Issue 16

Issue 16 is the sixteenth edition of Sonic the Comic, the UK's official SEGA comic. Released on the 25th December 1993, at the price of £1.10, the issue contained four original stories (two of them new) as well as several features and a competition to win one of 100 Tomy toys, or a satellite dish and receiver. After two issues of buildup, this issue is a Christmas special, with the logo adorned with stars.

Strips

Sonic the Hedgehog

Happy Christmas Doctor Robotnik is a Christmas complete story written by Mark Millar, with art by Brian Williamson and lettering by Elitta Fell. The Emerald Hill folk have received a nice surprise when Doctor Robotnik turns over a leaf and gifts them all with new presents. However, a "drunk" Trooper reveals to Sonic that Robotnik is actually just a robot with a bomb in it, so Sonic speeds to clear out the threat before it can ruin his party!

Ecco the Dolphin

Ecco the Dolphin is a 6-part story by Woodrow Phoenix, Steve White and Tom Frame. Ecco finally returns to familiar waters, albeit many miles from home. A tangle with a jellyfish leads Ecco to get stuck on the ice - with a hungry polar bear! Using his wit and strength, Ecco forces a brawl between the two predators, leaving him to continue his journey to Atlantis.

The Legend of the Golden Axe

Plague of Serpents is a 6-part story written by Mark Eyles, drawn by Mike White and lettered by Ellie de Ville. Gilius-Thunderhead and Yuki-Plantcharmer are having to fend off snakes conjured by the rainbow snake dust of Viprax and easily manage it with a bit of help from magic and Goddess Flora, but are knocked out by the wizard's snakejaw hands. Ax-Battler continues to wander around the caves while a revived Gilius almost falls to his death. Later, Cobraxis uses Yuki as a bargaining tool to get information out of Queen Silpantia-Dragontamer.

Tails

The Nameless Zone is a 2-part Tails story, the first ever solo adventure for the fox. Written by Nigel Kitching with art from Dave Windett and letting from Fell, the story starts in the Emerald Hill Zone, where Tails is trying to keep up with Sonic, but the impatient hedgehog is in a hurry and has no time to wait around. Tails is left wondering how he could help when a portal to the mysterious Nameless Zone appears and calls Tails home. There, the Enchanter Kings reveal they have heard of Tails' (fictitious) letters home and require his heroics to stop Trogg invading the Zone.

Features

This issue's Control Zone, hosted by Megadroid, welcomes Boomers and hopes everyone got their new favourite game for Christmas and states that the new Tails strip is a seasonal gift to us all. There are also competitions inside, a reduced Q Zone, an opportunity to buy Sonic the Poster Mag 2 and Megadroid wraps things up by wishing everyone a happy Christmas and "Sega-ful" New Year. Since the subscription page now occupies the back page, Next Issue is now here with the first ideas of what 1994 has to offer. The Sega Charts show that Streetfighter 2 Championship Edition now tops the Mega Drive chart, while Ecco the Dolphin is the Mega-CD's new leader. Mortal Kombat still heads the other lists.

The Review Zone has four entries this issue, with Vincent Low covering three of them; Buggy Run received 80%, Donald Duck 2 75% (both MS) and MD game Toe Jam & Earl 2 is awarded 85%. David Gibbon arrives just in time to bless Davis Cup World Tour with 92%. The News Zone begins with a full-page reveal of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, announcing the size of the game and a hidden character, although the screenshots are still early versions with the old Sonic model. Elsewhere, the 4th Annual Sega Challenge began in Austria (with Scandinavian countries dominating), Marko's Magic Football is on the way and the final column announces several 'two-for-one' game bundles for various consoles.

Down to one page this issue, the Q Zone sees David Gibbon give tips on Master System games The Flintstones and Universal Soldier as well as Mega Drive offerings Silpheed (although it should be for the Mega-CD) and Jurassic Park. Speedlines sees Megadroid answer letters on a Hume Error about the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog programme, a 2p donation, Megadroid's relation to The Terminator and the subject of Tails' girlfriend. All entries received a Tomy Sonic the Hedgehog Water Fun Game.