IDW Celebrates Sonic’s 35th Anniversary With New Classic Sonic Comic Special

IDW Publishing is celebrating Sonic the Hedgehog’s 35th anniversary with a new oversized comic special focused on the world of Classic Sonic.

Sonic the Hedgehog: 35th Anniversary Special #1 is scheduled to release on July 8, 2026, bringing Sonic, Tails, Amy, and Knuckles together for a new story set in the classic era of the franchise. The 48-page issue will be written by Iasmin Omar Ata, with art by Thomas Rothlisberger, and will be priced at $7.99.

The special sends Sonic and his friends to Angel Island for a visit with Knuckles, only for the trip to be interrupted when a meteor streaks across the sky and crash-lands nearby. After investigating the impact site, the group discovers strange greenery spreading around the crater, draining the surrounding plant life in the process.

According to the official synopsis, the meteor’s arrival also catches the attention of Dr. Eggman, whose plans for its power are anything but harmless:

“mysterious lush greenery has instantly sprouted up and around the crater, at the cost of the surrounding plants. But they aren’t the only ones who noticed the meteor’s fiery descent, and Dr. Eggman’s intentions for its mysterious power are far from noble…”

That setup puts Sonic, Tails, Amy, and Knuckles in a race to secure the meteor’s power before Eggman can turn it into his latest scheme.

The issue is being promoted as a return to the world of Classic Sonic, giving IDW a chance to revisit the tone, designs, and energy of Sonic’s early era while telling a new story for the anniversary. Classic Sonic remains one of the franchise’s most recognizable forms, representing the Genesis-era style that helped establish Sonic as SEGA’s mascot in the early 1990s.

The main cover for Sonic the Hedgehog: 35th Anniversary Special #1 is by Iasmin Omar Ata. Variant covers will also be available from Aaron Hammerstrom, Jennifer Hernandez, and Omar Ata.