John Workman

I've been pretty up front about the fact that I know very little about the world of Sonic the Hedgehog, but I do know that it can be pretty shockingly complicated. I know, for instance, that Sonic likes to run fast and is always ready to party, but when it comes to figuring out how the world he lives in was shattered by a global cataclysm, or why he's hanging out with cyborgs and a sentient AI who takes the form of a holographic lynx, I'm a little more hazy. But if you're in the same boat, good news. The next issue of Archie's long-running Sonic the Hedgehog starts off with a series of quick captions to explain everything --- and a More Than Meets The Eye/Arrested Development party to celebrate something that they actually have not accomplished yet. But will the answers themselves become more questions? Decide for yourself with the preview below!

As much as they're my preferred medium, I have to admit that comic books have a pretty major flaw. For visuals, they've got it covered with their unique combination of art and text, but for the other senses? Nothin'. I can tell you all about the history of Batman's war on crime and the different ways that it's changed over the past 77 years, but if you asked me to tell you what Gotham City smells like, I'd be completely unable to. Until now! It seems that Tom King and David Finch have recognized this problem and taken steps to correct it in the pages of Batman #3, thanks to some very evocative descriptions of the sights and scents of the Dark Knight's hometown. Check out a preview!

One day, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tails, Amy, Sally, Knuckles and the rest of the gang are going to have a nice vacation. There won't be any more Eggman troubles to deal with, and the world will finally be at peace. Nothing but clear skies, chill music, high fives, and frosty beverages for everyone. Unfortunately for them, that day has not yet arrived, and the troubles continue to mount for the Freedom Fighters. It's nice to think that eventually things will work out for the heroes in this universe. That just hasn't been the case as of late. But perhaps that day is closer than we thought. In Sonic the Hedgehog #283, the Freedom Fighters finally have everything they need to bring some hope into the world. With Eggman still lurking in the shadows however, can anything possibly go as planned. Guess it depends on how many of the world's heroes come to Sonic's aid when he needs them the most.

How do you make the adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog even more exciting? You double down on the action and adventure. That's just what Archie's been up to these past few issues, and that trend continues in Sonic the Hedgehog #281, which features two startling stories starring the Blue Blur and his Freedom Fighter friends. First, you've got Sonic teaming up with a dragon to hunt down a Gaia Key before Metal Sonic can get his rusty hands on it. We've all seen Game of Thrones. I think we can guess how flame breath and metal mix. The results don't seem like they'd be in Metal Sonic's favor. Elsewhere, Tails and Bunnie work together to help a Key Guardian out of a sticky situation. If there's any duo that can get the job done, it's a fox with two tails and a cyborg rabbit.

This week sees the start of two new stories in Sonic The Hedgehog #280, published by Archie Action. After saving the Arid Sands Zone from Nephthys the Vulture, Sonic The Hedgehog is heading to Efrika in search of the next set of Gaia Keys, but he’s going to have to deal with a new foe in the form Axel, one of Eggman’s regional bosses. Aided by Miles “Tails” Prower and the guardian of light, Chip, Sonic must keep the bad guys busy while his friends sneak into their base and nab the keys!

Walt Simonson, Laura Martin and John Workman's Ragnarok is an epic in every sense of the word. It's the story of Thor --- the Norse god, not any other comic book characters of the same name that you might be thinking of when you hear the words "Walt Simonson" --- returning to life as a rotting but vengeance-driven warrior in a world that's already seen its apocalypse and forming an uneasy alliance with a dark elf assassin sent to finish him off for good. If you're not sold already, you can read an exclusive preview right here, in which Thor's alliance with Regn gives way to an agreement that one of them is more than likely going to kill the other, assuming they both survive for the next 40 pages.

It's been a while since we've seen an issue of Walt Simonson, Laura Martin and John Workman's Ragnarok, but that doesn't mean that I've forgotten for a second how awesome it is. If you somehow missed the first six issues, it's an epic that marks Simosnon's return to Thor --- just not the Thor you probably associate with him. Instead, Simonson is drawing more heavily on Norse mythology for the story of a world after the battle at the end of all things, where Asgard is in ruins, the enemies of the Gods have taken over the world, and Thor himself is barely clinging to life, driven by duty and revenge. Needless to say, it is basically amazing. Next week, the series returns to kick off its second arc, as a Dark Elf assassin sets out to finish the job and kill Thor for good. Check out an exclusive preview!

It's been a long time coming, but the temporary end of Archie's Mega Man comic is almost here. Over the last five years, we've been there through thick and thin with the Blue Bomber, and it's going to be strange not to have him around on a regular basis after Mega Man #55 hits. That said, the creative team is going all with this finale, introducing a host of new worlds for the first time in comic book form. While Mega Man won't be gone forever (Archie Comics is promising this is just a temporary reprieve), there's no telling just when he'll return either. It's fitting then that this issue is dubbed "Everlasting Peace," as the original game's opening cheered the blue champion on to "fight for everlasting peace!" It seems that after 54 issues of tackling Dr. Wily's most nefarious plans, Rock has finally accomplished that goal.

Poor, Sonic the Hedgehog. The dude just never catches a break. Unless of course the "break" you're talking about is how his whole world is still shattered. Literally. Sonic and his friends have been working tirelessly to repair their planet since it fractured in the events after "Worlds Collide." Maybe if Sonic had time to catch his breath instead of constantly thwarting Eggman's latest machinations, Mobius wouldn't be the hot mess it still is today. But even Sonic can't do everything on his own, and this issue will also see Sally and Bunnie track down the final Chaos Emerald. You might recall the Chaos Emeralds were last used during "Worlds Unite" to give Mega Man and Sonic the power boost needed to take Sigma down for good. As long as they don't fall into the hands of Eggman, everyone should be okay, right?

If you were a child in the '90s whose primary source of news was a subscription to Nintendo Power, then there were few things more thrilling than the saga of Break Man. When he first showed up in Mega Man III as an occasional obstacle and a mysterious plot device at the end, and was eventually revealed to be Mega Man's brother, it was probably the single greatest bit of drama in the series since the invention of running left-to-right and jumping. And not surprisingly, it's something that Archie's Mega Man comics have done a pretty fantastic job handling over the past four years. Now, as the series winds down, Break Man (aka Proto Man, aka Blues) is taking the spotlight for "Red Shift," a prologue story for the events of Mega Man IV, with a whole lot of questions about the nature of his existence. You know, for the kids! Check out an exclusive preview!