Issues released in April
Rivals Variant Cover
Patrick "Spaz" Spaziante
Jamal Peppers
Copybot
(the above are from the perspective of the Archie Sonic canon only)
Archie Sonic Universe Issue 51 is the fifty-first issue of the spin-off Sonic Universe series, and the second part of the Sonic/Mega Man crossover, Worlds Collide.
The crossover event of 2013 continues here! There are strange things afoot as Mega Man's world is menaced by a super-fast, blue attacker. Sonic's world is being stalked by a blue-armored figure with a cannon for an arm. Could these mysterious villains be Sonic and Mega Man? Or are they some kind of sinister copies? Mistaken identities and explosions galore in this explosive second part to the historic Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man crossover! Continues in this month's Sonic the Hedgehog #248!"
"When Worlds Collide" Part Two of Twelve-Mistaken Identities
With the Year 20XX reset by the Genesis Wave, Dr. Light is hard at work in the lab. Rock-aka Mega Man-enters the lab and asks him if he's all right, and is informed that he is working on a new Robot Master Suddenly, Roll dashes in after seeing Proto Man in a heated battle on television. Dr. Light and Rock realize the four enemies (the Roboticized Masters) are very unusual, but Mega Man is confident he can take them down. Teleporting to the First National Bank, he relieves Proto Man from the battle and prepares to take them on himself.
Meanwhile, Sonic is dashing through the Green Hill Zone searching for his friends. He had gone to Tails' house with plans to explore the Mystic Ruins together, however Tails wasn't home. When he went to Angel Island to see Knuckles and then back home to see Amy Rose, he realized something was up when neither were to be found. To help him look, he employs the Chaotix, a gang of detectives comprised of Vector the Crocodile, Espio the Chameleon, and Charmy Bee.
The trio in question are looking for the missing Mobians in a rainy city while Sonic continues his own search. Charmy (who is quite hyperactive) separates from the group to go get ice cream, but Espio feels uneasy. He rushes off to find him but quickly disappears. Vector realizes something is up and meets a mysterious robot with blue armor and a purple scarf. Subduing Vector with a paralyzing beam, the robot reveals himself as Copy Robot. With the Chaotix captured and ready to be roboticized, Dr. Wily sends him to the Green Hill Zone where one more target remains.
Back at Mega City, Mega Man is in a heated battle with the four existing Roboticized Masters. He sends a charged shot as Knuckles Man and hits him, however instead of its usual destructive power, it has paralyzing properties—something Mega Man seems confused by. Before he can figure it out, he is struck from behind by a blue blur. A giant golden ring appears as a portal to the Green Hill Zone, and the four Roboticized Masters (plus the blue blur) escape into it. The ring begins to close, so Mega Man hops inside to go after them.
Elsewhere in the zone, Sonic meets up with Silver the Hedgehog who has noticed a disturbance in time-and-space. The two figure Dr. Eggman is to blame, but before they can get much conversation in, Silver is captured by Copy Robot. Sonic gives chase after Copy Robot while elsewhere, the blue bur (revealed to be Metal Sonic) helps the Roboticized Masters disperse. Mega Man decides to go after Metal Sonic since he seems to be leading the pack. These strategies are all intentional—Copy Robot and Metal Sonic are leading Sonic and Mega Man to each other, and just before they meet, they vanish from sight!
Sonic strikes Mega Man with an attack (believing it to be Copy Robot). Mega Man quickly returns fire, noting that Sonic is giving off organic readings but not believing something non-robotic could exhibit such speed. As the two battle (believing each other to be responsible for the mayhem caused by their doppelgangers), Dr. Wily and Dr. Eggman celebrate from the safety of their Wily Egg.
A failed concept of the alliance between Eggman and Wily is showcased, in which Wily has used data on Sonic to enhance his most powerful robot. The result is Bass with various features of Sonic's, who claims that "[He] will end all of you!" while Eggman expresses his doubts as to whether Bass has gotten any faster.
Proto Man battles the Roboticized Masters, and receives needed assistance from Mega Man.
Metal Sonic tricks Mega Man into believing that Sonic is responsible for the Mega City bank heist, while Copybot tricks Sonic into that believing Mega Man is responsible for the disappearance of his friends.
Sonic and Mega Man begin battling each other.
Sonic (running through Green Hill Zone as the Genesis Wave fades out): Huh...and there's that weird feeling...again? Can I have déjà vu about having déjà vu?
Charmy: But I saw the truck! It was just a block away!
Vector: For the last time Charmy--you'll get some ice cream after the case is solved! Think of it like training. You can't reap the benefits until you do the work!
Espio: That, and we couldn't afford an ice cream cone right now.
Vector: Not my point!
Charmy: Forget you guys! I'm getting my ice cream! And they'll give it to me for free because I'm so cute and adorable!
Sonic (upon meeting Silver): If it isn't everybody's favourite walking-paradox. 'Sup?
Sonic (after hitting Mega Man, thinking he's Copybot): WOO! Knocked the scarf right off of you! How do you like that?
Every issue from here on out would be released with a variant cover, a practice that had been confirmed by Paul Kaminski.
This is the first Sonic Universe issue that isn't a landmark issue (excluding issue 1) to have a cover drawn by Patrick Spaziante.
This is also the first Sonic Universe issue to be penciled by Jamal Peppers since his 4 issue run on #37-#40.
Strangely, even though the reset "Worlds Collide" universe is based on that of the video games, the Master Emerald shrine, which appears briefly when Sonic is looking for Knuckles, still has its design from the comics Pre-Super Genesis Wave Timeline as opposed to the one from the video games.
Cameos and References
On the main cover, Tails can be seen waving: the pose of his hand has it looking as if his middle finger and ring finger are practically fused together. This is a nod to an artistic quirk in artwork for earlier Mega Man games that fans have dubbed the "Finger Phenomenon", in which characters would often be drawn with the same finger formation.
On the background is taken directly from the Sky Sanctuary Zone, from the Genesis game Sonic & Knuckles.
The first page in which Sonic appears, where he's running through a loop in the Green Hill Zone as the Genesis Wave fades out, is a direct throwback to the opening of the Genesis saga in StH#226.
The opening scene with Mega Man and Dr. Light includes a reference to Bond Man, an abandoned Robot Master concept from the original Mega Man game.
The cover is an homage to the character select screen from the video game Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes, where Mega Man appeared as a playable character. His appearance on the cover mimics his appearance on the character select screen of the game. Even his thumbnail artwork is identical to that of the game.