Issue 83 is the eighty-third edition of Sonic the Comic, the UK's official SEGA comic. Released on the 24th July 1996, at the price of £1.20, the comic contained four original stories and several features.
Contents
- Control Zone
- Sonic the Hedgehog - Bubble Trouble
- Review Zone
- Knuckles the Echidna - Troubled Waters: Part 2
- Graphic Zone
- Tails - Mystery Villain
- Q Zone
- Megadroid - Megadroid on the Move
- Speedlines
- Next Issue
Strips
Sonic the Hedgehog
Bubble Trouble is a complete story starring Sonic the Hedgehog. Written by Lew Stringer, drawn by Roberto Corona, coloured by John M Burns and lettered by Ellie de Ville, the story sees Doctor Robotnik devise a new plan to capture Sonic, exploiting oxygen bubbles and trapping him in one. The captured hedgehog uses the accidental help of the Badniks sent to kill him to free himself and save the day once more.
Knuckles the Echidna
Troubled Waters is a 2-part Knuckles story. In this second part, written by Nigel Kitching, drawn by Nigel Dobbyn and lettered by Elitta Fell, Knuckles truly begins the fight with Captain Claw of the Mobian Channel. Knuckles is heavily outmatched, the Octonaught electrocuting and smacking him. Claw is only when defeated when he is crushed by one of the stone structures he was shooting at.
Tails
Mystery Villain is a complete Tails story, showing the return of Metamorphia. By a collaboration between Stringer, Mike Hadley, Steve White and Tom Frame, Tails is in the Grim Zone, being attacked by a Badnik out of revenge. Tails doesn't seem to find a way to win, until he tricks the foe into destroying itself. The enemy is revealed to the shape-shifting Metamorphia, who changes one more time - renouncing the ways of Robotnik.
Megadroid
Megadroid on the Move, a Megadroid story written by Lynne Gibbs, drawn by Nick Abadzis and lettered by Fell, is the last story in the Megadroid series. The robot gets fed up of being a slave to the Humes and leaves for a new job. On his journey, he gets through several jobs and meets a new lady-friend, but ultimately returns home just in time for a surprise welcome party - and to make the coffee.
Features
The Control Zone, hosted by Megadroid, talks about the stories and features inside the comic. The end of the Euro '96 championships is mentioned, as is Megadroid's solo story. A mention is also given to the Q Zone, where the feature will be giving tips on old Sonic games in future issues. The SEGA Charts have completely different leaders this issue; new entries Brian Lara Cricket '96 and Euro '96 topped the Mega Drive and Saturn charts respectively. Rebel Assault re-entered the Mega-CD chart in first place, whilst Sonic the Hedgehog 2 moved back up to be the Game Gear leader.
With the re-release of several older SEGA games at discount prices, David Gibbon uses the Review Zone to give his opinions on Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (91%) and Sonic & Knuckles (87%). The Q Zone had a sports theme, providing cheats for FIFA Soccer '96, John Madden '96, NBA Jam Tournament Edition and SEGA Rally.
The theme for the Graphic Zone was Olympic Zone, showing Sonic and friends getting ready for the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. Owners of published pictures received a pack of Crayola Mini Stampers. In Speedlines, people requested information about Megadroid, wondered where the News Zone had gone and needed help on drawing Sonic.
Staff
- Deborah Tate - editor
- Audrey Wong - assistant editor
- Gary Knight - designer
- Carl Flint - cover art
- Richard Burton - consultant
- Sarah Colley - production
Timeline
The previous issue was Issue 82. The next is Issue 84.