Issue 5 of Sonic the Comic: Reillustrated, a fan-led project to recreate favourite Sonic the Comic strips with a different artist for each panel, has just been released.
The not-for-profit project is inspired by Sonic The Comic, published by Fleetway Editions. It’s well known within the Sonic fandom for its unique interpretations of the characters and lore, the most iconic being Sonic himself and his alter ego, Super Sonic. Over the years it adapted many of the games and introduced many comic-only favourites too.
Launched in 1993, Sonic the Comic was an anthology comic that initially featured Sonic in the lead strip and a revolving cast of Sega Superstars in the back-ups. Before long, however, the Sonic-focused content grew to surpass anything else until, eventually, the Sega Superstars were phased out to give more page space to strips which highlighted Sonic’s friends and foes, primarily Tails, Knuckles and Amy.
Initially edited by Richard Burton, the title’s original contributors included writers Nigel Kitching (who was instrumental in the title’s format, with editors Deborah Tate and Andy Diggle reshaping it later), Mark Millar, and Lew Stringer – his strips in focus in Issue 5 – and artists such as Casanovas, Roberto Corona, Nigel Dobbyn, Richard Elson, Carl Flint, ILYA, (as Ed Hillyer), Nigel Kitching, Mike McMahon and Woodrow Phoenix.
The bulk of the work in the comic was written by either Nigel Kitching or Lew Stringer, so it’s great to see Lew’s work in the spotlight in the new issue of Sonic the Comic: Reillustrated, whose Editor-in-Chief is AngelBless, it’s Editor, Kathy Murdoch. Contributors include artists Abby Bulmer, Dave Bulmer, Tom Carter, Zoe Davis, Pete Murphy, Shiliria, Shoogles, and many, many others.
Issue 5 recreates both parts 2 & 3 of “Enter the Cybernik” from Sonic the Comic issues #46 and #47 of STC, with a different artist for every panel.
“Enter the Cybernik“ introduces Shorty the Squirrel, soon to be transformed into perennial fan favourite, Shortfuse the Cybernik, at the hands of Doctor Robotnik. Shortfuse features in STC for one of the longest periods of time of any STC original character.
The team behind Sonic the Comic: Reillustrated are an inclusive community and encourage artists of all skill levels to join them. The only requirement is your enthusiasm!
• Read Sonic the Comic: Reillustrated #5 on Tumblr | Bluesky | Mastodon | Download it as a PDF
• See how you can get involved with future issues on the Sonic the Comic: Reillustrated about page
They have a mailing list to letting creators know when they’re opening submissions and other big announcements, which you can sign up for here. They won’t spam you, and you can be removed at any time.
Head downthetubes for…
• A guide to Sonic the Comic including original “pitch” documents features here on the Kintober Computer site
• The Sonic the Comic the Podcast – currently revisiting each issue in real time, offset by 26 years
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Games, Other Worlds
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