Issue 21

Issue 21 is the twenty-first edition of Sonic the Comic, the UK's official Sega comic. Released on the 5th March 1994 at the price of £1.10, the issue contains four original stories (one of them new) as well as several features and a free gift of a Sonic Super Spinner.

Strips

Sonic the Hedgehog

Girl Trouble is a 2-part story by Nigel Kitching, Richard Elson and Ellie de Ville. Troopers are in the Emerald Hill Zone to arrest Amy Rose, a young hedgehog claiming she goes out with Sonic the Hedgehog. Sonic himself and Johnny Lightfoot try to deal with the threats but Sonic is forced to save Cedric and the rest of the Emerald Hill folk from Weapon X. In the Egg Fortress, Doctor Robotnik decides to have a complete makeover, Sonic and Johnny get themselves captured in the Special Zone retreat and Grimer taunts the heroes about their new leader...

Eternal Champions

Eternal Champions is a 6-part story written by Michael Cook, art this issue by Brian Williamson, Bambos Georgiou and John M Burns with lettering by Tom Frame. Six of the remaining nine Champions have teleported to The Cyberdome in order to collect some powerful guns to rescue their comrades. The there are shocked and unable to stop the sudden onslaught, with RAX Coswell collecting a D-Level Kick Blaster. In Tokyo, Nakano begins using a Brain Scanner to learn why Shadow Yamoto, Jonathan Blade and Slash have come to stop his Bio-Key technology. When they shield their thoughts, Nakano turns up the intensity, but only ends up freeing them. Back in the Cyberdome, the Champions are caught and forced into the Cyber Challenge.

Shinobi

The Art of War is a 6-part story by Alan McKenzie, Jon Haward and de Ville. Joe Musashi quickly disposes of the Neo Zeed security guard's gun before knocking him unconscious and dragging him into a cupboard. Jumping into a lift shaft, Musashi remembers his training on Mount Hotaka and Musashi's sensei commending him. He also recounts a story of how the old man's own sensei enrolled at a fine kendo school, disregarding his peasant roots to become a samurai. Back in the present, Musashi has been joined by several Neo Zeed ninjas, intent on stopping his progress.

Tails

The Land Beyond is a 4-part story, this part being the last in the series. Written by Kitching with art by Dave Windett and lettering from Steve Potter, the story begins with Trogg detailing how contact with The Dark One drove him insane and turned him into a goblin. After his previous humiliation at the hands of Tails, Trogg decided to trick the Enchanter Kings into sending Tails to his death. Furious, Tails lunges at but Trogg but is swatted away. Fortunately, the magic portal arrives to rescue Tails and Errol Blackthorn, the latter suggesting to the Kings not to wait for Trogg before confirming that Tails is a true hero.

Features

This issue's Control Zone, hosted by Megadroid, celebrates turning 21 with the Super Sonic Spinner. He then excitedly awaits the Eternal Champions Special and Sonic the Poster Mag 3, as well as looking forward to replacing fan favourite Tails with Wonder Boy as of next issue. There's also talk about how to effectively use your new mini frisbee and another free gift next issue. The Sega Charts see Aladdin remain top of the Mega Drive chart and Sonic Chaos remain victorious for the Master System. The 8-bit charts have been divided with new entry Desert Strike leading for the Game Gear, while Lethal Enforcers moves up to top the Mega-CD chart.

Three games are covered in the Review Zone; Steve May gives an uncharacteristically high score to General Chaos (87%, MD) and David Gibbon reviews International Rugby (76%, MD) and the 8-bit version of Micro Machines (92%). The News Zone begins with a slew of new Virgin Interactive games, ones of note being Disney titles The Jungle Book and The Lion King. Codemasters have also been busy, with a new Excellent Dizzy Collection as well as new characters in Sink Or Swim and Smaartvark!. Much of the feature is taken up by football games (carrying on from Issue 20's Review Zone Extra), previewing Hurricanes, World Cup USA '94, Kick Off III, World Soccer '94 and Sensible Soccer for the MCD. Short Bursts returns with snippets from The Smurfs, Ground Zero, Texas, Flashback, The Incredible Hulk and Skeleton Krew.

Q Zone sees Gibbon provide hints for Thunderhawk, Sonic the Hedgehog CD (both MCD), Lemmings, F1, Aladdin, The Flintstones and Zool (all MD). Speedlines has Megadroid answer letters from Boomers who like Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, wanting to know how Sonic and Tails met, asking for an exchange feature, wondering why Robotnik makes Badniks and there's a short limerick about STC's origins. All entries received a Tomy Sonic the Hedgehog Water Fun Game.