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Description
I was reading a comment from someone who was trying to get into the Archie Sonic series, but they didn't know were to start.
I wont give out names, but I will say that The thread that spawned from this comment was full of people who were a bit clueless on the subject for some reason.
And most of them said either read 160 or 252.

So I took it upon my self to look into my collection and found not just one good starting point for the series that isn't #252 or #1. But a total of seven issues that could be considered a good starting point for new readers.

So allow me to go over the list.

Issue 0 - It has a back story for Sonic and how he joins the freedom fighters, and it is Archie's first Sonic comic made in 1992.
The only problem with it is that the story this comic introduces gets retconned in the main series.
Here's a review of this issue I made if you want details on it.
www.deviantart.com/shanahat/ar…
(I give it a 7.50 / 10)

Issue 1 - It's the first issue in the official run that Archie began in April of 1993.
The story is very simple and easy to understand, The characters are well defined in it (even more so then issue 0), and the story does not get retconned this time.
But the story was more interesting in issue 0 for pretty obvious reasons.
(I give it a 7 / 10)

Issue 13 - It's an adaptation of (in my opinion) the best video game in the Sonic series, So the story is very easy to understand. Especially if your only familiar with the games, and the story it self does the game justice. The second story also does a solid job establishing the Freedom Fighters as a resistance made up of colorful characters and how they function on a mission.
But keep in mind that this was made before Sonic and Knuckles released, So Ken Penders had no idea that there was a Master Emerald, so keep your cool when they say it's a Chaos Emerald. Plus The Master Emerald will eventually get introduced later on in issue 56.
(I give it a 8 / 10)

Issue 17 - The first story is a parody of King Kong, So the story is already pretty simple. But the real reason to check this out is the second story with Sally as this story actually does establish the setting of the series, and in a more engaging way too.
However, the first story in my opinion is pretty stupid and doesn't do a good job establishing the other characters, and the second story pretty much confirms that this King Gong story is one of the non-canon goofy stories. So skip the first story and just read the second one.
(I give it a 6 /10)

Issue 57 - This issue has a massive flashback sequence that recaps the entire first 5+ years of the Sonic comics up to that point. So there is already something to get you up to speed. And of course the story is very simple to understand in of it self, especially since all that happens is that Sonic and Tails go on their plane to find Nagus after saying good bye to their friends.
My only problem with this issue is that the flashback sequence doesn't accurately describe the events of those past issues (it even acknowledges the stories that are not cannon), pretty much due to Karl Bollers being a new comer to the comics at the time.
(I give it a 7.75 / 10)

Issue 160 - This is Ian Flynn and Tracy Yardley's first issue, and the story is very simple to understand. But It follows some pretty heavy baggage. Like Shadow working for Eggman, Sonic dating Fiona, and Lock being the one watching the Master Emerald.
But when you keep reading the comics from this point, you will eventually find out the reason for all of this stuff.
(I give it a 7 / 10)

Issue 162 - This issue is the first one to appear in the Sonic Saga Series books. Believe it or not, it actually recaps events more then 160 does, It even has an intro duction to the worlds setting by Adam. But the plot is a lot more complicated this time.
But It is easy to understand why this was chosen as the first issue in the Sonic Saga Series books and not 160.
(I give it a 7.25 / 10)

Tell me what you think, and are there other good starting points I should know about?
(I did not bring up 252 because I only want to bring up pre-reboot material)

these comics are copyright Sega and Archie.

Description
I was reading a comment from someone who was trying to get into the Archie Sonic series, but they didn't know were to start.
I wont give out names, but I will say that The thread that spawned from this comment was full of people who were a bit clueless on the subject for some reason.
And most of them said either read 160 or 252.

So I took it upon my self to look into my collection and found not just one good starting point for the series that isn't #252 or #1. But a total of seven issues that could be considered a good starting point for new readers.

So allow me to go over the list.

Issue 0 - It has a back story for Sonic and how he joins the freedom fighters, and it is Archie's first Sonic comic made in 1992.
The only problem with it is that the story this comic introduces gets retconned in the main series.
Here's a review of this issue I made if you want details on it.
www.deviantart.com/shanahat/ar…
(I give it a 7.50 / 10)

Issue 1 - It's the first issue in the official run that Archie began in April of 1993.
The story is very simple and easy to understand, The characters are well defined in it (even more so then issue 0), and the story does not get retconned this time.
But the story was more interesting in issue 0 for pretty obvious reasons.
(I give it a 7 / 10)

Issue 13 - It's an adaptation of (in my opinion) the best video game in the Sonic series, So the story is very easy to understand. Especially if your only familiar with the games, and the story it self does the game justice. The second story also does a solid job establishing the Freedom Fighters as a resistance made up of colorful characters and how they function on a mission.
But keep in mind that this was made before Sonic and Knuckles released, So Ken Penders had no idea that there was a Master Emerald, so keep your cool when they say it's a Chaos Emerald. Plus The Master Emerald will eventually get introduced later on in issue 56.
(I give it a 8 / 10)

Issue 17 - The first story is a parody of King Kong, So the story is already pretty simple. But the real reason to check this out is the second story with Sally as this story actually does establish the setting of the series, and in a more engaging way too.
However, the first story in my opinion is pretty stupid and doesn't do a good job establishing the other characters, and the second story pretty much confirms that this King Gong story is one of the non-canon goofy stories. So skip the first story and just read the second one.
(I give it a 6 /10)

Issue 57 - This issue has a massive flashback sequence that recaps the entire first 5+ years of the Sonic comics up to that point. So there is already something to get you up to speed. And of course the story is very simple to understand in of it self, especially since all that happens is that Sonic and Tails go on their plane to find Nagus after saying good bye to their friends.
My only problem with this issue is that the flashback sequence doesn't accurately describe the events of those past issues (it even acknowledges the stories that are not cannon), pretty much due to Karl Bollers being a new comer to the comics at the time.
(I give it a 7.75 / 10)

Issue 160 - This is Ian Flynn and Tracy Yardley's first issue, and the story is very simple to understand. But It follows some pretty heavy baggage. Like Shadow working for Eggman, Sonic dating Fiona, and Lock being the one watching the Master Emerald.
But when you keep reading the comics from this point, you will eventually find out the reason for all of this stuff.
(I give it a 7 / 10)

Issue 162 - This issue is the first one to appear in the Sonic Saga Series books. Believe it or not, it actually recaps events more then 160 does, It even has an intro duction to the worlds setting by Adam. But the plot is a lot more complicated this time.
But It is easy to understand why this was chosen as the first issue in the Sonic Saga Series books and not 160.
(I give it a 7.25 / 10)

Tell me what you think, and are there other good starting points I should know about?
(I did not bring up 252 because I only want to bring up pre-reboot material)

these comics are copyright Sega and Archie.