Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 40 is the fortieth issue of the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series published by Archie Comics.

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Official solicitation

Court Martial

Returning from certain doom after his battle with Mecha Knuckles, Sonic is arrested by his friends and sentenced to banishment from Knothole due to his seeming betrayal and alleged plan to roboticize himself to help stop Robotnik! But the heroic hedgehog won't go down without a fight: he has twenty-four hours to convince everyone that he's innocent! And to clear his name, he has to travel into the sleaziest locale on Mobius to find the villain who captured him: Nack the Weasel!

Featured stories

Court Martial

Part One

Sonic is in a jailhouse cell, recounting how he was turned into a Robian and forced to attack his friends, when Antoine orders him to remain silent. Sonic blames Antoine for his confinement, pointing out that Antoine was the one who charged him with treason in the first place. Antoine threatens to charge him for "assaulting the new commander", but Sonic says 'Twan is only in charge because the other Freedom Fighters are too busy rebuilding Knothole. Antoine leaves to celebrate his promotion while Sonic spins around his cell, upset that he can't help his friends when they need him most.

Outside the Jailhouse, Amy Rose is protesting, demanding that Sonic should be freed from jail. Sally watches her from afar before asking Rotor for a status report. Rotor explains that that King Acorn stored a large haul of back-up equipment under the jailhouse and that they're already moving it all back to Knothole. Sally begins to cry as she thinks about her father and the fact that she has to court-martial Sonic, but she pulls herself together and approaches the jailhouse. Amy thinks that she's come to pardon Sonic, but Sally tells her that the charges against Sonic are too serious to ignore. Sonic starts yelling at Sally that he doesn't belong in jail, and Sally angrily retorts that no one is above the law. Sally drags Amy away, yelling that they'll settle the matter in court.

Part Two

The next day, Sonic is in court with Hip and Hop as judges and Antoine as the prosecutor. Sonic quickly recognizes the kangaroos (Sonic the Hedgehog #6, but they tell him that they don't decide the punishment. Sonic asks who decides just as Princess Sally enters in her royal garments, telling him that she's the one who decided that, should he be found guilty, he will be banished; she orders Bunnie to guard the prisoner. Sonic complains sarcastically about how loyal his friends are, but Bunnie brushes him off, mentioning that Rotor's installed a "hedgehog hunter" missile that will be attracted to Sonic's unique aura if he tries to escape.

The trial begins, and Antoine furiously works to prove his case, quickly and aggressively asking Rotor, Tails, and Bunnie misleading questions and—quite literally--"badgering" Amy into a confession. Antoine calls himself to the stand and starts to give a long speech about how Sonic is guilty while giving himself as much credit as possible. Sally cuts him off, telling him he's made his point, and asks Sonic for his rebuttal.

Sonic calls Antoine as a witness and tells the court that Antoine had left his post at the jailhouse and never noticed that Nack, the person Sonic claims knocked him out and delivered him to Dr. Robotnik, had escaped. When asked about his misbehavior and negligence, Antoine throws himself on the mercy of the court. However, despite Sonic's testimony, Hip and Hop declare him guilty of treason. Sonic begs Sally for a chance to prove his innocence. Sally delays the sentence for 24 hours, giving Sonic a chance to prove himself innocent, and places a tracking device on him so they can know where he is so that they can monitor him. His friends wish him luck, and Sonic speeds off to find Nack.

Part Three

In Robotropolis, Dr. Robotnik and Orbinaut spot Sonic on the edge of the Badland mountains. Robotnik is frustrated to see Sonic back to normal, and irritated that almost all of Robotropolis' computers were knocked offline in the battle between Mecha Sonic and Mecha Knuckles. Robotnik plans his revenge with his ultimate weapon when he notices that Sonic is heading to the Robo Hobo Jungle. As Sonic enters, he's ambushed by Caterkiller, Bat Brain, Motobug, Buzzbomber, Crabmeat, Burrobot, and Splats. Sonic defeats the Classic Badniks and gets Caterkiller to tell him that Nack is at the Bottom of the Barrel Bar 'n' Grill. Sonic heads to the bar, but is stopped by a gorilla bouncer. Sonic uses his "figure eight" move on the gorilla, causing him to smash through the building. Sonic corners Nack, but Nack sneakily shoots Sonic with a gas gun. With Sonic unconscious, Nack heads out of the bar on his sky sled and calls Dr. Robotnik.

Part Four

Back in Robotropolis, a SWATbot informs Dr. Robotnik that Nack is reporting the successful capture of Sonic the Hedgehog. Robotnik demands that Nack head to Robotropolis and drop Sonic off, but Nack doesn't trust the doctor and wants his reward money directly deposited in his bank account. While Robotnik and Nack have their conversation, Sonic reveals himself to have stowed away on the back of Nack's sled and knocks him out. Sonic asks Robotnik if he's got proper insurance to cover something like Nack's vehicle being sent on a self-destruct course towards Robotropolis. Robotnik asks if that's a threat just as Nack's sled explodes in Robotropolis.

Miles away in Knothole, Rotor reports to Sally about the explosion. Sally notices that Sonic's time is almost up, but the tracker isn't working. Sonic enters the building with the tracker, explains that he modified it and used it as a gas mask filter, and throws Nack on the ground, proving his innocence with Nack's confession. Rotor takes Nack to the jailhouse, leaving Sally and Sonic alone. Sally tells him she'd never been so glad to be wrong, and Sonic assures her there's no hard feelings. Sally and Sonic then walk out to find Antoine forcing citizens to prepare for his supposed promotion, directing them on how to march while he gives his acceptance speech.

Off Panel "The Spaz Trial"

See also: Off Panel

Antoine decides to put Patrick Spaziante on trial, accusing him of drawing Sonic more heroically than himself. Spaz admits that he doesn't draw Antoine all that cool and begs to be locked away.

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