Sonic the Hedgehog #01

Sonic the Hedgehog has spent years fighting the forces of Dr. Eggman.
Within the Final Egg, Sonic faces off with the Egg Viper, an enormous serpentine robot piloted by Dr. Eggman.

Time and time again, the mad doctor attacks, Sonic strikes back, then relaxes until Eggman returns.
Atop the Final Forretress, Sonic battles the Egg Emperor, a humanoide mecha equipped with a lance and shield.

But after their last battle...
Sonic stares down the Egg Dragoon, a flying robot with laser wings and an imposing gatling gun arm.

...Dr. Eggman vanished...
Against an overcast sky, Sonic fights the Death Egg Robot, a bulbous robot with a single glassy eye-like fixture and numerous tentacle appendages.

Within the gutters of the page's other panels, Sonic is framed from the front, running forward with a determined look on his face.

...But his robot army did not!
SONIC: Whuh-oh- That doesn't look good.

SONIC: Sounds like the locals are putting up a fight. I hope they don't mind me lending a hand!
Placing one hand on the ground, Sonic starts running in place, his legs becoming a red blur.

Sonic speeds into the distance, leaving an elongated dust cloud behind him. It's clear that the doors of the city have been blown wide open.

UNNAMED_VISTA_RESIDENT_A: Run! Get to the storm bunker!
A town resident holding a Cube Wispon distressedly directs other unarmed residents away from approaching robots.

The resident brandishes his weapon, shaking in fear. An Egg Pawn looms closer.

SOK
The Egg Pawn knocks the Cube Wispon out of the resident's hands.

Numerous Egg Pawns approach the fallen resident, who cowers on the ground.

SMASH
SMASH
Sonic appears as a blue blurring ball, bouncing between each of the Egg Pawns and smashing them to pieces.

SONIC: Hey! You hurt?
UNNAMED_VISTA_RESIDENT_A: N-not really. You're...You're Sonic!
Sonic extends a hand to the resident, picking up the Cube Wispon too.

SONIC: The one and only. Here you go. Try swinging it at the robots next time. I knew somebody who put it to good use.
UNNAMED_VISTA_RESIDENT_A: N-not really. You're...You're You're...THE Sonic!
Sonic hands the Wispon back to the resident, who stands nervously.

SONIC: Maybe get inside, buddy. Nice chat! Need to save your town. Bye!
UNNAMED_VISTA_RESIDENT_A: O-okay!
The resident watches as Sonic dashes around a corner.

SONIC: Sweet! The town militia! Bots coming in from the north! You've got a guy holding his own out there!
UNNAMED_MILITIA_CAT: O-okay! We're on it!
Sonic dashes past three armed animals, a cat, a dog (?) and a rabbit, who appear worried.

UNNAMED_VISTA_RESIDENT_B: Hurry up! They're closing in!
UNNAMED_VISTA_RESIDENT_C: I'm trying! It's stuck!
A blue bird strugles to open a hatch on the ground while a red fox (?) panics, watching a line of Motobugs drive closer.

WHOOSH
Sonic runs through the Motobugs, knocking them all aside.

As he skids to a stop, Sonic strikes a pose, winking and flashing two finger guns. The residents stand in awe.

FASSSH
Sonic dashes off the right side of the panel, throwing up dirt behind him.

UNNAMED_VISTA_RESIDENT_B: ...All this terror might be worth it if I get to say Sonic winked at me!
UNNAMED_VISTA_RESIDENT_C: I hope we survive long enough to get his autograph!
The residents, much calmer now, are very impressed by Sonic.

WHAM
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH
An enormous hammerhead slams into the ground right in front of Sonic, as he screeches to a stop, looking disappointed.

SONIC: Oh hey, another hammer-guy. I liked the earlier one better.
Sonic stands in front of an Egg Hammer, an imposing robot the size of a building, with a hammer just as tall.

SMASH
SMASH
SMASH
SMASH
Sonic spin dashes into the Egg Hammer multiple times, forcing him to step back. More Egg Hammers lurk behind the corner.

SONIC: Where ya goin'?
SMASH
Jumping off of a window ledge, Sonic launches himself at the Egg Hammer, who begins to raise their hammer.

SMASH
Sonic tries to attack the Egghammer by spin-dashing into him, but the Egghammer deflects Sonic with the handle of his hammer.

SONIC: C'mon, big guy! Swing batta-batta-batta--
Sonic stands on top of a manhole cover, the Egg Hammer behind him

SONIC: --Swing?
Sonic is surprised that he is surrounded by more than one Egghammer.

SONIC: Yeah, okay, this one's on me.
Four Egg Hammers surround Sonic, who stands crossing his arms.

WHAM
WHAM
WHAM
WHAM
The four Egghammers pound their hammers onto the floor.

SONIC: ♫
Sonic lifts up a manhole and whistles, getting an Egg Hammer's attention.

SONIC: "Hedgehog." Noun. A burrowing animal.
Sonic pokes his upper body out of the manhole.

SONIC: Whoa! You guys can really move when you want to!
The Egghammers chase down Sonic as he runs away.

One of the Egghammers is drops its hammer down onto Sonic.

SONIC: Tails!
TAILS: Could you not risk your life for five minutes?
SONIC: Sure, but where's the fun in that?
Tails saves Sonic from the Egghammer's swinging attack, flying the two of them away.

SONIC: Seriously though, thanks for the save.
TAILS: My pleasure!
Tails drops Sonic on a rooftop

TAILS: What's the status of the town?
SONIC: A bunch of small-fry Badniks. I took care of most of them, and the town's militia can handle the rest.
Tails looks into the distance, Sonic, standing next to him, rubs his nose.

SONIC: Those Super Badniks are another story.
The Egghammers are proceeding across the town.

TAILS: Those are better left to the professionals!
SONIC: Let's show 'em how it's done!
Sonic grins as he takes Tails' hands.

Sonic and Tails roll off the roof of a building, charging up their spin dashes.

SMASH
SMASH
Sonic and Tails' spin dash carves through the ground, then into an Egghammer, snapping its hammer.

FASSSH
Sonic and Tails destroy the Egghammer by spin-dashing through the Egghammer's armor.

K-ZZOTTTT
Sonic and Tails detatch from eachother and fall towards the ground as the Egghammer gets ripped in half.

Sonic and Tails strike an epic pose as they look at each other. The Egghammer explodes in the background.

Sonic and Tails find another Egghammer, and they chase it down.

While the Egghammer swings its gigantic hammer at Tails, Tails flies low and reaches to pick Sonic up.

Tails throws Sonic into the Egghammer, bending the Egghammer's nose.

SMASH
Tails whacks the Egghammer's hammer out of its hands, and Sonic takes the Egghammer's nose off of its face.

SMASH
Sonic proceeds to attack another Egghammer, launching himself towards its head.

SMASH
SMASH
Sonic bounces off the Egghammer's hammer, making it trip itself, while Tails watches from above.

SMASH
Sonic and Tails land the coup-de-grace to the Egghammer, felling it. Sonic flashes a double thumbs-up pose.

TAILS: This would be going a lot faster if we had Knuckles with us.
SONIC: Naaaah, we're doing fine!
Tails is visibly tiring above Sonic, who seems calm and relaxed.

TAILS: The remaining robots are making a run for it!
Tails points at the fleeing Egg Hammer, Motobugs, and Egg Pawns

SONIC: We can't risk them attacking another town. You cut them off! I'll handle the Super Badnik!
TAILS: On it!
Sonic and Tails charge toward foward, determined expressions on their faces

SMASH
Sonic smashes into one of the Egg Hammers' ankle, crushing it.

SMASH
Sonic dodges the Egg Hammer's attack by bouncing off a rooftop.

Sonic runs up the Egg Hammer's hammer's handle

SMASH
Sonic speeds through the Egg Hammer's head, breaking it in half.

As the destroyed Egg Hammer falls, Sonic starts to land on the ground unharmed.

Sonic sticks his landing as the Egg Hammer impales its deactivated body through its hammer.

Tails flies to the top of a chain lift system that is conected to a massive door.

SONIC: They're almost out! C'mon, Tails! Hurry up!
Sonic yells to Tails to close the door.

TAILS: Oh ye of little faith...
Tails begins to pull a lever.

The door swings shut ahead of the fleeing Badnicks

Three Motobugs crash into the door as it slams shut in front of them.

Sonic runs past some Egg Pawns ad Motobugs as he watches them fall apart from running into the shut door.

TAILS: Well?
Tails hovers smugly as Sonic approaches the destroyed Badnicks

SONIC: Expertly done. Bonus points for dramatic timing.
TAILS: Thank you, thank you.
Sonic praises Tails for helping him destroy the remaining Badniks, clapping as Tails bows.

SONIC: Another day saved thanks to Sonic and Tails! These rogue robots are more like pests than anything.
TAILS: Normally I'd agree...
Sonic stretches proudly while Tails crosses his arms concernedly.

TAILS: ...but this was a much more coordinated attack. At least compared to anything we've seen lately.
Tails gestures to a broken Motobug.

SONIC: Really? I hadn't noticed.
Sonic grins at Tails while picking at his teeth. Tails stands with his hands on his hips.

Tails looks frustratedly at Sonic because Sonic still does not understand what went on.

SONIC: Okay--FINE--the Egg Hammers were new to the mix.
TAILS: That's not what I mean.
Sonic shrugs while Tails glares at him

TAILS: After we beat Dr. Eggman and his forces, we broke the Eggman Empire's control over our world.
As Tails explains to Sonic why the Badnik attack happened, in the background, we see a view of the fortress town with a sepia tone to introduce a flashback.

"The Badnik army remained, but not as a unified threat. Any attacks seemed more like accidents than aggression."
We see a sepia-toned flashback of two Motobugs bumping into each other and an Egg Pawn walking on a cliff.

TAILS: But today--unified troop movements? Super Badniks being deployed? Setting up ambushes? Something is making Eggman's army more cohesive.
Tails gestures behind him while raising an eyebrow.

SONIC: Points taken. Do you think Eggman is back?
TAILS: Without so much as an angry vlog? No way. After that last defeat, he'd make sure we knew he was back. The lack of fanfare is spooky.
Sonic taps his foot while Tails paces, both thinking.

SONIC: In that case, I'll just keep doing what I've been doing. Those Badniks are a threat to everyone, organized or not. I'll keep traveling around, smashing every one I see.
Sonic stretches his arm while smiling confidently.

TAILS: Yeah, but if they are getting orders from someone...
SONIC: Then it'll make it more fun!
TAILS: J-Just...be careful, okay?
As Sonic stretches, Tails scratches his head while looking concerned.

: If you get caught off-guard again...get hurt...
Tails turns away from Sonic. Sonic looks surprised.

Sonic notices Tails feels worried.

SONIC: Hey. Sure, we've had some close calls. But we've come out of it fine in the end, right?
TAILS: Yeah, I guess.
SONIC: I'll be careful. I promise.
TAILS: ...Okay. Thanks Sonic.
Sonic puts his hand on Tails' shoulder. Tails looks calmer.

SONIC: If you're so worried, you can always come with me.
TAILS: Yeah! Just like old times and-!
Sonic and Tails' silouhettes are shown, Sonic's gesturing explainedly.

Tails looks behind him, at the vista's destruction and two residents crying while holding each other.

Tails looks down, thinking to himself.

Tails closes his eyes and smiles confidently.

TAILS: There's too many Badnik gangs out there. You'll find them faster on your own. I'll stay here and help the locals rebuild their town.
SONIC: You're a class act, buddy. We'll bash bots some other time.
TAILS: Deal!
Tails gestures to the damaged town. Sonic gives him a thumbs-up.

As Sonic runs away from the vista, an Egg Flapper is seen hovering above.

In a close-up of the Flappers face, a red cross-hair appears on its visor.

"So...he survived the first trial. Unsurprising."
Sonic is highlighted in a red crosshair, his picture being zoomed into focus.

???: Deploy a battalion to the next nearest town. He'll be drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
A large chair is shown from behind, bearing Dr. Eggman's signature symbol. Sonic is being observed on the monitor in front of the chair. Amy is visible on another monitor to the left.

???: Make sure word of Sonic's latest success reaches the Resistance. I want to crush both hedgehogs in one strike.
Next time: Can LOVE hammer it out ON THE BATTLEFIELD?
A picture of Amy is shown zoomed in on a monitor.