Issue 101

Issue 101 is the one hundred and first edition of Sonic the Comic. The issue, released on the 2nd of April 1997 at the price of £1.25, contains four original stories (all of them new) as well as several features, a Crawlton pin-up and a free gift of a Lip Lash lollipop.

Strips

Sonic the Hedgehog

Vote For Me is a complete story written by Lew Stringer, drawn by Roberto Corona, coloured by John M Burns and lettered by Tom Frame. Fresh from Doctor Robotnik's defeat, Tekno the Canary has restored power to all Zones after the electromagnetic pulse and a new world leader is being decided upon. At the "It's Your Shout" event, Giles Baboon and Derek Wombat come to blows over their policies, which later boils into an actual brawl in battle armour suits! Sonic sorts them both out, leaving them with no time to vote for themselves. With no leader decided upon, Sonic retorts that each Zone should nominate a Zone Leader, but maybe without elections this time...

Knuckles the Echidna

Loose Ends is a complete story by Nigel Kitching, Nigel Dobbyn and Elitta Fell that follows straight on from The Final Victory. Knuckles and Porker Lewis are worried about the whereabouts of Doctor Zachary, but it seems he has escaped down the tunnel system. Before Knuckles can give chase, Sidney of the Emerald Hill folk confronts him, asking for his people to be returned home. After a misunderstanding with the reactivated Guardian Robots, Knuckles and Porker return to the Emerald Chamber to send the residents back to the Emerald Hill Zone.

Decap Attack

Walls is a complete story written by Kitching and Richard Rayner, with art from Mick McMahon and lettering by Ellie de Ville. Fresh from their experience in Hell, Igor is trying to think of a way to rescue Professor Frank N. Stein from the Thin Controller. There is no need, as the engaged couple have returned to Castle Frank N. Stein to redesign their new home. Interior designer Ricardo and builder Bernard tear down all the walls until the Thin Controller learns of Stein's past. Angered, they return home, leaving the castle teetering on one supporting wall - until Chuck D. Head leans on it, bringing down the whole house!

Sonic's World

Invasion of the Veg Heads is a 2-part story by Stringer with art from Andy Pritchett and lettering by de Ville. Farmer Nige is too busy tending to his crops in the Plowright Zone to notice that there is some movement in the soil... That night, mysterious figures disrupt the peace in town and Harry Mole is called in to investigate the disturbance. Questioning Farmer Nige, the pair discover that his vegetables have sprouted and gotten a mind of their own. Sonic arrives to rescue them but, before he can leave again, all three are captured by King Edward and the Veg-Heads.

Features

The Control Zone sees host Megadroid feel sympathy with Robootnik, since Easter indulgence has also led to him being out of action. After introducing this issue's stories and teasing the first Super Sonic story next issue, there is also a mention of the new Speedlines prize - a Sonic 2 Crucial Cup. The Sega Charts are largely different this week, with only FIFA '97 being a non-mover atop the Mega Drive chart. Tomb Raider moves up to the top of the Saturn chart, Dynamite Headdy claims the Game Gear prize and Ecco the Dolphin is a re-entry at the head of the Mega-CD list.

Over at the Review Zone, Chris Jones covers the Saturn edition of Sonic 3D. Not as impressed with it as the Mega Drive version, Jones awards the game 85%, stating it "may not have all heads in a spin". However, the review is much the same as the original Sonic 3D article, merely adding a few more nods to the Saturn's unique features.

Speedlines contains letters from Boomers wondering about what happened to "Skull" (Head) at the end of The Pumpkin Chaser, why Ferran Rodriguez wasn't at the UKCAC, and what "Rector" (Vector the Crocodile) listens to on his personal stereo ("Crocodile Shoes", apparently). As mentioned earlier, all published letters and drawings won a cup.