Issue 41

Issue 41 is the forty-first edition of Sonic the Comic. Released on the 10th December 1994 at the temporary price of £1.50, the bumper Christmas issue contains six original stories (five of them new) as well as several features, a competition to win a Mega Drive, a Doctor Robotnik pin-up by Mike Hadley, a Sonic the Hedgehog poster and a free gift of Badnik Spotter Cards.

Control Zone
Sonic the Hedgehog - Ice Cap Attack: Part 1
All I Want For Xmas is a Sega!
Review Zone
Streets of Rage - The Only Game in Town: Part 1
The Mobius Factor
Megadroid - Megadroid
Streets of Rage Battle Wagon
Knuckles the Echidna - Carnival Night Conspiracy: Part 3
News Zone
Amy Rose - In Good Hands
Q Zone
Marko's Magic Football: Part 1
Speedlines
Next Issue

Strips

Sonic the Hedgehog

Ice Cap Attack is a 2-part story by Lew Stringer, Mike Hadley, John M Burns and Steve Potter. The Freedom Fighters are in the Hill Top Zone to fight Penguinator Badniks from the Ice Cap Zone. Sonic learns that they are arriving through a portal and jumps through to tackle the source. On the Floating Island, he teams up with Knuckles to destroy some more Badniks, but is being watched by Robotnik.

Streets of Rage

The Only Game in Town is a 6-part story written by Nigel Kitching, with art by Peter Richardson and lettering from Tom Frame. Skates has brought the other vigilantes to see informant Julio, but the young man has been strung up by other gang members. Max Hatchet volunteers to rescue him but the Battle Wagon is soon beseiged by a mass of bullet fire and is soon toppled. Upon their escape, the heroes discover themselves surrounded by hundreds of thugs.

Megadroid

Megadroid is a complete story by Carl Flint, Kitching and Frame. Megadroid takes Boomers on a tour of STC, showing them the "Drop Zone", Control Zone, Review Zone, News Zone, Q Zone, "Art Zone", the Reference Cupboard and, finally, Speedlines before wishing everyone a merry Christmas.

Knuckles the Echidna

Carnival Night Conspiracy is a 6-part story written by Kitching, drawn by Richard Elson and lettered by Elitta Fell. Knuckles has agreed to give the Marxio Brothers a chance by testing out the Hell House Ride. However, Chicio Marxio has arranged for a few faults to develop, all with the aim of killing Knuckles. After several attacks and a switch to a new track, Knuckles almost flies off the Floating Island but survives long enough to tell the Marxios that he loved the ride and is letting them stay!

Amy

In Good Hands is a complete story by Stringer, Roberto Corona, Burns and Potter. As the Freedom Fighters speed to the Chemical Plant Zone, Amy is left behind in the Green Hill Zone. It's fortunate she's there, as the Zone is attacked by six Buzz Bomber Badniks. She's only able to defeat three with her crossbow, but the other three accidentally plough into a cliff, killing themselves.

Marko's Magic Football

Marko's Magic Football is a 6-part story written by Stringer, with art from Keith Page and lettering from Fell. Marko is just an average boy from North Sterlington, but he has a magic football. As he daydreams about how the football transformed in some green slime, he crosses paths with a surly police officer. However, a collision with a suspect barrel sees the lawman change into a monster.

Features

All of the usual features appear this issue. Megadroid introduces the Control Zone and provides a full contents list for the comic. The Sega Charts sees Sonic 2 hang on to the Master System and Game Gear top spots, but Sonic & Knuckles and Rebel Assault are new champions for the Mega Drive and Mega-CD respectively. An unknown reviewer awards Urban Strike 91% in the Review Zone, with at least one other game featured. The 'Fast Fax' column for the Urban Strike review appears to have been erroneously reprinted from the previous issue's review of Sylvester & Tweety-Pie in Cagey Capers.

Chris Jones presents a new edition of the News Zone, previewing Bloodshot and Powerdrive, with Short Bursts mentioning Marko's Magic Football, Cannon Fodder 2 and Animaniacs. David Gibbon hosts a Q Zone special, providing part 1 of a Jungle Book walkthrough. Speedlines includes letters about free stickers, the healthy state of STC for years to come and compatibility with the new Mega-CD. Published letters won Boomers a Tomy Sonic the Hedgehog Water Fun Game.