Lost Hedgehog Tales - Organization and Input

[Ian Flynn]

We're fast approaching Christmas - it practically blindsided me this year. I like to try to do something each year - an "Ask Ian" or something. This year, I'm asking for y'alls' help to organize a little project - one you've all wanted for a while now.

What is the project?

Lost Hedgehog Tales will be a write-up of all my original plans for the 2012-2013 period, along with my original scrapped ideas for the Road to #275 and Road to #300.

What will it specifically contain?

An informal overview of storylines I pitched or was planning to pitch before things got all... dramatic. There will not be any manuscript material, nor any original documents sent to Archie. Think of it as me pulling a box out of the attic, going through its contents, and telling you about each thing. Those "things" will include:
- the original ending to the King Naugus Arc
- Mecha Sally's fate
- both versions of "Endangered Species"
- the aforementioned plans that would've taken us through STH#300
- Hershey's role
- ...and more!

What do you need our help for?

Prompting my memory, mostly. This thread is for folks to request follow-up on stuff that slipped through the cracks. Ever since the shake-up, all my time and effort has been focused on the current state of the comics. All my old plans had to be tossed out, so I've not devoted any thought to them. And while I have my notes, I had a lot of plates spinning, so I'm going to be rusty. Everyone had a subplot or character they were invested in. Now's your chance to get a small form of closure.

I will not be covering such things as:
- confirmation of cut content
- commentary on the legal proceedings or individuals involved
- other potential hot-button topics I can't think of immediately

When will this be done?

When it's done, really. My work and life take priority, so this will be picked over when I have time. I also don't want to stealing the thunder of "Countdown to Chaos," so it certainly won't be out before STH#256. I'll try to have it done before the summer, though.

I've had my wallet open for a while now. How much?

This will be released for free when it's done. I briefly considered charging a little fee, or asking for good faith donations - this is a lot of work I did that's going to be for nothing - but I've ultimately ruled against it. I can't afford a lawyer to navigate the legalities of this, and I'm concerned certain parties would take me to court regardless of whether or not I was in the clear.

But I know my First Amendment rights, and casually writing about "what would've been a neat idea" is safe enough. Expect a big, beefy disclaimer at the very beginning, tho'.

Along that line... Archie is cool with this?

I don't know - I haven't asked. This is all me. Since this material isn't being used by them, and a fair bit of it was never shown to them, they're not really involved. This is just me doing something for the fans. An informal, unlicensed, non-profit, unofficial thing for fun.

So let me know what y'all are interested in me following up on.

NOTE: I'm seeing some questions being phrased as "Will we see..." or "Will this happen?" No, no they will not. These things will never happen. The write-up will simply cover what I wanted to happen. This is without editorial or license-holder input or oversight. So when this comes out, keep in mind everything could've been very different in the end.

[therealfalconpawnch7]

Will this include what was written on that slip of Paper Mogul gave Silver? Because that's been buzzing in my mind whenever I think of Silver lately.

[Tylinos]

Huh. This was definitely unexpected, but awesome. Well, if there's any one thing I was curious about that wasn't part of the obvious you mentioned, it's the plans for the Ancient Onyx.

[NxtWaltDisney]

With this project.... sooner than expected.

[SurrealBrain]

How would the Mecha Sally story have ended?

[NiTROACTiVE]

Ooh boy, this is interesting! I'm surprised this is even happening! I sure this won't get halted and that how it will be done by summer too.

However, I must ask you some things about this project (some of them I know you won't answer because you'll want to keep them a surprise before this thing is released, but I'll just ask them for the heck of it):

1. Will we get the original conclusion to the Mecha Sally arc too sine we're getting the original ending to the King Naugus arc?
2. What do you mean both versions of Endangered Species? Do you mean we'll be getting both the intended and unintended version, or was there an alternative version you didn't like?
3. Since we're getting Hershey's role, does that mean she was the female black cat legionnaire in SU #37 and that she'll meet Sonic, Tails and Amy in STH #237 and tell them what happened to her? Or was she brainwashed and legionized?
4. Will Geoffrey and Hershey have a tearful reunion when the time comes?

[TheFatPanda]

Sounds awesome. Not sure I can really think of any concepts to bring up that haven't already been mentioned. Except maybe what happened to Shard after SU#50.

[Ian Flynn]

1. Will we get the original conclusion to the Mecha Sally arc too sine we're getting the original ending to the King Naugus arc?

Yes. Considering how big that one is, I should've included it in the first post. I'll update it now.

2. What do you mean both versions of Endangered Species? Do you mean we'll be getting both the intended and unintended version, or was there an alternative version you didn't like?

"Endangered Species" was originally planned as an SU arc until SEGA rejected it. It was revised to run in STH, and then... well, you know. So the write-up will go over what was changed between the two versions.

[TheFatPanda]

I forgot that ES was at one point a Universe arc. I'll be very interested to see how it would've played out without Team Fighters on the scene.

[therealfalconpawnch7]

I forgot that ES was at one point a Universe arc. I'll be very interested to see how it would've played out without Team Fighters on the scene.

I will as well, it probably would have meant more screen time for Remington.

[squeakyboots13]

Cool to see that you're doing this. Here are some questions I had.

1. Will Silver have ever met Mogul while he was in the present? And what would Silver's role in the comic become after the traitor thing settled?
2. Was the Blue Emerald Eggman went after in issue 223 always intended to be used for the Genesis Wave, or was there another purpose for it before that? Where would have the Emerald turned up had Worlds Collide not happened?
3. What "plans" did Scourge at the end of his Universe arc? (Feel free to ignore this question if it can still be a thing in the comic.)
4. Would the Team Freedom and Team Fighters dynamic stay permanent even after Sally, Antoine, and Bunnie came back?

[The KKM]

Ooh, this'll be neat.

I'll ask other stuff if I recall. But right now, my questions would be

1- What were the plans for Merlin you were wanting to do for a long time?
2- Naugus. Why was he going ugly even BEFORE Genesis? Actually you'll probably answer this already but eh.

[ShadowBat20]

This is so awesome. Ian, you rock! Any chance we could get info on the Brotherhood of Guardians and Moritori Rex in the Twilight Cage? Or your plans for the Nocturnus?

[Sir Bert Leaman]

Along that line... Archie is cool with this?

I don't know - I haven't asked. This is all me. Since this material isn't being used by them, and a fair bit of it was never shown to them, they're not really involved. This is just me doing something for the fans. An informal, unlicensed, non-profit, unofficial thing for fun.

So let me know what y'all are interested in me following up on.

This... Is a bit of a reversal from your previous comments on doing things like this. Am I reading too much into it or is the situation changing?

[BlueBlur62391]

Well, I think a lot of people are happy about this. What happens in the old world stays in the old world, I guess.

Though, maybe the comic would've actually suffered badly if it was still the old old continuity. Kinda like how Toy Story 2 worked...