Ian Bumblekast Q&A
Q: I know I brought up Sonic Underground before but can we expect an IDW version of Aleena the Hedgehog to appear in the new comics.
>Not likely. Sega of Japan does not like acknowledging old spinoff material. Archie was odd in that because of an old contract with Sega a lot of things were allowed to slip in under the radar. IDW is developing a new relationship with Sega is too young to be that liberal yet, if at all.
Q: We all know Ian loves to work lyrics from Sonic theme songs into IDW, and I was wondering, if Whisper and Tangle had theme songs what would they sound like?
>Tangle's would be obnoxiously upbeat ska, something to have you bouncing off the walls. Whisper's would be close to "Calling To The Night" from MGS.
Q: Do you have stuff like game timelines, general lore, and world maps planned out for IDW Sonic? If so for the timeline part, how much does it differ from post-SGW Archie? Are there any games left out? Are any of them in a different order than before?
>Ian is approaching IDW Sonic differently from Archie. Less lore and plot heavy, and more adventure-to-adventure. Sega keeps a closer eye now and he has less latitude to make things up. He's tried to hammer out a world map for years but the maps depicted in the games are too inconsistent to make a reliable one. The timeline is more fluid now thanks to the Classic/Modern split. You can consider the modern games happening in order of their release and the events therein not being exactly 1:1.
Q: Curious to know which of the Supposed "Mandates" by Sega you actually intend to obey, since you've broken every single one you've mentioned in the past. You'd think SEGA would be pretty pissed at you adding characters to the lore who don't exist, as per their so-called "mandate"?
>Mandates are not hard and fast rules. They existed before Ian came on and he's ran into more because he wrote more. Cream and Omega could not be used for a time but then they could. "Sonic can't cry" was a reaction to the way he was being depicted pre-Ian but since then they were able to convince Sega to allow him to express different emotions. Doesn't know what questioner means by "adding characters to the lore who don't exist" mandate. It can also depend on who is doing the approving, with SoA being more lax and SoJ being more attentive and the time period. Everything goes through Sega so anything that is in the book is approved by them. What is approved can change book to book.
Q: I was sorry to hear you're not allowed to use TV show characters like Sally and Naugus in the IDW series But I was wondering: Would it be possible for those characters to appear in a different comic that takes place in a separate continuity from the main IDW series?
>Ian did not say that, just that Sega is not keen on them being reused. They would be a hard sell but not entirely impossible. For a side comic for old material to exist would require Sega's approval and a sizeable audience to demand and sustain it. Encourages people to get together and petition for it.
Q: What are your initial thoughts on Sonic's design for the live-action movie?
>*cough* *hack* *cough* ugh, bleh, why, WHY?! Ian wrote an article for the Escapist where he shows his thoughts about it. Concedes that this will likely be some people's first exposure to Sonic and they might like it and it might take off. Liked Detective Pikachu's depiction of Pokemon since they stay more true to the original designs. Going to still see it.
Q: If you could would you try and add dinosaurs or any kind of prehistoric animals in Sonic IDW?
>Ian has had dinosaur characters in his back pocket since Archie. Hasn't pitched them yet but has ideas for down the line. Has to worry if they would add something to the setting.
Q: My question is to know if you and the rest of the team like the idea to make more characters inspired by the ones from the Archie series. Like Starline?
>Starline wasn't intentionally made to be a successor of characters like Finitevus and Zachary, just probably inspired by them in that Ian likes suave manipulators with a slight technological edge. Is not planning to do straight up expies of old characters. Starline was more inspired by a game element, which has been altered and revised to the point it's no longer recognizable. He was intended to debut with two other characters which would have made the inspiration more obvious to fans but they were pushed back due to Year 2 plans.
Q: Were you satisfied with the lineup of the Eggy Six? (from Sonic Forces)
>Liked them in that they were a nod to previous villains, but wished they were used more. Didn't like how Chaos went down in one hit from Classic or that Zavok was the only real boss fight. Thought Metal Sonic being an illusion instead the real one was a neat idea
Also yeah, Infinite won't be allowed by SEGA for IDW appearances. F.