The Blue Blur and the Blue Bomber, seems like a match made in Heaven right? Well comic creators must have been thinking the same thing. In Ian Flynn, Jamal Peppers, and John Workman's "World's Collide" crossover event, Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man encounter each other for the first time ever. But how do two of the most enduring characters in video gaming history from different worlds, and more significantly, different franchises meet? With some good old-fashioned reality-bending hijinks from their worst enemies of course.
The story was set up relatively quickly within their respective Archie Comics brands. In Ian Flynn, Even Stanley, and John Workman's Sonic the Hedgehog #247, Sonic has gathered Team Fighters, a group of his friends that were willing to join him after Team Freedom Fighters disbanded. Sonic's mission: to infiltrate Dr. Eggman's fortress, the Death Egg, and rescue Sally Acorn, who had been roboticized. Despite the stakes, it is heroic business as usual for Sonic. But while Team Fighters invaded the Death Egg, Dr. Eggman was in the process of another scheme, setting off the genesis wave to rewrite reality. Unfortunately for Sonic and his friends, the Genesis Wave was activated and the issue ended with the team being engulfed in a wave of white light.
Over in Ian Flynn, Ryan Jampole, and John Workman's Mega Man #23. the situation is far more lighthearted, with Mega Man's birthday about to be celebrated by the entire city. While Mega Man is applauded by an adoring crowd, Dr. Wily observes from the distance, clearly not concerned with his nemesis because he was wearing a bathrobe while watching. But to make sure there was no risk to his plans, Dr. Wily ordered Break Man to attack Mega Man at his award ceremony, where the Blue Bomber would not only receive the key to the city but also have it renamed Mega City in his honor.
When Break Man attacked the stage though, Mega Man got back into his element. Moving to protect the people he engaged Break Man in a fight on the roof. As this was happening, Dr. Wily, now fully dressed, opened a portal to an unknown destination, planning to meet his "new best friend" As Mega Man unknowingly wasted time grappling with Break Man on the roof he and his city were engulfed in a similar light to the one that had consumed Sonic.
It was later revealed in Mega Man #24 that Dr. Wily had discovered the Chaos Emerald and used it to contact Dr. Eggman. Together, the two schemed to use the power of the Genesis Wave to rewrite reality according to their shared design. After some humorous debates over what to name things, from dimensions to evil lairs, the duo managed to succeed in their efforts, remaking the realities they both hailed from and changing the memories of their adversaries so that they would fight each other instead of them, setting up the meeting between Sonic and Mega Man.
This would not be their only team up though. The sequel to their first crossover "Worlds Unite" sees Sonic and Mega Man in a state of complacency. After "Worlds Collide" left his world shattered, Sonic has been trying to rebuild it, collecting emerald shards on Knuckles' behalf. Over in Mega City, history repeats itself as Mega Man's current task is far less serious than Sonic's: He was out getting groceries. But both are attacked by beings calling themselves the Deadly Six, under the control of Sigma, the main antagonist of the Mega Man X series. The new adversaries capture their targets, bringing them back to Sigma as prisoners and reuniting them so that they may save both their worlds.