A.D.A.M.

A.D.A.M., or Autonomous Digital Assault Microbe, is a fictional artificial intelligence and antagonist from the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series. His name stands for either "Autonomous Digital Assault Microbe" or "A.D.A.M. determines Anonymous' Movements", and he is a sentient computer virus created through accident by Dr. Eggman.

Initially, A.D.A.M. appears as simply a green computer screen, with a EKG line like that on a medical monitor which spikes whenever he speaks. When in a body composed of nanites, he appears as an amorphous green blob vaguely shaped like Eggman's icon with red eyes, a black mouth, and the word "EGG?" written across his forehead. Later, after assuming Tommy Turtle's body as a host, he takes on the form of a silvery metallic turtle with white eyes. On his chest in this form rests a green orb, surrounded by a star-like frame with several cords of metal attached. Armor in the form of a helmet also appeared around his head, matching four blade-like appendages reaching from his back.

Early actions
Created three months during Sonic's journey in outer space, an event brought about by the battle between a massive force of Mobians and the alien Xorda, A.D.A.M. was the "brother" of Robotnik's feminine android Mecha, whose destruction he would later cause by framing her as an accomplice of an unknown enemy of their "father". He was the first villain to learn of Sonic's return, being in control of a SWATbot legion that was decimated by the prodigal hero shortly after his landing on Mobius. A.D.A.M. once engaged Miles "Tails" Prower in a battle of wits, but was defeated when Tails confused him by telling jokes. He also tried to take apart Bunnie Rabbot and integrating her into a small city composed entirely of nanites, but Sonic stopped him by convincing him that Bunnie's organic components would corrupt his software.

Anonymous
A.D.A.M was assigned to "determine the movements" of the mysterious being known as Anonymous, who had for several months been manipulating events involving the return of Mammoth Mogul and the villain's subsequent alliance with Ixis Naugus, putting two contenders out of his strategy and leaving only Sonic and Eggman for termination. Anonymous' actions also included creating robot duplicates of the Destructix, leading Robotnik to believe that someone had managed to subject them to re-Roboticization, something he had not accomplished since the mass de-Roboticization brought about by the Bem. It was eventually revealed that A.D.A.M. was, in fact, Anonymous, when Robotnik discovered his plans. The doctor had A.D.A.M.'s program destroyed, but ultimately, the program was one step ahead, and took Tommy Turtle's body as his own, an action made possible by nanites bonding to Tommy's shell through the Turtle's tears and an electric shock. Thus equipped, A.D.A.M. set out to complete his own agenda.

The Gathering
A.D.A.M. captured Tails and Shadow the Hedgehog, and he intended to use both to begin "the gathering", and assemble every Chaos Emerald in the universe within his headquarters, a city constructed by nanites. A.D.A.M. actually began this some time before he was exposed, releasing Mogul and Naugus from the Egg Grape Chamber in exchange for the former's Chaos Emerald. He was later destroyed along with Tommy Turtle, after Sonic transformed into Super Sonic, Super Shadow and Turbo Tails teleported all the Chaos Emeralds into the Zone of Silence, and A.D.A.M. himself was vaporized by the Egg Fleet. Following the battle, Tommy's remains-and by association A.D.A.M.'s-were placed in the Knothole graveyard alongside those of Sir Connery. Ironically, Connery's self-sacrifice in destroying the Crown and Sword of Acorns and stopping Mammoth Mogul made him another of A.D.A.M.'s victims.

A.D.A.M.'s failed scheme provided Feist, the new ruler of the Zone, with near absolute power, as he fused all the gems into seven differently colored Emeralds. The only Chaos Emerald-like gem known to have escaped this was the Master Emerald, which was held back from A.D.A.M.'s summons by the combined efforts of Locke and Dr. Finitevus. Unwittingly, A.D.A.M. also left behind a gift for his enemies, as NICOLE later transformed his nanite city into New Mobotropolis.

Personality
Although he may seem at first to have a plain, overly proper manner, A.D.A.M. does have a sense of humor. Logically minded, the only way to beat him a contest of wits is to supply him with a conundrum that he cannot answer. Unlike his creator Eggman, A.D.A.M. seems equally prepared to use subtlety and brute force, using nanites to infect enemy technology while at the same time directing his weaponry against the likes of King Acorn's Secret Service and the Wolf Pack.

Abilities
A.D.A.M. has control over Eggman's computer and therefore every robot he owns; he can also spread to other computer systems that connect to Eggman's databases and control them as well, though this control can be compromised if A.D.A.M. is distracted. He also controls an innumerable number of nanites, which he can use to infect and control virtually any mechanical device. Upon taking possession of Tommy Turtle's body, A.D.A.M. gained all the bionic properties granted to Tommy by his shell being fused together with nanites, such as the ability to sprout metallic wings. Using the Chaos Emeralds, A.D.A.M. was also able to take on an unnamed Super form (presumably "Super A.D.A.M."), which he used in battle against Super Sonic, Super Shadow, and Turbo Tails.

Return?
A return by A.D.A.M. is possible, since aside from Tommy Turtle he also infected Bunnie, NICOLE, and Jules Hedgehog. He has already put these nanites to use, taking control of Bunnie's limbs and causing her to go on a rampage until the limbs were temporarily deactivated. This served as a distraction while the enslaved Jules kidnapped Tails and took him to A.D.A.M.'s city. NICOLE, who attempted to purge herself of the nanites, was knocked offline. However, all three of them were presumably cleansed of the nanites, but the possibility of surviving units still exists. So long as any nanites that were under A.D.A.M.'s control remain, the possibility exists that he could have downloaded himself into a group of them, thus escaping his seeming destruction.

Trivia

 * A.D.A.M. is the second of Robotnik's creations to be named for figure from the Bible, the first one being EVE.
 * As a computer virus capable of surviving virtually any destruction, A.D.A.M. is similar in nature to the Superman villain Brainiac.
 * Prototype storyline created by Archie for use after issue #134 featured A.D.A.M. entering into a romantic relationship with NICOLE. This would have been unapproved by Robotnik or Sally Acorn, and A.D.A.M. would have eventually taken control of all the SWATbots.
 * A.D.A.M's fusion/mutation with Tommy Turtle appears to be loosely based on T-1000 from Terminator 2.