Enemy robots in Sonic the Hedgehog (series)

Eggman's robots, also known as Badniks, are fictional enemy robots created by the evil Dr. Ivo Robotnik in the Sonic the Hedgehog series of video games.

While they were simply known as "Eggman's robots" in the Japanese releases of the games, the robots were classified as "Badniks" in the manuals of the early North American and European versions. After Sonic Adventure was released in 1999, the robots are called "Eggman's robots" in these areas of the world as well.

In the games, they are used by Eggman as numerous soldiers, and they Appear constantly throughout the levels to hinder the player and to stop the main protagonist Sonic the Hedgehog. Eggmans robots have gone through a number of changes in appearance.

Older robots from the original 16 bit games usually resemble mechanical animals with built-in weaponry. When destroyed by Sonic, they explode and release a small animal, such as a Flicky, that hops off the screen (although, in some games, they release a Ring or a flower seed instead). The games, along with the Sonic the Comic comic book, suggest that the animal is kept inside the robot to power it up, as a kind of organic battery. Some continuities, such as the Sonic cartoon instead showed that Eggman "roboticized" animals, literally turning organic beings into his mechanical minions.

Notable robot designs

Certain designs of Badniks reappeared in multiple games, while others appeared only once. The designs of Badniks from Sonic 1 appear often, such as variations of the Beeton ("Buzz Bomber") Badniks, which resemble wasps and fire energy blasts from their stingers. The designs of the Gani-Gani ("Crabmeat") Badniks, which resemble scuttling crabs and fire energy blasts from guns within their claws, and the caterpillar-based Nal ("Caterkiller") Badniks are also seen often. These Badniks are likely used often due to appearing in the Green Hill Zone and Marble Zone, the very first levels of the first Sonic game, making them "classical".

The Ai-Ai Badnik ("Coconuts") from Sonic 2 was designed after a monkey, and sat in palmtrees while throwing coconuts at Sonic. Variations of this Badnik has also appeared, and unlike the ones from Sonic 1, its design is often used in the 3D games. A specific Coconuts also got a somewhat large role in the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon series.

In Sonic & Knuckles, the player would face EggRobos, robots based on Eggman himself. These robots have appeared in several games since, without many design changes, and often as playable characters.

Eggman is also known for making robots based on Sonic himself to pit against his rival. While most of these robots have been destroyed by their organic counterpart, one of them, Metal Sonic, has appeared again and again throughout the series to battle Sonic.

In Sonic Adventure, the same game that stopped using the "Badnik" name, the E-Series was introduced. This line of robotics have appeared frequently since, with the notable E-102 and E-123 even being recurring playable characters.

Sonic Heroes introduced the "Egg Pawn" robots, clunky orange humanoid robots resembling Eggman. These were apparently easier to make and were more expendable because of The Many Egg Pawn troops encountered in games. Unlike the "variety" of previous Badniks and their designs, enemies in Sonic Heroes were almost exclusively Egg Pawns with various weaponry and equipment. These robots have appeared in several games since Sonic Heroes, and appeared along with animal-based robots in Sonic Rivals. They were also created in different sizes, from small bazooka wielding ones to gargantuan hammer wielding ones.

The New Sonic the Hedgehog game introduced all-new robots, called Egg Guardians. They are much more intimidating and menacing than the cartoonish Egg Pawns, and are tall, armed with machine guns and have white armour. They were likely used as Sonic Team wanted the game to be more "realistic", but these robots have not been used for any later games.

Asteron

A starfish-like robot that hovers and explodes, launching its points at various angles.

Aquis

A hovering seahorse robot that spits oil at the player.

Balkiry

A fast-moving pterodactyl-like robot that only travels in one direction.

Ball Hog

A purple pig robot that tosses bombs down hills, seen in "Sonic the Hedgehog" for Sega Master System/Game Gear and Mega Drive/Genesis. A similar character appeared in the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog only in the episode Untouchable Sonic and this version of Ballhog differs from his game counterpart in design.

Bloominator

Bloominators are immobile tulip robots that occasionally emit spiked balls from the opening in the top of their heads. The balls are fired in random directions and arc in accordance with gravity.

Bubbles

Bubbles are spherical blue robots with a nozzle-like head that defend themselves by producing spikes all over their body.

Butterdroid

Butterdroids are floating butterfly robots that are GeneRally found in groups of two or three. To attack, they slowly fly towards Sonic, Tails or Knuckles.

Buzzbombers/Buzzer

Buzzbombers are robots in the forms of giant wasps, based on the namesake badniks from the classic Sega Genesis Sonic titles. Their stingers double as laser emitters, and they are usually deployed for aerial attacks. They also made an appearance in the pilot episode of the SatAM cartoon, wherein they pursued Tails in an attempt to draw out Sonic and attempted to transport a herbicidal Agent to the Great Forest in an attempt to expose the location of Knothole, both endeavors being handily thwarted by the Freedom Fighters.

Caterkiller/Catakiller

Squirming caterpillar robots that, aside from the head, are covered in spikes. To defeat one, Sonic must roll into its head, otherwise he will take damage and will scatter the Caterkiller's segments all over the place. They seem to be a favorite design of Eggman, since it is re-used in many other forms.

Chopper

Pirahna-like robots that leap upwards from below wooden bridges, in hopes of taking a bite out of Sonic. Simliar robots have appeared in Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Clucker/Cluckoid

Chicken-like robots who operate the cannons on the Wing Fortress Zone. Its design possibly inspired the character of Scratch in Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Coconuts

A monkey-like robot that clambers up and down trees, tossing coconuts down below. The coconut act as grenades, exploding after a set time. A similar character appeared in Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Crabmeat

A scuttling crab robot that occasionally stops to launch two energy balls out of its claws. In the early issues of the Archie Sonic series, Crabmeat served as a subordinate to Robotnik before eventually being replaced by Snively.

Dragonfly

A hovering dragonfly robot that floats up and down in one place. Its weak point is its head, and hitting it anywhere else causes damage.

EggRobo

EggRobo is an egg-shaped humanoid robot resembling Dr. Robotnik. They first appeared as enemies in the game Sonic & Knuckles. In Knuckles' storyline, they are the bosses instead of Dr. Eggman; in Sonic's storyline in that game, many copies appeared as standard Badnik grunt enemies in the Sky Sanctuary Zone, after being seen launched from the Death Egg.

They are rather more prominent in Knuckles' storyline, however, as one EggRobo in particular attacks Knuckles in the beginning of the game, and then replaces Robotnik in cut scenes and as the end-of-zone boss in every level up until the Hidden Palace Zone (with the exception of Flying Battery Zone, which is Robotnik due to EggRobo not having sprites to mirror Robotnik's angle at the time). This EggRobo appears to have greater intelligence than the other ones, and can pilot machines like Robotnik, even apparently learning from Eggman's mistakes as the EggRobo attacks a lot more. There is also no animal inside this one. This EggRobo is destroyed by Mecha Sonic in the Sky Sanctuary Zone (the final level in Knuckles' storyline). The EggRobo restrains Knuckles, allowing Mecha Sonic to charge at him, but Knuckles breaks free and Mecha Sonic destroys the EggRobo instead.

EggRobo has appeared as an unlockable playable character in Sonic R and in the kart-racing mode of Sonic Adventure 2 Battle. In the original Sonic Adventure 2 for the Sega Dreamcast, however, EggRobo was only available through an online download.

Egg Golem

The Egg Golem is a boss inside Eggman's pyramid base, that appeared in Sonic Adventure 2. It is ordered by Eggman to fight Sonic, but its restraining mechanism is damaged in the battle. It then goes after Eggman only to be destroyed by its former master.

Flasher

A floating firefly robot that can't be damaged while it's flashing.

Grabber

A yellow and black spider robot that catches Sonic with its legs and then self-destructs, causing damage. In the Sonic & Knuckles level Flying Battery, instead of self-destructing, the grabbers carry Sonic or Knuckles across large gaps.

Grounder/Burrowbot

A red robot with drill-tipped hands and noses. A similar character appears in Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, though colored green.

Jaws/Jawz

Hovering shark robots that make no effort to attack the player. They simply fly in one direction slowly. Similar robots appeared in Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Metal Knuckles

Just as Metal Sonic is the robot counterpart to Sonic, Metal Knuckles is the doppelgänger of Knuckles the Echidna. He has Knuckles's strength, with even greater speed. In terms of videogames, Metal Knuckles only appeared in Sonic R, where he was a faster version of Knuckles with a better gliding ability but with worse traction. Metal Knuckles was the character that went through the most shortcuts when played by the computer, so following this character was the easiest way to find the quickest route to the finish line.

A robotic Knuckles also appears as a boss in Sonic Advance. It is known as Mecha Knuckles. This robot looks exactly like Knuckles, only with a pinker hue and yellow gloves at first, and has virtually every move Knuckles has. After being struck a few times his "armor" will fall off, revealing a metallic echidna with glowing red eyes underneath. In this "form", the robot is faster and can fire homing missiles from its mouth. After being attacked a few more times, the robot explodes.

Though he doesn't qualify as a villain, a character similar to Metal Knuckles appeared in the Sonic the Hedgehog comics when Knuckles underwent Roboticization, transforming him into the formidable Mecha Knuckles, who retained his free will through the use of a Neuro Override device. Mecha Knuckles was then pitted against Mecha Sonic until both of them were De-Roboticized.

Prototype storyline for the comics included Metal Knuckles an upcoming antagonist, having been created by an amnesic Nate Morgan along with Metal Sonic, Tails Doll, and Metal Amy.

Moto Bug

A ladybug robot that simply moves in one direction, making no effort to actually attack.

Mushmeanie

A robot that bounces on a spring and is disguised as a mushroom. It must be hit twice to be destroyed; once to knock off its cap and once to destroy the machine.

Orbinaut

A sphere surrounded by four spiked spears, which it can throw at Sonic if it sees him.

Penguinator

A blue penguin robot that waddles towards the player very slowly.

Roller

A purple armadillo robot that rolls towards the player seen Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. A similar character appeared in the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog only in the episode Untouchable Sonic and this version of Roller differs from his game counterpart in design expect for his head.

Sandworm

A blue Caterkiller-like robot that jumps out of quicksand.

Shellcracker

Another crab robot much like Crabmeat, but with an excessively large claw that it can extend to attack.

Skorp

A scorpion robot that has a mace for a tail. It can stretch its tail far to attack.

Snale Blaster

A very slow snail robot that crawls up and down walls, occasionally stopping to fire energy out of two cannons hidden in its shell. It can only be destroyed while the shell is open. Snale Blaster also appears in Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie although based on his concept drawings and not his Sonic the Hedgehog 3 sprites.

Tails Doll

The Tails Doll (also mistakenly called "Puppet Tails") is a doll version of Miles "Tails" Prower built by Dr. Eggman. It is a secret character in the racing game Sonic R, unlocked by finding the 5 tokens in the "Radical City" track, finishing 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the race, and then defeating Tails Doll in a race. Tails Doll has poor handling, average acceleration and average top speed. Its jumping abilities are quirky, too, since it cannot jump very high, but has a strange floating ability as its "air action". It is also the only character who can float over the water without slowing down after a period of time. Tails Doll is also one of the few characters who did not appear in the character poll by Sonic Channel, which featured multiple exceedingly obscure characters, such as Ray, Bean, and Bark. Tails-shaped dolls also appeared in Sonic Adventure along with Sonic and Knuckles ones, this time as targets in Eggman's shooting gallery.

Recently a Tails Doll made an appearance in issue 21 of the Sonic X Comic, in which Tails complained that it gave him the creeps.

Prototype storyline for the comics included Tails Doll as an upcoming antagonist in a storyline that appears to have been canceled.

TechnoSqueak

A robotic mouse (literally a computer mouse) that scurries across the floor or ceiling.

Toxomister

An immobile pipe robot that emits a purple gas that causes the player to gradually lose rings.

Turtloids

A small turtle robot piloting a bigger turtle robot. When the small turtle is defeated, the larger one can be used as a platform.

In other media

Sonic the Comic

In the British Fleetway-produced Sonic the Comic comic book, all early badniks were powered by Organic Batteries, the name given to the helpless Mobian trapped inside. Unlike several other media, the badniks in Sonic the Comic were directly based upon the robotic drones that appeared in the games.

Prime Badniks soon appeared, which could operate without the need of an organic energy source. The first such badnik was the spider-like Arachbot. Throughout the course of the comic's production, most badniks continued to use organic batteries despite new advances (possibly because Dr. Robotnik was hesitant to discard still potentially-useful equipment and his means of maintaining a sense of fear in his citizens).

Dr. Robotnik originally used mobile factories, which were basically large badniks that ingested a Mobian and then encased it in a metallic shell, releasing it as a badnik. However, in later issues Robotnik used huge processing plants to churn out badniks in large numbers.

Several important types of badnik were made later in the story. After Robotnik successfully conquered Mobius, "Trooper Badniks" (large and powerful humanoid robots) became commonplace. Sonic initially had trouble defeating the powerful troopers until he learned that they were not powered by Organic Batteries and that he therefore did not need to hold back his strength when attacking. Troopers, with their menacing appearance, were one of the most frequently-seen antagonists in the comic until the overthrow of Robotnik in issue #100. The most notable trooper badnik was Commander Brutus, who was elevated above the ranks and programmed with Robotnik's own brainwaves, and later attempted a coup against the dictator with his own army of Badniks.

Another important type of badnik was the Metallix series (see Metal Sonic), which were based on Sonic's own appearance and abilities. Like Commander Brutus, they rebelled against Robotnik, forming their own "society".

Also worth mention was the "Cybernik"-style badniks, made of the indestructible metal known as Megatal (comparable to adamantium). Despite their heightened status, Cybernik badniks were built using Organic Batteries. Only two were ever known to be constructed. The first, a squirrel-badnik dubbed Shortfuse, incorporated a reluctant squirrel named Shorty. Shorty was able to take control of his badnik casing, rebelling against Robotnik and joining the Freedom Fighters. The second Cybernik was a rat named Vermin (who willingly volunteered for the process), designed largely to combat Shortfuse via use of an injectable computer virus in his tail. Both were destroyed. Vermin was tricked by Shortfuse into downloading a computer programme that caused his suit to open up, and once the rat leaped out of the armour, Shortfuse, reasoning that it would not be indestructible from the inside, blew it up. Shortfuse was later caught up in an explosion caused by a machine created by the alien Plax race; the explosion destroyed the armour but left Shorty himself unharmed.

All the Badniks on Mobius were immobilised in issue #100 along with all the electrical systems on Mobius when Super Sonic burst out of the Black Asteroid in Mobius' orbit (transported from the Special Zone by the Omni Viewer), causing an Electro-magnetic pulse which covered the planet. Robotnik created a new batch from his new base on Flickies' Island and launched multiple attacks, but never regained control over the planet again. The Flicky-powered Badniks were much more powerful than normal ones, Sonic having considerable difficulty dispatching only a single one, and only just managing to do so with all his strength. These Badniks were usually a grey, dark colour and looked much more demonic and menacing than the colourful, cartoony Badniks that usually populated Robotnik's army. Some didn't bear any resemblance to normal Badniks at all.

A one off Sonic story considered a fan favourite was Smokey and the Badnik in which a Roller badnik (which features in Sonic 1's, Spring Yard Zone) befriends a young Mobian called Smokey, and protects him from a Trooper attack. Sonic spares the Robot once he sees it is harmless and the two walk off into the sunset.

The Sonic CD Badniks were only seen once, when Robotnik decided to relocate the Palmtree Panic Zone Badniks to the Green Hill Zone. The plan went south when they decided they weren't going to share a Zone with inferior outdated Badniks, and obliterated the locals in a violent frenzy. B.A.R.F. had to bring them under control using upgraded superhuman versions of the Green Hill Badniks, known as the Seven, and forced them back to Palmtree Panic. In addition to the roboticized inhabitants of Mobius (called 'worker bots' in SatAM and 'Robians' in the Archie Comics), Robotnik also had various robots that were created without roboticization.

Sonic the Hedgehog comic series/TV series

The Sonic the Hedgehog comic books and Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon series used the concept of roboticization, where every Badnik was an animal turned into an evil robot by Dr. Robotnik's Roboticizer.

SWATbots were Robotnik's primary infantry robots armed with laser weapons, either hand-held or built into their forearms. They are humanoid with domed heads and thin red visors. They are colored white and grey, though they were black in the cartoon. These robots were however not roboticized animals, and in the comics they were eventually replaced by the Egg Pawns featured in the video games. They also appear in ''Sonic Underground, another cartoon series.

Before Snively was introduced in the Archie comics, the badnik Crabmeat served as Dr. Robotnik's second-in-command. Crabmeat had all the intellect of the average badnik (low) but was for some reason permitted to assist Robotnik in defeating Sonic and the Freedom Fighters in the tactical sense rather than on the front lines. Crabmeat was a collector of Sonic comic books and was destroyed in almost every issue he appeared in only to come back again next issue, or sometimes only a few pages later, completely unharmed.

Eventually, after many issues of the comic, Sonic managed to take a vacation back to his old base in the Great Forest. There, on his way, he found the late Robotnik's base showing a repair centre for Badniks. He traveled there to find many of the old Badniks waiting for him. Also, Pseudo-Sonic, Robotnik's make of Sonic, was waiting for a chance to fight the original. After settling their disputes through speed headbutts, Sonic was flung into a part of sea, where he grabbed onto a scrap of the collapsing island. While Sonic went home thinking it was safe, the Badniks were actually pretending to sink, while the island was being repaired and Crabmeat was repairing Pseudo-Sonic.

Sonic the Hedgehog (comic series)

Assault Bots

SWATbots

For information on the SWATbots as they appear in theSonic the Hedgehog cartoon and Sonic Underground, visit this page.

In the early days after his takeover of Mobotropolis, Dr. Robotnik employed SWATbots as his main labor and military force. While Robotnik would usually use various badniks (such as burrowbots or buzzbombers) for engagements against the Freedom Fighters, SWATbots were used more frequently for recon, patrol and labor, as well as roboticizing Mobians. While usually proving to be unintelligent by normal standards, a SWATbot did develop a "Krudzu" - a mechanical plant which rapidly grew and spread. Krudzu nearly destroyed the Great Forest, until a thunderstorm destroyed them. SWATbots are also dangerous in large groups, going so far as to capture the Freedom Fighters (bar Sonic and Larry Lynx) at one point. Unlike the version featured in the TV show, Archie Comics's versions of SWATbots are white and silver in colour.

After Ivo Robotnik's demise (caused by his nephew Snively), he was replaced by Dr. Eggman - a version of himself from an alternate universe. When Eggman retook control of Robotropolis from the Mobians, he began to employ his own form of SWATbots, called "Shadowbots" (or "SWATbot Mk IIs"). These forms are much larger and bulkier, and carry a larger arsenal. Shadowbots usually sport a dark metallic blue color.

Shortly after the destruction of A.D.A.M., Eggman seemed to stop using Shadowbots and instead began to construct a new series of robots, similar in design to the Egg Pawn series seen in the game Sonic Heroes. This is perhaps due to the fact that A.D.A.M., Robotnik's traitorous computer virus "son", controlled the Shadowbots, and after his subsequent death they could no longer function. However, it appears that he still uses the older model SWATbots as scout units, as shown by the squad that first encountered Blaze the Cat when she arrived on the outskirts of Knothole.

SWATbots come in several specialized varieties, including jet pack equipped Aerobots and low temperature Icebots.

Combots

The Combots are superior versions of the SWATbot model. Far more intelligent and capable of camouflage, they are the ultimate military robots. Many are in service to Crocbot, the sub-boss of Downunda. They despise the inferior SWATbots, one of the few signs of open intelligence among Robotnik's robot army. In the 'Spin City' short comic, it was shown that at least some Combots were equipped with a bomb in their head which detonated shortly after the Combot was decapitated, possibly as a last-ditch means to try to take out the robot's assailant.

Dynamac 3000

A highly adaptable robot model, the Dynamac 3000 can transform to fit any given situation. As such, it is the ultimate unit of the SWATbot class. The Dynamac model is so powerful that the only way to defeat it is by shorting it out through a massive electric shock. One Dynamac 3000 was dispatched by Robotnik to serve as sub-boss of the western sector of the Knothole continent, but it was destroyed by the Freedom Fighters before any permanent harm was done. The Freedom Fighters encountered a second one of these machines when scouting out Robotropolis after Robotnik's defeat. This one however was being remotely controlled by Snively from a hidden alcove nearby. The Freedom Fighters promptly defeated it, and captured Snively.

Auto Automatons

A series of androids created by Dr. Robotnik, the Auto Automatons were first designed for espionage purposes. The Auto Automatons were intended to be exact duplicates of the Freedom Fighters, thus enabling them to replace their biological counterparts. He first put these to use against Sally Acorn, but her efforts and those of King Acorn's Secret Service commander Geoffrey St. John put an end to that batch. King Acorn was later replaced with an Auto-Automaton, who ordered Sonic arrested and all Robians disassembled before he was finally exposed as a fake and destroyed.

The Auto Automatons were discarded as faulty, given that the materials that made them so lifelike made them so susceptible to rust that they would become useless within seconds of touching water. However, Robotnik made use of one last such Automaton, a duplicate of Fiona Fox. Created several years before Robotnik put it to use, it still had the appearance of a younger Fiona. Robotnik tested the robot Fiona's effectiveness by pretending to capture her while Miles "Tails" Prower watched. Tails "saved" Fiona and quickly fell in love with her, only to be betrayed when Robotnik ordered the robot to attack Tails. The materials that made the robot appear so lifelike were also unusually susceptible to rust, and as Tails struggled with "Fiona" the robot was drenched with water and quickly rusted solid. Tails mourned the robot Fiona as his first love, not knowing that it had been based on a real person now several years older than him. Fiona's android self reciprocated Tails' feelings for her, but their relationship was put to an end by her deactivation. While she was acting on Dr. Robotnik's orders, she clearly cared for Tails. Unfortunately, her attachment led her to want him subjected to Roboticization so they could be together. Tails' own feelings were so strong that he bid farewell to her. As he left, a single tear fell from the eye of the rusted android.

Later models were produced following Robotnik Prime's death, and were being mass constructed for some purpose. However, these Auto Automatons proved unable to defeat the Freedom Fighters, despite such duplicates of Sally and Sonic being deployed against them. A later scheme by Eggman involved placing scanners inside slot machines in a Station Square casino, enabling Eggman to copy their data and produce duplicates. Fortunately, this scheme was thwarted by the Chaotix and Rouge the Bat.

Similar to the Auto Automatons was an android created by Robotnik in the Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon. This android was created to resemble Sally down to the finest detail, and was also programmed with a copy of her personality. However, lacking her true memories, the pseudo-Sally was unable to fool Tails when she didn't know a story to read and do the "scary witch voice". She was then exposed later during another reconnaissance mission, and reprogrammed by the Freedom Fighters to serve their purposes. As a final act, Sonic replaced the real Sally with the fake, causing the Roboticizer to overload.

All Auto Automatons were equipped with abilities beyond those of ordinary Mobians. Sally's robotic double from the TV series was also able to fire bolts of energy and a sludge-like substance known as Mega-Muck (which is mentioned by Uncle Chuck as being roughly equal parts petroleum, quicksand, and clay mud) from her fingertips.

Botman

A robot based on Batman, Botman was the first of Robotnik's creations based on characters from comic books.

Captain Marbot

One of Robotnik's comic book based automatons, Captain Marbot was based on Captain Marvel.

CD-ROM Ram

Cluck

Robotnik's pet robot chicken who only appeared in the first season of the Sonic the Hedgehog TV series. He and Snively do not like each other. In the premiere episode Heads or Tails, Snively used a remote to pop off one of his eyes from one of its sockets. Since Cluck can't talk, he communicates by short beeping sounds. In the very first comic of the mini-series, Cluck appeared (with dialogue) in the story "Oh No Robo, No Mo' Mobo". He hasn't made much appearances since.

Crocbot

Crocbot was Robotnik's sub-boss in Downunda. Possibly the most malign of all of Robotnik's lieutenants and creations, Crocbot is perhaps the strongest and most dangerous as well. Showing unprecedented ambition for a machine, Crocbot planned to overthrow Robotnik and rule Mobius himself. Crocbot is scheming and manipulative, a brutal commander whose intelligence is only exceeded by his hatred for the Freedom Fighters.

Robotnik sent Crocbot to act as his regional dictator in the Southern Hemisphere. For years, Crocbot maintained a moderate level of control over the continent of Downunda, though on occasion he would come into conflict with the Downunda Freedom Fighters, which would often spoil his plans. To ensure he had the necessary means to secure control of the continent fully, Robotnik shipped a zeppelin of SWATbots, Combots, weapons and other materials to Crocbot. Prior to its arrival, Crocbot mostly employed his machine flying dingoes.

Crocbot's first real defeat came when the D.F.F. received assistance from Miles "Tails" Prower. Just as the blimp full of SWATbots and supplies arrived, Tails and Barby Koala attacked, disrupting its docking procedures and causing it to crash. Crocbot then attempted to escape in his nuclear-powered tank, but a bomb/boomerang from Walt Wallabee knocked the tank off course, causing it to crash into a crater (the former site of Echidnaopolis) and explode.

It was later revealed that Crocbot survived, building a prison camp in the crater. The explosion somehow fused Crocbot to his tank, leaving him with tank treads in the place of legs. Backed by an army of Combots, he sought to regain control of the continent. He was able to successfully capture Barby Koala, Walt Wallabee, Antoine D'Coolette and Bunnie Rabbot, and was in the process of mining mineral ore to power Robotnik's Ultimate Annihilator. Still wishing to rule Mobius alone, Crocbot secretly planted a thermo-nuclear device in the airbus which was carrying the ore, hoping to wipe out Robotnik with it. The device was found by Bunny and stolen for other purposes. Crocbot succeeded in shipping the ore to Robotnik, but came under attack shortly after it left by the other Downunda Freedom Fighters. Crocbot was again seemingly destroyed by the attacking Freedom Fighters. His lower half was completely destroyed as a result of the attack, but Crocbot managed to survive once more.

Having planeted a mind control chip on Duck "Bill" Platypus -one of the D.F.F.'s- Crocbot had "Bill" to move his remains into hiding. Some time later, using "Bill" as an agent, he convinced the other platypus on Downunda to oppose the Downunda Freedom Fighters. Fortunately, Sonic and Tails soon showed up during their hunt of Ixis Naugus. They discovered Crocbot hidden under a building, and disconnected him from his power supply, though not before Crocbot began a cryptic warning regarding Bunyip, a monster of Downunda legend. Crocbot's remains were shipped to Mobotropolis (which had been retaken by the Mobians by this time), only to be apprehended by Snively's team of convicts, which had recently escaped from the Devil's Gulag.

Crocbot later returned, having been merged together with fellow sub-boss Octobot to form Croctobot (see below).

Croctobot

After numerous defeats at the hands of Tails, Crocbot and Octobot were fused together. Now known as Croctobot, they were sent to crash Sonic's birthday party. Upon seeing the robot, Sonic managed to laugh himself into submission, describing the new enemy as the 'lamest badnik ever'. Meanwhile, Scourge the Hedgehog and Rouge the Bat used Chaos Control to teleport to the party using the Master Emerald. In a rare team-up Sonic, Scourge, and Shadow the Hedgehog destroyed Croctobot. Despite Shadow having expressed an allegiance with Robotnik, he remained idle and complacent as Croctobot threatened Sonic and intended to report Shadow as a traitor (prior to his destruction by the three hedgehogs) to Robotnik for his apparent inaction - the cause of said inaction most likely attributed to Shadow's expressed gratitude and thanks towards Sonic for having saved Hope Kintobor's life earlier.

Croctobot's body was essentially Crocbot's salvaged upper body attached to the top of Octobot's head. This equipped Croctobot with sharp claws and tentacles, and presumably the ability to fight in the water as well as on land. However, Croctobot seemed somewhat insecure with himself, shouting out bravado and getting extremely angry when insulted by Sonic.

It is unknown why Croctobot did not try to harm Tails, as both Crocbot and Octobot have a deep-seated grudge against him.

In an abandoned future storyline, Archie Comics had plans to make Croctobot sub-boss over all of Downunda. Since he has been destroyed, this will not likely come to pass.

French Frirus

An artificial disease based of microscopic nanites created by robotnik. The french frirus robots were sprinkled into deep fried potatos and given to the freedom fighters in take out food from a McRobos restaurant. It infected all of the freedom fighters execept for one, Sonic. With Rotor's help, Sonic shrunk to microscopic size in order to eliminate the Frirus. The disease consists of Paris Site, fever, and the foreign lesions.

Paris-Site

A microscopic robot with dozens of copies, is the head honcho of the french frirus. He wears a beret, carries a crobar, and is accompanied by his fiery flunky, fever. Sonic fought one copy of him when he went into Rotor's body. Rotor's Auntie Bodies had given up and meekly let Paris Site take over. With renewed courage, she bludgeoned him with his own crobar, and called the other freedom fighter's Auntie Bodies on her one-celled, cellular phone, telling them what to do.

Fever

A tiny being of fire, one of the liutenents of Paris Site. He keeps the freedom fighters sick by raising their body temperature, letting his boss take over. Powerless without Paris Site, Fever was easily snuffed out by Sonic running in circles around him.

French Foreign Lesions

Bodyguards of Paris Site, the FFL's grew along the membrane walls of the sick freedom fighters. They don't put up much of a fight, except for spewing puss all over intruders like Sonic the Hedgehog.

High Sheriff

See Minor characters in Sonic the Hedgehog (comic series)#General Armand D'Coolette for details.

King Gong

A giant golden robot gorilla with a clock in its chest, built by Robotnik years ago. It came to life on its own and escaped into the jungle where it lived ever since. Robotnik found it and tried to bring it under control, but it was too wild. In a King Kong-styled fight involving Princess Sally and Sonic, King Gong was shot at by banana oil, toppled off a building and was smashed to pieces.

Magnabot

Magbot

A robot based on Prince Valiant which Robotnik used to attack Sonic.

Mecha (M)

Mecha is one of Dr. Robotnik's creations created while Sonic was still in outer space and everybody thought he was dead. Mecha is designed after a female Overlander, and is referred to by Eggman as his 'daughter'; unlike Robotnik's previous creations, Mecha has many more fighting abilities than any of Robotnik's creations ever had. Her most prominent ability, other than strength beyond that of any biological Overlander, was the power to shoot lasers from her eyes.

Sonic and Mecha duked it out at the docks of Dr. Eggman's newest city Megapolis, a battle which resulted in Sonic getting hurt, eventually leading to his breakup with Sally Acorn. Bunnie Rabbot knocked Mecha into a building and Geoffrey destroyed her skin coating by chucking a grenade leaving her with only a metallic skeletal form similar in appearance to the T-X from the Terminator movies, and this made her very angry. Sonic and friends were able to dump Mecha into the sewers; this short circuited her now-exposed systems. It is revealed later that she survived her encounter with Sonic. A.D.A.M. later framed Mecha, showing visual evidence of her helping the mysterious "Anonymous," who is later revealed to be ADAM himself. Believing her to be traitorous, Eggman ordered her to self-destruct, destroying her while unaware that the real traitor was ADAM.

Loyal only to Eggman, Mecha was as cold and emotionless as most of his creations-most of the time. She only showed emotion on a handful of occasions, usually when Eggman was threatened. At these times, she became extremely angry and volatile.

Mighty Bot

Based on the character of Mighty Mouse, Mighty Bot was created by Robotnik to fight Sonic.

Octobot

Far beneath the surface of the Great Mobian Ocean rests an underwater bot base - home of the malicious Octobot, a giant blue mech squid that serves as one of Robotnik's underbosses. In fact, Octobot's existence under the seas would have remained unknown to the Freedom Fighters had Tails not encountered him during the maiden voyage of the Sea Fox. Discovering the underwater roboticisation factory once manned by Jaws, Tails destroyed the submerged base and left Octobot a complete laughing stock among the Bot community.

Octobot soon decided that he had to kill Tails to redeem himself and exact revenge, and while on a mission to prove himself in Downunda, Octobot scuttled Tails' Sea Fox by puncturing it with his drill tentacles and dragged Tails beneath the ocean in an attempt to drown him. Tails was rescued by the Forty Fathom Freedom Fighters, and Octobot was crushed beneath the massive weight of their largest member, Fluke the Blue Whale. Octobot survived the incident, though temporarily flattenned. He later reappeared, fleeing the only undersea villain more fearsome than himself: Eel Capone, the undersea gangster.

It was only after Sonic's year in space that Octobot returned again, having since become attached to the leftovers of his Downunda-comrade Crocbot, now called Croctobot.

Octobot hates Tails with a passion almost as strong as Crocbot and would also gladly kill him for virtually ruining his many plans. Like many of Robotnik's sentient creations, he is highly volatile. Octobot's assignment has naturally affected his behavior, from sailor jargon to mentions of Davy Jones' locker.

Octo-Pods

Orb-Bots

Shredder/Shredbot

Sonic robots

Metal Sonic

See main article for information.

Pseudo-Sonic

A Sonic-based robot named Pseudo-Sonic appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog #9. He was one of the few early villains to find Knothole Village, tricking Antoine D'Coolette into thinking that he was the real Sonic. Pseudo-Sonic was soon defeated, since Tails short-circuited him by dragging his namesakes on the ground while running around Pseudo-Sonic in a circle, generating static electricity. He made a reappearance later on, where it was revealed that there was an island where Badniks went to be repaired after being defeated. He was defeated by Sonic once again, but the other Badniks salvaged him and began the process of rebuilding him.

Pseudo-Sonic also appeared in an episode ofAdventures of Sonic the Hedgehogof the same name.

Mecha Sonic

When Robotnik finally managed to capture Sonic, he roboticized him, creating Mecha Sonic. Mecha Sonic was the part of the "Mecha Madness" story arc, where he was used by Eggman to battle the Freedom Fighters, but was defeated by a good Mecha Knuckles, and was de-roboticized.

Another version of Mecha Sonic, very similar in design except he was completely silver, appeared in a later issue when the Bem turned Sonic and Tails into robots to fight Dr. Robotnik and Snively Kintobor, whom they had turned back into humans for the purpose of determining who was superior. Mecha Sonic and Tails proved victorious, and were restored to their normal forms.

Silver Sonic

Silver Sonic was used in the "Death Egg Saga" story arc, an adaptation of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, where Robotnik used it to protect his Death Egg. Initially, the massive machine proved too much for Sonic, although when it punched the hedgehog through part of the Death Egg, electrical cables became exposed. Sonic used these to electrocute Silver Sonic, completely short circuiting it. Upon defeating it, Sonic used it as a battle suit against Dr. Robotnik, resulting in Robotnik's defeat and the Death Egg's free fall to the surface of Mobius.

The design used for the first Silver Sonic was taken from the Mecha Sonic used inSonic the Hedgehog 2(albeit much larger in the comic than the game).

Silver Sonic II

Long after the destruction of the Death Egg, a new, scaled down model of Silver Sonic was constructed, called Silver Sonic II. After the defeat of Perfect Chaos, Eggman unleashed this version on Station Square to defeate Sonic and the Freedom Fighters, as well as destroy the city. While proving to be too much for most of the Freedom Fighters, he was defeated by Sonic, having his head knocked off. He was then reprogrammed by Nate Morgan to act as the city's defender against Eggman and outside forces of evil. When Eggman went to retrieve Silver Sonic II's body and repair him, he was chased out of the city, and thought to have been killed, when in actuality he accidentally fell into an underground lair of his late grandfather. When Shadow the Hedgehog came to Station Square to steal their Chaos Emerald, located in their bank's safe, Silver Sonic II attempted to stop him. Unfortunately, Shadow used his Chaos Control powers and destroyed the city's defender.

The design used for the second Silver Sonic was taken from the Mecha Sonic seen inSonic Adventure''

Spawnmower

Resmebling the superhero Spawn, Spawnmower is a giant lawnmower type robot that Robotnik created after being inspired by comic books. Unfortunately, Spawnmower was defeated by Sonic and rolled off a nearby cliff after a brief battle.

Stealth Bots

Stealth bots are Flying machines made by Dr. Robotnik. There Duty was to patrol Robotropilis, making sure that intruders are demolished or droven out of the city. Aside from being called "Stealth Bots", they are actually transportation vehicles operated by two swatbots.

Universalamander

Originally an ordinary, unintelligent salamander captured by Dr. Robotnik, it was placed into a Roboticizer in the hopes that it could be made into a robot capable of defeating Sonic. However, an inept Buzzbomber working the controls accidentally activated the "enlarge" command, causing the creature to grow as it was transmutated into a robot. The result was Universalamander, a massive creature of immense power.

Going to Knothole Village, Universalamander engaged Sonic in battle. Unable to defeat it, Sonic scrounged up 7 Chaos Emeralds and 50 Power Rings to trigger his form of Super Sonic. Easily able to evade Universalamander, he quickly returned to Knothole. From Rotor's workshop, he recovered a reduce/enlarge component from the Roboticizer that was used on Bunnie Rabbot. Thus, he was able to shrink Universalamander back down to normal size, then threatened it to squash it under his foot, making it flee. Universalamander hasn't reappered ever since.

Wulvurkel Bot

Created in an attempt to defeat Sonic using robots based on comic book characters, Wulvurkel Bot was actually a mistake. Intended to be based on the character of Wolverine of the X-Men, a miscommunication resulted in him instead resmebling Steve Urkel. Presumably, this was intended to be a tribute to Jaleel White, the actor who played Urkel in the television series Family Matters as well as providing the voice of Sonic in Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Underground, and Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.

References