Lanolin the Sheep[4] is a character that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. She is an anthropomorphic sheep from Riverside and is currently a member of the Restoration. She is responsible for the creation of the second generation of Diamond Cutters.
Quick Answers
What role does Lanolin the Sheep play in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series?
Who is responsible for the creation of the second generation of Diamond Cutters in the Sonic series?
Who created the character Lanolin the Sheep for the Sonic the Hedgehog series?
What is the origin of Lanolin the Sheep's name?
What changes has Lanolin's appearance undergone throughout the Sonic the Hedgehog series?
Concept and creation[]
Lanolin was created by Adam Bryce Thomas as a background character in Sonic the Hedgehog #2. Thomas would continue to draw Lanolin in subsequent issues he illustrated, usually with a new look. Writer Ian Flynn would later confirm Lanolin's name.[5]
Appearance[]
Lanolin is an anthropomorphic sheep with cloudy white wool on her head for hair, a light tan muzzle with a black/salmon nose, and slate blue eyes with light powder blue sclera and two eyelashes on each one. She possesses black/brown pointy and stubby horns on top of her head, droopy medium-long ears with light tan canals, and black/brown hoof stubs for fingertips. She also has a large tuft of wool on her forehead while the rest of her hair is kept in four buns.
Lanolin has worn many outfits over time.:
- Initially, she wore an amber dress with a teal/green sash tied in a ribbon at the back, teal/green hairbands, and brown shoes with straps or brown Mary Jane shoes with gray buttons, golden jingle bells and tan soles.[6]
- When Lanolin was working at Restoration HQ, she wore an orange long-sleeved dress with collar under a green long-sleeved shirt, black hairbands, pearl earrings, white gloves, and lilac and white shoes.[7]
- While assisting the Restoration during the Metal Virus evacuations, she wore a red, pink and black jumpsuit with black knee, elbow and shoulder pads, red hairbands, red fingerless gloves, red and pink shoes with white toes and dark gray soles, and a pair of goggles with pink lenses, red frames and black straps on her head.[8]
- On Angel Island, Lanolin wore a black tank top, green pants with red belt, black hairbands, orange and white sneakers, orange fingerless gloves, and white socks. She also wore black knee, elbow and shoulder pads, and goggles with light blue lenses, gray frames and black straps on her head with this outfit.[9]
- At the party in Spiral Hill Village, she wore a green blouse, a short orange skirt, green socks, and brown loafers with gray soles.[10]
- For cold weathers, she wore a tan oversized sweater, olive green leggings, cream snug warm boots with white Harrison cuffs and dark gray soles, and had no hairbands.[11]
- Her latest outfit has her with a black sports bra, orange/yellow tank top, green cargo pants, a brown belt with a golden buckle, brown and tan combat boots with zipper sliders, orange/yellow hairbands, black elbow sleeves, and brown fingerless gloves.[12]
For the most part, Lanolin wears a bronze cowbell hanging in a green choker with a gold clip around her neck. She later wears the Golden Bell, her personal custom bell Wispon, hanging in a gray choker with a gold clip around her neck.[4]
History[]
Fallout![]
Lanolin arriving to alert Sonic, from Sonic the Hedgehog #2.
When Sonic was defending Riverside from Badniks, Lanolin alerted him and Amy Rose of an invasion force coming in from the west side of town. Sonic, Amy, and the local militia disposed of this invasion force immediately after.[6] Lanolin was terrified of the invasion and didn't want anyone to feel so helpless and unprepared like she was.[2]
Infection[]
Inspired by Sonic's heroism,[4] Lanolin joined the Restoration and assisted with the operations at Restoration HQ.[7]
Crisis City[]
As the Metal Virus pandemic escalated, Lanolin continued with her duties at the Restoration HQ.[13]
The Last Minute and Big's Big Adventure[]
Lanolin was busy checking notes on a clipboard when Big visited Restoration HQ in search of Froggy. She paid little attention to the cat, even as one of her co-workers struggled to drag him back in line after Gemerl denied him entry. Restoration HQ fell to the Metal Virus soon afterward, with only a handful of survivors, including Lanolin, managing to escape in a rescue shuttle.[14] She later joined in on the evacuation of Spiral Hill Village after the Metal Virus was dumped there.[8]
All or Nothing[]
After escaping from Spiral Hill Village, the survivors went to Angel Island. Lanolin was in the rescue shuttle's cockpit when Rouge contacted the Restoration from aboard the Faceship. While Amy took the call, Lanolin nervously glanced up at an infected Sonic as he sat atop her seat.[15] Later, she helped the Restoration set up camp on the island with the remaining uninfected.[9]
Out of the Blue[]
Later on, Lanolin attended the party at Spiral Hill Village to celebrate the end of the Metal Virus pandemic.[10]
Chao Bases and Badnik Races[]
At some point, Lanolin took a trip to the White Park Grand Chateau.[11]
Test Run![]
Lanolin leading Belle to the machine shop by Jewel's request, from Sonic the Hedgehog #37.
Lanolin eventually returned to the Restoration, working on the day-to-day operations of the new Restoration HQ. There, she showed Belle to the Machine Shop after being asked to do so by Jewel. Lanolin would greet the Chief Mechanic and introduce him to Belle, only for the Chief to remind Lanolin about her formalities and needing to relax. Embarrassed, Lanolin leaves Belle in the Chief's care.[12]
Zeti Hunt![]
While in Restoration HQ, Lanolin met Vector, who informed her that Team Chaotix had come at the request of Jewel. Embarrassed, Lanolin called Jewel loudly on the walkie-talkie, then made her departure.[16]
Trial by Fire[]
While at the Forest Ridge Zone Campground, Lanolin would scamper around among the scared campers while a forest fire was going on around them.[17]
Shattered Diamonds[]
Tangle, Lanolin, and Whisper are sitting in the woods surrounding a bonfire when Tangle ask what's taking Sonic so long, and Lanolin adds on saying that he said he's on the way, and that it hasn't changed since she asked 5 minutes ago. Whisper then tells Tangle that there's nothing wrong with a moment of calm. Soon Sonic and Tails arrive with Sonic apologizing for the wait and says they had a few Badniks to pummel and Tangle responding saying how she could've benefited but Tails reassures there will be plenty of Badniks in Eggperial City and they hero's leave.[18]
Urban Warfare[]
Lanolin telling Sonic how he inspired her to join the Restoration, from Sonic the Hedgehog #57
Lanolin proposed to Jewel for the Restoration to have a rapid-response team to both protect people and act against threats before they cause damage. Jewel approved the idea and Lanolin searched for volunteers. She was able to get Tangle and Whisper to join the team. Lanolin then heard about Eggman's new base and wanted to take the team in to explore it. Sonic met with the new team and Lanolin explained the situation. Sonic agreed to help and asked if the team had a name. Tangle suggested Diamond Cutters and Lanolin agreed to the name. Lanolin told Sonic she has been looking forward to working with him for a long time. Sonic said he didn't remember meeting her, and Lanolin said it was briefly when her town was saved by him. She told Sonic he was the inspiration for her to join the Restoration. Sonic said it was a pleasure to met her again and they shook hands. Lanolin then said they could leave whenever he was ready.
Lanolin and Whisper scouted the Eggperial City, but when they saw no major defenses or traps, Sonic and Tangle rushed in, much to the shock of Lanolin. She complained about them being so reckless and said they can't beat the odds forever. Lanolin to Whisper joined in to defeat the wave of Badniks Sonic and Tangle, with Lanolin using Maggie to fight. Once the Badniks were destroyed, Lanolin yelled at Sonic for rushing in and not being stealthy. Sonic said slow wasn't his thing and Tangle apologized for still getting used to team dynamics. Sonic then asked what they should do next, and Lanolin used Whisper's Green Wisp to scout the city. She concluded the city has gotten bigger, which made Tangle wonder how since there was no visible construction equipment. Sonic then transformed into Green Hover to survey more of the city. When he came back, Sonic told Lanolin she was right that the city was growing, and it was healing itself. Lanolin wondered where it was getting the resources to grow and repair itself. Tangle speculated they were mining underground, and Sonic remembered Belle saw a tunnel network under the city. Lanolin agreed to check them out, but with caution.
The team went into the tunnels and quietly took out Badniks as they descended, with Lanolin using Maggie to take out several of them. When they reached the lowest point, Whisper blew a hole into the floor with her Variable Wispon and Tangle and Lanolin rappelled inside to look around. Using Maggie as a light, they discovered the ground had been stripped and mined empty. They got out and Lanolin relayed this to Sonic, who concluded Eggman was making a city that would grow itself until it covered the entire planet. Lanolin said they needed to return to HQ to get backup and march on the city. Sonic countered that they should do it now. Lanolin was against the idea, as their team was untested, and they needed more help. Sonic countered the city was only going to get bigger if they fall back, but Lanolin said it would grow unopposed if they got taken out today
Lanolin expresses her desperation while Tangle comforts her, from Sonic the Hedgehog #58.
After some more arguing, a portal device appeared in front of them. Sonic and Tangle recognized it from Eggman's Tower when they were put in a cyber realm. Sonic ran off while Tangle held onto him, with her holding Lanolin and Whisper with her tail. Just as they got out of the elevator shaft, a Zoomer broke Sonic and Tangle's grip, causing Tangle, Whisper, and Lanolin to fall into the portal.[4] The trio was then taken into a parallel world where they could see and hear others, but could not interact or be seen by anyone. Lanolin was sitting with her head in her knees when Tangle asked her if she had a plan, but she told her she wasn't the boss. Tangle said she had the traits to be one and her and Whisper can't do it. Lanolin said she wasn't cut out for this and when Tangle asked why she created the team, Lanolin said desperation. She still remembered how her home town was attacked and didn't want anyone to feel the helplessness she felt. She called the mission a failure and blamed herself for it. Tangle tried to cheer her up by saying they failed together, which didn't help. Tangle went on to say she's made a lot of mistakes, but Jewel always helped her get back up. She said they will get out of this stronger and smarter. This got Lanolin to stand up and ask how could she be so sure. Tangle said because they're awesome and never give up.
Tangle looked to Whisper for encouragement, but Whisper asked why she named the team after the crew of friends she lost. Lanolin thought Whisper's old team disbanded after the war. Whisper clarified they were betrayed and destroyed. Tangle profusely apologized to Whisper for naming the team Diamond Cutters and said she only had good intentions. Lanolin said they can change the name. Whisper admitted her old team were there for her and now only their Wisps are what's left of them. Whisper says she has been walking away from the people trying to help her. She realizes the only person not trying to help her is herself. Lanolin said she understands if Whisper can't trust people after being betrayed. Whisper clarified only one person took her life away from her and she isn't going to let his fear rule her life anymore. Whisper apologized for being a bad friend and asked for patience for her to move on. Lanolin accepted, grinning and stating she will be if they're patient with her being bossy and inexperienced.
They joined hands and Whisper told them they can remain the Diamond Cutters, saying their old team would be honored by it. Tangle then brought the two in for a group hug, with Lanolin asking for a limit on group hugs. Breaking the hug, Lanolin asked Whisper how her hold team would handle their situation. Whisper says there was no chain of command and they relied on their skills to figure out what to do. She said they would ask Claire for insight, which led to Tangle asking Whisper to scout for them. Lanolin then realized no Badnik can attack them since they can barely interact with the world. So, they could scout the city bypassing security and relay the information to Sonic once they returned them to normal. Tangle teased that she made a plan, and Lanolin said it was some direction at least. Whisper suggested they head to the central tower and Lanolin lead the group to head out.[2]
The Diamond Cutters made it into the command room of the tower where they saw Eggman with Orbot and Cubot overseeing the attack on the other heroes who arrived. Lanolin tried to stop Tangle from touching Metal Sonic, saying it isn't how they do things. Tangle said they aren't going to spot them, and Lanolin gave up and told them to find some useful information. They then saw on a monitor Shadow Androids attacking Sonic and the others. This caused Whisper's trauma of her friends' deaths to come back. Tangle comforted Whisper and Lanolin joined her.
The team saw Eggman restart the city's power because of a power surge caused by Shadow. As he expressed his anger that he can't see where the Restoration members are, Lanolin tells Tangle that the surge nearly disabled the entire city. She speculated if they trigger a bigger one, and stop Eggman from throttling it, they can destroy the city. Tangle agreed to the idea, but they suddenly started to become visual to the real world again. Lanolin told them not to panic before they froze when Eggman saw them.
Eggman said he had seen them before and they ran into his Spatial-Displacement Trap. Eggman says they almost escaped when the power dipped, but revealed his new models that can shatter their atoms into oblivion. Whisper shoots Eggman with her Wispon, but it goes right through him. Eggman says her Wispon has been separated from normal space and she can't hurt him. The hexagonal trap surrounds Whisper and closes around her. Another trap started to surround Tangle, but Lanolin shoved her out of the way and took her place in the trap instead. Lanolin commanded her to find the others and tell them what to do. Before she could give more instructions, the trap closed in on her as Tangle looked on in horror.[19]
Thanks to the efforts of Tangle, Sonic and Amy, Tails was able to disable the computer system that had Lanolin and Whisper trapped. Lanolin and Whisper made it to the main tower where Eggman was holding Tangle at gunpoint. Lanolin came in an introduced the Diamond Cutters to Eggman, with Whisper hitting the doctor on her cue. Tangle cried tears of joy for their return, but Lanolin said all that mattered was they were back and they needed to leave. She then took her Golden Bell and transformed it to damage the glass wall around the control room with a concentric sound wave. Once Sonic kicked Metal Sonic out of the tower, she and the rest of the Diamond Cutters left. They made their way to the Giant Fake Chaos Emerald tower Shadow created, with Lanolin having trouble getting on it. She watched on as Tangle and Whisper helped Sonic destroy the main tower. Lanolin and the other heroes on the tower were then protected by Silver as some Giant Emeralds began to explode.[20]
Misadventures[]
"Duo" joins the Diamond Cutters, from Sonic the Hedgehog #62.
In a meeting with the Diamond Cutters at Restoration HQ, Lanolin told her teammates their first mission was technically a success but was almost a disaster and they had work to do. She asked Whisper how her old team organized themselves, and Whisper said they were all volunteers initially. Tangle asked if she has been thinking of recruiting and Lanolin told her they need to diversify their options. They would have more ideas, skills, and options if there are multiple threats with more people. Lanolin took away the paddle board Tangle was playing with while she was talking. Duo the Cat then walked in on their meeting and Lanolin asked if he needed anything. Duo asked if their team was accepting volunteers and made a pitch for him to join the team. He sat down for questions and Lanolin asked if he had any special skills or prior experience he could bring to the team. She pushed away the paddle board before Tangle could grab it while she asked. Duo said he was good with computers and could handle a Wispon. Tangle thought they should give him a chance and Whisper said it was better to start recruiting during peacetime. Lanolin said she was happy to have him on the team and his training would be his trial assessment. Lanolin asked if he lived nearby, and Duo said he didn't think about where he would live. Lanolin asked Tangle to find a place for him to stay and the lemur left with Duo.[21]
Lanolin would later bring the Diamond Cutters to Green Hill for a training exercise, which included newcomers Duo and Silver. She told them their mission was to work on coordinating moves and communication. She headed to the bottom of the Canyon with Tangle and Whisper, while Silver raised some rocks. Lanolin asked Silver to bring the rocks to her, but Duo kicked Silver, causing him to lose hold of the rocks, letting them fall their way. Suddenly, a Giant Chopper broke out of the canyon wall and started to flood the valley. She asked Whisper to fly them out, but Whisper said it would be too slow. Tangle used her tail as a grapple, and they swung out of there. She told them to split up and she flew with Whisper, using her Wispon to destroy the rocks. They reached higher ground and she asked where the boys were. They found Duo next to the Chopper and asked where Silver was. Duo was about to explain when Silver escaped the Badnik and threw it aside. He accused Duo of ditching him. Lanolin told him not to point fingers and that she expected better control from him. Silver said it was an accident, but she didn't accept the excuse and told him to do better.[22]
Lanolin not believing in Whisper's suspicion, from Sonic the Hedgehog #64.
Later, Lanolin would catch Silver spying on Duo and save the cat from falling over a railing. She called for him to come out from hiding and asked him what he was trying to do. Whisper would then reveal herself and said they were both spying on Duo because he was Mimic in disguise. Lanolin demanded proof, but Whisper said they would have it later and that Mimic has tells. Lanolin defended Duo, upset that Whisper seemingly decided to harass a teammate. Whisper grabbed and tried to push her aside, but Lanolin countered and pushed her to the ground instead. She then stated was disappointed Whisper couldn't control herself and told them they needed to talk about problems as a team first, but Whisper kept fighting her. During their tussle, Silver seemingly hurt Duo, shocking the crowd including Lanolin. Jewel came to the scene and asked who started this. Lanolin pointed to Silver and said, until he could act more responsibly, Silver should be off the team. Whisper agreed, and after shooting a look at Tangle, the lemur also voted him off.[23] Lanolin was present with the Diamond Cutters when Surge and Kit were introduced to them by Sonic and Amy. She expressed concern for them possibly joining their team but was willing to allow it if Amy recommended them joining. Amy however did not appreciate that she still referred to her formally as "Former Commander Rose".[24]
Phantom Riders[]
Lanolin coldly disqualifying Sonic, Tails and Amy from the Clean Sweepstakes race, from Sonic the Hedgehog #69.
Lanolin, along with the other Diamond Cutters enter the Clean Sweepstakes race as referees for the event, she takes a Heavy Bike as her Extreme Gear. As the Babylon Rogues catch up with Sonic, Tails, and Amy, the Diamond Cutters literally blow in the middle of conversation, and they begin arguing with them. Suddenly, Amy, Tails and Sonic's Extreme Gears malfunctioned, causing a crash. During the equipment malfunction, Tails and Sonic hold on to Amy, but then she suddenly lets her board go as Whisper shoots at the trio's Extreme Gear, leaving the trio on the road. Lanolin then tells the trio to leave the race, as they're as much of a hazard as their Extreme Gear. Tangle then yells at Lanolin, telling her that it's their friends, but "Duo" agrees with Lanolin. The latter retorts that a pileup was only averted due to Whisper's good aim as the Diamond Cutters drive off.[25]
In the second race, when the Phantom Rider would cause trouble on the track, Lanolin commanded Duo to call for the Clean Sweepstakes Security for backup, saying the Phantom Rider is going down. Later once the security arrived, they would surround the Phantom Rider. Lanolin fired her wispon at the Phantom Rider, causing the track to break behind him. Lanolin, along with Tangle and Whisper, would then help people get to safety.[26]
In Misty Spire, Lanolin flies by when suddenly Nite is heard attempting to calm the audience and assuring them that the referees will deal with the situation. Another individual wearing nearly the exact same disguise as Sonic but riding a different Extreme Gear has appeared in the arena, holding Duo's scarf as he mocks the Diamond Cutters for being unable to stop him. The new Phantom Rider charges at the racers, knocking one off his board with one hand and catching a ball with the other. He is then surrounded by the Diamond Cutters, only to throw his ball at Lanolin, knocking her off her Heavy Bike, and flee. Later on, Lanolin is training with a punching bag while Duo apologizes for being eliminated by the Phantom Rider. He mentions that Tangle and Whisper said the Phantom Rider ran away but raises the question of if they are hiding something or trying to spare their feelings. He adds that it is hard to say what they would do alone and that they are lucky to have Lanolin guiding them.[27]
Lanolin getting angry at Tangle and Whisper for keeping the identity of the Phantom Rider from her, from Sonic the Hedgehog #74.
The final event would begin with Nite announcing it is set right in the streets of Central City. Suddenly the Phantom Rider appears, and soon the Diamond Cutters surround him with Lanolin telling him that he is done and it's enough and Lanolin counties saying that he would not like her kick on her wispon. Sonic disagrees when suddenly the Babylon Rogues surround him when Nite announces a halt in the race, saying that everyone is going after the Phantom Rider with him dodging attacks from Lanolin. Soon Lanolin was about to fire at him until Tangle stops her saying she will hit Sonic.[28] Later on, after Nite broadcasted the crimes of Clean Sweep Inc. and exposed Clutch. Lanolin watches as the shuttle falls when suddenly Duo appears to which Lanolin asks where he's been. He reveals that Tangle and Whisper knew Sonic was the Phantom Rider and did not tell them, causing Lanolin to verbally lash out at them before Surge interrupts saying Sonic left. Lanolin rushes towards him with Sonic saying they can do whatever they want with him later but he's going to save the people on the shuttle while Tangle convinces her to let this go until after, to which Lanolin agrees by saying they have work to do.[29]
Lanolin using the Golden Bell as a megaphone, from Sonic the Hedgehog #75.
Duo reconvenes with the rest of the Diamond Cutters, apologizing for his brief absence. Lanolin tells him to stay close, as this is no time to wander off. Just then, Clutch calls Duo via the walkie-talkie hidden in his scarf, alerting the others as he is addressed by his real name and ordered to come provide backup on the main deck. He awkwardly attempts to dismiss it as a "wrong number", but both Tangle and Whisper yell at him and give chase. With his identity exposed, Mimic returns to his original form, throwing his walkie-talkie at Whisper as he attempts to flee the scene. Lanolin, however, remains behind, staring in disbelief at what has unfolded. The course continues falling apart, with a mine falling dangerously close to the crowd. Lanolin then uses her Golden Bell to get everyone's attention, introducing herself as a member of the Restoration's Diamond Cutters and assuring the civilians that they will guide the ship to a safe landing. She expresses her remorse to Tangle and Whisper, acknowledging the way she has acted and the mistakes she has made. She tells them she understands if they do not trust her or do not want to continue working with her, but Tangle tells her to save it, as they are all on the same side and have people to save. Whisper agrees with the statement, admitting that she has also made her share of mistakes. Tangle adds that she is still irritated, but they will talk about it later, which Lanolin thanks her for. While the Diamond Cutters set out to save the city, Mimic, disguised as a civilian, continues to hide anxiously within the crowd.
At the sight of the destroyed HQ, Jewel drops to her knees and begins sobbing. While Amy tries to comfort her, The Diamond Cutters then arrive as well, with Tangle running over to check on Jewel. Distraught by the loss of Restoration HQ, Jewel believes that she has failed and that the Restoration is over, but Tangle points her attention to all the members who are alive and well, helping Jewel as well as Lanolin realize that the people are what truly define the Restoration rather than the building. The heroes prepare to go clean up the mess and rebuild, with Don forcing Rough and Tumble to help as payment for the ride down.[30]
Scattered Pieces[]
Many days after Restoration HQ's destruction, Silver decides to check on the Diamond Cutters, knowing they might be going through a hard time. He flies to a clean area in Emeraldville Ruins where he finds Jewel, Tangle, Whisper, Lanolin and Belle, who is petting Motobud, sitting down with sad and worried expressions. Upon seeing Silver, Lanolin immediately looked away in embarrassment, feeling apparently guilty for casting him out when he joined the team. After a moment of awkward silence, when she hears Jewel say she will quit the restoration, Lanolin tries to object but is interrupted. Lanolin stays quiet and listens while Jewel expresses her frustrations and then gets comforted by Tangle.
Lanolin admitting how blind she was and apologizing to her friends, from Sonic the Hedgehog #76.
Lanolin speaks next, after rethinking strategically on how to say it, she simply says she is sorry. Lanolin says she have wanted so bad to make things better and make them make sense for such a long time, and now sees that she was so fixated on her goal that she lost sight of the process and the people in it, which was the reason she joined the Restoration in the first place. Because of her blindness, she was easily manipulated by Mimic, she lost her teammates' trust, especially when they found out Sonic was the Phantom Rider and she became a liability. Lanolin genuinely apologizes to her friends, and especially to Silver and Whisper for not believing their suspicions on Duo being Mimic. Silver forgives her and thanks her. Lanolin also claims she can't let things end like this and needs to make it better. She knows she can't and shouldn't be the one to restart the Restoration and decides to start small, with her first plan being to restore Emeraldville to make it a safe and clean space for people to live again, which she asks nervously if it's reasonable. While Tangles whispers it seems a large thing to do, Jewel asks Lanolin she has experience to do it, which the latter awkwardly responds she doesn't. But Jewel claims she doesn't have either, but has learned a lot of things while managing things. She offers for her and Lanolin to work together on restoring Emeraldville slowly, which the latter tearfully accepts and thanks. In the same atmosphere, Tangle and Whisper and Silver agree to look for Mimic together, while Belle decided to travel the world with Motobud. Tangle awkwardly, comments oh how this is it for the Diamond Cutters, disbanding so quickly after forming, and apologizes to Whisper for the comment. But the latter responds it is okay, as they are better on their own terms, but she prefers to say "see you later" than "goodbye". Lanolin thanks her friends for letting her be a part of this and Jewel thanks Silver for his help. Silver claims the Diamond Cutters are not done yet, he uses his psychokinesis to gather everyone together for a group hug and yells: "Diamond Cutters, together forever!", which Lanolin smiled awkwardly during. Lanolin and Jewel would then start planning together their first steps on restoring Emeraldville after everyone split up.
Game appearances[]
Sonic Blitz[]
| This section requires an expansion. |  |
Personality[]
Lanolin has a helpful and hardworking mindset, as she is willing to do many tasks for the Restoration. She is good at following orders but is very formal about it. As such, Jewel and others have to remind her to not act so official while greeting them.[12] Lanolin also appears to get startled easily, whether it is from Badniks to being called by her boss.[6][12] She also prefers to make sure she and her group are prepared and have a plan ready before going in for an assault against their enemies, and is therefore easily flabbergasted by the blatant recklessness of heroes like Sonic and Tangle. Lanolin prefers to do things that do not have a lot of risk but is willing to put herself in danger when needed.[4] Lanolin recognizes when others are hurting and is willing to help them out. She has also admitted to having an issue with being bossy.[2]
Lanolin is described in that just like Tangle, she was inspired by Sonic's acts of heroism, causing her to join the Restoration. However, she started to grow frustrated in secret over how the organization started to focus on humanitarian efforts and how Sonic and his friends dealt with Eggman, wanting them to focus on dealing with attacks from criminals with a direct approach, instead of waiting for them to strike first.
She takes her duties as a new member of the Diamond Cutters seriously. Unfortunately, due to stress with organizing the team, she comes across as cold and abrasive despite having good intentions, such as not checking on her friends' well-being. She also has some difficulty listening to her team, such as not looking into Silver or Whisper's accusations or not having concerns on how Team Sonic's boards mysteriously malfunctioned, as well as having a sense for being stubborn which makes her react poorly to how certain people act.[31] However, after Duo is exposed as Mimic and she realizes that he had been manipulating her, she becomes much less stubborn and more open, apologizing to Tangle and Whisper and admits that she made mistakes and that they might not want her to be their leader. When Tangle and Whisper claim they will still work together to save the people in the event, Lanolin is very grateful. She eventually realizes, alongside Jewel, that what the Restoration is truly about is the people.
Afterwards, in a meeting with the Diamond Cutters, Lanolin not only apologized, but showed that after the fiasco of the Clean Sweepstakes race she was humbled. Not only did she acknowledge that she only has herself to blame when her own team and boss had no reason to trust her for being easily manipulated by Mimic, but also that her own frustrations blinded her that the Restoration focusing on humanitarian efforts was for a good reason. And that despite having the idea of leading a group she had no idea how to, now with this experience changing her she wanted to start over with her team on better terms.
Powers and abilities[]
Lanolin riding her personal Heavy Bike, from Sonic the Hedgehog #69.
Lanolin is a well-trained fighter, being able to confront even Whisper, who is a highly trained soldier, in a tussle. Lanolin is also very agile and has steadily proven herself to be talented Extreme Gear rider on her personal Heavy Bike.
Equipment[]
Lanolin saving Tangle using her wispon, from Sonic the Hedgehog #57.
The Golden Bell worn around her neck is her Wispon. When her Magenta Wisp, Maggie, enters it, the clacker will glow magenta. Lanolin can fire concentrated sonic waves when the bell is struck. The bell can also be rung as an alarm or distress bell.[4] When transformed, ringing the bell releases massive, concentric sound waves, leveling everything in their wake. Directing this attack requires considerable skill and concentration, making it potentially dangerous to a novice user.[31] The Golden Bell can also transform into a loudspeaker.
Relationships[]
Sonic the Hedgehog[]
Sonic and Lanolin getting to know each other properly, from Sonic the Hedgehog #57.
Lanolin respects Sonic the Hedgehog for his experience and is grateful for him saving her hometown from a Badnik attack. She accredits Sonic as her inspiration to join the Restoration. On the other hand, she takes issue with his impatience and leap-before-you-look attitude.[4]
However, Lanolin's cold and abrasive behavior had their relationship strained. During the Clean Sweepstakes' first event, when Sonic, Tails and Amy's Extreme Gear got out of control, instead of asking if they were hurt she decided the trio were a hazard to the race and angrily told them they were disqualified. When the "Phantom Rider" showed up in the second event, Lanolin held a very low opinion of him and was determined to have him taken to justice, when she didn't know it was Sonic. But when she did find out Sonic was the Phantom Rider, she didn't mellow down nor show concern over the reasons for his actions, and wanted to take him in custody. Lanolin only calmed down when the shuttle was crashing down to the city, where she agreed to deal with Sonic later to save people.
But when Duo was exposed as Mimic, Lanolin finally realized that Mimic and Clutch were the real villains in this. She did not talk to Sonic nor mention his "Phantom Rider" dilemma after the Restoration HQ was destroyed, but it seems like she no longer holds ill will towards him after her point of view changed.
Amy Rose[]
Lanolin trusting Amy's judgment, from Sonic the Hedgehog #67.
Lanolin respects Amy Rose as well, and holds her in reverence for being the previous director and founder of the Restoration. Even when Amy stepped down from her role, Lanolin still kept her respect of her. This was shown when Amy offered Surge and Kit to join the Diamond Cutters. Although Lanolin had concerns, she decided to give them a chance because it was Amy's idea, who she'd refer to as "Former Commander Rose", which the latter doesn't appreciate.
However, Lanolin's cold and abrasive behavior had their relationship strained. During the Clean Sweepstakes' first event, when Sonic, Tails and Amy's Extreme Gear got out of control, she called the trio a hazard for the race and had them disqualified. But after "Duo" was exposed as Mimic, Lanolin realized he manipulated her and that she became abrasive towards her friends and teammates. Lanolin promised she would learn, indicating her relationship with Amy may improve.
Jewel the Beetle[]
Lanolin with Jewel explaining her idea of a rapid-response team, from Sonic the Hedgehog #57.
Lanolin greatly respects Jewel the Beetle for being the director of the Restoration. She always refers to the beetle as "Director Jewel," or just "Director," even when the latter insists for the former to not to. Lanolin never objects Jewel's directions and follows her orders with a great deal of respect. When Lanolin decided to build her own rapid-response team, she asked Jewel permission, which the latter agreed to help.
Despite her respect and loyalty, Jewel seemed to not trust her completely, as she only trusted Tangle and Whisper with the Clean Sweep Inc.'s intervision during the Clean Sweepstakes. However, their trust was eventually restored, and Lanolin gathered to help rebuild Restoration HQ after its destruction.
Lanolin and Jewel planning on helping rebuild Emeraldville together, from Sonic the Hedgehog #76.
Lanolin would try to make Jewel change her mind of quitting the Restoration with no avail, but Tangle managed to do so after comforting her bestie. Lanolin later apologizes to Jewel and to her other friends for her behavior, admitting that while she only wanted to make things right, she lost sight of the process and the people. When Lanolin explained her plan to make Emeraldville a nice city to live in again, Jewel asked her if she had experience in town management, infrastructure and construction. Lanolin replies nervously she picked some pointers while working on the Restoration, but admitted she had no experience with these. But Jewel comforted and offered work together with her to learn everything they needed and make this work. Touched by her words, Lanolin tearfully thanked her director for her help.
Maggie[]
It is unknown how Lanolin met Maggie, but she has grown close to the Magenta Wisp. She uses the Wisp whenever she is in a combat situation, and Maggie is quick to respond to help. Lanolin also has Maggie out of the Golden Bell when she's stressed or relaxing, usually with her resting on her right hand or in her wool buns.[4]
Tangle the Lemur[]
Tangle and Whisper giving Lanolin a chance to save everyone in the shuttle, from Sonic the Hedgehog #75.
Lanolin has an issue with Tangle the Lemur being reckless and not thinking about the team first. However, she sees her as an equal on the team, trusting her enough that she was willing to sacrifice herself to have Tangle escape a trap and complete a mission, while also having grown to see that she has some insight.[4][21][2]
However, Tangle and Lanolin's relationship became strained for a while. During the Clean Sweepstakes' first event, when Sonic, Tails and Amy's Extreme Gear got out of control, Tangle was mad when Lanolin treated the trio coldly instead of expressing care for their safety. When Whisper and Tangle eventually learn the Phantom Rider is Sonic the Hedgehog, they decide to keep it from Lanolin, fearing what she'd do in response. When Duo told her about Tangle and Whisper's secret, she angrily lashed out at them for lying to her. Tangle acknowledged her decision hurt her but told Lanolin she trusts Sonic, and eventually Lanolin cooled off and focuses on saving the people on the shuttle. After Mimic got his cover blown unintentionally by Clutch the Opossum, Lanolin apologized to both Tangle and Whisper for her behavior. Tangle was able to put aside her hard feelings to save everyone, but made it clear to her team leader she was still mad and claimed they can deal with it later on, much to Lanolin's genuine gratitude. Lanolin would later apologize again to Tangle as well as Silver, Whisper and Jewel. After they discussed their plans for the future together she then thanked them for letting her be part of the team, stuttering out of emotion. [32]
Whisper the Wolf[]
Lanolin has a more stable relationship with Whisper the Wolf, seeing the both of them as soldiers. While they have had moments of tension, Lanolin regards Whisper as both a friend and a valuable teammate. [4] [23]
Despite this, Whisper and Lanolin's relationship can be tumultuous at times. Whisper initially accepts Lanolin's pitch to allow Duo the Cat onto the Diamond Cutters, but when Silver brings it to her attention that Duo might be Mimic, she and Silver do everything to stop him. When Whisper and Silver take action against Duo, Lanolin expresses her frustration that the two needed to stop pestering him. Whisper doesn't back down, leading the two to a bit of a scuffle. Lanolin voices her disappointment with Whisper, saying she could understand Silver's behavior, but Whisper is a soldier and needs to control herself. Lanolin, frustrated and annoyed, votes to kick Silver out, which Whisper reluctantly agrees.
During the Clean Sweepstakes event, Whisper, Lanolin and Tangle are all referees for the event, tasked for ensuring safety of the competitors and later catching the Phantom Rider. When Whisper and Tangle eventually learn the Phantom Rider is Sonic the Hedgehog, they decide to keep it from Lanolin, fearing what she'd do in response. When Duo told her about Tangle and Whisper's secret, she angrily lashed out at them for lying to her, but eventually cooled off to save the people on the shuttle. After Mimic got his cover blown unintentionally by Clutch the Opossum, Lanolin regretted that she hadn't listened to Whisper, admitting her mistakes. Despite this, Whisper assures back to her that she also made mistakes, leaving her and Lanolin on good terms. Later Lanolin would apologize again to Whisper, along with Jewel, Silver and Tangle when they reconvened to discuss their future.
Silver the Hedgehog[]
Lanolin voting Silver out of the team, from Sonic the Hedgehog #64.
Lanolin and Silver the Hedgehog first work together to fight Eggman in his Eggperial City, but they did not interact. Later, they did interact with each other when Silver joined the Diamond Cutters on their training exercise in Green Hill, which has a bad ending as "Duo" kicks Silver, making him drops rocks on the team. After the aftermath with the Giant Chopper, Lanolin doesn't believe Silver when he claims "Duo" ditched him, and when he says everything was an accident, she doesn't accept this excuse and reprimands him for not having control of his powers and tells him to do better next time. Lanolin doesn't believe Silver when he and Whisper suspect Duo is Mimic either, and after his failure to prove his point, Lanolin blames Silver for the chaos when Jewel asks what happened. Calling him irresponsible, Lanolin votes for Silver to stay away from the Diamond Cutters.
Lanolin apologizing to Silver, from Sonic the Hedgehog #76.
But after the Clean Sweepstake event, when "Duo" turned out to be really Mimic, Lanolin realizes Silver and Whisper were right, and how she acted. Many days after the destruction of Restoration HQ, when Silver finds the Diamond Cutters with Jewel, Belle and Motobud, Lanolin immediately turns her head away as soon as he shows up, apparently ashamed after the way she treated him. Lanolin genuinely apologizes to her friends, apologizing the most to Whisper and Silver, he forgives her and thanks her.
Mimic the Octopus[]
Lanolin defending "Duo" from Silver, from Sonic the Hedgehog #63.
Although Lanolin hadn't met Mimic the Octopus in person, she knows from Whisper's stories that he is a criminal and a selfish manipulator. When Mimic disguised himself as "Duo the Cat" to infiltrate the Restoration by Clutch's orders, Lanolin, as well as Tangle and Whisper, didn't realize it was him and didn't suspect him at first. Unfortunately, Lanolin fell to Mimic's manipulation, which affected her behavior and her friendships. Such as during the Diamond Cutters' training exercise in Green Hill, "Duo" made himself look like a victim after ditching Silver, and Lanolin put out the blame on the latter. He did the same when Silver and Whisper suspected Mimic's disguise; Lanolin didn't believe them and Mimic didn't drop the act, which caused Silver to get kicked out of the team by her vote.
Lanolin completely in shock on discovering "Duo" was Mimic, from Sonic the Hedgehog #75.
Things got worse during the Clean Sweepstakes event, as Lanolin was harsh and cold to Sonic, Tails and Amy for their malfunctioned gears and "Duo" supported her decision. He kept supporting her choices, claiming the Diamond Cutters were lucky to have her as their leader. "Duo" even made Tangle and Whisper look untrustworthy, revealing they knew Sonic was the Phantom Rider but kept it a secret, even saying directly he wasn't sure he could trust them. Despite this, Lanolin still treated "Duo" a little cold once in a while, such as telling him to stay close when he stayed behind.
However, when the Diamond Cutters discovered "Duo" really was Mimic all along, Tangle and Whisper immediately chased after him but Lanolin stayed behind, looking in complete shock and disbelief. She realized how she was manipulated and how her behavior had changed. Many days later, Lanolin admitted how her desire to make things right made her lose sight of the process and the people, and that this made her an easy target for Mimic's manipulation.
Friends/allies[]
- Amy Rose
- Blaze the Cat
- K-TBR 199.2
- Motobud
- Omochao
- Restoration
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Team Chaotix
- Team Dark
- Wisps
- Maggie (companion)
Neutral[]
Enemies[]
- Clutch the Opossum
- Eggman Empire
- Kitsunami the Fennec
- Rough the Skunk
- Surge the Tenrec
- Tumble the Skunk
- Mimic the Octopus
- Zombots
Trivia[]
Lanolin (bottom left) on an early cover of Sonic the Hedgehog #30.
- Lanolin appears on an early draft of Sonic the Hedgehog #30's A cover, which was done by Adam Bryce Thomas. However, she was edited out of the final version.[33]
- The outfit that she wore during her first days of work at the Restoration HQ is slightly similar to Amy's outfit when she was younger.
- Currently, Lanolin is one out of two members from the Diamond Cutters to not appear in Sonic Forces: Speed Battle, the other being "Duo the Cat".
- According to Ian, the reason why Lanolin has a supporting role in story arcs starting with Sonic the Hedgehog #57 was mostly due to how Lanolin's appearances has evolved until she started gaining a role in the story.[34]
- Lanolin shares her name with Lanolin Sheep, a secondary character of the comic strip U.S. Acres who is perhaps best-known for her appearances in the Garfield and Friends TV show.
- The reason for the two characters sharing this name is because lanolin is a type of "wool grease" secreted by real-world sheep, which keeps the sheep's skin moist, moisturized, and helps the sheep's skin heal after being sheared.
Gallery[]
Artwork[]
Model sheets[]
Concept artwork[]
| Gallery |
|---|
 Art by Adam Bryce Thomas and Evan Stanley.  Art by Adam Bryce Thomas and Evan Stanley.   "Riders" outfit reference. Art and design by Min Ho Kim and Aaron Hammerstrom. |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 ABT on Twitter. Twitter (12 April 2018). Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved on 6 March 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Sonic the Hedgehog #58, "Urban Warfare, part 2"
- ↑ Lanolin's model sheet.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 Sonic the Hedgehog #57, "Urban Warfare, Part 1"
- ↑ Ian Flynn on Twitter. Twitter (18 January 2020). Archived from the original on 18 January 2020. Retrieved on 6 March 2021.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Sonic the Hedgehog #2, "Fallout, Part 2"
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Sonic the Hedgehog #13, "Calling Card"
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Sonic the Hedgehog #24, "The Last One Out"
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Sonic the Hedgehog #26, "All or Nothing, Part 1"
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Sonic the Hedgehog #31, "Recovery, Part 1"
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Sonic the Hedgehog #35, "Chao Races and Badnik Bases, Part 3"
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Sonic the Hedgehog #37, "Test Run, Part 1"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #20, "Crisis City, Part 2"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2020, "Big's Big Adventure"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #25, "A Sudden Shift"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #41, "Zeti Hunt, Part 1"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #46, "Trial by Fire, Part 2"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2024, "Shattered Diamonds".
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #59, "Urban Warfare, Part 3".
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #61, "Urban Warfare, Part 5".
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Sonic the Hedgehog #62
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #63, "Misadventures, Part 1".
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Sonic the Hedgehog #64, "Misadventures, Part 2".
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #67, "Second Chances".
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #69, "Story one"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #70, "Story two"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #71, "Story three"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #73, "Story five"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #74, "Story six"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #75, "Story seven"
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 Sonic the Hedgehog: The IDW Comic Art Collection, "The IDW Comic Art Collection".
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #76, “Scattered Pieces, Part 1"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #30 Cover A inks
- ↑ BumbleKast Mini! for February 7th, 2023 - Ian Flynn Q&A Podcast. YouTube (7 February 2023). Retrieved on 7 February 2023.
External links[]
- Lanolin the Sheep at IDW Sonic Hub Wiki, the IDW Sonic wiki.
