Phage

"An organic being able to project a digital body... A digital being able to project a physical body... How very...  Fascinating."

- Phage, Sonic Universe #71

Phage is a character who appears in Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics. Phage is a computer-like sentient being and computer virus that lives inside the Digital World.

Appearance
Phage is nothing more than an amorphous black mass, capable of talking many forms, with a large mouth, serrated teeth and a white kitten-like mask possessing triangular ears with red inner ears and a triangular pink nose, as its face. The mask also have yellow eyes and three pink markings-a ring on each cheek and forehead which are connected to her eyes and the back of her head by three red lines.

Phage's mask appears to lose structural integrity when she loses her temper; the more intense her rage, the more her mask crumbles until there is nothing left of it.

Origin
Phage was apparently either created by Dr. Eggman or on his orders to infiltrate various computer networks. She quickly began infiltrating computer networks and gaining knowledge and power by absorbing information.

Spark of Life
Phage observed Sally Acorn and Nicole on Isolated Island after Nicole helped Dr. Ellidy escape the Digital World, where she apparently held him captive using her Digital Monsters. She noted with particular fascination the fact that a living being could manifest in the Digital World, and that NICOLE-a digital being-could manifest a physical form. When Nicole and Tails began checking the system for intrusions, Phage stayed just out of sight, while at the same time hijacking a Badnik to attack Sally Acorn and Big the Cat at the Lake of Rings on the island. Her attack was thwarted, and the two managed to claim a Red Star Ring.

She later took control of a Needlenose to observe a confrontation between Sally and Ellidy regarding the latter's late daughter Nikki, whom Nicole had been intended to save. Eventually she revealed herself to Nicole, remarking on how fascinating she found the holographic Lynx. After cryptically revealing her own nature as a digital being and admitting that she had been behind the attacks on Nicole's creator and friends. Nicole then enclosed Phage within a firewall, only for Phage to break through. She then stated that she found talking was too slow a means of satisfying her curiosity about Nicole, and attacked. Phage briefly captured her, and revealed herself and her loyalties to Ellidy and Sally. She also took control of Ellidy's other Badniks and sent them to attack Dr. Ellidy's House alongside Dark Gaia Creatures, part of her plan to claim Ellidy's research, the Red Star Rings, and a Chaos Emerald located on the island. She briefly toyed with the idea of impersonating Nicole, only for the Lynx to escape confinement and flee into the system. Phage pursued her and finally cornered her, intent on absorbing Nicole into herself, only to be surprised by Sally's arrival via the Digitizer.

After noting that Sally's actions seemed illogical given her reputation as a strategist, Phage eagerly anticipated absorbing both Freedom Fighters into her being. She then attacked Sally, only for Nicole to respond with an attack that struck her internal core. Enraged and in pain, Phage continued her attack on the two friends even as her Badnik forces attempted to recover the yellow Chaos Emerald. Setting the Digital Monsters loose on her foes, she eventually found Sally attempting to escape to an outside system. Phage followed her, determined to destroy her, only for Sally to reveal that Nicole had linked them with a pair of digital Sling Rings, allowing Nicole to pull her back into Ellidy's system. Nicole then attempted to seal Phage outside, but even injured Phage proved too strong until Ellidy inserted a Red Star Ring into Nicole's handheld. Outraged at the power displayed by Overclocked Nicole-power she felt should have been hers-Phage was then forcibly barred from Ellidy's systems, though Nicole feared she was still a threat.

Personality
Phage is a cruel, sadistic being who thinks nothing of attacking others from surprise or if they are helpless to fight against her. She is intrigued by Nicole's unique nature, but her curiosity is a dark one that seeks satisfaction through violence. Her loyalty apparently lies with Dr. Eggman, but her primary motivation seems to be to add to her own being. Phage also seems to fear her master to some degree, given her desperate efforts to appease him following her past failures.

Powers and abilities
Phage has great power in the Digital World, such as generating firewalls and taking control of computerized devices. Her abilities surpasses Nicole's normal capabilities, since she was able to break free of a quarantine program erected by her. Phage also has stated she exists everywhere in the Digital World, and grows more powerful as she absorbs information. She can also mold her form in various ways, including taking on a more humanoid form and possibly creating the Digital Monsters. However, her body also contains a spherical core that appears to be her main weakness-any damage done to it causes her significant pain. Even in this damaged state she is surprisingly powerful, but proved no match for Overclocked Nicole.

Trivia

 * "Phage" is a term used to describe the actual, real life virus known as bacteriophage.
 * "Phage" also derives from the Greek word "phagein", which means "to devour" in English.
 * Phage's trait of taking over computer networks and adding to her own intelligence and power is reminiscent of the Master Control Program from Tron.