Month: April 2026

It is my sad duty to inform Sonic fandom that Vickie Williams, who lettered so many Sonic classics, had passed away on December 18, 2015. I didn’t know that myself until I started assembling the biographies of the various creators whose work is featured in THE SHADOW FILES.

Surprisingly, the one source I thought I could depend on for details, the Sonic Wiki, turned out to be just as misinformed on a number of details as the rest of the internet, and not just about Vickie Williams either,

For instance, Vickie, as well as a number of Sonic freelancers, are listed as being staff members of Archie Comics, which is certifiably 100% incorrect. Freelancers were never staff members. If anything, freelancers are private contractors, but the term freelancer will suffice. After seeing DC Comics’ Wiki page for Vickie, I can understand why fans have some confusion over the correct terminology.

DC lists themselves as well as Marvel, Archie, Malibu, Dark Horse and other companies as employers when they should be listed as clients. None of those companies were ever employers to Vickie in the sense they collected taxes from her pay, contributed to an unemployment fund, provided health insurance and a 401K. None of those items was ever a consideration. What the term “employers” serves when it comes to describing comic book publishers is the implied ownership of anything a freelancer creates is automatically theirs.

Other things the Sonic Wiki gets wrong is what’s listed among Art Mawhinney’s most famous works while omitting classics like PRINCESS SALLY’S CRUSADE from the SONIC IN YOUR FACE SPECIAL as well as the ENDGAME saga, in which he not only depicted the death of Princess Sally but also the splash page showing Sonic kissing Sally for the first time ever.

Manny Galan’s Wiki page doesn’t even state he was the main artist on the KNUCKLES THE ECHIDNA for almost two dozen issues before leaving Archie to work for Nickelodeon.

Not to take away anything from Dave Manak, who illustrated the entire run of the ALF series for Marvel that was written by Sonic’s 1st writer Michael Gallagher, but unless we’re talking cartoons on the Letters Pages, Dave had absolutely nothing to do with the KNUCKLES THE ECHIDNA series. He did, however, draw the very first story, featuring Sonic meeting Knuckles for the 1st time in a story written by me that was recently collected along with other stories in KEN PENDERS’ KNUCKLES OMNIBUS VOLUME ONE.

Speaking about the KNUCKLES OMNIBUS, not to mention the other Floating Island Productions releases THE LARA-SU CHRONICLES: BEGINNINGS, SCOTT SHAW!’S SONIC DAYS and the soon-to-be released THE SHADOW FILES,

First, let’s get the obvious out of the way. I’m not just progressive in my beliefs, I’m an outright card-carrying red pinko commie liberal. I believe in the working class while thinking it’s about time the rich quit their whining and pay their fair share. I believe in inclusion to the point where if someone calls me woke, I know that person to be racist, sexist and any other negative label one can hang around that person’s neck.

I also vote the straight Democratic ticket, but make no mistaking it for preferring one political party over another. The Republicans haven’t fielded anyone but bootlickers, criminals and opportunists while Independent candidate siphon off votes that allow the worst of the worst of both parties, but particularly Republicans, to take advantage of the situation.

Democrats at least offer a sane choice when compared to everyone else. Even so, we can do better. Thus, I support those that put the American working class first instead of the political elite of this country. If the politician is 70 years or older, they should retire and make room for the next generation, no matter which party they belong to. Seniority is no longer a reason to keep a person in office.

Bringing it home, I may not agree with my fellow Sonic creators on any number of things, but I will endeavor to be supportive, especially in their personal choices as best I can.

Case in point: while putting together THE SHADOW FILES, I learned two of my colleagues have transitioned from male to female. Normally I don’t care what a person does if it doesn’t normally impact anyone else in a negative way, but this was a situation I could easily screw up by taking the wrong action or using the wrong terminology. It doesn’t take much to offend someone these days. So I contacted my colleagues.

The individuals in question, however, made it clear they wanted to be represented as who they are today rather than who they were when most readers were growing up. Thus, they submitted new pics and bios for inclusion to the listing.

They were formerly listed in the credits as Andrew Pepoy and Josh Ray, respectively, but now they identify as Margeaux Pepoy and Jolée Ray. I call attention to this because I saw a posting from Margeaux on Facebook letting it be known she’s available for various comic and art-related assignments. I’m certain Jolée is as well.

They may identify themselves differently from what they previously were known as, but they’re still capable of producing the same high-level quality work they were always known for.

Which brings me to my main point. For Margeaux and Jolée to come out as they are during these dangerous days with a pedophile in the White House pretending he’s an American President is an extreme act of courage. Way too many people have forgotten their morals, ethics, self-respect and humanity on account of the pedophile.

What really floors me are the Sonic fans who identify themselves as Trumpers. Sonic may be a wise ass at times, but I know we’ve never portrayed him as mean spirited and cruel towards anyone, not even his enemies. I certainly never have.

Likewise, unlike the Chumpster (I’m sorry, but I have ZERO respect or regard for the monster), Sonic is not a coward, a liar or disloyal. Nor does he prey among the weak and helpless.

True, Sonic is a fictional character, but he is someone the kids are exposed to at a young age, so he does set an example. As someone who chronicled his tales, I am well aware of the character’s impact on children and thus, am careful with his depiction. Name me a parent that says the Chumpster is someone their children should emulate and I’ll show you an unfit parent.

What is real is that neither the Chumpster or his administration have any use for minorities, women and the disabled. Only white guys need apply, and even then, only certain white guys need apply.

But if one examines the makeup of the creators who worked on the stories featured in THE SHADOW FILES, at least half the individuals would be ruled unsuitable to contribute.

Already, the idiot in charge of the Department of Defense has allowed a Good Friday service for Protestants. Catholics are being told they’re not welcome to attend. Considering a good portion of Sonic’s audience is autistic, it’s easy to see them discriminated against, if not made fun of, by the Chumpster himself.

The point being there’s nothing admirable or worthy of emulation by the Chumpster for Sonic fans to embrace. He’s as despicable as they come, and I meet way too many Sonic fans to believe they see any good in him either.

I embrace the differences and diversity of each other and hope whoever reads this does as well. Take care.