History Recap / SonicTheHedgehogIDW30thAnniversarySpecial

*** The flickies from ''VideoGame/Sonic3DBlast'' fly by
*** Dreams Come True's tour poster from 1990, where Sonic was first unveiled to the world, plastered on the side of the loop along with a poster depicting a menacing white character from an [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/sonic/images/9/9a/Sonic_Gems_300.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110517201130 early piece of Sonic concept art]] and another poster previously seen throughout [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Speed Highway]] depicting an [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D8-b7xvUYAA73mV?format=jpg&name=small unnamed bikini-clad character]]

* '''Seasons of Chaos''': A usual outing with Sonic, Tails, and Amy, turns into a hunt for Chaos Emeralds when Metal Sonic suddenly shows up and snatches an emerald they come across. Knowing that if he's looking for them, it can't be for anything good. Our heroes set out to stop him, their adventures leading them through different terrains and other familiar faces.

* '''Sonic Learns to Drive''': [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Just as the title says]]. Though Sonic is the fastest thing alive, he decides to try his hand at operating a vehicle. Things escalate into chaos incredibly quickly.

* '''Dr. Eggman’s Birthday''': Of course it's not just Sonic's celebration, but his arch-enemy's as well. The story sees what happens on Eggman's special day.

* SuddenlyVoiced: Since this is a comic, Classic Sonic (who is normally mute in the games) is allowed to speak.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/comic_pic_sonic_idw_30th_anniversary_special.jpeg]]

A special anthology comic released in celebration for [[MilestoneCelebration Sonic's 30th year as a gaming icon]]. This special focus on Classic Sonic [[note]]i.e the Sonic from the classic 2D games[[/note]] and adventures from the past. As with the previous annuals, it acts as an anthology with three separate stories.

* '''Seasons of Chaos''': A usual outing turns into a hunt for Chaos Emeralds when Metal Sonic suddenly shows up and snatches an emerald Sonic and his friends managed to come across. Knowing if he's looking for them, it can't be for anything good. Our heroes set out to stop him, their adventures leading them though different terrains and other familiar faces.

* '''Dr. Eggman’s Birthday''': Of course it's not just Sonic's celebration, but his arch-enemy's as well. The story sees what happens on Eggman's special day

[[folder: General]]
* TheBusCameBack: While it's in another universe, Knuckles finally shows up again in the comic, having not been seen since his small role in "Out of the Blue" arc at the time of this comic's release.

[[folder: Seasons of Chaos]]

* EnemyMine: Once Eggman explains what's happening, Sonic and his friends, the Hooligans and Eggman decide to team up to take Heavy King down.

** Tails invents a radar designed to track down Chaos Emeralds easily, which Amy uses when he leaves it behind by accident. While the Emerald radar was first developed by Tails in ''Sonic 3'' (called the "Emerald Detector") the design and name of the device takes more inspiration from [[Manga/DragonBall the Dragon Radar]].

[[folder: Sonic Learns To Drive]]
* MythologyGag: Nearly ''every'' panel in this story contains some form of call-back or reference to Classic Sonic media. [[https://maurofonseca.tumblr.com/post/656664327351369728/sonic-learns-to-drive-references-guide According to artist Mauro Fonseca]], he felt the original script didn't have much in the way of an "anniversary" feel, so he introduced many easter eggs to the many games and comics he enjoyed from Sonic. Just to name a few:

** The "S" emblem on the front of Kip's car is identical to the one in [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/logopedia/images/b/bf/Sega_%281956%29.svg/revision/latest?cb=20200917052944 Sega's logo from 1956-1975]].

*** Dreams Come True's tour poster from 1990, where Sonic was first unveiled to the world, plastered on the side of the loop along with a poster depicting a menacing white character from an [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/sonic/images/9/9a/Sonic_Gems_300.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110517201130 early piece of Sonic concept art]] and another poster previously seen throughout [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Speed Highway]] depicting an [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D8-b7xvUYAA73mV?format=jpg&name=small unnamed bikini-clad character]]

[[folder: Dr. Eggman's Birthday]]

* NoodleIncident: When Fang asks Bean to go grab the Marvelous Queen, he remarks that he is no longer allowed to drive the bike "last time." Considering it's [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Bean]], he probably [[DrivesLikeCrazy isn't the best driver around]].

[[caption-width-right:350:Blast from the pas... err, other dimension.]]

In celebration for [[MilestoneCelebration Sonic's 30th year as a gaming icon]]. This special focus on Classic Sonic [[note]]i.e the Sonic from the first three 2D games[[/note]] and adventures in his dimension. As with the previous annuals, it act as an anthology, this time with three stories.

- '''Seasons of Chaos''': A usual outing turns into a hunt for Chaos Emeralds when Metal Sonic suddenly shows up and snatches an emerald Sonic and his friends managed to come across. Knowing if he's looking for them, it can't be for anything good. Our heroes set out to stop him, their adventures leading them though different terrains and other familiar faces.

- '''Sonic Learns to Drive''': [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Just as the title says]]. Though Sonic is the fastest thing alive, he decides to try his hand at operating a vehicle. Naturally, HilarityEnsues.

- '''Dr. Eggman’s Birthday''': Of course it's not just Sonic's celebration, but his arch-enemy's as well. The story sees what happens on Eggman's special day

!! Tropes:

* FormulaBreakingEpisode: A look in on Classic Sonic rather than the modern one we've been following since the start.

* SuddenlyVoiced: As usual since this is a comic, the normally silent Classic Sonic is allowed to speak.

** When Eggman displays the Tails Doll and his intention to use it's antenna, Tails complains that Sonic gets a robot and he gets... ''that''. He likewise complained about this in the Archie comics, with the same lines even.

* PummelDuel: Knuckles and Bark get into one when the Hooligans first confront Sonic's group over the yellow Chaos Emerald. It ends in a CrossCounter.
* RecursiveCanon: Eggman has a ''VideoGame/SonicTheFighters'' arcade cabinet in his base.

** Tails invents a radar designed to track down Chaos Emeralds easily, which Amy uses when he leaves it behind by accident. [[Manga/DragonBall Sound familiar?]]

* MundaneUtility: Sonic explains he's trying to learn to drive so he can enter a rally race and win some chili dogs.

* NotSoAboveItAll: Kip, Sonic's driving instructor, allows Sonic to go nuts with his car to get to an Eggman attack faster at the end of the story. Even pointing out a ramp he could use and explaining he wants to see his speediness in action.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Sonic takes the driving test and... ends up failing because he's disregarding safety regulations (like, y'know, keeping your hands on the wheel) and ''even got out of it while it was in motion'' at one point. While Kip lets Sonic go speed demon at the end for the sake of stopping an Eggman attack, he likewise tells him he'll have to take the test again in ten business days.

* BirthdayHater: Eggman laments he doesn't look forward to his birthday as his robots always try to throw him a party when he'd rather they just be working as usual.
* CompanyCrossReferences: Eggman's [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E4nAsoIXIAcVjPP?format=png&name=small rec room]] contains arcade cabinets for ''Quartet'' and ''VideoGame/OutRun'', two pre-''Sonic'' Sega arcade games.

[[/folder]]

** When Eggman displays the Tails Doll and his intention to use it's antenna, Tails complains that Sonic gets a robot and he gets ''that''. He likewise complained about this in the Archie comics, with the same lines even.

* DebutQueue: This issue marks the debut of Mighty, Ray, Fang, Bean, Bark, Tails Doll, Metal Knuckles, and the Hard-Boiled Heavies into the ''Sonic'' IDW comics.

* MythologyGag: Eggman is seen wearing his pajamas from ''WesternAnimation/SonicTheAnimation'', and his bedroom is decorated with the vandalized Sonic posters from the same short.

* DebutQueue: This issue marks the debut of Mighty, Ray, Fang, Bean, Bark, Tails Doll, Metal Knuckles, and the Hard-Boiled Heavies into the ''Sonic'' IDW comics. Espio's classic form also makes a cameo through the loophole of appearing on the marquee art for ''Sonic the Fighters''.

* RecursiveCanon: Aside from the Sega arcade games mentioned in CompanyCrossReferences, the rec room has a ''VideoGame/SonicTheFighters'' cabinet.

** When Eggman displays the Tails Doll and his intention to use it's antenna, Tails' complains why Sonic gets a robot and he gets ''that''. He likewise complained about this in the ''Archie comic'' series, with the same lines even.

* SpiritualSuccessor: To ''ComicBook/SonicMegaDrive'' from ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics''. "Seasons of Chaos" is similar to the plot of that book with original "zones" and layouts that would look like it could come from the games, just replace the search for gears with Chaos Emeralds (though Tyson Hesse didn't work on this one).

* TheBusCameBack:
** While it's in another universe, Knuckles finally shows up again in the comic, having not been seen since his small role in "Out of the Blue" arc at the time of this comic's release.
** The Hard-Boiled Heavies from ''VideoGame/SonicMania'' made their return in this comic with Heavy King specifically receiving a bigger role in the first story.
* DebutQueue: This issue marks the debut of Mighty the Armadillo, Ray the Flying Squirrel, Metal Knuckles, the Hooligans, Tails Doll and the Hard-Boiled Heavies into the Sonic IDW comics.

** The badniks in Spring Valley Zone are modeled after the Shleep, Hollow, and Alarm Egg enemies from ''VideoGame/NightsIntoDreams'', whose first level was also called "Spring Valley".