Editing Sonic the Comic Issue 18

{{Infobox comic
|width       =
|title       = ''Sonic the Comic'' #18
|image       = STC18.jpg
|issue       = 18
|date        = 
*4 February 1994 {{C|cover date}}
*22 January 1994 {{c|release date}}
|publisher   = Fleetway Editions Ltd
|coverartist = [[Carl Flint]]
|layouts     = 
|editor      = 
|price       = £1.10
}}
'''''Sonic the Comic'' #18''' is the eighteenth [[comic]] issue in the ''[[Sonic the Comic]]'' series published by [[Egmont Fleetway]].

==Staff==
*'''Editor''': [[Richard Burton]]
*'''Assistant Editor''': [[Deborah Tate]]
*'''Design''': [[Clare Gillmore]]
*'''Managing Editor''': [[Steve MacManus]]
*'''Publisher''': [[Chris Power]]
*'''Advertising''': [[Tom Glenister]]

==Featured stories==
===Sonic the Hedgehog - "Casino Night, Part 1"===
*'''Script''': [[Nigel Kitching]]
*'''Art''': [[Richard Elson]]
*'''Lettering''': [[Elitta Fell]]

====Synopsis====
[[Sonic the Hedgehog (Sonic the Comic)|Sonic]] and [[Porker Lewis (Sonic the Comic)|Porker Lewis]] arrive in the [[Casino Night Zone (Sonic the Comic)|Casino Night Zone]], where [[Doctor Ivo Robotnik (Sonic the Comic)|Doctor Robotnik]]'s face is everywhere and a vast statue of the Doctor looms above everything. In fact, the head of this statue contains the master control computer that makes all the games unwinnable and the statue's eyes send out hypnotising beams that turns everyone into compulsive gamblers: visitors to the Zone quickly lose all their money. But Sonic intends to change things.

Day-to-day management of the Zone is performed by three electricians known as the [[Marxio Brothers]] (Grouchio, Chicio, and Harpio). Robotnik tells them he has heard Sonic has plans to attack the Zone, and if they don't stop him, Robotnik will send them all back to Marxio World.

Sonic and Porker attempt to fix the central computer with a small handheld disruptor, but they are too far away. Impatient, Sonic takes the device and tries to get closer. He is spotted and soon encounters an army of [[Trooper]] Badniks. Although he destroys several, they lure him into a certain spot and he is dropped into a trap like a giant pinball machine. He ricochets off flippers and springs before, apparently, landing safely. However, the Marxio Brothers have taken Porker captive, and soon both Porker ''and'' Sonic are tied in front of an oncoming rollercoaster car!

====Appearances====
'''Characters''':
*[[Sonic the Hedgehog (Sonic the Comic)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]
*[[Porker Lewis (Sonic the Comic)|Porker Lewis]]
*[[Marxio Brothers]] {{1st}}
**[[Grouchio]] {{1st}}
**[[Chicio]] {{1st}}
**[[Harpio]] {{1st}}
*[[Doctor Ivo Robotnik (Sonic the Comic)|Doctor Ivo Robotnik]]
*[[w:c:stc:Shirtless dog|Gambling dog]] {{only}}
*[[Trooper]]s
'''Races and species:'''

* [[Human (Sonic the Comic)|Human]]
* [[Mobian (Sonic the Comic)|Mobian]]

'''Locations:'''

* [[Super Marxio World|Marxio World]] {{Mention}}
* [[Mobius (Sonic the Comic)|Mobius]]
** [[Casino Night Zone (Sonic the Comic)|Casino Night Zone]] {{1st}}

'''Items:'''

* [[Bumper (Sonic the Comic)|Bumper]] {{1st}}
* [[Disruptor]] {{1st}}
* [[Power Sneakers (Sonic the Comic)|Power Sneakers]]
* [[Spikes (obstacle) (Sonic the Comic)|Spikes]]

====Continuity====
*This issue debuts Porker Lewis's black jacket, based on his appearance in the early pitch artwork for the ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' television series, which would go on to become his trademark look while he is a member of the [[Freedom Fighters (Sonic the Comic)|Freedom Fighters]]. Porker, along with pal [[Johnny Lightfoot (Sonic the Comic)|Johnny Lightfoot]], will later be redesigned even further for [[Sonic the Comic Issue 21|issue #21]], gaining more human proportions and more articles of clothing, reaching his "final" design in [[Sonic the Comic Issue 26|issue #26]], in which the trotters he has in this issue and all previous appearances are replaced with functional hands and feet.
*Sonic refers to "Porker's disruptor gizmo", the first suggestion that Porker may be the technical genius of the Freedom Fighters.

====Trivia====
*When writing the scene featuring a dog that has become destitute by gambling all his money, [[Nigel Kitching]] intended to "have a pop" at gambling, which he disapproves of.<ref>[http://sonicthecomic.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=9658&page=19#431507 Forum post #431507 by Nigel Kitching] at Sonic the Comic - Online! Message Board (requires registration to view)</ref>
*This story was reprinted in [[Sonic the Comic Issue 134|''Sonic the Comic'' #134]].

===Ecco the Dolphin - "Ecco the Dolphin, Part 6"===
*'''Script''': Woodrow Phoenix
*'''Art''': Steve White
*'''Lettering''': Tom Frame

Ecco discovers the first destruction engine of the alien Vortex, but is prevented from destroying it by a mysterious entity: the Asterite. The Asterite is also an alien, though not allied with the Vortex. Ecco attacks the Asterite, demonstrating his impressive powers. The Asterite offers to help Ecco destroy the Vortex if Ecco will, in turn, do a service for it. The Asterite long ago sent out many parts of itself to gain knowledge of the world's oceans, but the Black Pearl did not return. If Ecco returns it, the Asterite will teach Ecco the language of the Vortex and together they will drive the Vortex back whence they came! Ecco vows to succeed, eagerly anticipating the day when he will be reunited with his family and friends.

===The Legend of the Golden Axe - "Plague of Serpents, Part 6"===
*'''Script''': Mark Eyles
*'''Art''': Mike White
*'''Lettering''': Ellie de Ville

The dragons arrive to aid the dwarf queen Silpantia-Dragontamer and together with the dwarves Gilius-Thunderhead and Yuki-Plantcharmer, they defeat all of the snake priests. Cobraxis the High Priest is transformed into a likeness of the Serpent God, but is killed by the dragon Cloudburner and Gilius with the Golden Axe. Viprax the wizard-priest is also killed by Gilius. Once the fight is over, Ax-Battler reappears, thoroughly confused after being hypnotised. Gilius and Yuki are given two daggers made of dragon gold as a reward. The heroes, along with a recovered Tyris-Flare, attend the funeral of Gilius' father back in Rockguard. The old boy died with a fork in his hand, awaiting the magnificent feast in the next world. It's how he would have wished to go, and Gilius insists that they go down to the feast hall themselves, to honour his memory.

====Trivia====
*Sonic the Hedgehog can be seen in the background on the final page of the story.
*Although the text promises more Golden Axe stories in future, no more were written.

===Tails - "The Land Beyond, Part 1"===
*'''Script''': [[Nigel Kitching]]
*'''Art''': [[Dave Windett]]/[[John Burns]]
*'''Lettering''': [[Elitta Fell]]

====Synopsis====
The [[Enchanter Kings]] once again summon their champion, [[Miles "Tails" Prower (Sonic the Comic)|Tails]], into the [[Nameless Zone]]. Tails is asked to rescue the third Enchanter King, [[Shirob]], who went missing even before Tails first journeyed to the [[Emerald Hill Zone (Sonic the Comic)|Emerald Hill Zone]]. Shirob recently sent a message through the [[Magic Crystal of Communication]], revealing that he had not been killed by [[Trogg]] as they had suspected, but rather taken prisoner and held in the [[Land Beyond]]. Tails is given a companion, the Kings' bravest fox warrior: [[Errol Blackthorn]]. Together, they cross the [[Dimension Bridge]] into the Land Beyond, where they are quickly surrounded by monstrous warriors.

====Appearances====
'''Characters''':
*[[Miles "Tails" Prower (Sonic the Comic)|Miles "Tails" Prower]]
*[[Enchanter Kings]]
*[[Errol Blackthorn]] {{1st}}
*[[Shirob]]
**[[Trogg]]
'''Races and species:'''

* [[Mobian (Sonic the Comic)|Mobian]]

'''Locations:'''

* [[Mobius (Sonic the Comic)|Mobius]]
** [[Emerald Hill Zone (Sonic the Comic)|Emerald Hill Zone]] {{Mentioned}}
* [[Nameless Zone]]
** [[Dimension Bridge]]
** [[Land Beyond]] {{1st}}

'''Items:'''

* [[Enchanted Battle Armour]]
* [[Magic Crystal of Communication]] {{Only}}

====Trivia====
*This story was reprinted in [[Sonic the Comic Issue 171|''Sonic the Comic'' #171]].

==Other features==
*Control Zone
*Review Zone (Greatest Heavyweights, Pebble Beach Golf, Ren & Stimpy, Gods, Zool)
*News Zone
*Q Zone (Jungle Strike, Rocket Knight Adventures, Super Monaco Grand Prix 2, Thunderhawk, Chuck Rock, James Pond 2, Star Wars)
*Speedlines

==Gallery==
===Cover artwork===
<gallery widths="200">
Sonic the Comic Issue 18 - clean cover.jpg
</gallery>

===Preview pages===
{{Gallery start}}
<gallery widths="200">
StC 018 P1.jpg|Page one
StC 018 P2.jpg|Page two
StC 018 P3.jpg|Page three
StC 018 P4.jpg|Page four
StC 018 P5.jpg|Page five
</gallery>
{{Gallery end}}

==External links==
*{{STC link|Issue 18}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{STC issues}}
{{Italic title}}
[[de:Sonic the Comic Ausgabe 18]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sonic the Comic 018}}
[[Category:Sonic the Comic issues|1]]
[[Category:1994 issues]]
[[Category:Sonic the Comic issues written by Mark Eyles]]
[[Category:Sonic the Comic issues written by Nigel Kitching]]