Sonic The Hedgehog

Yeah, Starline's the most likely choice. Unless we're looking at the villainous heel turn of Ristar or something.

...What you don't think they'd do that? We're heading into issue #100 (eventually), and I could see them wanting to do something big for that. I could see them wanting to do another "Worlds Unite" style crossover with some of Sega's other franchises for the event. Mega Man and Capcom are probably off the table, due to their deal with Udon, but there's not much stopping the Sonic comic from dipping their toes into some of Sega's other old properties. Especially with Sonic Racing Cross Worlds just releasing. Some of the strange "Sonic Clones" we see are kind of giving me "Nightmaren" vibes from Nights into Dreams. It's probably pretty unlikely, but just in case it actually happens, I want to be able to say I called it!

...But, yeah, unless they do something crazy like that, it's probably Starline. His death was a little too vague for me to really buy it. And he was pretty well liked by the fanbase, as far as I understand it. So, I could see his comeback being a big enough deal for the comic's big issue #100 event. It's just so...obviously possible, that I wonder if they'll serve up a swerve on us.

That's what I'm thinking. Even if it is him, there's too much lead time to Issue 100 for there not to be something else going on. I'm even going to throw out that there's maybe some sort of Ancients/Starfall Islands/Cyberspace connection. The monster had the digital effect when it collapsed and Sonic conveniently lost his memory.

What if it's Sally Acorn?

I KNOW! I KNOW! I'm sorry! It WON'T be. I KNOW that. The possibly for this happening is SO REMOTE as to be microscopic. Nanoscopic, even. Maybe even...*googles what's smaller than "nano"*...practically "yoctoscopic". Positively Planck-length, even.

BUT...Sega still owns the SATAM cartoon. Even if we assume all of Archie is off the table.

AND...the director of Sonic Frontiers said a few years ago that he was "very interested" in using the Freedom Fighters in the future.

AND Ian Flynn is still working on the comic. And we know he loves the Freedom Fighters, even if actually using them is mostly off the table. But, he might have been whispering in the right ears this whole time.

AND it'd be one of the few reveals that would make 20 issues worth of buildup feel like it was worth it.

PLUS...if they did that, you KNOW the internet would explode. Or at least, the Sonic the Hedgehog side of the internet. Which, given the sheer number of "original characters" that have been created over the years, is about half of it. It WOULD get people talking. And it WOULD sell some comics.

It probably couldn't be Archie-Sally, specifically. But, a Sally from a world that got "erased"? A "alternate reality" Sally that's trying to use the Chaos Emeralds to partially bring her universe back? At least...maybe trying to save one "village" worth of characters from that universe, maybe? Maybe a version of Sally that's somewhat...robotic, perhaps? Not "legally" Pre-Genesis Wave Mecha-Sally...but...*wink-wink nudge-nudge say-no-more*?

Metaphorically, it would kind of explain the coffin. Trying to resurrect a "Dead Universe". And it might even explain the strange "Sonic Clones", if Sally's also trying to bring back the Sonic of her world by altering reality. The giant black Star that shows up could be a reference to the old Star Posts, which were gateways to other dimensions, or Zones. The Mystery Villain's robotic eye is blue...and Sally's eyes were also blue, which is exactly the kind of tiny detail someone would put into a design as a hint or foreshadowing. Plus...those "tentacles" on the Mystery Villain's face...kind of look like a "M", don't they? "M"...for "Mobius"?

Now, I don't think this is a slam dunk. For one...obviously, there's a lot of legal and bureaucratic red tape that would get in the way of this. But, even if Sega WERE open to the idea and willing to pull the trigger on it, it's still pretty unlikely. For one, the Mystery Villain's dialogue sounds NOTHING like Sally. Not even remotely. And this wouldn't explain how this universe's Sonic would recognize her. Sally supposedly never existed in this universe before.

And I'm not sure if the fans would be happy with a version of Sally that was a villain, anyway. Even if it was as a villain with a sympathetic and generally benevolent motivation. Even if we got Sally and some of the Freedom Fighters back, I doubt the fans would be happy about HOW we got them back, if they did things this way.

...But, MAN...it would be SUCH a cool reveal for the 100th issue!

But, yes, fine, I'll admit, I'm just seeing things that aren't there. There's NO WAY this is happening. If they were going to bring back the SATAM cast in ANY WAY, they kind of had the perfect chance with Sonic Racing Cross Worlds, since that was taking characters from all over the place, anyway. Sega's embarrassed by them and the lawsuit. Sega doesn't want them. They're not going to show up in the official comics or anywhere else, probably ever again.

...BUT...I just can't help but think it's not totally impossible.

You may begin your mockery and scorn...NOW!

Could the mysterious figure be Whisper?

You may have presentedt he idea of metaphorically using the coffin but resurrecting the original Diamond Cutters could be a goal and she go for it if she thought it would work. She's someone Sonic would recognize and she already has a mask. The actual Chaos Emerald thefts have been primarily off page thefts instead of direct assaults so it would fit in with her not being a villain. The main people assaulted have been Eggman's kids and she doesn't like the good doctor. This really works if there's some sort of dual reveal, like she's being coerced by someone else into brushing aside the problems with doing this. But what really got my gears turning was the character this connected to--Silver.

We know that Silver was sent to the past for a reason but he doesn't know what that is yet. What if he needs to stop the Guardian Angel from making the biggest risk of her life? I see a number of ways her plan could go wrong and this would be an interesting twist on Silver's 06 storyline with him having to fight a known ally instead of killing an unknown to save the future. Also, Whisper being the culprit would both get people talking and it would shake up the status quo.

That is a interesting idea.

And some weird Wisp weapon might explain the "Chaos"-like creature we saw in the latest issue. And oddly...a coffin does kind of fit Whisper's aesthetic, a little. It does kind of feel like a reference to Wolfwood from Trigun or something.

Though the Sonic clones would make more sense to be connected to the Emerald Powers from Superstars, like the Avatar power from the Blue Emerald. Though, I suppose some new Wispon could probably do the same thing.

The biggest problem I see with the idea is that Whisper doesn't strike me as much of a mechanic or hacker. I doubt she'd be able to make a device to override Metal Sonic's programming. But, like you said, she could be working with someone else to fill in some holes in her skill set.

...Although, if we're bringing Silver into it...a time-travelling version of Whisper from 20 years in the future or something might be a different story...Hmm.

Although, if we're going that direction...that would also mean that Tails Nine from Sonic Prime might be on the table. Since Sonic Prime is technically "game canon", which should make it fair game for the comics.

It's something to keep in mind. But, I'll admit, Starline is still probably the best suspect. He's really one of the few characters who has the right skill set and personality to do something like this.

...Again, unless they do something REALLY crazy. Maybe not quite as crazy as I went, but maybe the writers are pulling someone REALLY obscure out of the game lore that I'm just not thinking of.

The more I think about it, the more I do like the idea of it being Nine from Sonic Prime. He fits all the criteria for someone like Sally, trying to restore his dead universe, but better fits the personality and abilities of our Mystery Villain. Nine actually has a lot of overlap with someone like Starline. Plus, if Prime is canon to the games and the comics, that means the Comic team would want to try and find a place to put it on the timeline like they do for the games.

The only problem is, with Sonic Prime over, would they care enough to "advertise" a cancelled show? And I think they would. With the show being cancelled, they could play with those characters as much as they want. And Sega might even encourage that, to keep the trademarks on the character-variants, so Netflix or Man of Action don't claim them.

So, yeah, Starline's still probably the top choice. But, Nine makes for a good dark horse pick.

Metal Sonic 3.0 in order to retrieve Eggman Nega. Eggman Nega fits a lot of the cues of someone who would use Eggman's resources but he has the key problems of not being the right body shape for the mystery villain and the fact that his last canon appearance was getting stuck in another dimension in Sonic Rivals 2. Metal Sonic 3.0 acting on his behalf could fill in the problems of it being Nega himself. It would also fit in with Sega's current push to revitalize Sonic's rogues gallery considering Nega is probably the only Modern Era villain left to not get any attention. And it's curious that the ravings in Gerald Robotnik's diary brought up the Ifrit from Rivals 2 but that never mattered for Shadow Generations.

Though...I do have another possible culprit.

Could it be Kit? We know for a fact he has some sort of unknown plan to boost Surge's profile and his last plan went horribly wrong. I'd need to reread things to make sure but I think he's never been in the same place as the mystery figure. Kit would also fit into the concept of shaking up the status quo if his plan drives division between him and Surge and if the collateral damage from the plan is high enough. There's the possibility that Starline comes back due to Kit's actions.

Kit's plausible. He's got the skills, and probably has access to all of Starline's old tech. But, I just don't know if he would be a big enough reveal for how long they seem determined to build this up for? Spending around 20 issues of building up this mystery, just to reveal it's Kit? I don't know, I feel like it has to be someone bigger than that. Just for the spectacle.

Eggman Nega...would be interesting. But, unlikely. Eggman Nega was off limits for unknown reasons during the Archie years. And, Ian Flynn seems to have developed a bit of a dislike for the character over the years. And while he's not the head writer anymore, he does still write for the book. So, his opinion may still influence things.



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So, I feel like...probably not. If either of them had shown up as a cameo in some other game or something recently, I'd say maybe. But, I don't think they'd pull out a character that relatively obscure. Although he has shown up as recently as in the 2020 Olympics game, so who knows? Maybe something's changed behind the scenes? All these "quotes" are from YEARS ago. Maybe Evan Stanley REALLY likes Eggman Nega, and can outvote Ian? But, I doubt it's him.


...Yes, I DO think Sally Acorn or Nine from Sonic Prime are more likely than Eggman Nega. I'm allowed to have nonsensical opinions! No one can stop me!