More than 15 years before Archie Comics' most soap opera-infused video game property topped 200 issues, a kinder, gentler era of Sonic stories playfully incorporated analogues of its comic book "competition" in the 1994 issue of "Sonic The Hedgehog" #8.

The issue's "'Bots All Folks" tale showcased Sonic squaring off against an army of comic book-inspired super hero robots built by the villainous Doctor Ivo Robotnik (a.k.a. Eggman for the younger generation) after his ordinary animal-based robot tactics had failed him.

The Blue Blur initially gets trounced by a formidable Batman analogue called 'Botman, before emerging victorious. His celebration is short lived, however, as Robotnik's crab underling references his longbox of comics for his leader to build from.

From there Sonic battles a botched version of Wolverine in the form of Steve Urkel (a play on 'Urkel actor Jaleel White's Sonic voice acting roles), Captain Marvel, Spawn and more.

Writer Michael Gallagher's script is chock full of cute puns and inside jokes that barely registered to my then 9-year-old mind.

Check out a list of analogues after the jump and soak in some Sonic nostalgia.'Botman



Wolvurkel 'Bot



Spawnmower


Magbot

Captain Marbot


Mighty 'Bot

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