Hooligans (Archie)

This group exists primarily or exclusively within the Post-Super Genesis Wave continuity. Information in this article may not be canonical to the storyline of the games or any other Sonic continuity.

For the version of this group before the Super Genesis Wave, see Team Hooligan (Pre-Super Genesis Wave).

Hooligans
The Hooligans, from Sonic Universe #64.
Appearances
First appearance	Sonic Universe #63
Overview and statistics
Type	Bounty Hunter/Mercenary group
Members	Nack the Weasel (leader) Bean the Dynamite Bark the Polar Bear
Alternate names	Team Hooligan
Alignment	Evil
Status	Active
Associations and equipment
Equipment and/or weaponry	Marvelous Queen
Allies	Eggman Empire Dr. Eggman (occasional employer) Metal Sonic Witchcarters
Enemies	Kingdom of Acorn Freedom Fighters Team Rose Knuckles the Echidna Chaotix Honey the Cat Gemerl Babylon Rogues Dark Gaia Creatures

You four cooperate and we might just let you leave this place alive!

— Nack the Weasel, Sonic Universe #64

The Hooligans, also known as Team Hooligan, is a group that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics. Consisting of Nack the Weasel, Bean the Dynamite, and Bark the Polar Bear, the Hooligans are an independent group of mercenaries for hire that search for anything valuable to their eyes. The group has been employed on occasion by Dr. Eggman to perform tasks for him, particularly when his Egg Army and Badnik Horde are otherwise occupied.

History

Shattered World Crisis

Act One

Note: From the readers point of view, this picks up from where the Hooligans' original timeline ended.

After Bean and Bark returned from the Sol Zone, the Hooligans were hired by Dr. Eggman to collect the seven Chaos Emeralds due to the strain on his empire caused by the Shattered World Crisis. In the course of their quest, they ran afoul of Knuckles the Echidna and his allies the Chaotix, the latter trio having been hired by Sally Acorn for the same task they were assigned. After a brief battle that was halted after the two teams realized that neither of them had the Emerald they were seeking, the Hooligans set out on their own again. They later tracked down the Emerald in the Aquatic Mine Zone, where they ran into the heroes yet again, this time accompanied by the spirit known as Light Gaia. Another fight was put on hold by the arrival of Dark Gaia Titan, and the Hooligans took advantage of the distraction to escape with the Emerald and Light Gaia and trap their rivals in the slowly flooding mine.

The Hooligans' victory proved brief, as the Chaotix and Knuckles managed to escape the mine and catch up to them, with the Titan in pursuit. After losing Light Gaia-now known as Chip-and the Emerald, the Hooligans were sent on a wild goose chase thanks to Espio the Chameleon's sabotage of their Emerald sensor. Forced to return to Dr. Eggman empty-handed, the trio were informed that they would be making up for their failure by entering the Chaos Emerald Championship without being paid.

The Hooligans on their way to Casino Park, from Sonic the Hedgehog #268.

While the Hooligans were making their way through BINGO Highway, Eggman contacted them with instructions to sabotage Casino Park's defenses in the event that they were unable to win the tournament's Emerald prize, something that Nack insisted upon being paid for. Despite learning that several old foes-Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, Amy Rose, Espio the Chameleon, and Knuckles-would be competing, the trio determined to try winning the tournament. Nack and Bean managed to pass the first round, but Bark lost his bout to Knuckles, and it was only Eggman's orders that kept Nack and Bean from moving directly to the course of sabotage.

Contrary to Breezie's assurances, the tournament bracket wasn't rigged in the Hooligans' favor, and Nack and Bean ended up facing each other in a match. Bean eventually surrendered on Nack's orders, allowing Nack to move on to the semifinals and face Knuckles. However, Nack was subsequently defeated himself, and set out to avenge his defeat while the rest of his team prepared to carry out Eggman's orders. The Hooligans succeeded in their task of sabotaging the defenses, allowing Metal Sonic to make a bid for the Emerald, but this was thwarted by the efforts of the heroes and Honey the Cat.

Act Two

The Hooligans about to raid Castle Acorn, along with the Witchcarters and Metal Sonic, from Sonic the Hedgehog #284.

Soon, the Hooligans were assigned by Eggman to rob Castle Acorn and steal the seven Chaos Emeralds within its vaults. Eggman also had the Witchcarters and Metal Sonic back up the Hooligans during their mission. They managed to infiltrate Castle Acorn, and Bark knocked out King Acorn, allowing Bean to safely blow up the vault containing the Chaos Emeralds and Gaia Keys. After giving the chest containing the artifacts to Metal Sonic, they and the Witchcarters stalled Gemerl, and nearly destroyed him until Cream the Rabbit, Cheese the Chao, and Big the Cat rescued the Gizoid. The Hooligans and Witchcarters then retreated.

Trivia

• The members of the Hooligans are not known to be allies in the game universe: the only game that all three appeared in was Sonic the Fighters, and they appeared as individual competitors.
  • In the early stages of Sonic Heroes, Fang the Sniper, Bean the Dynamite, and Bark the Polar Bear were originally planned to appear as one of the playable teams.
• In the background of Mirage Saloon Zone in Sonic Mania are wanted posters of Bean, Nack and Bark, a direct reference to the Hooligans. These posters also hint at the boss fight with Heavy Magician: who uses magical illusions to mimic all three members of the Hooligans.

External links

• Hooligans at Mobius Encyclopaedia, the Archie Sonic wiki.