Ray the Flying Squirrel

Ray (レイ・ザ・フライングスクイレル) is a flying squirrel that only appeared as a main character in SegaSonic the Hedgehog, although he has an expanded role in certain other Sonic continuities. This is particularly notable in the Archie comics series, in which he is a member of the Chaotix team.

Appearance
Ray has golden yellow skin, dark tan skin muzzle, inner ears and torso, blue eyes, a small tufted tip tapered hair at the top of the back of his head, making his head somewhat shaped like a teardrop, a flabby membrane of furry skin that connects the lower sides of his waist to his lower arms, small, triangular and perked ears, round and bulbous, shiny black nose and long and durable, club-shaped tail. He wears white gloves with large, sock-like cuffs, red sneakers embraced with a white buckle-strap and white socks. He later wears white gloves with large, sock-like cuffs, white socks, blue tennis shoes embraced with light blue white accents, metal soles and light blue collars and blue jackets with light blue cuffs.

SegaSonic the Hedgehog
During SegaSonic the Hedgehog, Ray was captured by Doctor Robotnik along with Mighty the Armadillo and Sonic himself. During their escape, the three jointly foiled one of Robotnik's plots. In the game, one of the earliest to feature a voice cast, Ray's voice was provided by Hiroko Yoshino (credited as Hiroko Kanamaru).

Ray's abilities include the basic Spin Dash (in his sole game appearance, he had the same game controls as both Sonic and Mighty), and he is also rather agile. Being a flying squirrel, he can likely glide through the air.

Since SegaSonic the Hedgehog, Ray's only video game appearance was a cameo as a keychain in the Sega game Gale Racer, (the Sega Saturn version of Rad Mobile.)

Archie Comics


In the Archie comics continuity, Ray the Flying Squirrel is a member of the Chaotix and best friends with Mighty the Armadillo, having met him while both were held prisoner by Dr. Ivo Robotnik. The two teamed up with Sonic the Hedgehog during an escape attempt, but Ray ended up being trapped when he grabbed the prison's Power Stone energy source and was caught in a time warp. Years later, Mighty found and freed him, bringing him back to Angel Island. Joining the Chaotix, Ray became a loyal, if timid member, helping them face various foes on the island and then later on the surface as they fought Doctor Eggman alongside the Freedom Fighters. Later, Ray also became a part-time resident of New Mobotropolis.

Abilities
As a flying squirrel, Ray only has the ability to fly. Unlike most of his species, Ray can not only glide across air like Knuckles, he can fly upwards also. But aside from actually naturally being born to fly, he stand out form Sonic and Mighty who are not like the rest of their species.

Trivia

 * Ray is the first Sonic character depicted with five toes on each foot, which are first seen when his shoes fall off upon walking off a cliff.
 * In his game appearance, Ray's shoes look exactly like Sonic's. However, in his comic appearance (as shown above), his shoes look somewhat like Amy Rose's and Silver's boots.