![Writer Again States “There’s gonna be some big changes” With this being the day the landmark 250th issue of the Archie Sonic comic makes it way into comic book stops […]](http://www.tssznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/archie_comics_generic_header.jpg "Flynn Comments in Wake of Archie v. Penders Settlement")
Writer Again States “There’s gonna be some big changes”
With this being the day the landmark 250th issue of the Archie Sonic comic makes it way into comic book stops and newsstands, there are many fans concerned with the future of the series given how Archie’s lawsuit against former series writer Ken Penders did not end in a knockout punch, but a settlement instead, and subsequent assumptions much of the existing secondary cast will never appear in the books again.
To this point, current series writer Ian Flynn has not wanted to say much about contingency plans while the litigation was ongoing. Now that it’s behind, he offered an apology to users of his Bumbleking forums for his perceived behavior of late. He also again confirmed changes coming to the comics in the future, but assured fans a core cast is staying, and specifically called out Sally Acorn, Bunnie Rabbot, Antoine, and Rotor among those still included. He did not mention anyone else.
A majority of his remarks follow and can be read in full here:
I apologize if I’ve come across as condescending, haughty or hand-wavy in the past months. I’m in a tight position. I’ve created an expectation from the readers about being open and on the level with y’all. The recent brouhaha has left me unable to talk about anything going on. So when I give you big, sweeping generalizations like “It’ll be alright” and “Trust us, we’ve got this,” it’s because it’s all I really can say. It’s meant to be a comforting pat on the shoulder and prevent all-out rage fits like we just had. Obviously, taking me at my word isn’t enough.
It’s like this – there’s gonna be some big changes. Some are things I was already planning and working towards. Some things are beyond my control. Some of you are going to love what we’re about to do, and some of you will probably say we should’ve done it sooner. And some of it just is not going to sit right with some readers, and there’s nothing I can do about that. Some of you aren’t going to like the changes – small or large – purely on the principle of the matter, so no amount of “it’s going to be okay” from me is going to ease your furrowed brow.
What I’m trying to convey is the kind of stories you’ve enjoyed all this time are still going to happen. What makes the Sonic books unique is the robust extended cast and deeper exploration of Sonic’s world. That’s not going to change. If you’ve been coming to this book for Sonic and the Freedom Fighters’ adventures, then that’s exactly what you’re going to get. Maybe viewed through a different lens, but Sally, Bunnie, Rotor and Antoine are sticking around. We’ve taken great pains to make sure we can still keep them at the heart of the book. And that, I think, should say a lot about what we’re doing.
To perfectly frank, I don’t have the time or energy to be duplicitous or clever with my words. I’m just trying to convey my interest and excitement over the future – even when I can’t talk about it any specific terms.
[….]
To sum it all up: be patient with me and the ArchieSonic Team. While y’all have been reading “Worlds Collide,” we’ve been working hard on the next step. We’ve got some expansive long-term plans. So instead of fretting over what’s lost and what you potentially won’t like, I encourage you to have an open mind and try to enjoy the ride.
Tell us if these words have calmed any of your fears in the comments below.
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It’s too bad about lien da. She was pretty evil.
And hot!! …ughh what? Who said that?
Keep it in your pants, Dante. =P
And this whole legal BS is a big reason why I think Ben Hurst would have been a better suited person to write the comics. There would have been consistency in the book, and Sega Japan would likely have to meet HIS creative terms for greater participation in the comic.
And if that happened, Sega Japan would not have bungled and screwed up the worldwide Sonic character base and creative path as bad as they did in 1998.
Sadly, Ben is no longer alive. And that really sucks out loud.
If Geoffrey has to go due to this settlement than the comic will have a significant problem in the near future, what with Nagus having taken over his body. It’s a pretty important aspect of the plot and I’m not sure how Ian could come up with a suitable work around.
I believe the work around for most of this is already in place. Its called Worlds Collide and its fall out having shifted time and dimensions. They can practically have them come back with all sorts changed and blame it on the 2nd white out changing time/history etc etc
Yeah I also came to a similar conclusion a few hours after I posted this. The dimension shift back will be a good opportunity to make changes.
This is something I’ve been wondering about as well. Naugus took over St. John’s body in #241, and then they weren’t even mentioned by name #247, merely alluded to. I think if something does come of that plotline following “Worlds Collide” (ugh, hurry up and end already!) I do have to wonder what exactly that is. Will this “fusion” basically become his own character to sort of sidestep the issue (presuming Flynn is forced to remove Penders’s characters entirely)?
It’s possible, but you’re not entirely correct about Naugus. HE was mentioned by name in issue #247, but it was Geofrey who was alluded too. Naugus is actually a character who was created by the team who worked on SatAM, he appeared in the episode “The Void.” Long before he showed up in the comics. So Penders has no claim to him at the very least. As for Geofrey… yeah, I’m curious to see what’s become of him. But if what Naugus did to King Max back in the day is any indication, the possession is fatal, and there’s no way to free St. John from Naugus now thanks to what happened to the Sword Of Acorns during Darkest Storm. So either the Genesis Wave will speed up the process, or it’ll do nothing to Ixis “Naufrey/Geogus.”
Yeah, they have a little.
I suggest that one good change would be a change for the betterment of discernment of when to use the 3rd person singular or plural conjugation of the verb “to be”.
I personally am not, and have never been, worried. Although it will be sad for me to lose some of these characters and I really wish I could have seen what Ian was going to do before this Penders monkey business, I, for one, am confident that Ian will manage to keep things on track and will still provide the excellent writing that I’ve come to expect from him. Really, when it all comes down to it, the comic is a glorified ad anyway. We should be glad that we have someone who really cares about Sonic writing, and not someone whose stories basically say “Sonic is so awsum BUY THE FRIGGIN GAMEZ SO WE KAN CEEP R LICENZE! ;P”.
Ian, I salute you and i know you will do whatever is necessary to keep the comic going strong.
…KEEP AN OPEN MIND! AND DON’T FORGET,
that if you gotta do something YA GOTTA DO SOMETHING……believe in yourself, yourself, YOURSELF!!! HEY!!!
Some are things I was already planning and working towards.
Guess that guy on DA was right after all, the whole past year and half was just a filler arc while they finished work on those redesigns.
Am I going to care, no, cause frankly I’m done with the comic. No amount of recons, dues ex machinas or plot holes will fix this mess the comic is in right now.
Oh, and Ben Hurst, wouldn’t have stood a chance in influencing SEGA, he didn’t work for them and had zero know how about game making. He simply took orders from them in regards to Sonic Satam and how to write Sonic. And if they didn’t like his attitude or ability to follow their directions, he’d be out the door in seconds with a cease and desist letter in his hands.
Just look at the way they reacted to the Satam movie he was going to gain their approval for, either he or Ken said the wrong thing to the SEGA reps, it depends on who you ask, but in the end SEGA just told them to F*** off due to their attitude towards the company. And the reaction would be the same if they tried to tell them how to handle the game franchise.
Yo he leído todas las historietas de Sonic de la revista Archie y note que al menos el 80% de las ideas para los videojuegos de Sonic las sacaron de allí y como un 20 % de las series animadas de Sonic the hedgehog, es decir SEGA no aporto mucho salvo por los personajes nuevos.
La historieta es buena salvo algunos capítulos que tratan de temas controversiales pero creo que eso les gusta a los jóvenes, lo que esta pasando ahora es que se esta destruyendo todo un universo de Sonic, lo cual dudo que mejore la historieta y creo que es un atropello a sus lectores ya que durante años han sido fieles a la historia pero ahora quieren darle un giro desesperado. Yo la verdad siento pena porque veo que SEGA al no tener una historia prometedora para los juegos de video se inclina a clonar a MARIO BROS, tristemente el ser humano es muy egoísta y poco inteligente.