighters are free and attack Crocbot and combots while Bunnie and Antoine escape on the airbus.
12
 8
 Coloring.  Also, a word box at the top and another text bubble has been moved.
13
 9
 Coloring, including the word “Charge!” which is in red in the 50dx version.
14-15
 10-11
 Coloring.  The 50dx version has an extra text bubble to show that Sonic is looking for a wolf (i.e. Drago).
16
 X
 Added page – Bunnie and Antoine find themselves in a room.  Bunnie hacks into the system and finds Robotnik’s log.  The log states that the ore from Downunda will power the Ultimate Annihilator.
17
 12
(panel 1)
 Most of this is new, except for panel 1.  Hershey lures Drago closer to her.
18
 X
 Added page – Hershey proceeds to beat up Drago.
19
 12
 (remainder)
 Coloring.  The first panel is the only other difference.
20
 13
 Coloring.
21
 14
 Coloring.
22
 15
 Coloring.
23
 16
 Coloring.  Also an extra text bubble in the panel when Sonic’s silhouette meets Snively’s foot.
24
 17
 Coloring.  Also, the extra text bubbles for the bottom third of the page have been rearranged, making it easier to read and follow the action.  Part of the bottom panel has been removed (#50 showed more of the hallway).  A portion of Bunnie’s shadow has also been added.
25
 X
(note:  page 18 removed) 
 A small portion of dialogue has been kept from #50’s page 18.  Antoine has the bomb; Sonic tells Antoine and Bunnie to plant it.
26
 X
(note:  page 19 removed)
 Bunnie and Antoine destroy a swatbot so they can get to the Ultimate Annihilator.
27
 X
 Added page – the Ultimate Annihilator is activated and Robotnik counts down to the destruction of Knothole.
28
 X
 Added page – Sonic fights some swatbots and Robotnik activates the Ultimate Annihilator.
29
 X
 Added page – Knothole is destroyed as Sonic continues to fight swatbots.
30
 X
 Added page – 1/3 of the bottom of #50’s page 19 is used.  The final panel on #50’s page 19 is now the second to the last panel on 50dx’s page 30.  The text has been rearranged.
31
 20
 Coloring.
32
 21
 Coloring.
33
 X
 Added page – a black and white drawing of Sonic facing off with Robotnik as the bomb detonates.
34
 X
 Added page – a blank page.
35
 22
 Coloring.
36
 23
 Coloring.  In 50dx, panels 2 and 3 are different in how the text is arranged.  Panel 3 adds an additional explanation for Knothole’s existence.
37
 24
 Coloring.  Text has been reworded in panel 4; the words “neutron eradicator” has been changed to Ultimate Annihilator.
38
 25
 Coloring.
39
 26
 Coloring.
40
 X
 Added page – Sonic kisses Sally.
41
 27
 Coloring.

So there you have it, a list of all of the differences.  Please note that even though 50dx is a 48-page special, there are only 41 pages of actual story.  50dx also has a Sonic-Grams special (i.e. fan letters for the special comics) and a comic book cover which was seen in the Sonic-Grams for #50.


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