Welcome back everybody to part three! Giving a quick listen to the previous two sections, I have to
apologise for the breathiness and occasional snort on my end. I’m a little congested – I’m not sick or
anything, it’s just that I’m a little clogged. So I do apologise for that.
Q: BlueStreak comes back for number two: “I'm not sure how far in advanced you got in Sonic
Universe approved... you got Sonic Universe approved...” See, now I can’t even read. Bah! “... but did
you write the Enerjak arc with a set story in mind to have Knuckles get the chance to get revenge on
Finitevus(in the current Sonic Universe arc)?” I think I get what you’re asking here.
A: The original plan for Enerjak Reborn was to leave off with Finitevus escaping. Part of the insult to
the injury of Locke’s demise was that Knuckles, now that he was back to his former self, having just
had all this power, would not get the opportunity to clobber Finitevus into salsa, as Vector puts it
during the Sonic Universe arc. I mean, it was that last little twist of the knife that really made you
feel for Knuckles. So that when Finitevus came back, we already would have this great duel set up
between the two of them. It wasn’t just, “Oh, there’s Finitevus again – let’s get him again for what
he did!” it was, “Now we finally have a chance to have Knuckles throwdown with Finitevus!” And
ultimately that showdown was glorious!
Q: JakeDaReaver asks: “Are Shadow's internal organs (if he has any) designed any differently from
normal mobians, since he was created not to need to eat or drink to live?”
A: I would assume so. If they are not then they would have to perform different functions, which
seems kind of silly to me. I really am not going to hazard a guess on what his internal systems look
like or even function as. That’s a little too far into the sci-fi realm for me.
Q: “Question number two: If you had no other choice, who would you rather write an arc about:
Drago Wolf, Tommy Turtle, or...” *laughing* “...Marine the Raccoon?”
A: Oohhhhh boy! Part of me would like to go back to Tommy, because folks seemed to really love
the evil, cybernetic, A.D.A.M.-possessed Tommy, and that was a lot of fun, but he’s already been
resurrected, you know, once or twice now, so let’s just leave him dead. Drago... honestly, I’ve gotten
tired of using Drago as a big old meat shield. So if we bring Drago back, I want to find something
different to do with him. Ha, Marine... Ohhhhh, Marine... I mean, *really, REALLY, baaaaaad
Australian accent* “Croiky streuth let’s throw another shrimp on the barbie! Throw us a boomerang
and go Waltzin’ Matilda, ah-ha-ha!” *normal accent* God, I hate Marine! But she’s funny. And when
you put her with someone who’s as deadpan as Shadow, or, you know, as ridged as Blaze, it just
lends itself to hilarity, and I can’t say no to that! So if I could pair Marine up with folks, then I would
go Marine over the other two. Maybe I should do a whole arc with Marine and Drago going into the
afterlife to resurrect Tommy...
...naaaaaaah!
Q: Constable MJM asks: “Number one: Who was the Downunda Freedom Fighter you had the most
fun writing?”
A: Ohhhhh, easily, easily, that was Guru Emu! Because here you have the Downunda Freedom
Fighters who have been kinda written as a little more hard-edged than your standard Freedom
Fighter group. Especially Barby, being a mercenary of the bush. And out of all these characters,
*awesome hippie voice* You totally have, like, Guru Emu, man! Who’s all like, peace and love, and
totally in tune with the Dreamtime. Shaa! *normal voice* And putting him in there with all these,
you know, heavy-fisted characters it was just a whole lot of fun! I think one of the favourite
moments is when he’s with the team trying to disable the big old harpoon cannons, and he says,
“You know what? We can’t win this one, so I’m just gonna sit it out!” While everybody else is getting
clobbered. I just find that absolutely hilarious!
Q: “Number two: You mentioned that the Mercia Freedom Fighters are still around. Any chance of
actually seeing them in the future that you know of?”
A: No big plans for the Mercian Freedom Fighters, at least not right this second, but you’ll definitely
be seeing a more robust cast in the Encyclopedia. You know when I was doing these I didn’t set out
to plug the Encyclopedia so many times! Haha! Happenstance!
Q: “Number three: Since it seems to be coming up here and there about how good you can write
villains...” Thank you, thank you. “How do you balance having a cool villian you can get invested with
but at the same time hate them for being such jerks?”
A: I think the fundamental underlying principle is when we read fantasy, we want to use it as a
vehicle of escape. We want to leave the real world behind and we want to enjoy this completely
different world where they don’t have to think about all the serious real world problems. So right
there we’re already trying to invest ourselves in something other than the real world. And something
that we love most of all is having that snippy comeback! I mean, how many times have you been in
an argument or you’ve been told off or someone has said something entirely too rude to you, and
then you don’t think of the good comeback until that night before you go to bed or a couple of days
later? In the comic we get to have that snippy, one-line zinger right there for you. And when you do
that with the villain, he does exactly what you want to do. But he gets away with it, being a complete
jerk! I mean, with the hero you have to set up the scenario where if he says something mean, it’s
counter to something that the villain said, so that he’s vindicated. With the villain, it’s a complete
guilty pleasure! The more on top of things you write him, and the more grey his motivations you
make, the more accessible he becomes to the reader, and the more you can root for him, or at least
love to hate him.
Q: Marcus Amir Crim comes back to ask: “Number two: Odd question. After looking at Conquering
Storm, Lightning Lynx, and Nicole's holo form I noticed something. Is there something wrong with
Conquering Storm's ears? They just seem to flop limp behind her compared to Nicole and Lightning's.
Is that just part of her design and or is there something wrong with them or is it due to an injury from
fighting?”
A: Also keep in mind that Conquering Storm is wearing a big, conical hat that pushes your ears
downwards. Nicole and Lightning are not wearing hats, so their ears get to stand up.
Q: The poster formerly known as Dimitri, Luger asks: “Number one: Is Duck Bill Platypus considered
the Sub-Boss of Downunda since he's leading the Platypus branch of the Dark Egg Legion?”
A: Yes. Anyone that was considered a Sub-Boss can now be called a Grandmaster. With the
exception of Iron King and Queen, since they kind of work outside of that formula, since they took
over the Empire and did their own thing. It’s complicated.
Q: “Number two: When did Wombat Stu rejoin the Downunda Freedom Fighters? He was seen
fighting along side them back in number 125, yet in number 11 he makes it sound like he rejoined
them officially much later than that, presumably after Sonic's return from space, before the
destruction of Knothole.”
A: There’s a bit of a grey area between when St. John’s team disbanded and when the Xorda moved
in and when Sonic got flung out into space. It was somewhere within that time. It’s fuzzy, but there’s
enough space for it to make sense.
Q: “Number three: How do you think Luger viewed his role as Grandmaster and the overall destiny of
the Dark Legion, compared to the other Grandmasters?”
A: I could get into long-winded conjecture, but at that point it would be completely new
characterisation, and I would rather spend that kind of time actually writing it in the book. There
really isn’t anything to go off of with what has been shown in the comic.
Q: Pompadour asks: “The last time we've seen Hidden Palace, it was abandoned by the echidnas,
damaged. That said, the place was still standing, despite all it's been through. Would you say its
current condition has changed at all since Return to Angel Island, or is about the same?”
A: No, I figure it’s still standing, it’s exactly how they left it when they abandoned the area.
Q: “Number two: Although Hidden Palace is no longer the home of the Master Emerald (as it's been
replaced by Shrine Isle), what potential do you see in the place, for a future story?”
A: I don’t really know off the top of my head. There was that tapestry introduced that throws a little
bit of a kink into the echidna history – I don’t know when I’m going to tackle that one. I wouldn’t
really consider it a viable place as a base, because Eggman knows of it, he has means of entering
there, so for right now it’s kinda just going to sit in the back corner gathering dust.
Q: dragoonanime asks: “Will Eggman's bases from the games ever appear in the comic?”
A: If he has a very clearly and distinctly designed base we might use that, I don’t know. It would kind
of be up to SEGA if they allowed us to use that kind of design.
Q: Kaosu Reido asks: “Are there any points you'd like to clear up in the comic that kind of slipped
through? Things you can tell us, like ‘oh, sorry, Finny was supposed to drop those rings, shouldn't be
a plot hole, my bad’?”
A: Nothing immediately springs to mind. Anything that hasn’t been explained yet can be explained
later. If there is something that the fans kind of react to when the comic first comes out and they’re
going, “I do not understand this at all!” and I realise that it wasn’t written in, and there really
wouldn’t be enough to warrant it becoming a plot point in the book, then I’ll explain it in the forum
as per each issue coming out.
Q: “Number two: Will we be getting any more information on Thrash and his backstory within the
next year, or is this more of a we're all going to wait and see where you can get to it eventually?”
A: Ohhh-ho no! You will definitely be getting Thrash’s back story, 100% this year, one way or
another. Guarantee it! Unless something monumentally horrible happens beyond my control. But
right now you will definitely, definitely get the story on Thrash this year.
Q: “Any interesting stories you can tell us about working on the comic?”
A: Ohhh, there’s lots of interesting stories! But can I tell them to you? Noooo, nooo.
Q: Astrobot7000 asks: “Number one: Who would Sonic nominate as best man for his wedding
assuming Tails and his family members were disqualified?”
A: Rotor. Failing Rotor, Antoine. If you barred all the Freedom Fighters, Mighty.
Q: “Number two: Which character do you think has seen the most evolution in personality
throughout the comic? My vote is for Sally or Antoine. Yours?”
A: Going back to the previous answer in the other session, I would say Nicole or Snively. Well, that’s
in terms of characterisation. In terms of personality? Yeah I guess Sally, because she went from
absolute bottom of the barrel to back to fairly competent.
Q: “Question number three: Chaotix versus Freedom Fighters in paintball. Who wins?”
A: That would be a pretty close one. I think it would really hinge on whether or not Espio can make
his paintball gun vanish with him, or if Sonic just spam-shots in every direction with his super speed
and just happens to hit everybody.
Q: Aurora_Redwinters asks: “Would you say Scourge has actual feelings for Fiona, or was their
relationship merely one of convenience?”
A: Ohohohoho, wouldn’t you like to know? I’m not gonna spill the beans on that! You’ve gotta wait
and see!
Q: The Illustrious Q, most illustrious of Q’s across the alphabet, asks: “Number one: I was going over
the old Script Bits feature and I was wondering, for those of us not in the know for the comic industry,
what does CODE number: and the C.C.: refer to?”
A: Perfectly honest, I’m not sure. I have a default file that I use to start off every issue script with,
and the code number and the CC are filled in by the editor. The code number I know is what that
issue is referred to in the systems for the archiving and for all the order forms when they go to print.
That is determined at the editorial level, so I don’t really know going in. The CC, if it’s meant for
carbon copy, it probably is who on the art team it’s getting sent to, but otherwise I honestly don’t
know.
Q: “Question number two: Do all of Eggman's subbosses...” Grandmasters! “...have uniforms similar
to his or is it more of a case by case basis?”
A: It’s going to be more of a case by case basis. With Bill’s, I thought it was kind of fun to do him in
that design. But other Grandmasters that we’ll be seeing will have kind of similar thematics to the
costume, but we don’t want them to become too same-y, so they’ll be kind of changed up between
individual ones. There’s one Grandmaster that we’ll be coming across this year that you simply
cannot put in an Eggman-styled suit. I... I suppose you could, but it would look really weird.
Q: Orion101 asks: “The identity of Rutan’s father has been debated by fans almost since his
introduction. In your opinion why do you think fans are so fascinated with discovering this when they
couldn't seem to care less about Argyle or Salma's unknown parents?”
A: I’m not sure, really. I think it’s part of the allure of the villain’s side. I mean, with the heroes you
assume that they met somebody nice, and they settled down, and they had a loving family, and
that’s boring! Rutan comes from one of the most malicious, back-stabbing, evil women in the comic,
and you have to wonder what guy would be brave enough to settle down and create a child with
her? That’s the best explanation I can think of outside of people seem to go ga-ga for echidnas in
general.
Q: “Number two: In terms of how much force is under their punches and how much they can lift who
is stronger Omega or Bunnie?”
A: I think in terms of raw power, Omega’s probably stronger. I think in a technical physics sense –
which we’re applying to cybernetic talking bunny-people – Bunnie would have the more potent
punch. But where Bunnie might be able to hit a little more concentrated, a little more harder,
Omega can turn his fist into a missile-shooting flamethrower, so I mean, at that point who really
cares who hits harder?
Q: “Number three: You may hate me for this...” Uh-oh! “...but how do you view Tails’ relationship
with his semi counterpart Marine?”
A: I think they’re a fun odd couple, potentially. Because Tails is trying very much to be mature and
act older than his age, and Marine is completely, unrelenting, uninhibited, crazy little girl, going,
“Blahblahblahblahblahblah!” trying to build everything! So having Tails, who already tries to rein
Sonic in, try to rein in Marine would be kind of funny, actually!
Q: Alright, page eleven! The grand finale! Duuuuuuuuz! asks: “Number one: In Paladin Team SigmaAlpha 2 you have Rico, Spike and Honch. My question is are we ever gonna find out the names of the
other two?”
A: First off, I may be misremembering, but I’m pretty sure that in the story where we see Zan, it is
heavily implied that those two unnamed guys were killed by Zan. I’m gonna have to go back and
double check. Secondly, we might have an unused data file somewhere at the home office that
names them, but I don’t know their names off the top of my head. If they aren’t named and if they
do come back in some capacity... I don’t know, maybe I can clear a thing with the editor and run a
contest and have the fans name ‘em. I don’t know! We’ll just have to wait and see. We aren’t really
planning on bringing back Sigma-Alpha 2 any time soon.
Q: “Question number two: Can we look forward to some elaboration on any of the other Destructix
next year?”
A: We’re going to get lots of hints on Lightning Lynx, we’re going to get a little bit of a hint on what
makes the original Fearsome Foursome click together as a group. But there’s no immediate plans to
explore any of the other members , at least not this year.
Q: “Number three: Are we ever possibly gonna see what became of Liu Chi Mei and Liu Fang?”
A: Not this year, and if we return to the Dragon Kingdom maybe. I’m still debating whether or not
they were in the Dragon Kingdom Freedom Fighters that Monkey Khan destroyed. On the one hand
it seems likely that they would join such a movement, on the other hand, I would feel bad not
reusing the characters to their fullest potential. So we’ll just have to wait and see what opportunity
arises.
And wow, I just scrolled down, and the last post is mine! Which means we’re done! Which means all
the questions from December have been answered! Yaaaaaaaay! Imagine the Kermit the Frog arms
waving around – yaaaaaay! Thanks everybody ever so much for being so patient with me. Feel free
to start a thread to discuss the answers here, and let me know if anything didn’t come through
clearly, if things sounded muddled, if I need to re-record something. And let me know if this is the
kind of format that you guys would like – we might do this more in the future – or if you’re tired of
hearing my wheezy, nasally voice. Whichever you guys want. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to
wrap this up and get back to doing some writing some Sonic stuff. Thanks for your patience, and I
hope you enjoyed!