Issue 256 is the two hundred and fifty-sixth edition of Sonic the Comic Online. Officially released on the 13th November 2011 (despite being accidentally available for a few days until it was taken down), the issue contains five original stories (four of them new) as well as several features and a competition to win some of Richard Elson's original pencils and an STC goodie bag. Following Nigel Dobbyn's work in Issue 254, this issue's cover was drawn by Elson.
Contents
- Control Zone
- Data Zone
- Tails - Spooks and Mirrors
- Doctor Robotnik - Master of All I Survey
- Sonic the Hedgehog - Rivals
- Sonic's World - The Hunted: Part 1
- The House of the Dead - Charnel House: Part 4
- Review Zone
- Speedlines
- Pin-ups
- Next Issue
- Back Issues
Strips
Tails
Spooks and Mirrors (or Spooks & Mirrors) is a complete story written by Iain Stewart, with art by Miles Arquio and lettering by Chris G. Tails is in the Everplain Acres Zone to investigate ghostly goings on and drags the mayor along as a guide. The problem turns out to be spooky old Badniks but things get creepy when a spider appears and the mayor seems to get braver...
Robotnik
Master of All I Survey is a complete story by Charles Ellis and Michael Corker. From the Egg Bastion, Robotnik continues to invade Mobius, but his attentions are centred on Knuckles the Echidna and G.U.N. in the Rail Canyon Zone. Knuckles successfully uses the Floating Island to damage Robotnik, but learns of the Chaos Tap.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Rivals is a complete story written by Jamie J, drawn by Jin Chan Yum Wai, coloured by Philip Chapman and lettered by Ellis. Sonic is breaking into the Bastion to remove the Chaos Tap, but is confused when Knuckles appears instead of the Omni-Viewer. Together, the pair pacify the Chaos Tap with the Grey Emerald, but the hedgehog runs off before Knuckles can capture his former ally.
Sonic's World
The Hunted is a 2-part story by Shaz, with art by Caleb Barnes and lettering by Ellis. The Brain Drain Society have been foiled by an unknown group but the Freedom Fighters aren't impressed. Elsewhere, the League of Super-Evil Villains have reformed with Doctor Genius as their leader and have hired Fockewulf de Shrike.
The House of the Dead
Charnel House is a 4-part story by Robert Frazer and Lisa Lee. AMS are recovering after their recent attack and are keen to get revenge on C. Outside, the zombies continue to attack but the humans are eventually aided by heavy weaponry. They come courtesy of the Resurrection Men, who are ready to talk about the AMS surrendering.
Features
In the Control Zone, Megadroid discusses the Humes locking themselves in the cupboard, as well as the stories and features this issue. There is also a competition to win some of Richard Elson's original pencils and an STC goodie bag, by downloading a B&W version of the cover and colouring it yourself.
The Data Zone gives brief information about Sonic, Robotnik, Tails, Knuckles, Amy Rose and the House of the Dead series. The overall 'story so far' is that "Doctor Robotnik has returned, and Mobius is at war against his armies – with Tails as its greatest hero! But while many fight Robotnik, others have different agendas… "
Stuart Gipp returns to present the Review Zone, this time covering the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colours. He awards the title 85%, but is disappointed by the bosses and special stages. Speedlines features letters about Silver the Hedgehog and Blaze the Cat, a long email about a long-time reader, a Sonic Chronicles adaptation, help with the Humes, Back Issues, Super Sonic, J. "Deebs" Jones (returning in Issue 262, supposedly) and Norris Wimple.
Wallpapers
To date, there are 23 posters available for download from this issue. Pin-ups are of the cover, the second half of the Buddies & Baddies remake (Adamis and Pete Murphy), Running Wild (James Green), the League of Super-Evil Villains (Barnes), an adaptation of 'Rivals' (Chapman), a Sonic and Knuckles fight ('Infamatt' Fewer, Matt Dittmer and Murphy) and an alternate cover (Elson and Murphy).
There is also a permanent link to Hallowe'en Wallpapers 2011, with some added posters. In December 2011, five more posters were added under the banner of "Christmas Wallpapers 2011", as well as a couple of notices around the comic pointing this out. New additions include Blaze the Cat (Adamis), Amy in a toy factory (Yunelyon), toy versions of Shortfuse the Cybernik and Tekno the Canary (Chris G), a dressed up Sonic (Murphy) and Sonic receiving a present from Father Christmas (Seumidh MacDonald). Additionally, the Blaze poster is now the background for the home page of this issue.
Staff
- Michael 'Stiv' Stephenson - editor
- Michael Corker - editor
Timeline
The previous issue of Sonic the Comic Online was Hallowe'en Wallpapers 2011, although the last main edition was Issue 255. The next issue was Issue 257.