Hero of the Year is a Sonic the Hedgehog complete story appearing in Issue 14 of Sonic the Comic.
Staff[]
- Nigel Kitching - script
- Brian Williamson - B&W art
- Steve White - colours
- Ellie de Ville - letters
Story[]
The Metropolis Zone is the heart of Doctor Robotnik's evil empire and is also host to this year's "Hero Of The Year" award, a ceremony for celebrities to celebrate the planet's finest vigilante. Sonic the Hedgehog and Tails have come along to the show, although Tails isn't happy that Sonic gets to wear a full Bob Beaky disguise while Tails just wears a coat. Sonic sensibly says that he would be recognised anywhere, while Tails could be anyone if he keeps his tails covered. Tails wonders if this is a trap, but Sonic doesn't want to let his fans down...
Inside, the coyote host announces the inevitable winner - Sonic the Hedgehog is Hero of the Year! Unfortunately, Sonic can't be here to collect the award - but here he is! The crowd is shocked, worried that Robotnik's soldiers will catch him. Accepting his trophy, Sonic grabs the microphone and begins a speech, one that assures the public that Robotnik does not have a strong grip on Mobius and his group of Freedom Fighters is small but growing and that more and more will join to put the fear in Robotnik. However, his rousing cry is ended by a trap descending from the ceiling, a glass dome attached to some pipes. The coyote gleefully announces tonight's "entertainment" as Mega Mack starts pouring into the cage. Sonic gets to work quickly, but it seems as if the chemical has got to the hedgehog when he is nowhere to be seen. The crowd fear the worst, until Sonic smashes out of the prison, noting that he shook it up just like "a bottle of cola". Before the bad guys can get their act together, Sonic and Tails burst out of the room.
Later, Tails is confused when Sonic sits down in the middle of the Emerald Hill Zone. Smugly, Sonic says the escape was too obviously easy and pulls apart his award, revealing that it was a tracking device! Right on cue, the coyote and a group of Bonehead Badniks appear, thinking they had traced Sonic back to his secret device. Although the plan has failed, the coyote is keen to destroy Sonic, but he has little chance when Sonic is in his own environment. Utilising the loops and hills of the Zone, Sonic and Tails quickly defeat their enemies and the coyote flees. A monkey asks how he can thank Sonic for freeing him, but that's just what he's here for!
Trivia[]
- The Metropolis Zone is featured for the first time and described as the heart of Robotnik's empire. It wouldn't fully become a recurring base until Citadel Robotnik was built there in Issue 55.
- Tails is wearing a coat suspiciously like his Zonerunner outfit acquired in Issue 35.
- Sonic says his group is "small but growing" - it actually still has the same four members (Sonic, Tails, Johnny, Porker) as before and the first new member is a few issues away. We can assume Sonic is fibbing for propaganda purposes, or alternatively, these members died before we could be introduced to them. Perhaps Cedric the Elephant is who he's referring to?
- "Hero of the Year" is also the name of an Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog episode.
Timeline[]
The previous Sonic the Hedgehog story was Double Trouble. The next is The Green Eater.