The STC Data Zone banner.
The Data Zone is a feature that has appeared in both Sonic the Comic and Sonic the Comic Online. The page is a dramatis personae, listing all the major characters to be found within this issue and outlining their brief history. The first edition was in Issue 176, giving details for Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, Knuckles the Echidna, Amy Rose, Tekno the Canary (despite not being in the issue), Doctor Robotnik, Grimer (known from now on as "Grimer Wormtongue") and Chaos. Notably, all heroes' artwork was taken from Sonic Adventure, with the exception of Tekno, who has none.
The feature didn't actually return until Issue 180, with a slightly different format and exclusively STC artwork (except for Sonic and Eggman clipart). It was then a regular feature until Issue 184, where the comic went fully-reprint, supposedly negating the need for regular character reminders.
Data Zone returned when Sonic the Comic Online began publishing from Issue 224, this time adding a "Story So Far" to every issue. Artwork was usually taken from that issue's strips, but not always. Certain special issues expanded on the usual format, with the 15th Anniversary Special giving blurbs on over 45 different characters. StC-O Data Zone images are thumbnails from the comic in question.
The Data Zone underwent a major format change from Issue 260 onward. Following reader feedback on the Message Zone, the decision was made to introduce separate Data Zones to the top of each new strip. To view it, Boomers must click a drop-down message, which then gives recaps on characters and previous stories related to the new story.