Silver the Hedgehog (Archie)

Silver the Hedgehog is a character that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog and its spin-off comic series' published by Archie Comics. He is a white hedgehog with powerful psychic abilities who hails from the future. Silver first debuted in the "Bold New Moebius" arc, where he was hunting down Sonic. He exists in both the Pre-and Post-Super Genesis Wave timeline.

Time Squire
While Silver's past remains mostly a mystery, small bits have been revealed at this point. Silver practices his telekinetic abilities by slowly rebuilding his world. His powers aren't strong enough to be of major help, though, so he sticks to minor things. Silver has stated that he doesn't know many people. He mentioned two: his master and the guardian of Onyx Island. Silver has said that there are only a small amount of survivors in his future, and that he has time-traveled on at least two occasions. He says that he'll risk everything to save the world. Silver has also explained that his master (later revealed to be the infamous Mammoth Mogul) has taught him all about time-travel, and its risks. He believes that stopping a traitor within the Freedom Fighters will have big changes for his time. Silver also stated that Mogul has taught him about Metal Sonic's, as well as helping him to train his powers.

Hedgehog Havoc
Silver used a Super Warp Ring over Never Lake, in Mercia to travel back in time 200 years. Silver hovers over the lake, with Rob'O the Hedge preparing to attack him, however, before Rob attacks, Silver asks him if he's Sonic, to which Rob acts surprised, and lowers his weapon. Rob says he isn't but can take Silver to him. Silver then explains who he is, and that he needs to find Sonic, to save the future. Silver flies over to Rob, and his wife, Mari-An, and double-checks about Sonic with Rob. Rob tells Silver that Sonic lives in New Mobotropolis, and is probably in Freedom HQ. Silver says that they can use his Super Warp Ring to get to Sonic. He tells Rob to think about Freedom HQ, and while touching the Super Warp Ring, to get to Freedom HQ. Silver, and Rob pop in during a fight between Sally and Alicia, preventing it from getting worse. Silver begins scanning the area for Sonic. Sally mentions to Rob that Sonic, and Amy are in Moebius. Silver familiarly questions them being in Moebius, as he touches the Starpost. Silver connects his Super Warp Ring to the Starpost, and transports himself, with Rob to Moebius.

The two then transport between a fight with Sonic, Scourge, Metal Sonic, and Shadow. Silver angrily remarks that Moebius hasn't changed.

As Amy and Rosy show up, Silver then ponders which of the several hedgehogs is Sonic. Though, before he's heard, an all-out battle begins to take place between them all, leaving Silver in astonishment. Silver walks up to Rob, and tries asking him, but is not heard, due to the fact that Rob is busy fighting Metal Sonic. He then tries asking Amy and Rosy, but again, is ignored. After several other attempts, Silver goes crazy, and traps everyone with his telekinesis, yelling at them. Silver tries to introduce himself, but is rudely cut off by Sonic. Silver angrily replies, stating that he had come from the future, to find, and destroy Sonic. Sonic, and Scourge point fingers at each other being Sonic. During their bickering, Silver recognizes Metal Sonic, and notices that he's blue, like a certain "Other" hedgehog. Silver figures out who Sonic is, and throws him against the wall, calling him a traitor. Rob sneaks up behind Silver, raising his bow &amp; arrow to his head, saying that he doesn't want to hurt him. Silver then insists that Rob should want him to kill Sonic. Silver proceeds to explain that within this time-line, a Freedom Fighter becomes a villain, and destroys Silver's future. He then states that only Sonic is capable of such a thing. Rob then places doubt within Silver, and says that Sonic is known for being a hero, just as Sonic rescues Amy from Rosy.

Scourge then sneak attacks Silver, and Rob, spin-dashing Silver into a wall, compliments his telekinesis, while insulting his hair. After Silver, and Rob help each other back up, Sonic asks everyone to help him defeat Scourge, then finish business with Silver. Silver agrees, and everyone gangs up on Scourge. As Scourge makes a break for it, Silver joins the attack, and launches debris at Scourge, using his telekinesis. Later Silver, and the others are all defeated by Super Scourge, and knocked out cold. After back-up arrives, and is mostly defeated, Silver regains consciousness, and attempts to trap Super Scourge with his telekinesis, saving Miles. Super Scourge sarcastically compliments Silver's attempt, leaving him flattered. Super Scourge then escapes, much to Silver's amazement. Sally later demands Silver to attempt the same strategy, while she has everyone else attack. Silver begins to slowly lose his grip on Super Scourge during the plan, as the villain uses a sort of energy burst knocking everyone away.

A day later, after Scourge's defeat, Silver grimly heads back with Sonic &amp; Co. to Dr. Kintobor's tower. Once there, Sonic asks Silver if they're friends yet, or if he wants to start another fight. Silver pulls out his Super Warp Ring, and says that he has more research to do, before he finds the real traitor, and vows that he'll come back to protect the heroes. Silver then leaves, saying that they'll meet again, as Sonic sarcastically tells Silver to enjoy his "Dystopian future".

Back to the Future
Silver kept his promise and found his way into the Light Mobius dimension, thirty years after his first encounter with Sonic. During the celebration for King Sonic and Queen Sally, the Dark Presence's leader, Lien-Da fired a missile at the royal family. Before the missile could destroy the king and queen along with their children, however, Silver arrived just in time and used his telekinesis to destroy the missile and save them all, telling King Sonic that he returned to attempt to save his future once again. He later explained to them at Castle Mobius that he believed that now was the time when his future would be plunged into chaos, and says that the Dark Presence are likely connected to it, and Sonic says that he should be searching for King Shadow's former right-hand woman, Lien-Da. After talking about expecting something different from this time he is flattered by the maid, who ends up being a Dark Presence agent. She pulls out a gas gun and gasses Silver. The maid is then gassed by Sonic, and Sally takes Silver to the Panic Room with Manik and Sonia.

Silver wakes up after being gassed and sees Perfect Tikhaos damaging the city. Silver explains how his future was destroyed by a global sea that seems to have a grudge (That was Perfect Tikhaos from this time). Silver attempts to destroy Perfect Tikhaos along with the Future Freedom Fighters and King Sonic. After the defeat of Perfect Tikhaos, by Sonia, Manik and Lara-Su, Silver explains that the crisis has been averted from this time period. He mentions to King Sonic about a Freedom Fighter betraying the team, but King Sonic doesn't know. Silver then uses Chronos Control and heads back to the future.

Name Games
Silver's next return to the past sends him in hunt of Rotor Walrus, who he believes is an imposter of "Boomer," who he saw in a picture of the Freedom Fighters as children. Silver uses Chronos Control and catches Rotor heading for the Northern Tundra, attempting to eliminate him. However, Rotor manages to call Silver off by telling him that his herd needs help. With other lives in danger, Silver agrees to help.

Rotor and Silver manage to break into Robotnik's base there, and Silver takes advantage of a neural interface machine to cause a psychic wave that breaks the Legion's control over the Walrus Herd. He also took the opportunity to ensure that the walruses could never be mind controlled again.

Having been corrected about how "Boomer" was Rotor's Childhood Nickname, the deeply humbled Silver returns to the future, where he learns from Edmund that he has changed time again, and at some point destroyed something called the Krudzu Root (even though he doesn't remember doing so), and his master, Mammoth Mogul, calls him back for a talk.

Stuck in the Past
Later, Silver discovers a hidden room with Edmund that has Antoine D'Coolette's journal inside. Silver takes the journal to Mammoth Mogul, suspecting from whatever is left of the journal that Antoine is the traitor. Mogul then orders Silver to not return until he finds the real traitor and stops him. He takes Silver's Time Stone and gives him instructions on how to return, but only after he has stopped the traitor. Mogul sends him to the past.

While wandering the present, Silver runs into Sonic, who was grieving over Antoine and Sally. Silver tells him that Antoine is the traitor, which causes Sonic to go into a frenzy, dragging him by his hair to the Tommy Turtle Memorial Hospital, where Antoine is there in a coma. Sonic explains Antoine's state after an incident with Metal Sonic (Archie), where Antoine saved the life of Elias Acorn, which means he couldn't betray the Freedom Fighters. Sonic then finds a letter from Bunnie D'Coolette saying she's left, believing its her own fault for Antoine's condition. This leads Silver to suspect she might be the traitor. Sonic, who had finally had enough, snaps and attempts to attack Silver, who uses his Telekinesis to stop him. Sonic tells him that he believes he's a flake and that his friends are 10 times the hero he's trying to be. With that, he then orders him to go home. After Silver says he's stranded, Sonic tells him to get out of his sight.

Dejected, Silver wanders throughout New Mobotropolis looking at how beautiful it is. He then runs into Harvey Who in the Julayla Memorial Park. Harvey tries to help Silver with his problems but Silver just says that he should give up and that the Ixis Resurgence is just around the corner, stating that there's nothing he can do to stop it. Harvey than says he knows who Silver is, making the hedgehog even more depressed, thinking he's probably already caused a million paradoxes. Harvey then informs Silver of a way to save the world without even getting noticed by the history books. Harvey Who then asks Silver the Hedgehog to join the Secret Freedom Fighters.

Ace in the Hole
As a condition of Silver joining the Secret Freedom Fighters, he worked out a deal where Director Who would in return, look over Silver's notes and help identify his traitor. Once the team was fully assembled, Silver then went to help repel Dr. Eggman's invading ground forces and Team Metal. During the battle Silver held Metal Amy in place without being detected, enabling Big to destroy the robot. This helped them to prepare for their real mission: destablizing the rule of the evil wizard Ixis Naugus. Silver had been warned of the wizard by his mentor in the future, who remembered that Naugus had attempted to lead the Ixis Resurgence while ruling as a king.

With the team's first mission a success, Harvey Who sent Silver, under the codename "Ace", along with Agents "Jack" and "Joker" to track and report the actions of Geoffrey St. John, leading them to Windy Valley in Soumerca, where they placed a tracking device on his Extreme Gear. While investigating the underground crypt of Ixis Vale, Silver was stunned to find mention of "Ixis Mogul", leaving him troubled. When the team tried to capture St. John, Silver brought down part of the tunnel to trap him, but the former agent set off a number of explosives to collapse the tomb on top of them. Silver held back the falling rocks with his telekinesis and saved them though, as Shard dug them free.

Once they escaped, Silver had to recharge for keeping the earth stable, and his squad returned to Secret HQ   where Director Who yelled them for not stopping Geoffrey. Silver then showed the tracker led to the Pit, where Agents "King", "Queen of Hearts" and "Queen of Diamonds" last reported from but did not return, and Silver led his squad to investigate. At the bottom, they regrouped with the others to discuss the situation, concluding they had to question Geoffrey. Silver believed he could appeal to St. John's better senses, knowing what it was like for plans to fall apart despite his best efforts, and then met with Geoffrey at the Lake of Rings to make his claim about St. John's character. After discussing his wife, Geoffrey revealed Naugus' plan to cast a spell on the Council of Acorn, but Silver's pleas to help went unheeded. Now organised, Silver then headed out with his team to stop Naugus.

Silver and his team, minus Larry, attacked Naugus in his chamber, Silver teaming up with Shard to challenge the wizard. The pair proved formidable, Silver's telekinesis proving a worthy match for Naugus' magic as he manipulated the stone that Naugus conjured against him. Getting overconfident, Silver boasted of his previous success against Enejak, taunting Naugus that his abilities were nowhere near as impressive. Naugus responded by transforming the air around Silver into fire that spread throughout the chamber, and only Shard's timely intervention saved Silver from a fiery demise. Shard stopped Naugus' spell by destroying Ixis Vale's remains after Silver noted the failure of their attacks on Naugus himself. Geoffrey, who had been battling their teammates, remarked that they should have planned to take out Vale's remains, and received a telekinetic shove and rebuke from Silver. The time traveler assisted his team in escaping by carrying them with his telekinesis, and with their mission accomplished they returned to Secret HQ. Silver then met with Harvey, who commended the Hedgehog and then told him that he had identified Silver's traitor. Having compared Silver's copy of Antoine's journal with the present day one and his own information, Harvey had eliminated all but one of the founding Knothole Freedom Fighters as suspects. Crossing out photos of the others on a poster he had put together, the Owl informed a stunned Silver that he was confident of the traitor's identity, as well as the reason for their betrayal.

Shortly thereafter, Shard-who had planted a tracking device on the Tornado  after helping Team Fighters-informed Silver that the trio was heading for the Northern Tundra. Silver, upon receiving this news, realized that he was running out of time to accomplish his objective. He was unsure if it really would rectify his future, but, as he later put it, it was, at least, a start. He immediately traveled to the Tundra, where he met Team Fighters and the Arctic Freedom Fighters in the midst of their plans to invade the Death Egg Mark 2 and save Sally. Sonic was far from thrilled to see Silver again, still angry over Silver's continued accusations against his teammates, and Guntiver remembered the Hedgehog's previous attempt to kill Rotor. Admitting that he had made plenty of mistakes, Silver assured them that he had things figured out, only to be told to leave by Sonic. Pleading his case, he informed them that he had received outside help, whom he couldn't identify; his remarks prompted Tails to ask "Is the true king involved?" Flustered by Tails' correct guess, Silver was fortunately vouched for by the little fox, and again explained his understanding of the traitor to the Freedom Fighters, and that he had deduced that his time to stop them was running out. Sonic pointed out the irony of a time traveler running out of time, but Silver pointed out the current state of both the Freedom Fighters and the world as evidence of the trouble. Again citing outside aid, he then announced that through his research, he had discovered the identity of the traitor at last: none other than Princess Sally Acorn. Predictably, an infuriated Sonic and Amy attempted to attack the young time-traveler for making such a bold claim, but were restrained by Tails and Augustus. However, Tails did warn Silver that he had better be able to prove his claim.

Silver continued, admitting his mistake was assuming the actions of the "traitor" were of malicious intent, that the individual in question deliberately took such actions with the full knowledge that it would cause the destruction of the team. However, what Sally did was selfless: allowing herself to be roboticized, while being the start of the Freedom Fighters downfall, still prevented Mobius from suffering a much worse fate, and that any ill acts she had performed since then were not of her own free will. His explanation was backed by Erma Ermine,  who realized the plausibility of Silvers distant, disaster-worn future lacking accurate accounts of the past; in fact, the inhabitants of Silver's time may not have known that roboticization even existed. At that point, Sonic walked up to Silver and declared that there truly was no "traitor" after all; it had been his assumption. "History's assumption" Silver replied, stating that he had merely gotten the motive wrong. He then said he was there to help rescue Sally, and Sonic, while still wary, allowed him to join in on the mission (although not without insulting Silver's hairstyle, calling him "fern-head"). Before this, Amy questioned Silver as to how he knew where to find them; Silver, struggling to cover up his accosiation with Shard and keep the Secret Freedom Fighters' secrets, simply said that he was psychic.

With Silver having made his case, he, Team Fighters, and the Arctic Freedom Fighters began their journey into the Death Egg by making their way through an underwater ice tunnel. Silver tried to help them see better by illuminating the tunnel with his powers, but only succeeded in exposing the group to Grandmaster Akhlut and his pod, who immediately began attacking them. Silver created a psychic bubble around himself, Amy, Erma, and Guntiver and made the Death Egg, while the others distracted the orcas. Akhlut, however, recognized Silver's power as the same power that broke the orcas' hold on the walruses and, in vengeful fury, he ordered his pod to fire at the time-traveler. This disrupted Silver's powers and his psycho bubble dissipated. Silver nearly drowned, and was carried to the surface by Sealia. He deflected another blast from Akhlut as the heroes made it to the Death Egg.

With their cover blown, Silver and his allies battled their way through the Death Egg, eventually being met by Sally - now the fearsome Mecha Sally - and a horde of Egg Swats. In the ensuing fight, the catalyst for Silver's ruined future nearly happened as Mecha Sally stunned Tails and aimed her shot at Sonic, whom Amy attempted to sheild with her own body. However, Silver came up from behind and knocked the roboticized princess out with his influence over robotics - an act that would mean she could be captured. Silver was overjoyed at having finally stopped the 'traitor', but his happiness quickly turned to surprise and confusion as a strange white light engulfed him and Team Fighters...

Trouble on Two Worlds

 * See also: Silver Man

In a new world, Silver arrived to Sonic who was searching through the Green Hill Zone for the missing Tails, Amy, and Knuckles. The time-traveler told Sonic that he had sensed a disturbance in space-time that he had traced back to this period. Much to Silver's surprise, Sonic agreed when he informed the latter that the only thing he had to act on was a gut feeling that something was wrong. Coming to the conclusion that Doctor Eggman was most likely the cause, Silver agreed to help Sonic track down his missing friends, seconds before the psychic hedgehog was shot down by a mysterious blue robot, who Sonic immediately gave chase to. (WC: #2)

After being turned into one of the Roboticized Masters,  Silver-now known as Silver Man-was teamed with Blaze Woman and sent to recover the green Chaos Emerald.They succeeded in recovering the Emerald, and sent it back to their new masters-Eggman and his partner Dr. Wily-in the Skull Egg Zone. Subsequently, the pair joined their fellow Masters-in confronting Sonic, Tails, and their new allies Mega Man, Proto Man, and Rush. (WC: #5)

Silver Man and four of his teammates went after Proto Man leaving the Roboticized Chaotix who began fighting Sonic, Tails, Mega Man, and Rush. After the Roboticized Chaotix are restored back to their original forms, both Silver Man and Blaze Woman were called back to the Wily Egg as a precautionary measure. (WC: #6)

After Shadow Man was restored back to his original form, both Silver Man and Blaze Woman ambushed both Sonic and Mega Man at the cliff. Silver Man used Psycho Burst at the Blue Bomber, who shot him with his Mega Buster, restoring him back to his original form in the process, and Silver helped Mega Man restore Blaze back to normal. He and Blaze would rest until Sonic said they'd come along. (WC: #7)

Silver helped battle nearly 100 Robot Masters with Sonic's other allies. During the battle, he paralyzed Junk Man and Magic Man, but was frozen in time by Flash Man, who was envying Silver's hair. He also protected Vector from Pharaoh Man's fire. (WC: #9, #10)

Powers and Abilities
Silver's main power is his psychokinesis, which allows him to lift, throw, hold and move objects (and people) easily, often useful in deflecting any projectiles thrown at him. This ability also allows him to manipulate energy blasts; prolonged and/or extreme use however, can cause a strain on him. While he has his limits, he can often affect multiple targets at once, as well as targets much larger than himself. His abilities are particularly effective against machinery, which he can cause to short out, and he can also use them on himself and others to enable him to not only hover but fly for short periods of time.

Silver can also capture objects in an orb of psychokinesis and crush them while inside and not let anything get out, like he did with the missile fired at King Sonic and his family. In moments of anger or stress, he can call upon a massive amount of power, allowing him to induce and explosive wave and making the material in his hold take a different form like a giant fist. He can also perform limited telepathy, but was initially only able to use it to give someone a headache, induce vertigo, or even talk with another telepath inside his head, but the latter leaves him with a migraine.

This particular skill can be enhanced while using specialized equipment though. He has also learned to manipulate the energies of artifacts known as the Time Stones, though originally he relied on a Super Warp Ring to travel through time and space. A trait of Silver's that has come from his extensive travel through time is that he has become "decoupled" from time itself, meaning that he is unaffected whenever his actions alter history. While this is in some ways beneficial, it often results in confusion as he is forced to relearn the history of his future. Like Sonic, Silver is also capable of gaining energy using Power Rings, which is particularly useful in the event that he overexerts himself.

Silver could possibly be one of the most powerful characters in the comic - he has brought Super Scourge to a temporary stop, impressed and then stunned the Demi-God Enerjak, and held Ixis Naugus at bay. While he could not fully defeat them solo, considering the vast power these super-powered characters possess, it is notable that he took them on while in his standard  form. His mentors have also stated that he hasn't yet reached his full potential.

Trivia

 * Silver's speech bubble is encircled by a cyan outline whenever he speaks.  . But in Issue 215 and on, his speech bubbles are normal (without lines).
 * In the Archie comic, Silver is reguarly given 'Messiah' type characteristics, such as 'walking' on water, helping others to help themselves, coming to save the world, nobody knows who his father is, a lowly upbringing, and most recently, he was present at the apocalypse (the Genesis Wave).
 * Starting in Sonic Universe #8, Silver has stopped using the Super Warp Ring, instead using a Time Stone to cause Chronos Control. It was confirmed to be a Time Stone by StH #215.
 * Outside of his normal psychokinesis, Silver has minor telepathy abilities, although normally he can only give people headaches.
 * Silver's Secret Freedom Fighters Outfit resembles his "Race" outfit from Sonic Rivals.
 * Silver is the only Secret Freedom Fighter (Besides Shard) who doesn't wear goggles or a face mask to hide his appearance, but unlike the others he is from the future thus having no connections with enemies in the present.
 * Silver uses Chronos Control to time travel, however, in the game series, it takes two creatures with Chaos Emeralds who yell "Chaos Control" at the same time to time travel.