Forgotten LORE and LOST Media - The Sonic Books of the 1990s

#SonicTheHedgehog #Shadow #ShadowTheHedgehog
Hello and welcome to Hill Top Terebi! In this video we’ll be looking back at ALL the Sonic The Hedgehog books from the 1990s! (The UK specifically, but a lot of these were released in other territories too.) From the genuinely cool and interesting, to the utterly shameless cash grabs, we’ll be taking a dive into every last one.
Hidden within these pages are stacks of classic, long-since-abandoned Sonic the Hedgehog lore and trivia to consume!
I hope you enjoy the video!
Chapters:
00:02 Intro
03:07 Stay Sonic
09:39 Sonic The Story
10:26 The Invisible Robotnik
11:04 Robotnik’s Oil
12:43 Adventure Gamebooks (Colour)
15:26 Puzzle Books
17:43 Where’s Sonic? / Where’s Sonic Now?
19:09 Colouring Poster Book
20:08 Joke Book
22:26 Novels (Martin Adams)
32:30 Adventure Gamecocks (Text)
37:52 STC Collections
38:12 Yearbooks
39:08 And the rest…
39:32 Conclusion

[@Egg-enjoyer]

I actually Own both "Robotnik’s Oil." and "The Invisible Robotnik.", And I find both the whimsical and over the top story telling really amusing!

[@HillTopTerebi]

They do have a charm to them!

[@BinglesP]

Very fitting @ and pfp for this comment lol I'm glad you enjoyed them!

[@cabbusses]

"Running is out if the question." Meanwhile, Classic Eggman outruns Sonic in both Death Egg Zones.

[@robbiewalker2831]

He uses Speediment Gum.

[@RealBroccoliHour]

Eggman always has plot armour

[@cabbusses]

@@RealBroccoliHour usually, plot armor comes in the form of unusually high luck or an opponent having their intelligence or superpowers dialed down. Robotnik outrunning Sonic is beyond anything that could be described as plot armor. It breaks any suspension of disbelief. It is like Tails relying on brute strength, Knuckles flirting like Lupin III, Shadow wearing a pastel dress and tip toeing around a flower field while singing about blowing bubbles, or Cream the Rabbit having knowledge from ancient times.

[@TheLegendaryDonutKing]

I don’t think that Eggman is faster than Sonic because if he was he would constantly be gloating about it.

[@DuskusCB]

16:20 The coconut puzzle says “ROBOTNIK WILL BEAT YOU”

[@ProperNeko]

39:15 I still have the Sonic 2 one, so I can sum up what’s in it. It details the behind the scenes stuff on Sonic 2, as well as a colour insert showing the deleted stages of the stage. And then it shows nicely drawn maps of the zones, as well as the special stages. The latter shows the arrows you need to take to collect enough rings for the emerald, and that’s how I got all seven to become super sonic.

[@HillTopTerebi]

That sounds pretty cool actually. Special Stages sound very useful for sure!

[@kenji6492]

American Adult here, we had book fairs in schools back in the early 2000s

[@Crivitos]

I love the western sonic and robotnik designs, even though i love and respect thier original japanese ones, they are all special in thier own ways. I also love the way they made the setting of the planet named mobius, it gives the franchise more fantasy

[@BinglesP]

I personally still use the name "Mobius". It's a clever reference to the Mœbius strip, which is a type of loop, fitting in with the series' design motif of loops and rings. It's also the namesake for one of the best Sonic Underground songs, "The Mobius Stomp"! Certainly helped my bias a little there.

[@Crivitos]

@@BinglesP Same, its a shame sega wouldnt use it, and i always thought calling it ''earth'' or ''sonic's world'' is boring and drops down the fantasy. Fun fact, it was used in the film series, albeit unmentioned due to the sega mandates i think

[@austinroundsgallery83]

Unrelated but, I have a headcanon that the first Mobian civilization that began in the Mystic Cave Zone was actually the Echidna Clan. :)

[@SonicPAJ]

Some of this perspective art is just GORGEOUS!

[@Estaguy24]

Who noticed the novels used Prototype screenshots from Sonic 2? Great video btw, I know what to search for now

[@Alizamk1]

13:14 sort of the plot of sonic generations

[@johnnygyro2295]

Given how long Fleetway's Sonic comics went, I'm surprised there weren't more collections. That said, I just heard of the Martin Adams novels, so I hope you cover them in-depth at some point.

[@ZionKraze]

I only remember one thing from that Sonic Joke book. It wasn't coloured in, so I did it with crayons.

[@thevioletskull8158]

I'll love more on these books

[@normalgraham]

While the idea of Sonic and Kintobor being chummy before the latter's transformation into Robotnik seems a little overly convoluted for my liking, I've always LOVED the idea that Sonic's super speed and blue hue was the result of experimentation that he simply forgot about or never mentions. The idea of one of Robotnik countless, nameless animal victims getting pushed too far and fighting back has been my headcannon forever and part of me wishes it was the official backstory, but I suppose there's something to be said for the mystery of Sonic's inexplicable power

[@HillTopTerebi]

That's a great head cannon. I'd have been down with that as an official backstory!!

[@Chromefender]

You're channel is so underrated. Love every video you put out.

[@HillTopTerebi]

Thank you so much! I'm happy you enjoyed it!

[@robbiewalker2831]

@@HillTopTerebi I’d like to point out that it’s Ovi Kintobor, not Ivo Kintobor. Also, Kintobor is pronounced “Kin-Toe-Bore”. And while Ivo is meant to be pronounced similarly to Evil, it feels too on the Nose, and I felt “Eye-voo” sounded more proper for the name’s pronunciation. Think of it like how Young Frankenstein talks about the pronunciation of Igor’s name.

[@Gloryzuki]

Boy those UK books are way too underrated lol

[@RoshiBro08]

Finally found someone who also loves hilltop lol. This video was awesome!

[@HillTopTerebi]

Thank you!! Hill Top Zone FTW 🤘

[@REAL_NOLAR]

Yeah they do book fairs today outside of Britain

[@zekromfan1]

I only just now realized by looking at the titles of the Adventure Gamebooks, “The Hedgehog” in the title “Sonic The Hedgehog” is stylized to look like a shoe, kind of like Sonic’s boots (yes they’re boots, Naoto Oshima said that was the intention on Twitter) as if the title itself is walking/running forwards.

[@TheBDT87]

Had some of these. Some nostalgia there.

[@SoranotRoxas]

Alright more Lore! 👏

[@RUNTCH]

20:05 You say that this is the shittest Ladybird book but it gave birth to "CANDLE SNIFFING FUCKFENCE, GO CLIMB A WALL OF DICKS"

[@KopperNeoman]

People who say that don't know of (or are too scared to condemn) the worst modern "children's books". The ones with porn in.

[@TacomasterStudios]

Don’t forget “HOLY SHIT A TALKING ANIMAL” and “BURGERS ARE FUCKING ROUND.”

[@robertlupa8273]

MY OWN CLONE NOW NEITHER OF US WILL BE VIRGINS

[@roxywp15]

Another amazingly in-depth entertaining video by Hill Top Terebi!! I love the editing and flow of these videos, i also love your voice! Welcome back, so glad to see you again, love from America! ❤❤❤

[@HillTopTerebi]

Thank you!! Glad you enjoyed it. Hope life is good in the USA. More content soon!

[@roxywp15]

@@HillTopTerebi Life's about as good as it can get for me, so excited for more!

[@joefrost1988]

I bloody love these videos, whenever a new ones uploaded I know it's gonna be good 💙

[@HillTopTerebi]

Thank you! I'm happy to hear you enjoy them!

[@BinglesP]

4:16 Absolutely love the harsh, very vintage-looking shading done on all of the bubbles here. Makes the page look more cluttered than it actually is, I admit, but it looks pretty cool in my opinion. Though, then again, working on the illustrations for Ed Edd n' Eddy Rétro Future has gotten me really into situational shading techniques as of late... Which is a story about Ed Edd and Eddy going into Cyberspace with some cool chrome-shiny alternate universe designs, vaguely like the premise of "Sonic the Hedgehog and the Silicon Warriors" mentioned later in the video. Uncanny parallels, huh?

[@HillTopTerebi]

Some parallels there for sure! Sounds very cool!

[@robertlupa8273]

I'm pretty sure you meant to timestamp 14:16 😅

[@AniFAE_Productions]

Yo awesome video! Yet more evidence your my twin Hilltop lol 😂. Still own some of these! Got that first choose your own adventure book, Wheres Sonic, Sonic beats the bandits and some of the Ladybird books. If memory serves me, I'm sure the ladybird books (such as Invisible Robotnik and Robotniks oil) had like a fold out image in the middle of the book. There in the loft at my mums otherwise I'd check this. Also, in regards to the sonic origin story, it blew my mind when I was younger when I realised Kintabor was Robotnik spelled backwards haha. Keep 'em coming dude, also love the updated logo! Smart as F! 😊

[@HillTopTerebi]

Thanks so much for watching as always. Haha we are incredibly similar indeed hahaha. You are right about the fold out pages. They are in there and were originally mentioned in the video but I trimmed the fat while editing. I thought the Kintobor/Robotnik thing was mind-blowing at the time too!

[@metalstargaming4662]

Happy to be one of the first 50 views love your content keep going

[@HillTopTerebi]

Thank you for watching and getting in early!

[@lugi5215]

8:15 why did they turn robotnik into kingassripper

[@robertlupa8273]

pingassripper

[@lugi5215]

@@robertlupa8273 this is the best possible reply i could have gotten

[@jaylenbutler899]

15:34 - Allsy Rnaco -> Rosy Callan - Ckilfy Lubrdebi -> Belfry Buckled - Krepro Wesil -> Prowler Skie - Xtu -> Tux - Phircs -> Chrisp - Yhonnj Tofohilgt -> Johnny's Hoglit

[@HillTopTerebi]

Hahahaha nailed it!! 😂

[@Foxboy557]

Cool!

[@minimalbstolerance8113]

I still have all four of the Martin Adams novels. While I do agree that the endless "radicool" Bill-and-Ted-speak is obnoxious to my now nearly 40 year old ears, and seeing Tails as a doofus comic relief after two decades of him being Sonic's super intelligent tech support is a bit jarring, the books still get a pass from me due to just how insane they are at times. Just as I couldn't hate the Knuckles show due to it being balls to the wall insane enough to put Iblis singing about Facebook marketplace in it, I can't help but have a sneaking fondness for a book series that's crazy enough to feature Sonic being turned into a toaster, Porker Lewis turning into Pinhead from Hellraiser, Sonic fighting half the character roster of Street Fighter 2, a monkey who talks like Dick Van Dyke doing Cockerney, and Badnik versions of Arnold Schwarzenegger, David Attenborough and Steven Spielberg.

[@spinballpac-man]

I had the second volume of the colour adventure gamebooks! Can’t remember much about it, though 😅 I also had the first Where’s Sonic and the 6th aventure game book (where it was just words)! All hand me downs from my Nana’s friend! Good times

[@HillTopTerebi]

A good selection of books there! 🤘

[@richardpreston7333]

I'm surprised you didn't cover the meme edits made from the joke book - they're definitely funnier!

[@HillTopTerebi]

I didn't know they existed. But I do now. Thank you haha

[@benjaminmuratore9341]

Have you ever heard of the channel "whoisthisgit"? He actually made at least three videos on some of the choose your own adventure type books.

[@HillTopTerebi]

I haven't but I will look him up. Thank you!

[@benjaminmuratore9341]

@@HillTopTerebi You're welcome!

[@doomtoflesh]

Hate to do this to you, but we're gonna need to hear more about those novels

[@HillTopTerebi]

I'll add it to the to-do list!

[@SorcererLance]

33:37 - heheh, you said "90's slag" :3c

[@Koko-pm4qq]

13:51 It's been 5 minutes and I genuinely have no clue

[@GMDTheOnyxGuyEizzX]

You made this video just because of Sonic, I've red you like a book!

[@HillTopTerebi]

Ahhhh! You're on to me!!!

[@novelezra]

Even though I don't like Western Sonic's design, I have to admit a lot of the art is well drawn and charming, considering the budget and time constraints they were probably under. So that makes me wonder, WHY THE FUCK DOES KNUCKLES ALWAYS LOOK SO FUCKED UP. I swear, they just did not know how to draw him

[@HillTopTerebi]

Hahaha yeah there are some sketchy Knuckles drawings in a bunch of these books, for sure!

[@AshtonCardinal05]

Man... I wonder what this guys favorite sonic 2 level 🤔

[@HillTopTerebi]

😁

[@BrokamaGay]

Love seeing the renderings of Wing Fortress zone

[@AlexHedgefox]

3:00 where are the links to the books? they arent in the description?

[@adamokon358]

Almost all the stuff you´ve shown, I never saw in Germany. Maybe the translation would have cost too much money. Ironically a few months ago, I found my German translated copy of the strategy guide of Sonic 2. on ebay. You know, the one you´re asking about. It has nice looking black and white maps and much text about every zone. With some pics of badniks, springs, Sonic etc. A detailed guied for every Special Zone. The famous cheat codes. And some little information about the UPCOMING SONIC CD. I wouldn´t say, that this book is a piece of gold, but it gives me a nice feeling to own it. Also your video made me hungry for the Martin Adams Novels, and the Adventure Gamebooks. I´ll keep an eye for them. One last thing: your new logo is very neat.

[@HillTopTerebi]

Thank you so much as always for your kind words. That Sonic 2 book sounds pretty cool actually! Good purchase by the sounds of it.

[@adamokon358]

@@HillTopTerebi To tell you the truth. I´m the one who shall thank you. You show me that Sonic has a bigger past in his beginning days than games and cartoons only. The other stuff I own are the electronic songs They call me Sonic and Supersonic on vinyl.

[@CrazyCyranYT]

24:51 Silver Castle??

[@almir-chan9570]

26:00 You said WHAAAAT???!!!!

[@zephon6745]

They should re-release them so a new generation can read them.

[@spinballpac-man]

Or they could’ve at least put them on the Sonic Origins picture gallery. All they to do is say that they were written in the Sonic series’ infancy and that they were written during a certain time period, which explains the Robotnik fat shaming!! 😂😂

[@HillTopTerebi]

Agree! Especially in this era of eBooks. Such a low-risk thing to put out to the public. Maybe it's a rights issue behind the scenes?

[@JenerikEt]

Im so mad cory was right there were sonic novels

[@robertlupa8273]

You think the Sonic Joke Book was bad? I had one for Angry Birds. It was surprisngly thick and had several sections for vaguely themed jokes - including space-related ones to represent Angry Birds Space. Was it bad? Probably yes. Do I regret owning it? Absolutely not, it was funny to my child self. :D Oh and did I mention it was _translated,_ meaning they probably had to come up with a crapton of their own stupid jokes?

[@nicholascooney]

What's brown and sneaks around the kitchen?

[@Koko-pm4qq]

I have never heard Ivo being said any other way, how is it supposed to be said? XD

[@HillTopTerebi]

I agree! But I think the book said it's supposed to be 'ee-vo'?! Bizarre haha

[@Koko-pm4qq]

@@HillTopTerebi Top 10 mysterious :P

[@spinballpac-man]

You pronounced Ivo correctly

[@spinballpac-man]

First comment!! Whoo!

[@HillTopTerebi]

You are fast!!

[@bananabike279]

The way Robotnik is described in these books is so gross, I will never understand why children like gross-out humour :/

[@buttpipe7]

Yes mate I had some of those old Sonic the Hedgehog books as well, they ruled.