MIKE PELLERITO, was recently named the new Managing Editor of Archie Comics. In addition to looking over the Archie universe he also editÃs some of Archie Comics most popular titles,
This column came about after having very few avenues to promote and find out about All Ages and Younger Reader Comics and Graphic Novels. Most knowledge seems to be passed along by word of mouth, so this is in the sprit the column is written. Now, sit back and join in the conversation!
To learn more about any of the above-mentioned projects please visit Archie Comics.com
Special Edition - Tracy Yardley!
ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL AGES - SPECIAL EDITION-TRACY YARDLEY?!
We had a plan for this week, but something else came up. After getting back from vacation, and much rather watching the last Yankees vs. Boston series of the regular season it was a no brainer to have Mr. Tracy Yardley! write a guest column. He is a super talented all around nice guy who just so happens to have his first issue where he has done the script and pencils for Sonic X coming out. Tracy takes a few minutes from his busy schedule and tells us some behind the scenes info. So, as you can see what came up was far more interesting for everyone involved.
Sonic X Marks the Spot
By Tracy Yardley!
When I started working with Mike Pellerito and Archie Comics back in 2005, I was thrilled to be working on a monthly comic with an established fan base that I knew wasn’t going anywhere. Sonic the Hedgehog had been around for a while. I myself used to buy the book at my local grocery store when I was in middle school. I still have the original four issue miniseries penciled primarily by Scott Shaw! (from whom I stole the post-nominal exclamation point.) It was great to be working with a character that I knew and loved, and to be working on a book that I knew was suitable for all ages and I could be proud to draw.
Fast-forward a year and half, and about 20 issues of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic X later. After reading many scripts by Ian Flynn and Joe Edkin, and drawing hundreds of panels, I thought I had a pretty good grasp on the characters and decided to try my hand at writing a Sonic script. Mike was good enough to let me give it a go. Since the regular Sonic book has a long (some might say intricate) back-story, I thought it would make more sense to take a crack at Sonic X, which features more lighthearted stories with fewer continuity problems. 
The basic story is this: Sonic and friends have become celebrities after their many battles against Dr. Eggman, so now they’re on a high profile TV program to demonstrate their unique abilities.. Eggman learns of this and decides to use the television cameras to record our heroes in action and download their skills into one of his robots.
The idea of Eggman using a robot duplicate of Sonic has been around since Sonic’s second video game. I wanted to take this idea in a new direction by having a robot that mimics all of the main characters. The idea of Sonic and friends being on a TV show was a way to have some (hopefully) humorous character observations and give the story some structure.
My initial concept was really a two-issue story. The first issue having a longer interview sequence where we have Sonic stepping on his friends toes to grab the spotlight and a longer obstacle course sequence where Eggman powers up his robot. Then issue two would be a 22-page brawl. After doing a story outline and breaking the action down page-by-page, it became apparent that the story needed streamlining. So, I cut down the interview segment to its utmost basics and tightened up the obstacle course sequence too. Originally, the human character, Chris, had a big part in thwarting the robot, but that took too much time to set up, so I focused on the idea that the individual heroes would need to work together to overpower the robot that had the same skills as each of them. With some excellent suggestions from Mike and much rethinking on my part, I think it made for a much smoother, more solid story. Quick setup, lots of action and a fast resolution to an urgent problem. 
A few months later, I had another story idea whose final product turned out to be something completely different from my original concept. But that’s what’s fun and interesting about working with an editor and coming up with story ideas. Maybe when Mike needs another break from his column, I’ll tell you about that. In the meantime, go pick up Sonic X #24 in comic shops now, with script, interior pencils AND cover pencils by me! It’s a big milestone in my career and I hope the fans have as much fun reading it as I had making it. Oh yeah, shameless plug: check out Nate And Steve.com to get some great comics and go to Bumble King.com Store to buy original comic art through PayPal from yours truly, Tracy Yardley!
Scroll down a little and take a look at some great words on Tracy’s regular penciling work on Sonic the Hedgehog #179 reviewed by Penny Kenny!
Next Tuesday back to this weeks’ originally scheduled idea -a couple of back to school comic graphic novels and a reminder on a good way to drum up some money for your school. Plus, the next big challenge for yours truly at Archie and how you have helped!
The following week some more help from our friends!
As always if you have a great All Ages project let us know.
Get in touch: mikep(at)silverbulletcomicbooks(dot)com
Check out some new All Ages and Younger Reader comic reads on sale this week:
JUL070263 SCOOBY DOO #124 $2.25
JUL072172 MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #16 $2.99
JUL072170 MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #28 $2.99
JUL072228 MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN VOL 7 DIGEST TP $6.99
JUL072176 MARVEL ADVENTURES TWO-IN-ONE #3 $4.99
JUL073289 BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #178 $2.49
MAR073685 BUZZBOY SIDEKICKS RULE #3 (RES) $2.99
JUL073292 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #134 $3.69
JUL073294 SABRINA VOL 2 #88 $2.25
JUL073366 SIMPSONS COMICS #134 $2.99
Also, check out some great All Ages comic reviews here at Silver Bullet Comic Books. Thanks to reviewers Bruce Logan, Martijn Form and Penny Kenny!
Surreal Adventures of Edgar Allan Poo
CLICK HERE
Amazing Spider-Girl #12
CLICK HERE
Sonic the Hedgehog #179
CLICK HERE
Lions, Tigers and Bears Vol. 2 #4
CLICK HERE
Entertainment for Every Age is © Mike Pellerito 2006-
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