Metallix

Metallix
Species: Robot
Gender: N/A (referred to as male)
Series: Sonic the Comic

Metallix is a catch-all term for robotic versions of Sonic the Hedgehog, Porker Lewis and Knuckles the Echidna in Fleetway's Sonic the Comic. The original Metallix is analogous to Metal Sonic, first introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog CD. The Metallix name was thought up by editor Richard Burton, though writer Nigel Kitching intended to use the name "Metallico" - why the character was renamed from Metal Sonic is still unclear.

History

The first Metallix

Teased in the previous issues, Metallix was finally introduced in issue 25, kicking off the series Sonic CD adaptation. Having kidnapped Amy Rose, Sonic, as he had done in the past, set off to rescue her, only to be taken aback by his robotic duplicate. Forced to chase after him onto the Little Planet, Sonic makes use of the Time Stones to go back in time and make sure that the Little Planet was never enslaved in Robotnik's metallic creations, and subsequently that Metallix was never built.

The second Metallix

The second Metallix. Drawn by Richard Elson.

A second, upgraded Metallix design was introduced in the comic's adaptation of Sonic & Knuckles, fulfilling a role given to Mecha Sonic in the game. Debuting at the end of issue #49, both Sonic and Knuckles encounter it stealing the Master Emerald, and subsequently do battle in Sky Sanctuary Zone.

This Metallix draws power from the Master Emerald (similar to Super Mecha Sonic, but without changing colour), knocking Knuckles out in one hit while seeking revenge on Sonic for the death of its "brother". Quickly running out of power, it attempst to return to the Master Emerald for a recharge but is beaten there by Sonic, who after turning into Super Sonic, proceeds to tear the new Metallix limb from limb (and then starts attacking Knuckles, because Super Sonic is uncontrollable in STC).

While seemingly loyal to Robotnik, the Metallix plants the first seed of the next story, suggesting the first Metallix was "only one of an elite brootherhood of badniks". This specific design would not be seen in the comics going forward, however.

The Brotherhood of Metallix

The Brotherhood of Metallix, with their emperor in the lead. Drawn by Richard Elson.

The next time the Metallix were seen was in the loose adaptation of Knuckles Chaotix, with the revelation that it was not Dr. Robotnik who had originally designed them, but instead his assistant, Grimer. Robotnik's only contribution to their creation was a self-destruct device built into each member of the Brotherhood, which their leader, a red-and-gold Emperor Metallix based on the final boss of Chaotix, wanted to take care of by any means necessary. Having tricked Nack the Weasel into betraying the Chaotix Crew, the Brotherhood was able to secure the Omni-Viewer, a device that is able to traverse through space and time. Although the Chaotix Crew were quickly able to recover the viewer, the Metallix had already made a pirate copy of its functions, waiting for the perfect moment to strike while fortifying their defenses on the Little Planet.

When Sonic and the Chaotix Crew become aware of the Metallix's activities, they arrive on the Little Planet just in time to see Mobius transform below them, the Brotherhood having successfully gone back in time and prevented the creation of Dr. Robotnik. Even though Grimer would no longer have his evil mentor, he would at some point still develop the Metallix army, and without the self-destruct mechanism keeping them back, the Brotherhood of Metallix was quickly able to conquer all of Mobius, making it far more of a mechanical wasteland than Robotnik was ever able to. Seeing no other choice, Sonic and the Chaotix Crew go back in time, and Sonic is forced to restore the rotten egg that would cause Dr. Ivo Robotnik to become the most evil being the planet had ever seen. Startled that he was the cause of his greatest foe's existence, Sonic sees no alternative, and forces himself to trip Kintobor beginning the chain of events that resulted in Robotnik ruling Mobius. With the failsafe once again back in the Metallix, Sonic was able to activate the self-destruct sequence, putting an end to the Metallix Brotherhood once and for all.

The third Metallix

Having failed to both destroy Sonic and control his creations, Grimer conceived an entirely new replacement Metallix model based on Knuckles the Echidna rather than Sonic. Teased as early as issue #72, the Knuckles-based Metallix debuted in issue #108, being completely loyal to Robotnik and able to easily subdue Sonic.

Having been taken to the homeworld of the Drakon Empire, Sonic was sentenced to "Trial By Combat" for destroying a Drakon Sentinel in issue #xx. This model of Metallix was chosen to be Sonic's combatant, and again quickly got the upper hand against Sonic, though the model's lack of speed meant Sonic could prolong the battle. Tails, having taken out a guard to gain access to the arena, allowed Sonic to escape, with the persuing Metallix being decapitated by the closing door. Sonic's victory meant he was allowed to return to Mobius, while Robotnik remained with the Drakons.

More Knuckles-model Metallixes were built, but not activated. Grimer later used one to briefly capture Sonic in issue #139 so he could learn the wearabouts of Dr. Robotnik - by reading Sonic's mind and staging the Metallix's destruction, Sonic was able to walk away believing he had beaten the badnik. This marked the last appearance of a Metallix in Sonic the Comic.

The Knuckles model is much the same as the Sonic one, complete with chest death ray, though sacrifices speed for power. Amusingly it continues the STC theme of putting versions of Knuckles in the wrong coloured shoes - yellow socks stemming from palette limitations in the Sega Mega Drive game, Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

While one might assume this design was based on Metal Knuckles from Sonic R, Grimer's original hint in issue #72 was printed in February 1996, almost two years before Sonic R's release.