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Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 86 was the eighty-sixth issue of the main Sonic the Hedgehog comic series.
Summary[]
Story One[]
- "Heart of the Hedgehog Part One: Evil's Return"
Sonic and Tails are on a recon mission, which Sonic turns into a training run for Tails. After a near-crash landing, Tails feels as though he's not able to be as skilled as Sonic. Sonic reassures him that he'll eventually succeed, and the two break for lunch. Tails flies off to gather firewood for their campfire, but fails to return after an hour has passed. Fearing that he may have discouraged him, Sonic heads out to search for Tails, only to be ambushed by a familiar-looking robot: Metal Sonic.
Metal reveals that he has managed to rebuild himself from his past defeats and is ready to resume his task of destroying Sonic (although he has plans for Knuckles afterwards). Sonic is quickly overpowered and incapacitated by Metal Sonic's new-and-improved design, and the hedgehog realizes that Metal still has a shard of a Power Gem on him (which he had originally used during the Chaotix special), which also explains his new personality. Metal gloatingly tells Sonic that he has captured Tails and has taken him to Mt. Mobius, which is set to erupt very soon, and challenges Sonic to rescue his friend.
As expected, Sonic accepts the challenge and runs all the way through the forest. His pace, however, is eventually interrupted when Metal Sonic suddenly pops out and sucker-punches Sonic in the face. With Sonic unconscious, Metal Sonic dashes back to Tails and demoralizes him with the news, though the fox remains defiant.
Story Two[]
- "Against the Haunted Past" - Part One
During the Great War, King Acorn is consulting with Warlord Julian Kintobor about the progress of his experiments in cybernetics, which Julian claims will aid in healing the injuries that the King's soldiers have sustained. However, Julian's real motives for his cybernetics are far more sinister: to create an army of cybernetically-enhanced soldiers, obedient to his every whim.
Seeking test subject, but fearing suspicion should he use Mobians within the kingdom, Julian turns his attention towards Leung West, a neutral village outside of the Kingdom of Acorn. There, Ken Khan is being chastised by his father, Lau Khan, for his temper, which he had only recently demonstrated to a group of village youths. Sadly, Julian's arrival separates Ken from his family and friends, never to be seen again.
Some time later, Julian's test subjects are all dead, their bodies unable to adapt to the cybernetics that the warlord placed into them. Ken, however, is the only exception, and Julian scoffs at how his plans for a cybernetic army only resulted in a single "chimp with a stick". Regardless, he unleashes the newly-born "Monkey Khan" on a small group of invading Overlanders and takes glee in watching his creation demolish them. As the dust settles, however, Ken turns on Julian out of revenge, and Julian is forced to shut him down. Faced with the realization that he can't control this technology, Julian gives up on cybernetics and has Ken sealed away.
In the present day, Ken wakes up in Kar Leung, strapped to a lab table, surrounded by lethal lab equipment, and with a roboticized General Hunn standing over him. To his horror, a view-screen reveals his captor... the modern-day Dr. Eggman.
Bonus Features[]
Coloring Page[]
- "Pro Art: Color & Enjoy"
Pinup art of Sonic with his various robotic doppelgangers. Presented in black-and-white as a coloring page. Art by Patrick Spaziante.
Gag Strips[]
The editor asks Sonic to sign an issue of the comic for Rosario Pena, the digital color artist for things like comic covers and the Off Panel comics. Having signed autographs all day, Sonic refuses, asking what Pena could possibly do to him. Sonic becomes a series of pieces of abstract art, cells, and body parts, and decides to sign the issue for Pena. Written by Mike Gallagher, pencils by Dave Manak, inks by Jim Amash.
Quotes[]
- Metal Sonic: "Have a good trip Sonic. Don't forget to die!"
Key Events[]
- Metal Sonic is revealed to still be alive, and has developed a personality since his exposure to the Power Gem in the Knuckles' Chaotix Special.
- Monkey Khan's origins are revealed.
Background Information[]
- On the cover, Sonic references Silver Sonic II from the last issue, who appeared alongside Metal Sonic in the video game Sonic Adventure in Dr. Eggman's base.
- Metal Sonic's design on the cover and in the story itself are radically different.
- This issue's pin-up features Sonic along with all of his robotic copies at that point: Metal Sonic, Pseudo Sonic, Shard (as Metal Sonic 2.5), Mecha Sonic, Silver Sonic v1.0 and 2.0, and a large silhouette which is likely Titan Metal Sonic v2.0.
Reprint History[]
This issue has been reprinted in the following places:
- Sonic Archives Vol. 23
External links[]
- Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 86 at Sonic Wiki Zone, the Sonic wiki.