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- For the version of this character after the Super Genesis Wave, see Knuckles the Echidna (Archie).
Knuckles the Echidna (born day 251, 3220)[2], also known as Sir Knuckles the Echidna[4] as knighted by Sally Acorn, is a character that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics. He is the sole remaining mobian echidna and the last in a line of Guardians of Angel Island. From the age of three, Knuckles was trained by his father Locke to assume the mantle of Guardian by the age of ten. Within the last few years, Knuckles has discovered that he is not the last of his kind, and that threats from all over Mobius are threatening his home. While originally operating alone, Knuckles has developed friends and teammates-formed into a group known as the Chaotix, which he leads-over time to assist him with his role of protecting the Floating Island. He has also taken it upon himself to assist those on the surface of Mobius in fighting the forces of Dr. Eggman, most prominently the Knothole Freedom Fighters under Sonic. Knuckles is the last Guardian protecting Angel Island, all other members of the Brotherhood of Guardians having perished or otherwise left incapable of carrying out their duties. He also considers himself responsible for all the echidna people on Mobius.
Appearance[]
Knuckles' full profile, from Sonic the Hedgehog #138.
Knuckles is a mobian echidna with red fur that covers most of his body, a black nose on his peach-skinned muzzle, and purple eyes. He bears a white crescent-shaped mark of fur on his chest, a trait tied to his station as Guardian. Officially, he is slightly taller than Sonic. For attire, he wears large, white, mitten-like gloves with sock-like cuffs and two spiked knuckles on each hand. He also wears red and yellow shoes, each with green cuffs, light gray soles, and a gray, sextuple-bolted plate on top. Like many characters in the comic, he initially was given light-blue eyes they were changed to purple to match his design in Sonic Adventure.
For a while, as a result of chaos-related powers going awry, both his fur and eyes were green. He possesses a brown hat with a star-design on the hatband, though he has rarely worn it. He also occasionally wears sunglasses and an air necklace. As an incarnation of Enerjak, Knuckles wore golden armor with blue fabric connecting the various pieces. He has been depicted in a black Dark Legion robe and, for Antoine and Bunnie's wedding, wore tribal echidna attire, tan with a green-and-grey trim and taller boots.
Personality[]
Knuckles is honest, independent, headstrong, and devoted to his duty. He is very serious and usually likes to be by himself, but can be relied upon to help out whenever the planet needs saving. At times he seems jealous of the freedom that Sonic has, but is always ready to help his friends when needed. He also maintains close ties to his friends and family, though at times such relationships are tense. (StH: #39, #125, KtE: #16)
Knuckles also faces a number of problems. From day one, Knuckles has lived a life different from that of any normal mobian, having been raised as the Guardian of Angel Island. Recently, he has been linked to an ancient prophecy that says he will help save the world, hailed by the surviving Echidnas as the "Avatar" despite his disbelief in the prophecy. The strain of this responsibility has taken its toll on him through the years, though he only shows it in moments of extreme duress. (StH: #138)
Despite these setbacks, Knuckles remains stalwart. For a time, he was incredibly depressed, having lost his enhanced abilities and his homeland upon returning from the afterlife. Upon regaining both, he realized that Mobius as a whole needed him more than Angel Island, and he dedicated himself to protecting the entire planet. This has led him to clash with his father on numerous occasions, but he remains vigilant with the support of his friends. For all of his conviction, however, Knuckles remains strongly attached to his people, and this proved to be his downfall when Finitevus told him of the destruction of 90% of the Echidna race, allowing him to fall victim to the mad doctor's influence as the new Enerjak. Knuckles is not that much unlike Sonic: he is cocky and big-mouthed, with a lot of a wise-cracks (as well as arrogance). He also is all too willing to use his fists and loathes Eggman with a passion. Over time he has learned to not trust everyone at first, and has discarded his gullibility. Unfortunately, he also has a strong temper that often leads him to rash action, and he usually reacts with anger when faced with difficult situations. (StH: #125, #165, #181, #182)
Powers and abilities[]
Knuckles and a controlled Sonic fight and reminisce of previous battles. From Sonic the Hedgehog Free Comic Book Day 2007.
Due to his immense super strength, combat training from a young age, and his wide array of chaos powers, Knuckles is considered to be one of the most powerful beings on Mobius. Knuckles has physical strength far beyond that of an average mobian. His brute strength is his equivalent to Sonic the Hedgehog's speed, which enables him to perform feats such as shattering a chaos emerald with a single punch, smashing boulders into dust, punching through extremely durable robots with ease, and even lifting an entire powerplant. His raw power enables him to even block and/or push back the Sonic Spin, one of Sonic's signature attacks which can cleave through almost anything given enough speed. He's capable of enhancing the strength of his fists by spinning them so fast that they turn into something resembling saw-blades; dubbing the technique "Hyper Knuckles" (not to be confused with his super form) his fists are able to saw through almost anything, and his punches become even more devastating. Knuckles is also a well-trained fighter from birth with a specialty in punching due to the claws on his knuckles. In addition to his strength, Knuckles possesses incredible durability to match. He's never been seen taking recoil from the force of his punches no matter what he hits. Additionally, Knuckles has been shown to be able to endure point blank Quantum Beam laser fire and explosions that are capable of destroying large parts of Angel Island, being splashed by molten lava, devastating full-speed blows from Sonic while using his Figure-Eight Peel-Out technique, Sonic-Screams from Thrash that could incapacitate Sonic, and even blasts of chaos energy from Enerjak. Knuckles can also be pretty quick on his feet and has incredibly fast reflexes, being capable of quickly dodging barrages of gunfire and life-ending traps all at once. His quick reflexes even let him block and dodge Sonic's blinding speed in their battles whereas most opponents can barely fight back. A great testament to Knuckles' power and fighting ability is that he is one of the very few individuals on Mobius who can rival Sonic blow for blow in intense combat; and has done so on 5 separate occasions. Knuckles managed to even best his Great Uncle Dimitri/Enerjak in one-on-one combat by using his superior fighting skills; despite the latter's nigh-omnipotent power. Albeit, this victory can be attributed to Enerjak not using his full chaos powers during the brawl. Knuckles has also been shown to be able to perform a variation of the Sonic Spin to supplant his fighting skills. He first used it alongside Sonic and Tails to destroy Metal Sonic.[5]
Due to being exposed to a Chaos Emerald's radiation while still in his egg, combined with the DNA of his Guardian predecessors, Knuckles possesses chaos abilities far beyond that of almost any being on Mobius. This mutation caused Knuckles to evolve into the most powerful member among the Brotherhood of Guardians, having all the abilities of his ancestors on an even greater scale. To further cement this fact, Knuckles is the only member who could draw power directly from the Chaos Force itself, similarly to Shadow the Hedgehog. All previous Guardians required the Chaos Emeralds or the Master Emerald to draw excess chaos energy. Knuckles is the only guardian to ever reach a Super State as well. It has been stated on numerous occasions by seasoned chaos force users such as Locke, Tobor, and Dimitri that Knuckles possesses chaos energy levels akin to or greater than a Chaos Emerald. Notably, during Knuckles' battle with Kragok, his chaos energy reached such a high level that he was able to project it to another zone entirely; which Tobor could sense and again acknowledged was equal to an Emerald.[6] In addition to possessing immense chaos energy, Knuckles has been granted a variety of abilities from his mutation including the ability to rapidly recover from any injury, as well as heal others; the power to open portals to other places; the ability to generate matter from thin air; telekinesis; the ability to enhance his strength when needed by tapping into the Chaos Force, projecting chaos energy from his body, sensing his surrounding with his eyes closed, and various others.[7][8] Following his return from the Chaos Force, these powers remained dormant briefly, but most were eventually reawakened when he was exposed to the Master Emerald once again for a long enough time. Knuckles' ability to connect with and tap into the Chaos Force was permanently lost upon return, however.[9] Like all Guardians, he possesses the ability to channel the Master Emerald's energy in battle as used in his battle against Dr. Finitevus. He can utilize these powers in a variety of ways, such as Thunder Arrow.[10]
Knuckles also has other abilities likely caused by his mutation. Including being able to glide by using a mixture of his chaos powers and catching wind currents under his dreadlocks. By fully channeling Chaos energy, Knuckles can fly freely. By using his chaos powers, Knuckles is also capable of sensing Chaos energy and its location. Knuckles can also sense the life force of living beings by using chaos energy, even being able to detect individuals who are invisible, namely when he detected Espio while he spied on him. Due to the mutation Knuckles underwent in his egg, Knuckles is also the only Guardian who possesses an actual set of spikes on his fists. His spikes allow him to effortlessly climb surfaces and make his signature punches even more painful.
Transformation[]
Hyper Knuckles[]
With the power of the Chaos Emeralds or something equivalent to it, Knuckles can transform into Hyper Knuckles. In this state, Knuckles' innate talents are increased many times over, his strength having increased a thousand fold and his link to the Chaos Force becomes more open enhancing his chaos powers. In addition, he gains the power of flight and virtual invulnerability.
Chaos Knuckles[]
As a result of Locke tampering with Knuckles' DNA, Knuckles eventually underwent a natural evolution into Chaos Knuckles. Because this form is more of a mutation of himself rather that an enhanced state, Knuckles could stay like this indefinitely. As Chaos Knuckles, Knuckles was the most powerful being in existence and virtually omnipotent. However, he lost this form permanently when returning from the afterlife.
Relationships[]
Julie-Su[]
Knuckles and Julie-Su embrace after Finitevus' defeat, from Sonic Universe #12.
Knuckles developed a relationship with Julie-Su, a former Dark Legion member that defected to be with him. The two where linked by a sixth sense known as the Soultouch, which showed them that they were destined to be together. Because of their similar personalities, the two where very close. (KtE: #4, #25, #26)
At the wedding of Bunnie and Antoine D'Coolette, Sonic teased Knuckles about the possibility of the two making their relationship "official" by getting married as well. However, Julie-Su pointed out the Dark Legion never had such ceremonies, and neither were interested in 'dressing up' again. Instead, the two agreed their spoken word of commitment was enough. (StH: #174)
The two's relationship came under strain after Knuckles was returned to normal following his time as Enerjak. Although the two argued, eventually they resolved their disputes, with Julie-Su helping Knuckles to deal with his guilt. After she was captured by Thrash the Tasmanian Devil while Knuckles was busy repairing Haven II and visiting Albion, Knuckles was visibly devastated and enraged. (StH: #191, #244, #245, #246)
Lara-Le[]
Supporting his mother's marriage, from Sonic Super Special #14.
Lara-Le is Knuckles' mom.
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Sonic the Hedgehog[]
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Sally Acorn[]
Sally and Knuckles as kids, from Sonic Super Special #9.
Due to their shared childhood experiences and the pressure they both have felt in their roles, it briefly seemed possible that Knuckles might develop romantic feelings for Sally Acorn, whom he referred to as his "special friend." In one of the altered timelines briefly created by Knuckles' efforts to rewrite history, the pair ended up engaged after Knuckles returned Sally's mother to Mobotropolis. Their affection for each other was exhibited in several instances, though quickly sublimated by dangerous conditions. However, this relationship stopped at close friendship, and the two have not shown any such inclination towards each other since. (KtE: #29, SMM)
Dr. Finitevus[]
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Thrash the Tasmanian Devil[]
Originally, Knuckles and Thrash the Tasmanian Devil were respected allies, but all that changed when Thrash kidnapped most of the echidnas and trapped them in another dimension.
Rouge the Bat[]
Rouge the Bat has also made advances towards Knuckles, but due to his connection to Julie-Su and Knuckles displaying vehement dislike for her, it is unlikely that this will go anywhere. As if that weren't enough, Rouge has demonstrated that she has no true romantic feelings for Knuckles; she simply wants to use him to get to the Master Emerald and to beat Julie-Su by stealing Knuckles from her. (StH: #165)
She later attempted to prove she could do good deeds legitimately by working with the Chaotix on a mission to investigate Renfield T. Rodent's casino in Station Square, and later lured Mammoth Mogul and other villains into a trap pretending to be selling the Master Emerald, making them easy prey for a sting-operation. Following this, she helped to console Knuckles who was dealing with the guilt of his deeds as Enerjak, though this was but a continuation of her manipulations. (StH: #166, #173, #186)
Friends/allies[]
Neutral[]
Enemies[]
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Trivia[]
- In Knuckles the Echidna #25, Knuckles took off his glove revealing a red echidna hand with spikes on his knuckles, much like his glove and is the first echidna to have spikes on his hands.
- Knuckles is the only Guardian known to have undergone a super form or to be capable of doing so.
- A family tree for Knuckles and Julie-Su was provided in Sonic the Hedgehog #109. The family tree did not list either Byron or Angel-La, the parents of Dimitri and Edmund. Remington was also not mentioned, though the family tree did point out the son of Kragok was with someone already in the comics. A completed family tree was later provided in Sonic the Hedgehog: The Complete Sonic Comic Encyclopedia.
- A prototype storyline for the issues after Sonic the Hedgehog #134 would have featured Knuckles refusing to remain on Angel Island because his presence caused the Master Emerald to put off more energy, making it easily detectable to villains, rather than his decision that his Guardian duties included the entire planet of Mobius. However, instead of remaining in Knothole with the Freedom Fighters and other Chaotix, he set off on a world tour to learn martial arts, eventually apprenticing himself to Monkey Khan. Khan's dojo would have turned out to be built atop the hiding place of a powerful jewel known as the Master Geode, which would have been targeted by Robotnik, the Iron Queen, and Mammoth Mogul. Knuckles was intended to become a pawn of the Iron Queen's placed under an evil spell and pitted against the Robotnik-controlled Khan. Eventually, he would have become temporarily omnipotent due to a reaction to the Master Geode, which ended up being fragmented and scattered across Mobius. In continuing his journey, Knuckles would have absorbed energy from these fragments.
- The creators of the Sonic comic have previously stated that Knuckles and Julie-Su will never have an actual marriage, as a result of Knuckles being a top tier SegaSonic character and thus unable to be tied down to any one character. However, several possible futures have been shown where the two live or have lived together, but are bound by commitment rather than legality. These futures have also featured the pair having a daughter named Lara-Su, though one version later changed her name to Jani-Ca. The future of 3437 P.X.E. has featured a descendant of Knuckles' named Edmund, who is possibly Knuckles' grandson and the son of some version of Lara-Su; Lara-Su is also featured in artwork from this future. A comment by Edmund suggested that a version of Argyle the Crocodile may be his father, meaning that Vector and Knuckles would be his grandfathers.
- The possible futures mentioned above both featured Knuckles losing control of his chaos powers and going on a rampage, much as he did when his power was overloaded by Dr. Finitevus. However, while one version of him was restored to normal by Sonic's efforts, the other went on to become a malevolent Dark Enerjak.
- The fact that Chaos Knuckles changes his fur color from red to green may be a reference to the fact that Knuckles, when still in the early design stages, was originally green.
- Knuckles was the first character—in his personae of Chaos Knuckles and Enerjak— to be shown capable of reverting characters with cybernetics back to their fully organic form. Ixis Naugus later joined this category after accidentally transforming Bunnie back into a fully organic form.
- As a result of the Endangered Species storyline, Knuckles was left one of only three Echidnas known to remain on Mobius Prime, the others being Dr. Finitevus and Dimitri. Mari-An and her son Jon were not captured by Thrash, but their fate remains unknown.
- This version of Knuckles made a cameo appearance alongside Sonic in the 1999 pilot issue to the Archie's Weird Mysteries comic series. There, they were summoned alongside a host of characters from various Archie Comics properties in order to fight off a gang of monsters that were attacking Riverdale.
Gallery[]
Concept artwork[]
Notes[]
- ↑ In his data file in Sonic the Hedgehog #112, Knuckles is stated to be born on day 51 of the year 3220. With the latest year in the Pre-Super Genesis Wave timeline being 3237, that places Knuckles at 17 years old.
References[]
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #174, "See Ya' Later Chao Part Two"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sonic the Hedgehog #112, Sega Data File 2: Knuckles the Echidna
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Panini Sonic the Hedgehog #9, "Profile of Knuckles"
- ↑ Sonic Super Special #1, "Battle Royal"
- ↑ Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Free Comic Book Day 2007
- ↑ Archie Knuckles the Echidna Issue 18
- ↑ Knuckles the Echidna #11, "The Forgotten Tribe Part Two of Three: Covenant"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #84, "Bridge Over Troubled Waters"
- ↑ Ian Flynn (8 April 2011). Fan Mail Month! Mighty and Ray (5/5). Archived from the original on 30 June 2011. "Mighty the Armadillo: He uses that to steer, sure, but he primarily uses energy channeled from the Master Emerald to help him fly around. / Ray the Flying Squirrel: N-Not the Chaos F-Force? / Mighty the Armadillo: Nope. He lost that kind of connection when he came back from the afterlife."
- ↑ Sonic Universe #12, "Echoes of the Past Part Four"
See also[]
External links[]
- Knuckles the Echidna/Pre-SGW at Mobius Encyclopaedia, the Archie Sonic wiki.
