In 1991, Hayao Nakayama, the chairman of Sega, decided to develop a mascot that would do for his company what Mickey Mouse had done for Walt Disney: personify Sega with a universally-recognized icon. Most of his designers submitted drawings of hopping animals such as kangeroos and rabbits, but Nakayama settled on Naoto Oshimo's stylized hedgehog, and Sonic The Hedgehog was born. Chosen primarily because the animal can roll into a ball, it allowed them to showcase an in-house, state-of-the-art program that led to faster than normal scrolling (the left to right movement of the background over which Sonic travels). Given to Yuji Naka and his computer-designing team, they created the first Sonic video game to be packaged with their new video game system of the time, the Sega Genesis. Known today as the "Sonic Team," they have designed more Sonic games, as well as others (such as Nights for the Sega Saturn). Two different cartoon series soon found themselves on the air (still playing on the USA Cartoon Express). Sonic The Hedgehog was now a star!

History of the Sonic comic book
Archie Comics published a Sonic The Hedgehog 8-page sample issue, with story and art by Michael Gallagher and Scott Shaw. This issue, available as a free gift from SEGA of America; was numbered "1/4" and printed material from Sonic The Hedgehog #0 (the first in a four-issue mini-series). It was originally based on the humorous syndicated cartoon series called "The Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog." After the mini-series was completed, in August 1993, Archie began its regular Sonic The Hedgehog comic book series, which just published its fiftieth issue and is still going strong. The "Sonic The Hedgehog" network (ABC) cartoon series debuted in September 1993 with an action/adventure thrust. The comic slowly based more and more of their stories on this new series. Because of this hybrid of genres, the comic has developed a continuity all its own.

Sonic The Hedgehog
Sonic The Hedgehog -- the fastest, coolest hedgehog anywhere. It's more than just speed -- it's his wit that won't quit. He's all heart, and super smart! Sonic's always racing from one place to the next-barely stopping to catch his breath. As Sonic developed his incredible speed, his attitude became legendary. This "Dude with a Tude" is irreverent, confident, impatient and constantly bursting at the quills with energy. Above all, he's the bravest big-hearted hedgehog anywhere. Sonic's way cool red sneakers can withstand supersonic speeds without burning through their soles. Our hero's favorite color is -- you guessed it: Blue! He loves gumballs and chili dogs, too, but he hates water 'cause he can't swim. Sonic is always there for his friends-- they know they can count on him, especially in times of trouble! It all comes down to loyalty, an important quality that this hedgehog is full of... among other things. All Sonic really wants is for life to return to the way it was before Dr. Robotnik took over, before polluting the planet and roboticizing everyone. He'll stop at nothing to make his wish into reality. In recent issues, Sonic and The Freedom Fighters finally defeated Robotnik, ten years after his rise to power. They are busy trying to restore everything to the way that it once was. A task easier said than done.

Tails
Full name: Miles Tails Prower, but you can call him Tails for short (cause he is!) Distinguishing features: Starry-eyed fox with two tails. Sonic's best bud, Tails has that delightfully innocent look of the true optimist and enough tail-raising experiences to deserve all the optimism he can muster! It's not easy tagging along with Sonic, who's typically harrowing day can look like ten miles of bad road. Tails does his best -- what he lacks in speed he more than makes up for in spirit 'n spunk! In fact, the only way Tails can keep up with Sonic is to use his twin tails like a helicopter, propelling him up out of (or into) harm's way... There's only one thing stronger than Tails' curiosity: his admiration for Sonic!

Princess Sally Acorn
Sally Acorn (also know as Princess Sally Elisha of the House of Acorn) prefers to be called just "Sally". Being of Royal Blood, this fifteen year-old, part squirrel (her father)/part chipmunk (her mother), has far from "fallen out of her Royal family tree". She continues her endless quest to return her world to its original state and find her father, the King. He was exiled into the Zone of Silence by the evil Dr. Robotnik during his coup d'etat, in yesterday's Mobotropolis. To achieve her mission, Sally organizes a group of Freedom Fighters, who under her leadership, "strive to survive" and help Sally achieve her goal. Together, with her half-robotic side-kick (ouch!...metal side) Bunnie Rabbot and her "user friendly" pocket computer Nicole! These three "Freedom Fighters" can really kick bot-butt and take names later. Problem is none of Robotnik's Swatbots have names, only numbers. How ironic!! Sally is independent, headstrong and extremely intelligent. She knows that the only way the Freedom Fighters can defeat Robotnik is to work together by combining brains and instinct... Sally's smarts... Bunnie's strength...Sonic's speed...and the entire group of Freedom Fighters' spunk... Sally knows that smells of victory are within reach!!! And only if you can keep a secret: Sally's got a real crush on Sonic -- and you know what?-- the hedgehog likes her almost as much as chili dogs! WAY COOL, HUH??!!!

Bunnie Rabbot
Bunnie Rabbot with her cute "li'l ol, accent" and sugar-sweet disposition, is the strongest of all The Freedom Fighters. Since being taught some martial arts moves from Princess Sally herself, Bunnie's been able to flatten a door with one kick, split a boulder with a judo chop and "just plain ol' pound some Swatbot be-hind." Bunnie still maintains her perky personality despite squeaking and clanking if her joints aren't regularly oiled, Bunnie was a simple southern-country Mobian when her land was raided by Robotnik's Swatbots. Armed with a portable roboticizer, they captured and roboticized many southern Mobians, including Bunnie's parents. Bunnie escaped but was followed and later captured herself. She was half-roboticized when Sonic and The Freeedom Fighters came to the rescue. Having only her legs and left arm roboticized, they took her to Knothole where she met Princess Sally. The two quickly became the best of friends. Bunnie wishes three things: 1 ) To end Robotnik's reign of techno-terror, 2) To find a way to de-roboticize herself, 3) To become Sally's Royal hairdresser when everything is back to normal.

Rotor
(his nick name, "Boomer," was used in the early issues) A walrus inventor with high technical skills, Rotor is the only one who can fight Robotnik's technology with technology. Not being much of a socialite, like Sonic, Rotor keeps to what he knows: building anything he wants and fixing anything he can. Though he can program them, the one thing he can't fix are computers. Because he is a fast-learner, he continuously takes things apart to learn how to put it back together. Sonic thinks of him as slow as a lava flow, but underwater -- zoom-- like a torpedo! Having grown up next door to Sonic, they escaped together when Robotnik took over. His mom escaped with his little brother (a baby at the time) to the arctic. Rotor's father and older brother (who he hasn't seen since), was captured and supposedly roboticized. Rotor misses his family a lot. He is waiting until Robotnik's defeat. Then he'll find them so that they can be a family again.

Antoine
Antoine D'Coolette's family is from the French section of Mobius. His father was a general in King Acorn's realm until he was sacked by Robotnik's mechanical forces during the coup. Antoine's mission in life is to follow in his father's footsteps. He sees himself as the one who will restore the realm for the Princess through his honor and courage. Others see Antoine as a sometimes cowardly-acting klutz. Sometimes they are both right. Somewhat jealous of Sonic, Antoine is constantly competitive with him. This has caused many a rift between the two, even though Sonic doesn't take Antoine seriously half of the time.

Sir Charles Hedgehog
(Uncle Chuck for his friends) Sonic's uncle was the Minister of Science. He invented the roboticizer prototype as a means to help his fellow Mobians who were extremely sick or dying... like his brother Jules who suffered wounds during the Great War. Sabotaged by Warlord Julian without his knowledge, the roboticizer took Jules' free will, making him into a mindless machine. Distraught with what he thought he had done, Charles left his position and opened up a chili-dog franchise in an effort to be a commoner. He took in his nephew Sonic out of respect for his brother. On the eve of his appointment as the new Minister of Science, Julian, now as Robotnik, staged a coup to take over the realm. Using the roboticizer the way it was to turn all the inhabitants of Mobius into robots, Robotnik ensured victory and power. Charles was soon roboticized himself, but gained his free will recently with the help of his nephew Sonic, who became a founding member of The Freedom Fighters. Because of his robot body, Uncle Chuck stays behind "enemy lines" to act as The Freedom Fighters, spy connection.

Dr. Ivo Robotnik
Occasionally, one might have a bad hair day, but it never gets as bad as dealing with ol' Robotnik. There's nothing worse than a mad scientist gone madder -- except an incredibly plump, bald one in a space-age leisure suit! Dr. Ivo Robotnik (or Robuttnik-as Sonic affectionately, calls him) is all that and less. Known once as Warlord Julian, he was affiliated with King Acorn's Ministry of Defense and used his position to gain control over the planet Mobius in the year 3224! One wonders if it was his bizarre genius or bad breath that polluted Robotropolis -- all Sonic knows is that he wishes this once great city could be itself again. But as bent on Robotnik's destruction as Sonic may be, the mad doctor thrives equally upon the demented dream of crushing Sonic where he lives. That is, if el huge-o can ever find it! Robotnik is the living epitome of all things gone wrong-and a formidable enemy of Sonic. He may be a mad doctor (sometimes to the point of being a bumbling bad guy), but he gives Sonic and his friends a run for their money... and their lives!

Knuckles
Knuckles, The Echinda, was born and raised on The Floating Island and he knows most of its secrets, including every hidden passageway. He's strong, athletic and clever. He is also able to dig with great ease using his knuckles. Long ago, an ancient civilization lived on The Floating Island. Before this civilization disappeared, it left behind many secrets and mystical powers. Being the only living descendent of this lost civilization, Knuckles has become the guardian of the Chaos Emerald, which is the source of the island's special floating power. Doctor Robotnik had duped Knuckles into believing that Sonic and Tails were his enemies, out to steal the emerald. While they were duking it out, Robotnik used the opportunity to steal the Chaos Emerald for his own evil intentions. Needless to say, our heroes learned of the deception and foiled Robotnik's plans. Having started on the wrong foot, Sonic and Knuckles have an uneasy relationship with each other that continues to this day.