MIKE PELLERITO, was recently named the new Managing Editor of Archie Comics. In addition to looking over the Archie universe he also editÃs some of Archie Comics most popular titles,
This column came about after having very few avenues to promote and find out about All Ages and Younger Reader Comics and Graphic Novels. Most knowledge seems to be passed along by word of mouth, so this is in the sprit the column is written. Now, sit back and join in the conversation!
To learn more about any of the above-mentioned projects please visit Archie Comics.com
Special Guest Star: Sonic The Hedgehog and Sonic X writer Ian Flynn
By Ian Flynn
Hi all Mike here, since things have been a little hectic the excellent writer of Sonic The Hedgehog and Sonic X, Ian Flynn was kind enough to help out and give me a little breathing room. He did this column with pretty much no warning and even less time. Ian has come through o save the day in tough spot countless times. So who better to call on?
When the boss-man comes to you with a challenge, like filling in on a column every rare while, it's hard to say "no" Part of the reason is he’s the boss and, let’s face it, you aim to please to please the guy who signs your invoices. The other reason is it's a writing challenge, and I'm a sucker for those. If I were some wild beast, you could bait traps with them and I'd be sure to be caught. Then again, I'm not entirely sure how you'd manage to physically plant a concept. We'll move on before we can dwell on my shaky analogy any further. Writing challenge, indeed!
One of the things I've been very lucky to be a part of is all the special occasion Sonic books. If you've been following the Free Comic Book Day news, I'm sure you've seen that Archie is offering up two titles. Both are all new, not reprints, which seem to be the case with other companies. The first, Li'l Archie has scamp-sized version of the Riverdale crew running around. I got to write the other, the full-length Sonic adventure you'll be picking up. I know you'll be picking it 
up because, honestly, who can say "no" to a free comic book? It's a romping tale of combat as we pit Sonic against pretty much everyone. Sonic squares off against an old rival, and if you want to know why he's done a heel-turn, you'll have to pick it up and read. This issue is also designed to be a universal pleaser: if this will be your first Sonic book, you don't really need to have read anything previous. Just sit down and enjoy the ride, then come back for more when you're inevitably hooked. If you're a long-time reader, you can squeeze it neatly into a little pocket of continuity. 
About the same time, the landmark Sonic the Hedgehog #175 will be hitting the stands. It's a big thrill for me to be writing Sonic in general since I read it devoutly for years, but it's almost unthinkable that I got to write an anniversary issue. It's also unthinkable what I do to our heroes in the issue, but expanding on that at all would be spoiling. Even new readers should be able to appreciate the scope of the events in this issue. There's a duel featured that's been a long time in coming and was very satisfying to see on the page. There's one big event that will literally affect the book for the foreseeable future. As a comic book reader, you know as well as I that "world shattering changes" are often undone within a few years if not a few months. This isn't one of those changes, folks. This is the real deal. If nothing else, you have to pick it up for the cover by the great Spaz. It's chill inducing, and I love it.
I'd have been content with two keystone full issues. Who wouldn't be? But I had the great fortune of getting to write Sonic X #25, yet another anniversary issue! Like the rest of the series, this issue is a real easy, fun read. It's geared for a little younger crowd, but that's like saying the old 
Looney Toons were just for kids. We'll be seeing the return of a group of villains introduced a few issues prior (also written by me - funny, that). The issue also gets its premise from a classic comic book cover from years past. Fans of yesteryear titles will be able to pick out exactly what we're spoofing - and paying homage to. So once you've had your drama from Sonic the Hedgehog, you can chill out with the adventurous fun of Sonic X. And if you're a poor college student (been there, done that), you can at least get your fix with the Free Comic Book Day release. You can't beat that. Seriously. I defy you to beat that.
If you are interested here is a link to the free comic Book Day website and all the info you'll need about the comics coming out and the sores that will have them: FreeComicBookDay.com
Keeping in the themes of early-summer Sonic books and me, June 15-17th will see the return of Charlotte's Heroes Con, a fun family friendly show. It will be my second year there, and there will be many other Sonic-related talents. 
Tania del Rio, writer and penciller, who predominately brings an innovative and invigorating twist to Sabrina the Teenage Witch, will be in attendance. Veteran Jim Amash, inker on Sonic The Hedgehog, Sabrina and a slew of Archie comics, not to mention his work with Alter Ego magazine, is almost always there. While I can't speak for the man, I certainly hope the amazingly talented Sonic, Sonic X penciller, Tracy Yardley will return. And since it's only March now, you never know who else will sign on to the list. You can check out details about Heroes Con at their website: HeroesOnline.com
I encourage you all to come out and come on by. As narcissistic as this column turned out to be, its always humbling and thrilling experience to have people come by the table and talk Sonic. It'll be even more thrilling when I get my own original stuff up and running, but that's a whole other column and we've spent enough time on me today.
Come back next week when Mike takes the reigns again and perhaps learns his lesson about leaving his column in my ever-eager hands. Who knows? Maybe he’ll say even more good things about me. I know I'd look forward to that.
Thanks for reading, everyone, and take care.
Ian Flynn
ianpotto@bumbleking.com
Check out some new All Ages reads on sale this week:
DEC063313 BETTY & VERONICA #225 $2.25
DEC063312 BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #173 $2.49
DEC063316 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #129 $3.69
DEC063318 SABRINA VOL 2 #83 $2.25
JAN070324 BATMAN STRIKES #31 $2.25
JAN070328 CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #11 $2.25
JAN072359 AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #6 $2.99
JAN072372 FRANKLIN RICHARDS MARCH MADNESS $2.99
JAN072381 MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #22 $2.99
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