#lew stringer

Sonic the Comic #124: "The Lump"

Writer: Lew Stringer Pencils/Inks: Carl Flint Colors: Steve White Letters: Gordon Robson

Action Force #5: "Codename: Combat Colin"

Writer/Pencils/Inks/Letters: Lew Stringer

I want to put forward a case on why Fleetways Sonic the Comic deserves to be re-released as a collection.

Since we've seen discotek pick up AOSTH, I've been hoping to see the British Fleetway Sonic comics get the same level of love because they feel like a piece of lost Sonic media now since the only way to read them is through ether scans or picking up old print comics on eBay for high prices.

Sonic the Comic has some absolutely amazing world building and original ideas along side a touch of that dry humour well known from the UK comic industry at the time. Its sad when people think of Sonic the Comic its just “Oh Evil Super Sonic” because there is so much more there and it sucks Evil Super Sonic is the only thing people really know about STC.

Understandable with the events that shook the archie comics years ago that Sega might be reluctant to dig this stuff up but Nigel Kitching and the entire team that worked on Sonic the Comic are really cool guys and I wager they would be happy to sign off on a collection set and even do some commentaries for it.

It would be wonderful for these stories to be picked up by a new generation as well as having a nice print collection for old time fans to own.

Fleetway brand is owned by Rebellion now who I think have worked alongside Sega in the past so working out rights might not be that bad since the brand is no longer within the hands of Egmont.

It would be a dream for a chance to own copies of these stories and give them the respect they deserve so both old and even new fans can have a chance to rediscover them.

Also would love such a collection to have the other series like Decap attack and the game adaptations but I could understand the mess of rights issues with that but I can dream.

But STC is just as much a part of the Sonic Multiverse as SATAM, AOSTH, IDW and a part of the franchises rich history and it hurts to see it abandoned to history like this while archie got stuff like the Sonic archives and a number of anniversary collections at least before the legal drama happened.

Hi Boomers!

What a week it's been! 😵

Last Monday I was interviewed by RadioSEGA to talk about STC25, STC #275, and the comic in general. (check that out here - https://www.radiosega.net/shows/blog/the-manic-monday-show/2018/05/8-bit-music-and-comics-galore/)

On Tuesday we celebrated the 25th anniversary of Sonic the Comic and also released the first part of issue #275 - featuring our biggest story yet in the form of 'The Battle for Drak' featuring art from so many of our talented team! 

(Go read that here - http://www.stconline.co.uk/comics/stc275)

By Saturday we'd added the first part of another special anniversary story from original STC alum Nigel Kitching with art by myself and stunning colours by Nigel Dobbyn - Exit: Sonic has certainly got people talking and we're excited to release the conclusion of that story later this month!

(I hope you've read it by now! If not go here - http://www.stconline.co.uk/comics/stc275#comics)

And on Sunday it was the big day here in Manchester, STC25!! 

It was an incredible day, and I'm thrilled that so many of you were able to attend! It didn't quite go according to plan (what does?! 😂) but everyone seemed to have a brilliant time! 

I'd like to say a massive thanks to you all for pledging to the Kickstarter and helping to make it happen, and another thank you to all of our special guests - Nigel Kitching, Nigel Dobbyn, Carl Flint, Ferran Rodriguez, and Lew Stringer (making his first appearance at a UK Sonic event, amazingly we didn't scare him off!) - they were all brilliant and it was wonderful to see them again. 

Throughout the day everyone got a chance to mingle with other boomers and talk STC, ask questions of the guests and even get some of them to do some special art commissions - after 25 years we finally got to see how Lew draws Shortfuse! 

We had a great Q&A with Nigel and Lew, who revealed untold tales of STC history, a mammoth game of STC bingo (or Bingo Motorway as I called it!) in aid of the Matt's MegaDrive fund in memory of our departed friend Matt Dittmer - including a special Mojito toast in his honour, and there was even opportunity for people to great their own STC art throughout the day. 

It was also a brilliant retirement party for me! I spent most of the day (as with most of the previous few weeks) running around looking as wild-eyed as Super Sonic, but I loved every minute of it - so thank you again to everyone for making it so special! 😅

I've attached a few photos here but be on the lookout for the full set of STC25 photos to appear on our Facebook in the next few days/weeks!

There were also a few videos made, including this one by The_Guy_Silver: https://youtu.be/Ekqv1GTimgE

I believe there's also more to come so stay tuned to our Facebook for more!

All that's left now is for me to sort out shipping all the leftover comics and t-shirts and posters to those of you that were unable to attend! If you pledged for a tier that included postage (such as the Amy & Tekno tier) then I have everything I need from you!

If you originally pledged for an invite and were unable, or did not attend on the day - I may need to contact you for your address and possibly also for postage costs.

So please look out for messages via Kickstarter in your email (whichever email account you use for Kickstarter!) in the next week or so.

My aim is to get everything shipped out before the end of the month.

There's over 50 packs to ship out and only one of me so I'm afraid it will take me time to sort it all out - please be patient, I will work through them as fast as I can! 😉

If you have any other questions please don't hesitate to contact me via Kickstarter!

Thanks again, boomers! 

Ace cartoonist Lew Stringer is selling one of his “Daft Dimension” comic strips - the original artwork, featuring the Sonic Screwdriver and Kamelion - first published in Doctor Who Magazine No. 596. Bidding ends on Sunday 5th January 2025: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/205193500154