Sonic the Hedgehog/Characters/Antagonists

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


These characters openly and consistently antagonize Sonic and his allies. Most of them wish to Take Over the World or destroy it.


Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik

"I know, I say that every time, but this time, really, nothing will stop me!"

Debut: Sonic the Hedgehog

Voiced by Masaharu Sato (Segasonic the Hedgehog), Junpei Takiguchi (Japanese, OVA), Chikao Ohtsuka (Japanese, Sonic X, 1998-present), Edwin Neal (English, STH: The Movie), Deem Bristow (English, 1999-2004), Mike Pollock (English, Sonic X, 2005-present)[when?]

Sonic's longtime nemesis and primary antagonist of the series. He boasts an IQ of 300 and is marked by his comically obese appearance.

Sonic: "You turned into a BIG TIME villain, doctor."

    • In Sonic Unleashed he captured Sonic in his super form and drained his Emerald energy to power a machine that detonates the planet!!! Meanwhile in Sonic Colors he creates a gargantuan space station that chains multiple planets together so as to capture aliens to power his machinery (with not a single treacherous Eldritch Abomination in sight).
    • He goes through another level in Sonic Generations, where he, yet again, gets a hold of an Eldritch Abomination. Only this time, he manages to keep it under control without it betraying him!
      • Another way of putting it is that Eggman, despite becoming a more comical villain, had become capable of a Class X Apocalypse How in Sonic Unleashed, then a Class X-2 in Sonic Colors and finally a Class Z in Sonic Generations.
  • To the Bat Noun: His weapons, vehicles, and a good amount of his Mecha-Mooks inevitably have "Egg" in their name.
  • Trademark Favorite Food: Eggs in Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.
  • Vague Age: Unlike most of the heroes, Eggman's age has never been stated.
    • He's supposedly in his fifties though. He'd have to be to remember his grandfather.
  • Victory Is Boring: In Sonic X, he starts crying out for Sonic's attention when he doesn't return to their home world for several months.
  • Villain Decay: Come the 3D-era, Eggman began acting more silly and comedic, though continued to try and make his plans be taken seriously. It didn't help he was constantly overthrown by a bigger bad at the end of every game up until Sonic Generations.
    • He's not that serious in the 2D-era anyway, much of his animations (like running, when hit, having his feet burned in one boss of Sonic CD, etc...) are just silly, of course the American Kirby Is Hardcore marketing used early didn't help.
  • Well-Intentioned Extremist: The little known details about his planned Eggman Empire apparently involve scientists as the high class citizens, indicating that it is essentially the scientist version of Outer Heaven. If it is true that his world domination plans stemmed from the perceived injustice of Gerald Robotnik's arrest, that might give him an understandable reason for desiring this.
  • You Meddling Kids: "I hate that hedgehog!", his Catch Phrase from his Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog portrayal, which gets the occasional Mythology Gag in other continuities.


Metal Sonic

"Sonic, I was created for the sole purpose of destroying you, but I could never seem to defeat you. That's why I transformed my own body with my own hands!"

Debut: Sonic CD

Robotic replica of Sonic. Has disobeyed his creator Dr. Robotnik in the past.

Voiced by Masami Kikuchi (Japanese, OVA), Junichi Kanemaru (Japanese, games), Gary Dehan (English, STH: The Movie), Ryan Drummond (English, 2004)

  • A.I. Is a Crapshoot: It's generally assumed that Robotnik made an upgrade to Metal that made him go mad with power and ego in Heroes. To elaborate, Metal deluded himself into believing he was the real Sonic, and that Sonic was his "loathsome copy"!
    • In the Movie/OVA, his programming is based on Sonic's mind. After a while, this eventually becomes a crapshoot in the other direction, and he does things the real Sonic would do.
  • Art Evolution: The original design is more simplistic and puppet-like, while his post Sonic Adventure 2 design gave him a little more detail and played with his proportions a little.
  • Ax Crazy: Depending on the game.
  • Badass Automaton
  • Big Bad: In Sonic Heroes.
  • Bishonen Line: His "Neo" form in Heroes is distinctly more humanoid than his CD look.
  • Chewing the Scenery: Almost every one of his lines in Heroes, including the portions where he was disguised as Eggman. "All living things, KNEEL BEFORE YOUR MASTER!"
  • Costume Copycat: Disguised himself as Eggman for the majority of Sonic Heroes. The real Eggman gave orders to Team Chaotix during that time in order to free himself.
    • Also repeated in Sonic Free Riders, where he disguised himself as a blue E-10000 in order to copy everyone's data and prove himself the best user of Extreme Gear.
  • Crippling Overspecialization: He was created to exceed Sonic's speed, which he does very well due to having a jet engine sticking out of his torso. However, since this causes him to outright fly, he often has trouble stopping.
    • In addition, that kind of speed puts a huge strain on his insides--Metal Sonic is prone to overheating after traveling faster than Sonic for too long, when he has to spend time to cool down. In Sonic Generations, this is his one biggest weakness.
  • The Determinator: His resolve is almost as strong as Sonic's.

"I WILL BATTLE YOU AS MANY TIMES AS IT IS NECESSARY."

Metal Overlord: "Guooooo! Why?! I had it all! I am the ultimate overlord, Metal Sonic. I am the real Sonic!"

Metal Overlord: "See me as I am, no longer afraid of anything! I shall become the ultimate overlord, ruling as the world's most supreme being!"


Mecha Sonic / Silver Sonic

Debut: Sonic the Hedgehog 2

The other robotic replica of Sonic. Sometimes known as "Silver Sonic" and often confused with Metal Sonic, the two are actually completely different robots. He has made five appearances: First in Sonic 2 (both the genesis and game gear versions), returned in Sonic 3 & Knuckles, returned in Sonic Pocket Adventure, and made a cameo in Sonic Adventure. He also popped up at least three times in the Archie universe, the third time being as recent as issue #225!

  • Art Evolution: The original design (pictured left) was a bulky, silver design that arguably resembled Sonic more than even Metal Sonic did. Sonic 3 & Knuckles did away with this, giving like a dark purple, sleeker design. While Sonic Pocket Adventure reused his Sonic 2 look, his Sonic Adventure cameo gave him yet another redesign.
  • Big Bad: Of Knuckles' story in Sonic & Knuckles. Robotnik is presumably elsewhere during that time, or Mecha is serving as his Dragon.
  • Big Bad Duumvirate: In Sonic & Knuckles, he enlists the aid of an Eggrobo as his ally to trying to defeat Knuckles in his story. By the time Knuckles reaches Sky Sanctuary, Mecha accidentally kills the Eggrobo by air-dashing right into his eggpod, thinking he would hit the trapped Knuckles.
  • The Cameo: Gets a cameo in Sonic Adventure, which has been the only place he's been seen in years.
  • Canon Name: For years, the distinction between him and Metal Sonic was in dispute, with the name "Mecha Sonic" being bandied about for both of them. Eventually, the name "Mecha Sonic" stuck for this one, and he's widely recognized as a separate entity from Metal.
    • The Archie comics are more confusing about this, however. Though they originally called Metal Sonic "Mecha Sonic", they settled on referring to him by his proper name... while using "Mecha Sonic" for Sonic's roboticized form. Whenever robots based on this robot pop up, he's referred to as Silver Sonic, and the comics are the only medium where this title isn't of dubious canonicity.
  • Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Before the 3D era, he appeared in more main series games than Metal Sonic did. Since Sonic Adventure, he hasn't been seen at all--until Archie Sonic issue #225, bigger and stronger than ever!
  • Curb Stomp Battle: In his first Sonic comic appearance, he is a hulking machine, completely invincible to Sonic's attacks and almost knocked Sonic unconscious with a single punch! Fortunately for true blue, it knocked open some of the Death Egg's internal wiring, which he quickly used to short-circuit the robot.
  • The Dragon: For Robotnik.
  • Evil Knockoff: Arguably more so than Metal Sonic, due to him having a variation of Sonic' spin attack and spindash move, though Metal Sonic himself got these added to his own skill set eventually.
  • Heel Face Turn: While Eggman built a second Mecha Sonic in the Archie continuity a year after the original was lost, Sonic managed to reprogram it to defend station square--until it was destroyed by Shadow.
  • Hidden Weapons: In his Sonic 2 (GG) encounter, he has an extendable grappling arm built into his body.
  • Humongous Mecha: In his first Archie comics appearance, Mecha Sonic is at least 10 times Sonic's size. If you look close enough, you can see Sonic's hand in contrast to Mecha Sonic's size.
  • Megaton Punch: As mentioned in Curb Stomp Battle, he almost knocked out Sonic with one punch!
  • Nigh Invulnerability: In his first comic appearance, he is completely unhindered by Sonic's efforts to fight it, and is only defeated when Sonic electrocutes it with the Death Egg's internal wiring.
  • Nostalgia Boss: In Sonic 3 & Knuckles, during the Sky Sanctuary Zone, he provides this for the first two bosses from the first two games, and then finally for his own previous incarnation at the end.
  • One-Winged Angel: His Super Mode form in the end of Sonic & Knuckles, where he absorbs the power of the master emerald, granting him even faster speed, as well as a energy blast attack and the ability to launch dummy rings.
  • Powered Armor: In the Archie comics, after defeating him, Sonic crawls inside him to control him as armor while fighting Robotnik, and uses him to escape the Death Egg.
  • Power Floats: Gains this in his Super mode.
  • Robot Me: Shares this trait with Metal Sonic.
  • Rocket Boots: Briefly uses them in Sonic 2, but only when he makes his entrance. He uses them much more often in his Sonic 2 (GG) encounter.
  • Rollerblade Good: He achieves his super speed by the wheels in his heels.
  • Super Mode: At the end of Sonic 3 & Knuckles, he gains one by absorbing the power of the Master Emerald.
  • Super Speed: While his Sonic 2 (Genesis) encounter is sluggish, he is surprisingly fast in Sonic 2 (GG) and ups the ante in his Sonic 3 & Knuckles encounters.
  • Suspiciously Similar Substitute: To Metal Sonic, though Sonic 2 and Sonic CD had overlapping development periods.
  • Took a Level in Badass: Considerably in Sonic 3. In Sonic 2, he was a clunky, sluggish drone that could be taken down in less than 10 seconds. In Sonic 3, he received a considerable upgrade, getting a sleeker design, as well as super speed both on the ground and in-flight, a devastating air-dash move, the ability to slide backwards, and is much more durable, managing to survive his encounter with Sonic during the game, and later taking on Knuckles.
  • The Voiceless: He has absolutely no vocal dialogue with other characters in the games. In fact, the most the audience ever gets out of him is his seemingly stunted thought processes in Rivals 2.


Orbot and Cubot

Orbot on the right, Cubot on the left

Orbot's Debut: Sonic Unleashed
Cubot's Debut: Sonic Colors

Orbot: Voiced by Mitsuo Iwata (Japanese), Chris Collet (English, 2008) Kirk Thornton (English, 2010-present)
Cubot: Voiced by Wataru Takagi (Japanese), Wally Wingert (English)

Dr. Eggman's robotic assistants.


Eggman Nega

"Now, the world shall be my plaything! I shall bring about an age of fear and chaos! And it shall be glorious!"

Debut: Sonic Rush

Voiced by Chikao Ohtsuka (Japanese), Mike Pollock (English)

Robotnik's counterpart from the dimension Blaze is from.


Prof. Gerald Robotnik

"All of you ungrateful humans, who took everything away from me, will feel my loss, and despair!"

Debut: Sonic Adventure 2

  • Bigger Bad: In Sonic Adventure 2.
  • Broken Pedestal: Dr. Ivo Robotnik idolized Gerald...after the events of Sonic Adventure 2...not so much.
  • Colony Drop:This is his way to gain revenge on humanity, by destroying the Earth with the ARK.
  • Despair Event Horizon: Once Gerald was a highly respected scientist who wanted to help people through science. After his granddaughter Maria's death at GUN's hands, he quickly started becoming evil and ended up a wannabe Omnicidal Maniac as his Final Speech shows.
  • Final Speech: Gerald's speech to the firing squad set to execute him is basically a "You've Been Warned" speech to all humanity.
  • Mad Scientist: Gerald, unlike his grandson, Dr. Ivo Robotnik, was not this and used his inventions to help humanity. Even the Eclipse Cannon was to be used to stop Black Doom as revealed in Shadow the Hedgehog. Then Maria died and then he definitely became a Mad Scientist.
    • His experiments and deal with Black Doom, allowed him to create both Shadow the Hedgehog and his prototype, the Biolizard.
  • Misplaced Retribution: Wanting to destroy all humanity when only GUN was responsible for his granddaughter's death.
  • Omnicidal Maniac: But only after Maria's death and the related plan happens far after his death.
  • Posthumous Character: However, his plan to destroy the Earth by crashing the ARK into it keeps going on even fifty years after his death.
  • Supervillain Lair: Used the ARK, a giant space station he created, for making experiments to destroy the world after becoming evil.

Biolizard

The prototype of the Ultimate Lifeform, AKA Shadow the Hedgehog. Also part of Gerald Robotnik's plan to destroy the Earth. Only appears in Sonic Adventure 2 and the 3DS version of Sonic Generations.

Black Doom and Doom's Eye

"I gave you life, and this is how you repay me? The irony of it is, I gave you life. And now, I'll take it back."

Debut: Shadow the Hedgehog

Voiced by Ryuzaburo Ohtomo (Japanese), Sean Schemmel (English)

An alien being from the Black Comet who helped create Shadow and tries to enlist his help in conquering the Earth.


Nack the Weasel / Fang the Sniper

Debut: Sonic Triple Trouble

Known as "Fang the Sniper" in Japan and "Nack the Weasel" in America. However, he was known as "Fang the Sniper" in the American release of "Sonic the Fighters". He's a treasure hunter out for cash. His only main appearance was in Sonic Triple Trouble, and he had a few more in spinoffs, but that's it.


Mephiles the Dark

"Why fight at all? Why risk your life for those who will persecute you later?"

Debut: |Sonic the Hedgehog 2006

Voiced by Takayuki Sakazume (Japanese), Dan Green (English)

The true villain of |Sonic the Hedgehog 2006, and half of the god of light, Solaris.

  • Ax Crazy: Let's see, his plans essentially amount to the destruction of existence in itself, his hatred of Shadow is almost to the point of psychosis, and he also laughs exhileratedly at Sonic's death? Seems to fit that to a T.
  • Big Bad: In Sonic 2006
  • Color-Coded for Your Convenience: The main difference between him and Shadow; initially, Mephiles's stripes are a gray-blue instead of Shadow's red.
  • Complexity Addiction: His plans could be... a bit simpler.
  • Dark Is Evil: Just look at his name; Mephiles the Dark.
    • Given he's the mind of Solaris, it's more spiritual darkness.
  • Dirty Coward: He fights usually when the opponent isn't looking, he even murdered Sonic while his back was turned.
    • A dose of Fridge Brilliance, considering he was the mind and will of Solaris while Iblis, his counter-part, was the raw power. It'd stand to reason he's not powerful enough to take anyone on in a head-on fight without some additional support. In other words, he knows his limitations.
  • Evil Laugh:
  • Evil Twin: To Shadow
  • Expy: Of Agent Smith.
  • For the Evulz: The only suggestible reason that he wants to completely destroy space and time. Beyond being pissed at some scientists experimenting at you.
  • Fragile Speedster: Played with: He's very intelligent, capable of teleportation, time travel, and energy manipulation. However, he has noticeable trouble taking physical punishment while fighting Shadow, although he was shown taking on and withstanding several shotgun/minigun blows from Omega when confronting him in a cutscene.
  • God of Evil: Solaris.
    • Mad God: Again, Solaris, although it's "mad" as in "rage" and not "mad" as in "insanity."
  • Hellish Pupils
  • Hero-Killer: Currently the only villain in the series to successfully kill Sonic (although he does get revived in the end).
  • Killed Off for Real: Heavily implied by the ending of the game (via Grandfather Paradox).
  • Knight of Cerebus: Prior villains were either somewhat comical, or had some justifications behind their motives. Mephiles possessed none of these, and clearly enjoys causing destruction simply because he could, and was also the first major villain to canonically kill a major character (and in fact also killed Sonic), as well as succeeding in destroying the world as well as the fabric of existence, with the final act being to stop Mephiles' Fusion Dance god form and restore the timeline.
  • Know When to Fold'Em: The implied reason why he often pulls dirty tactics on his opponents.
  • Lack of Empathy: He taunts Omega about his part in sealing away Shadow in the future, and he laughs after murdering Sonic, and especially at Elise's sorrow and mental anguish at his death.
  • Large Ham: Probably the other reason a lot of people like him, what with being voiced by Dan Green and all...
  • Laughing Mad: He laughs quite exhileratedly when murdering Sonic
  • Light Is Not Good: Solaris again.
  • Literal Split Personality: Both Mephiles and Iblis. Mephiles being the conscious mind, and Iblis being the raw power.
  • Living Shadow: Not only is he the Shadow Archetype to Shadow, but he's also born (well, reborn is more accurate) from Shadow's shadow. That's right, Shadow's shadow became a Shadow.
  • Manipulative Bastard: This along with The Chessmaster. He manipulated seemingly everyone in the story over 210 years just so he could force Elise to develop feelings towards Sonic, only to kill Sonic, thus freeing Iblis from inside Elise, allowing himself to merge with Iblis to become Solaris.
  • Names to Run Away From Really Fast: Overlaps with Meaningful Name. Mephiles = Mephistopheles, the demon from Faust, sometimes associated with Satan. Likewise, Iblis is the Islamic word for devil.
  • Nietzsche Wannabe: He asks Shadow why he continues to fight and attempt to protect humanity when they'll only persecute him later on.
  • No Mouth: His muzzle kind of inflates and deflates when he talks, though.
  • Obviously Evil: And yet, the plot hands out a 10-ton Idiot Ball to Silver and Blaze, as they believe him.
  • Omnicidal Maniac: He wants to destroy all time and every timeline. Why? Never explained.
    • It's heavily implied that his reason is because he loves destruction. Craves it, in fact.
    • Plus you'd be pretty pissed too if some scientists decide to drag you out of your reality and experiment on you.
  • Our Demons Are Different
  • Physical God: If it wasn't obvious.
  • Red Eyes, Take Warning: An inversion. His irises are normally green, while in his One-Winged Angel form, the sclera (the white part of the eye) turns completely red.
  • Satan: He's practically the Sonic universe's equivalent of this. See above.
  • Sealed Evil in a Can: Shadow sealed him in the Scepter of Darkness.
  • Smug Snake: He's both manipulative and a big planner, but his lack of common sense makes him this.
  • Time Travel: Seems to be one of his main abilities.
  • World's Strongest Man: As Solaris, he thus far the most powerful being in the series, capable of destroying reality and time itself as well as needing the combined efforts of three Super Hedgehogs to beat him. Even then, they only managed to beat him by attacking his core repeatedly, thus ending his consciousness.

Dark Gaia

Captain Whisker

Debut: Sonic Rush Series Adventure

A robot pirate from another dimension.

Erazor Djinn

Voiced by Masashi Ebara (Japanese), Peter Cormican (English)

The evil genie of the lamp who wants to erase the Arabian Nights.


Merlina

"You could never understand my sorrow at seeing the ruinous future of this kingdom."

E-101 Beta

A robot in the E-Series made by Dr. Eggman. The final boss for Gamma.


Imperator Ix

The final boss of Sonic Chronicles.


Tails Doll

Fan-favorite floating doll from Sonic R. Well known for the curse.


ZERO

The robot who kidnaps Amy in Sonic Adventure

Time Eater

An Eldritch Abomination capable of destroying time and space, as well as alter time and space in various ways. Time Eater starts destroying history and petrifies Sonic's friends during Sonic's birthday, making Sonic team up with his past self to stop the Time Eater in Sonic Generations.

Time Eater is technically an Eldritch Abomination, but also a Humongous Mecha, transformed into such by the Villain Team-Up of Doctor Robotnik and his past self. Both Robotniks control the Time Eater to erase their previous defeats at Sonic's hands.

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