Archie Sonic Universe Issue 74 is the seventy-fourth issue in the spin-off Sonic Universe comic series published by Archie Comics.
Official solicitation[]
- The final showdown for the fate of the digital realm is HERE! “Spark of Life” Part Four: It’s pandemonium aplenty in this conclusion to the stunning “Spark of Life” story arc! Who, or what, is Phage? Introductions aren’t necessary—she’s creating havoc for our heroes anyway! Tails and Big—menaced by badniks and Dark Gaia Monsters alike! A Chaos Emerald—about to fall into enemy hands! Nicole—on the brink of deletion! Will Sally sacrifice it all to save her friends and the world? Only the dramatic conclusion to SPARK OF LIFE can tell! Featuring cover art from Sonic comic artist extraordinaire Tracy Yardley, and a special SEGA-art TAILS variant cover!
Featured stories[]
Spark of Life Part Four[]
- Plot: Ian Flynn
- Script: Aleah Baker
- Pencils: Tracy Yardley
- Inks: Jim Amash
- Colors: Matt Herms
- Letters: Jack Morelli
- Assistant Editor: Vincent Lovallo
- Editor/Executive Director of Editorial: Paul Kaminski
- Editor-in Chief: Victor Gorelick
- President: Mike Pellerito
- Publisher: Jon Goldwater
- Special Thanks To: Tyler Ham, Anthony Gaccione, and the CHARACTER BUSINESS and LICENSING DEPARTMENT of SEGA corporation
Synopsis[]
In the Digital World, Sally and Nicole are facing Phage, who taunts them that they are both hers to examine. Sally blocks an attack and tells Nicole to get out of the system. Nicole runs, but then gets an idea. Creating another weapon, she attacks Phage from behind, severely damaging her and surprising Sally. As Sally tries to come up with another plan to disable her, Phage suddenly flies into a rage, bellowing "I'll tear you down to the last bit of coding!". A now scared Sally tells Nicole to escape to her handheld, while Sally gets out from the Digitizer, and they can shut down Doctor Ellidy's system with Phage in it. However, Nicole just grabs Sally and dashes off, much to her confusion.
Back in the real world, Big and Tails reach the Lake of Rings to search for the Chaos Emerald, before Ellidy's badniks, (controlled by Phage) and the Dark Gaia monsters arrive. Tails wonders where to start, and Big suggests in the lake itself. Tails tries to swim, but is attacked by one of the badniks. As many more arrive, Big uses his fishing rod to fish out the Chaos Emerald. With the Emerald in hand, Tails decides to get back to Ellidy's lab, but their vehicle is destroyed by the Dark Gaia monsters.
Back in the Digital World, Sally and Nicole argue over their situation while hiding: Nicole condemns Sally for being reckless again, while Sally yells at Nicole for not following her plan. Nicole retaliates by revealing she can't reach her handheld because of Phage, but then sits down and admits that she herself acted recklessly, as she did not want to see Sally get hurt. Sally assures her that they will find a way out. Sally decides not to fly out, because of Phage's monsters. Nicole explains the Digitizer's methods, interpreting the system that Sally can understand. Back in Isolated Island, Ellidy hears thumping noises from his badniks and the Dark Gaia monsters coming from his lab. Sally asks Nicole about the Digital World, and Nicole says that it is still connected to the system, but to no end, and Phage will keep following them. Sally then gets an idea, she tells Nicole to recreate one of the rings that Ellidy had created, while she distracts Phage. She creates a sword and a shield from her Ring-Blades.
Meanwhile, a damaged and angry Phage continues to search for Sally and Nicole. Phage finds Sally, with the latter leading the chase to the other side of the Digital World. Sally taunts Phage, but realizes that she can't run as fast as sonic in the Digital World. Eventually, she makes it to another part of the Digital World. Phage also arrives, taunting her if she can stop her in this system. Sally says no, but calls out to Nicole, who had created a Sling Ring, quickly taking Sally back to Ellidy's system. Nicole then tries to lock Phage out of the system, but Phage tries to force the barrier open. Now furious, she claims to be stronger and faster. Ellidy sees Phage through the cameras, as Phage claims the rings and the research will be hers. Meanwhile, Big and Tails are fighting a massive amount of Dark Gaia monsters, and badniks, as Phage claims that the Chaos Emerald will be hers. Nicole is having a hard time trying to close the barrier, while Sally is fighting more of Phage's monsters.
Ellidy watches Sally motivate Nicole, but just then, the badniks finally break down the door. In desperation, he rushes over to Nicole's handheld and places one of the Red Star Rings in it. This causes Nicole to transform into Overclocked Nicole, whose energy destroys Phage's monsters. Phage, outraged, yells that the Red Star Ring Nicole just got was supposed to be hers. Overclocked Nicole says that it's not, and that she isn't welcome. With a swift clap of her hands, she finally forces Phage out of the system, causing Ellidy's badniks to return to normal. They help Big and Tails drive out the Dark Gaia monsters, and some surround Doctor Ellidy. Back in the Digital World, Sally praises Overclocked Nicole for what she had done. She says that she only shut Phage out of the system, but she won't be coming back anytime soon. Sally hugs her, saying she saved everyone.
The next day, Tails gets a message from Rotor, saying that they have to head to Apotos. Big is confused, but Nicole says it's a place. Sally thanks Ellidy for giving one of the Red Star Rings. Ellidy assures her that they will but it to good use, and was surprised that a Chaos Emerald was here. He wishes them good luck and asks Sally to say hi to her dad for him. Ellidy apologizes to Sally for the things he said last night, but Sally says they weren't in their minds at that time. He admits that he was being unfair to Nicole. Sally says he should tell that to her. Ellidy then talks about the Grand archive Project being Nikki's idea. He then apologizes again, needing to think more with Nicole. Nicole calls Sally, and as they leave, Sally tries to tell her about Nikki, but she already knows. Nicole explains that she saw photos of her when she was running away from Phage. She then explains that she was created because Ellidy was trying to save his daughter's life, hoping that she would live on in her mind. Ellidy arrives and gives Nicole the Red Star Ring. Nicole is confused, without the Chaos Emerald, then the Lake would not produce any more rings. Ellidy says that it would take time for his lab to be set up, and tells her to send him the findings. Nicole accepts.
Sally asks Nicole if she would return to the Sky Patrol through the Digital World, but Nicole decides to ride back with them on the plane. The issue ends with the team heading for Apotos, with Nicole enjoying the ride.
Appearances[]
Characters:
- Badnik Horde
- Bombbearer (multiple)
- Hoverby Mk II (multiple)
- Motobug (multiple)
- Needlenose (multiple)
- Piranha (multiple) (first appearance)
- Poptank
- Dark Gaia (mentioned)
- Dark Bat (multiple)
- Dr. Eggman (mentioned)
- Dr. Ellidy
- Freedom Fighters
- Big the Cat
- Miles "Tails" Prower
- Nicole the Holo-Lynx
- Overclocked Nicole (first appearance)
- Rotor the Walrus (mentioned)
- Sally Acorn
- Sonic the Hedgehog (mentioned)
- Killer Bee (multiple)
- Little Rex
- Nigel Acorn (mentioned)
- Nightmare (multiple)
- Nikki (mentioned)
- Phage
Races and species:
Locations:
- Digital World
- Prime Zone
- Sonic's World
- Apotos (mentioned)
- Isolated Island
- Lake of Rings
- Mobotropolis Grand Archive (mentioned)
- Sonic's World
Items:
Vehicles:
Misc.:
Trivia[]
- When developing the "Spark of Life" story arc, the driving factor was not only to provide an origin story for Nicole, but also to explore the relationship between Sally and Nicole and use it to cover some past events.[2]
- The small diamond-shaped symbol floating over Sally's avatar form in the Digital World is a reference to the Plumbob, an icon used to identify selected characters in The Sims series.
- The pronged weapon Nicole used to severely damage Phage and way it pierces her "core" is most likely a reference to the "Lance of Longinus" an angelic weapon from the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion.
- When Sally first summons her energy sword and shield in the Digital World, the shield is in her left hand and the sword in her right. However, for the rest the comic, they are switched.
- Also, when Sally summons her sword and shield, she says "I have a plan." This might be a reference to the Sonic the Hedgehog series, as the series' incarnation of Sally says the line often.
Off Panel[]
- Script: Eric Esquivel
- Pencils: Agnes Garbowska
- Inks: Jim Amash
- Colors: Vincent Lovallo
Synopsis[]
Off Panel
Sonic decides to celebrate Nicole becoming "real" by showing her something special. Nicole is not quite sure of his definition of real, but nonetheless he introduces her to chilli dogs. They both eat until they are both stuffed, and Sonic stops her from describing the experience, not wanting her to cheapen their emotions with words.
Appearances[]
Characters:
Races and species:
Items:
Quotes[]
- Tails: Let's get going!
- Sally: Well then...I guess you'll ride the way back in your handheld...?
- Nicole: Actually...I think that today, I'd like to feel the wind on my face.
Trivia[]
- The variant cover of this issue uses the official artwork of Tails from Sonic Lost World and the background for Sylvania Castle Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II.
Gallery[]
Preview pages[]
| Gallery |
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 Page one  Page two  Page three  Page four  Page five |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 ronc (25 March 2015). ARCHIE COMICS ON SALE TODAY – 3/25/15. Archie Comics. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015.
- ↑ Aleah Baker (19 January 2016). Lea's Unimportant Farewell to BK Q&A!. BumbleKing Comics. Retrieved on 21 January 2016. "Serious question though how did you and Ian come up with the idea for Spark of Life? / Aleah Baker: Y'know, it's been so long... aside from "Nicole could use a new origin story" I don't remember a lot of specifics at this point. I know Dr. Ellidy didn't have a name nailed down for a long time during development. Something else that was a driving factor (and went through a lot of talk with Paul Kaminski) was exploring Nicole's relationship with Sally and using that to cover some past events, and I'm glad that those angles were able to be incorporated (even though stuff still got cut in the end... I'm getting better about avoiding those kinds of problems)."
External links[]
- Archie Sonic Universe Issue 74 at Mobius Encyclopaedia, the Archie Sonic wiki.
