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Sonic the Hedgehog Publication Details Issue  15 Date Published  July 1994 Publisher  Archie Comics Production Staff Cover Artist Dave Manak Jon D'Agostino Writer Angelo DeCesare Pencils Dave Manak Art Mawhinney Inks Harvey Mercadoocasio Jon D'Agostino Letters Dan Narkosis Colors Barry Grossman Editor Scott Fulop Managing Editor Victor Gorelick Editor in Chief Richard Goldwater First Appearances Vehicles Beetle Bot Magnabot

Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 15 was the fifteenth issue of the main Sonic the Hedgehog comic series.

Summary

Story One

"Rockin' the 'Bot"

Sonic saves the life of a magical frog from a mudslide caused by a thunderstorm, who in turn rewards him with three magical stones. Each of the stones has a different ability to imbue a user with, with one that provides super strength, one that enables great leaping distance, and one that grants elasticity. The frog warns that the stones will only last a few minutes each, and leaps off after thanking him again for his rescue, though Sonic doesn't buy his claims of being magic. He resolves to give the rocks to Tails as good luck charms; a few days later, the Fox is carrying them as the Knothole Freedom Fighters ride into the Mobian Badlands in Rotor's land rover. The Fox is confident that the stones will protect them from Dr. Robotnik, but is unaware that they have been spotted by Robotnik and Snively. Robotnik decides to amuse himself by attacking the group using his new Beetlebot, and destroying their vehicle in the bargain. Too late, the Freedom Fighters notice the craft's approach, and are sent flying as the rover is destroyed.

Trapped in a pit with the Beetlebot about to crush them, Sonic determines that he has no option but to try the stones' powers. Forgetting which stone grants which powers, he pulls the red stone, thinking it will grant him super strength to catch and throw back a boulder hurled by the Beetlebot. He guesses wrong and is flattened, to the horror of Sally, Antoine, and the others. But to their astonishment, he survives, having employed the elasticity stone by mistake. Furious, Robotnik pilots the Beetlebot in for another attack, and Sonic uses the yellow stone in hopes of gaining super strength to stop it. Once again he guesses wrong, and ends up leaping out of the pit as the Freedom Fighters are captured by Robotnik. As the Beetlebot prepares to take off, Sonic hits upon a plan that will enable him to use the green super-strength stone. Grabbing a tree trunk and creating a slab of rock with his Spin-Dash, he gets to a rise above the rising vehicle. As Robotnik gleefully anticipates subjecting the Freedom Fighters to Roboticization and sending them to capture Sonic, the Hedgehog thwarts his plans by striking down the Beetlebot with his newly fashioned giant fly swatter.

Rushing underneath the falling robot, Sonic catches it and frees his friends, sparing them harm from the crash. Sally is grateful for Sonic's rescue, and the Hedgehog realizes that the frog had told him the truth after all. He then tries to locate the frog amongst a group of others, hoping to receive more magical stones, much to the confusion of his friends.

Story Two

"What's the Big Idea"

In a non-serious story, Rotor is working in his workshop, and all the Freedom Fighters are at a loss as to what he could be developing. After reviewing some of Rotor's less-than-spectacular previous inventions and speculating on what he could be coming up with now, the group find the answer when Rotor emerges and presents his...thermos.

Story Three

"Animal Magnetism"

Robotnik, watching one of his monitors, spots Bunnie holding aloft a broken tree branch so that Tails can use the swing attached to it. Disgusted by the sight, Robotnik questions why Snively provided such a video, and Snively responded that it was the only one they had which included footage of Bunnie. Robotnik then gleefully anticipates using the Rabbot's cyborg nature to his advantage. Later, the Freedom Fighters are having an outdoor barbecue-being sure to watch for Robotnik's forces-when metal objects start flying through the air. Bunnie is caught up in the effect, and Sonic rushes after her only to discover the cause: Robotnik's new Magnabot, which features a giant electro-magnet. Robotnik, intending to capture Bunnie and use her as bait for the other Freedom Fighters, doesn't notice Sonic at first, while the Hedgehog spots Bunnie holding onto a tree to avoid being pulled in by the magnet. Struck by a flying can, Sonic gets an idea, and grabs a trashcan lid before rushing out of the magnetic field area. He then taunts Robotnik, holding up the lid and daring the doctor to use the magnet on him. Robotnik has Snively redirect the Magnabot so it can draw in the lid, and power it up so they can be sure to capture him. However, he realizes too late that Sonic has tricked them into aiming the magnet towards Robotropolis. The Magnabot is then buried under a pile of objects attracted from the city, allowing Sonic and Bunnie to make their escape. Rotor later coats Bunnie's limbs with a solution to prevent her from being in similar peril again, and the Rabbot jokes about the situation, to the amusement of her teammates.

Quotes

Key Events

• Sonic is given three magical stones, each with a unique power.
• Sonic is able to defeat Robotnik's creation, the Beetlebot, in the Forbidden Zone with the help of one of the stones
• Dr Robotnik uses a robot that is capable of generating magnetic fields in order to capture Bunnie in order to lure the Freedom Fighters into a trap, but the robot's abilities are turned against him by Sonic's quick-thinking.

Background Information

• This issue cover is one of the six in the main Sonic comic series to not feature Sonic in the art, the others being StH: #146, #157, #190, #210, and #240. (Due to SEGA, Sonic was on the covers in some form, be it an icon, corner box or an alternate form.)