The Witchcarters are back and they mean business this time.note
| Written by: | Ian Flynn |
| Year: | Five |
| Release Date: | November 16, 2022 |
| Story Count: | 1 |
Sonic and Tails are traveling to Flicky Island to take a much needed vacation. However, when they get there they discover the island seemingly abandoned and covered in crystals and railroad tracks. With enough investigation, Tails quickly realizes that this the work of his old foe, Witchcart and her minions as they try to capture the Flickies and take over the island. As Sonic quickly captured by the witch after his reckless attempt to ambush the group alone, it's up to Tails to save his friend and Flicky Island.
Tails' 30th Anniversary Special contains examples of:
- And I Must Scream: Sonic after being trapped in crystal. He is shown to be conscious even after being trapped in crystal, given that he is shown with a thought bubble lamenting Witchcarts annoying rhymes. This is also Witchcarts fate after he own crystallizing magic is reflected back at her.
- As You Know: When going off with the Flickies to rescue Sonic, Tails briefly recounts the last time he and Sonic visited Flicky Island.
- Badass in Distress: Sonic gets immobilized and captured by Witchcart and it's up to Tails to defeat Witchcart, her minions, and rescue Sonic.
- The Bus Came Back:
- Not counting their appearances in Archie, this is the first time the original versions of Witchcart and her minions have ever appeared outside of their debut game.
- The Flickies finally get focus again years after being demoted to extras following their brief period as breakout characters.
- Busman's Holiday: Sonic and Tails' attempt at taking a vacation is quickly cut short when they find Flicky Island is in danger again. They thankfully get to enjoy it after they deal with Witchcart.
- Call-Forward: When following Witchcart's rails, Sonic notes he might be able to grind on them but he’d need some special shoes to start learning.
- A Day in the Limelight: Naturally, Tails takes center stage in this story, especially when Sonic is captured by Witchcart.
- Exactly What I Aimed At: After Witchcart dodges a barrage of missiles fired at her by Tails, she mocks him for his poor aim, only for the fox to reveal that he was aiming for Sonic’s Crystal Prison.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Tails defeats Witchcart by deflecting one of her own crystallizing blasts back at her.
- Leeroy Jenkins: Sonic charges off to fight Witchcart before Tails can fully explain her capabilities. He gets captured immediately after meeting her.
- Mythology Gag:
- This is the first comic since the Archie series (1999's Issue #77 specifically) that uses the classic-styled Sonic The Hedgehog logo from that period.
- All five zones in this comic are taken from Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island, though now having some changes that reflect the passage of time (ie. a rusted Eggman statue in Spring Stadium, another decaying Eggman statue with Witchcart's image taking over it in Puppet Panic).
- The carrot missile graphic Carrottia has on her vehicle's screen is the same sprite taken directly from Tails' Skypatrol.
- This isn't the first time that Ian Flynn wrote a comic where Sonic gets captured by Witchcart in crystal and Tails has to rescue him, as this same scenario occurred in Issues #84-85 of Sonic Universe (albeit with the Archie re-interpretations of those characters).
- Know When to Fold Them: Carrottia is the only one who does this, preferring to sleep instead of lamenting or struggling to get out of Tails' trap like her cohorts.
- Rhymes on a Dime: Witchcart speaks entirely in rhyme, though she really stretches it at times.
- Shout-Out: When Tails confronts Bearanger, the latter yells Michael Keaton's famous "You wanna get nuts?! Let's get nuts!" from the Batman (1989) film.
- Sleepyhead: Carrottia is perpetually sleepy and on the verge of taking a nap.
- Time for Plan B: In his attempts to battle the Witchcarters one at a time, Tails manages to come up with a series of plans to tackle them. They usually go awry pretty quickly, resorting him to rely on his wits and his alternate plans, going from Plan A, to B, and then eventually C.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Like his modern counterpart, Classic Tails loves mint candy, which he brought to share with the Flickies.
- Victor Gains Loser's Powers: After defeating each Witchcarter, Tails takes the unique components of vehicles to use against Witchcart.
- Villain: Exit, Stage Left: Witchcart attempts this after Tails frees Sonic, not wanting to face both of them at the same time. Tails puts a stop to it.
- You All Look Familiar: All the Flickies use the exact same 4 designs.
