Sonic the Hedgehogmay be widely regarded as the best hedgehog around, but after 23 years of competition, Shadow has finally given him a run for his money.Shadow’s latest, greatest power feat puts Sonic to shameand proves he has what it takes to be the most powerful character in the entire Sonic franchise, officially laying their decades-long rivalry to rest.
In the “Urban Warfare” arc ofIDW Publishing’sSonic the Hedgehog– written by Evan Stanley, with art by Adam Bryce Thomas – Shadow and the rest of Team Dark help Sonic and friends infiltrate Dr. Eggman’s Eggperial City to thwart his nefarious plot.
Shadow figures out how to perform his Chaos Control technique by channeling the artificial emeralds that power the city, controlling them and sending them flying up into space.Shadow’s craziest attack yetsolidifies that he is finally stronger than Sonic, changing the status quo of their classic rivalry.
In A Climactic Comic Story, Shadow Unleashes His Most Impressive Chaos Control In Sonic Franchise History
Sonic The Hedgehog #61 – Written By Evan Stanley; Art By Adam Bryce Thomas; Color By Rik Mack & Valentina Pinto; Lettering By Shawn Lee
InSonic the Hedgehog#61, Sonic embarks on a mission with his allies to vanquish Eggperial City; Shadow is among these allies, and heutilizes the Chaos Control in a remarkable way by charging it with Eggman’s crystals instead of Chaos Emeralds. Shadow doesn’t only perform one Chaos Control in this climacticconfrontation with Dr. Eggman, either. He performs three in total; one to teleport the artificial emeralds, one to trap Eggman within them, and one to teleport them off to space before he and his fellow Resistance fighters are caught in their explosion.
After 26 Years, Sonic the Hedgehog Finally Resolves Knuckles’ Saddest Lore
Knuckles the Echidna’s most tragic moment in the Sonic franchise has been addressed at last, in a heartwarming moment that shows how far he’s come.
Typically,Shadow’s Chaos Control powercan only be used when he is in possession of a Chaos Emerald, as the name implies. This ability allows the user to manipulate reality upon being fueled by these mystical Emeralds, and Shadow is the most proficient with it of anySoniccharacter. That he can pull it off without the usual source shows his powers' evolution, especially since it doesn’t come easily at first. When Shadow initially attempts this feat inSonic the Hedgehog#59, he faces disastrous consequences due to the instability of the crystals in comparison toreal Chaos Emeralds.
After 23 Years, Shadow & Sonic Undergo A Major Role Reversal
Sonic’s rivalry with Shadow can be traced back to the beloved video games that put the blue blur on the map. In 2001,Sonic Adventure 2introduced Shadow as the “Ultimate Lifeform”, created by Gerald Robotnik from Black Doom’s alien DNA to be the strongest being in existence. After fifty years of stasis, Eggman sets him free to carry out his bidding, and he thus finds himself in opposition with Sonic. Their battles push them both to their limits, until they team up todefeat the giant Biolizard.
Shadow’s origin story will soon be adapted to live action in the upcomingSonic the Hedgehog 3movie, which arrives in theaters on August 20, 2025!
Shadow has become a franchise mainstay, and he’s even starred in his own solo story in the recently releasedSonic X Shadow Generationsgame. Beyond the realm of video games, this rivalry has also carried on in Sonic’s various comic iterations. In the discontinuedArchie Comicscontinuity,Shadow and Sonic’s feudstems from Shadow “sensing” that Sonic is an enemy. Now, in IDW Publishing’sSonic the Hedgehogseries, the two hedgehogs are allies who compete against each other - though Shadow tends to fall short. Considering their lengthy history,Shadow’s newfound triumph over Sonic has been a long time coming.
Shadow Deserves A Win After His Recent Failures To Reach Sonic’s Level
Shadow has earned this power-up, since he hasn’t exactly thrived in theSonic the Hedgehogcomics. For instance, inSonic the Hedgehog#19, Shadow joins Sonic in the resistance against the Metal Virus that has transformed civilians into creatures called “Zombots” seeking only to convert others. Shadow basks in a fleeting moment of glory as he overwhelms his opponents with his super-speed and combat prowess. However, hisarrogance gets the better of himas he refuses to run from the fight, taking on more enemies than he can handle alone, which results in him being infected with the Metal Virus.
Curious to learn more about the mysterious contagion Shadow lost against? Read the full Metal Virus Saga inSonic the Hedgehog#13-32, available digitally and in various collected formats from IDW Publishing!
Shadow’s misstep during the Metal Virus infestation isn’t the only instance where he has been knocked down a peg right when he’s overtaking Sonic. As mentioned before, inSonic the Hedgehog#59, Shadow’s first try at tapping into a Chaos Control without real Chaos Emeralds doesn’t go well.The crystals' power quickly overwhelms him, causing a surge of energy that entraps him within the very crystals he’s drawn power from.It requires encouragement fromSilver the Hedgehogto pull him out of his anguish, and with Silver’s words in mind, he rises from his failure to reach greater heights.
Sonic May Lack Shadow’s Chaos Control Power, But Their Competition Is Far From Over
Sonic Will Always Find A Way to Catch Up To Shadow (And Vice Versa)
As astounding as Shadow’s latest feat is, it doesn’t mean that Sonic is incapable of catching up to his rival;in fact, Sonic has also pulled off many remarkable feats over the years. InSonic the Hedgehog#61, shortly before Shadow’s Chaos Control, Sonic unleashes his own astounding potential when heuses a powerful combo moveto wipe out Eggperial City. Granted, his attack requires assistance from his friends –including Amy Rose, who has assisted himwith other exciting combos in the past; nonetheless, a testament to how Sonic can still overpower Shadow if he works at it.
Sonic will never stop racing to beat Shadow, and their fast-paced rivalry will undoubtedly remain a staple of theSonic the Hedgehogfranchise for many years to come.
Ultimately, Sonic and Shadow’s competition with one another has stood the test of time because of how frequently they’re able to turn the tides of their dynamic. Every time Shadow powers up in some way, Sonic unearths a new technique and successfully levels the playing field. Even if Shadow is stronger than Sonic at the moment, there’s no guarantee that this status quo will remain intact for long. Sonic will never stop racing to beat Shadow, and their fast-paced rivalry will undoubtedly remain a staple of theSonic the Hedgehogfranchise for many years to come.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog is a multimedia franchise that began with Sonic the Hedgehog’s release for the Sega Genesis in 1991. The franchise follows the adventures of the titular Blue Blur, Sonic, as he fights the nefarious Dr. Eggman to protect his friends, family, and the world. The series has expanded into several video games, multiple comic book series, television shows, and a Hollywood feature film series.
