Gotta go fast! Like with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Transformers, or the G.I. Joe franchise, IDW took over the Sonic franchise to tell new adventures with the Blue Blur. The Hedgehog was at Archie Comics for 24 years before entering a new era at IDW which passed a deal with Sega in 2017 to produce a new series of Sonic Comics. The editor even recruited lead writer Ian Flynn and artist Tyson Hesse, who both worked on Archie Comics’s Sonic the Hedgehog before.
Set in a universe similar to the game universe, after the events of Sonic Forces, the Sonic Comics follows the Blue Blur and his friends on new adventures as they race around the world to defeat the evil Dr. Eggman’s robotic forces, and more!
What to read before the IDW Sonic Comics?
More than reading, this is the perfect time to play some games! There are many Sonic games out there, but as the comic events take place after Sonic Forces, this is the main game we recommend:
- Sonic Forces (Video Game)
Sonic the Hedgehog IDW Comics in Order: Hardcover Collection
The IDW Collection is an oversized hardcover edition of IDW’s Sonic The Hedgehog comic books, including the ongoing series, annuals, and mini-series, all presented in recommended reading order.
- Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 1
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #1–12 - Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 2
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #13–20, the 2019 Annual and the Tangle & Whisper miniseries - Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 3
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #21–32, the 2020 Annual - Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 4
Collects the Bad Guys mini-series plus issues #33–40 from volumes 9 and 10 (Chao Races & Badnik Bases and Test Run!) of the Sonic the Hedgehog series. - Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Collection, Vol. 5 new
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #41-50, and the Imposter Syndrome miniseries.
Sonic the Hedgehog IDW Reading Order: TPB Collection
Before the hardcover collection, the adventures of Sonic and his friends are first reprinted in trade paperbacks, and IDW even gave a reading order at the end of the Annual 2022.
Sonic Saga 1: Revenge of Neo Metal
- Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 1: Fallout!
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #1–4 - Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 2: The Fate of Dr. Eggman
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #5–8 - Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 3: Battle For Angel Island
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #9–12 - Sonic the Hedgehog 2019 Annual
Collected in Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper
Sonic Saga 2: The Metal Virus
- Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 4: Infection
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #13–16 - Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper
Collects Tangle & Whisper issues #1–4 and the 2019 Annual - Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 5: Crisis City
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #17–20 - Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 6: The Last Minute
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #21–24 - Sonic the Hedgehog 2020 Annual
Collected in Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 8: Out of the Blue - Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 7: All or Nothing
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #25–29 - Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 8: Out of the Blue
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #30–32 and the 2020 Annual
Sonic Saga 3: Eggman’s Legacy
- Sonic the Hedgehog: 5th Anniversary Edition (Familiar Territory)
Not collected anywhere for the moment - Sonic the Hedgehog: Bad Guys
Collects Sonic: Bad Guys issues #1–4 - Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 9: Chao Races & Badnik Bases
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #33–36 - Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 10: Test Run!
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #37–40 - Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 11: Zeti Hunt!
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #41-44 - Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 12: Trial by Fire
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #45–49 - Sonic the Hedgehog: Imposter Syndrome
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog: Imposter Syndrome #1-4 - Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 13: Battle for the Empire
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #50-51 and the 2022 Annual (actually taking place after #56) - Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 14: Overpowered
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog issues #52–56 - Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island #1-4 - Sonic the Hedgehog Vol.15: Urban Warfare
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #57–61
Sonic Saga 4
At this moment, no official name has been given for this new saga that seems to start with issue #51 (see above). This reading order will be updated when more details will be available.
- Sonic the Hedgehog Vol.16: Misadventures
Collecting Sonic the Hedgehog #62–66 - Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 17: Adventure Awaits new
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #67-68, the Endless Summer, 900th Adventure, and Halloween Specials - Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 18: Extreme Competition new
Collects Sonic the Hedgehog #69-71 including the Winter Jam and Spring Broken Specials - Sonic the Hedgehog: Fang The Hunter new
Collects Fang The Hunter issues #1-4
Sonic IDW Comics:Additional Reading
Want more Sonic? IDW also released several one-shots for Sonic 30th Anniversary Celebration, collected here:
- Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Celebration: The Deluxe Edition
Collects the stories from Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Special and Sonic the Hedgehog Free Comic Book Day 2021.
IDW has also published a few one-shots not collected anywhere at this date:
- Team Sonic Racing special, a prequel to the 2019 Sonic game Team Sonic Racing.
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2: The Official Movie Pre-quill, a prequel to the 2022 movie.
- Sonic the Hedgehog Free Comic Book Day 2022
- Sonic: Tails 30th Anniversary special
Also, IDW released several compilations focused on specific characters. It’s a collection of reprint stories, all available in other trades.
- Sonic the Hedgehog: Sonic & Tails: Best Buds Forever
Reprints of Sonic the Hedgehog issues #1, 13, 34, and 35. - Sonic the Hedgehog: Knuckles’ Greatest Hits new
Reprints Sonic the Hedgehog #3, Sonic the Hedgehog #10, Sonic the Hedgehog #11, Sonic the Hedgehog Free Comic Book Day 2022, and “Guardians” from Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2022 - Sonic the Hedgehog: Best Of Shadow new
Reprints Sonic the Hedgehog #6, Sonic the Hedgehog #36, Sonic the Hedgehog #59, and Sonic the Hedgehog #61