Sonic Wiki Zone

Know something we don't about Sonic? Don't hesitate in signing up today! It's fast, free, and easy, and you will get a wealth of new abilities, and it also hides your IP address from public view. We are in need of content, and everyone has something to contribute!

If you have an account, please log in.

READ MORE

Sonic Wiki Zone
Register
Sonic Wiki Zone
(46 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown)
Line 18: Line 18:
   
 
===Powers and traits===
 
===Powers and traits===
 
When the Metal Virus makes contact with active organic tissue, be it either in flora or fauna, the virus will spread across the organic matter of the subject and transmute it into a metal-like substance.<ref name="StH13"/>
   
 
[[File:RoughGrowBack.png|thumb|235px|left|Zombot Rough receiving a hit and then recovering from it, from [[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 15|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #15]].]]
When the Metal Virus makes contact with active organic tissue, be it either in flora or fauna, the virus will spread across the organic matter of the subject and transmute it into a metal-like substance.<ref name="StH13"/>
 
 
In the case of fauna that have been transmuted by the virus, their bodies' organic matter will be fully transmuted into a liquid metal composition.<ref name="StH15"/> This makes their bodies more durable than they were before.<ref name="StH17"/> In addition, the subjects receive the power to manipulate their own liquid body composition, allowing them to instantly reconstitute and restore their bodies whenever they receive a damaging blow.<ref name="StH15">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 15|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #15]], "Patient Zero"</ref> Also, the virus will rob the subjects of their free will and any personality traits, essentially turning them into soulless machines that are programmed to be subservient to [[Doctor Eggman (IDW)|Dr. Eggman]]'s orders.<ref name="StH13"/><ref name="StH15"/> The virus also causes the infected subjects to display aggressive tendencies without direction.<ref name="StH13"/> Faunas that have been fully converted by the Metal Virus are referred to as "[[Zombot]]s", a term originally coined by [[Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW)|Sonic]].<ref name="StH15"/>
 
[[File:RoughGrowBack.png|thumb|200px|left|A Zombot receiving a hit and then recovering from it, from [[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 15|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #15]].]]
 
In the case of fauna that have been transmuted by the virus, their bodies' organic matter will be fully transmuted into a liquid metal composition.<ref name="StH15"/> This makes their bodies more durable than they were before.<ref name="StH17"/> In addition, the subjects receive the power to manipulate their own liquid body composition, allowing them to instantly reconstitute and restore their bodies whenever they receive a damaging blow.<ref name="StH15">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 15|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #15]], "Patient Zero"</ref> Also, the virus will rob the subjects of their free will and any personality traits, essentially turning them into soulless machines that are programmed to be subservient to [[Doctor Eggman (IDW)|Dr. Eggman]]'s orders.<ref name="StH13"/><ref name="StH15"/> The virus also causes the infected subjects to display aggressive tendencies without direction.<ref name="StH13"/> Faunas that have been fully converted by the Metal Virus are referred to as "[[Zombot]]s".<ref name="StH15"/>
 
   
 
The virus can make slight changes to a subject's anatomy. This includes making a plant's parts more mechanical in shape and granting Zombots sharp claws and red eyes.<ref name="StH13"/>
 
The virus can make slight changes to a subject's anatomy. This includes making a plant's parts more mechanical in shape and granting Zombots sharp claws and red eyes.<ref name="StH13"/>
   
[[File:MetalVirusInfection.png|thumb|200px|right|The Metal Virus infecting a [[Ricky (IDW)|Ricky]], from [[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 14|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #14]].]]
+
[[File:MetalVirusInfection.png|thumb|250px|right|The Metal Virus infecting a [[Ricky (IDW)|Ricky]], from [[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 14|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #14]].]]
Like an actual virus, the Metal Virus is contagious, and its infection can be transferred immediately through the slightest touch with subjects infected with the virus.<ref name="StH13"/> The Metal Virus' rate of infection depends on the situation though. Full saturation in the virus causes an immediate and total transmutation, while infections received through touch from infected subjects will spread at a considerable slower rate.<ref name="StH13"/> However, repeated physical exposure to Zombots will speed up the process.<ref name="StH14">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 14|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #14]], "Misdirection"</ref>
+
Like an actual virus, the Metal Virus is contagious, and its infection can be transferred immediately through the slightest touch with subjects infected with the virus.<ref name="StH13"/> The Metal Virus' rate of infection depends on the situation though. Full saturation in the virus causes an immediate and total transmutation, while infections received through touch from infected subjects will spread at a considerable slower rate.<ref name="StH13"/> However, repeated physical exposure to Zombots will speed up the process.<ref name="StH14">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 14|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #14]], "Misdirection"</ref> It should be noted that the Metal Virus can also inflict a fair amount of pain on the victim.<ref name="StH24">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 24|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #24]], "The Last One Out"</ref>
   
Owning to its virus-like nature, the Metal Virus is capable of evolving through mutations in its coding, which are brought about by spreading through exposure. As shown so far, these mutations have caused the Zombots created from the Metal Virus to grow steadily more disobedient of Eggman's orders.<ref name="StH18">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 18|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #18]], "Victims"</ref>
+
Owing to its virus-like nature, the Metal Virus is capable of evolving through mutations in its coding, which are brought about by spreading through exposure. As shown so far, these mutations have caused the Zombots created from the Metal Virus to grow steadily more disobedient of Eggman's orders.<ref name="StH18">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 18|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #18]], "Victims"</ref>
   
  +
[[File:Tangle's Final Hours.jpeg|thumb|150px|left|Tangle's painful transformation into a Zombot, [[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 24|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #24]].]]
While no known cure for the Metal Virus has been currently discovered, speed seems to counteract it to a degree. [[Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW)|Sonic the Hedgehog]], for example, is able to drive the Metal Virus into remission by burning it off and keeping it in check by moving at super speeds while his infection is still underway. However, after he started to slow down, he had a relapse, with spots on his body starting to become metallic again.<ref name="StH16"/>
 
  +
As the infected subjects turn into Zombots, the subjects experience a sharp pain as the victims' genetic coding is rewritten at a molecular level, forcing their body mass to be transformed into the Metal Virus.
   
 
As stated by Eggman, there is no known vaccine for the Metal Virus; however, speed seems to counteract it to a degree. Sonic, for example, is able to drive the Metal Virus into remission by burning it off and keeping it in check by moving at super speeds while his infection is still underway. However, after he started to slow down, he had a relapse, with spots on his body starting to become metallic again.<ref name="StH16" /> Later on, it was discovered by [[Gemerl (IDW)|Gemerl]] that Sonic's infection was evolving further so that his speed was losing its ability to reverse its effects.<ref name="StH24">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 24|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #24]], "The Last One Out"</ref>
The Metal Virus can only infect living flora and fauna. It cannot transmute processed or inorganic matter, such as food, processed wood, metal or stone.<ref name="StH13"/>
 
  +
 
The Metal Virus can only infect living flora and fauna. It cannot transmute processed or inorganic matter, such as food, processed wood, metal or stone.<ref name="StH13" /> Clothing worn by living beings appears to be an exception, however.
  +
  +
[[File:VirusBreakdown.png|thumb|250px|Eggman explains the eventuality of the Metal Virus, from [[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 25|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #25]].]]
  +
Eggman later reveals that as the Metal Virus mutates, it becomes unsustainable; any infected heterotrophic eukaryote cells will eventually suffer a form of apoptosis. He goes on to say that autotrophic cells will endure slightly longer but not by much. In other words, those infected by the virus will eventually disintegrate, but not for another two hundred years.<ref name="StH25">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 25|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #25]], "A Sudden Shift"</ref>
   
 
==History==
 
==History==
 
===Past===
 
===Past===
The Metal Virus was created at some point by [[Doctor Eggman (IDW)|Dr. Eggman]]. However, it was put on file for unknown reasons.<ref name="StH12">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 12|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #12]], "The Cost of the Battle for Angel Island"</ref>
+
The Metal Virus was created at some point by [[Doctor Eggman (IDW)|Dr. Eggman]]. However, it was put on file as his research found that as the Metal Virus mutates, it becomes unsustainable.<ref name="StH12">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 12|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #12]], "The Cost of the Battle for Angel Island"</ref>
   
 
===Battle For Angel Island===
 
===Battle For Angel Island===
After having his memory restored, [[Doctor Eggman (IDW)|Dr. Eggman]] began his plans to synthesize the Metal Virus, with the intention of unleashing it upon the world to make an army for himself and make everyone suffer for the indignities he endured while he was an amnesiac.<ref name="StH12"/><ref name="StH13"/>
+
After having his memory restored, [[Doctor Eggman (IDW)|Dr. Eggman]] began his plans to synthesize the Metal Virus, with the intention of unleashing it upon the world to make an army for himself and make everyone suffer for the indignities he endured while he was an amnesiac.<ref name="StH12" /><ref name="StH13" />
   
 
===Infection===
 
===Infection===
[[File:Metal Virus transmute.png|thumb|left|200px|A Pocky being transmuted by the Metal Virus, from [[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 13|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #13]].]]
+
[[File:Metal Virus transmute.png|thumb|left|250px|A Pocky being transmuted by the Metal Virus, from [[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 13|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #13]].]]
After making his first Metal Virus batch, Eggman began experimenting with it to see the full extent of its abilities. The first test subject was a flower, which it successfully transmuted. The second test was with vertebrate specimens. Eggman covered a [[Pocky (IDW)|Pocky]] with the Metal Virus, causing an instant transmutation. For the next test, Eggman had the [[Zombot]] Pocky touch a [[Picky (IDW)|Picky]], causing the virus' infection to gradual transmute the Picky. After observing the behavior of the Zombot Pocky, Eggman moved onto test four, which involved having a [[Ricky (IDW)|Ricky]] pick up the transmuted flower and make it touch various objects. The Metal Virus showed no signs of transmuting the objects, but having touched the flower, the Ricky was infected with the virus as well. Deeming the Metal Virus a success, Eggman began implementing it into the next phase of his plan.<ref name="StH13">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 13|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #13]], "Calling Card"</ref> However, Eggman soon noticed how slow the Metal Virus was to transmute subjects who had been infected with it through touch with infected subjects, which made Eggman worry that the Metal Virus could not be spread very far. As a test to see if greater exposure to the virus could move things along, Eggman had the Zombot Pocky touch the partially-infected Ricky repeatedly. As expected, this caused the infection of the Ricky to spread faster, which Eggman noted was beneficial and began planning to administer the Metal Virus in different locations. When [[Rough the Skunk|Rough]] and [[Tumble the Skunk|Tumble]] then came to Eggman to demand new weapons to use for their revenge against [[Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW)|Sonic]], Eggman got an idea and told them that "his latest weapon just got out of beta".<ref name="StH14"/>
+
After making his first Metal Virus batch, Eggman began experimenting with it to see the full extent of its abilities. The first test subject was a flower, which it successfully transmuted. The second test was with vertebrate specimens. Eggman covered a [[Pocky (IDW)|Pocky]] with the Metal Virus, causing an instant transmutation. For the next test, Eggman had the [[Zombot]] Pocky touch a [[Picky (IDW)|Picky]], causing the virus' infection to gradual transmute the Picky. After observing the behavior of the Zombot Pocky, Eggman moved onto test four, which involved having a [[Ricky (IDW)|Ricky]] pick up the transmuted flower and make it touch various objects. The Metal Virus showed no signs of transmuting the objects, but having touched the flower, the Ricky was infected with the virus as well. Deeming the Metal Virus a success, Eggman began implementing it into the next phase of his plan.<ref name="StH13">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 13|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #13]], "Calling Card"</ref> However, Eggman soon noticed how slow the Metal Virus was to transmute subjects who had been infected with it through touch with infected subjects, which made Eggman worry that the Metal Virus could not be spread very far. As a test to see if greater exposure to the virus could move things along, Eggman had the Zombot Pocky touch the partially-infected Ricky repeatedly. As expected, this caused the infection of the Ricky to spread faster, which Eggman noted was beneficial and began planning to administer the Metal Virus in different locations. When [[Rough the Skunk|Rough]] and [[Tumble the Skunk|Tumble]] then came to Eggman to demand new weapons to use for their revenge against [[Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW)|Sonic]], Eggman got an idea and told them that "his latest weapon just got out of beta".<ref name="StH14" />
   
[[File:FaceshipMixingRoom.png|thumb|200px|The Metal Virus factory on the Faceship, from [[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 16|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #16]].]]
+
[[File:FaceshipMixingRoom.png|thumb|250px|The Metal Virus factory on the Faceship, from [[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 16|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #16]].]]
Secretly plotting to turn the skunk brothers into Zombots when they faced Sonic, Eggman prepared backpacks loaded with the Metal Virus which he told Rough and Tumble were back-ups they should open when Sonic got the upper hand. Facing Sonic and [[Amy Rose (IDW)|Amy Rose]] in [[Echo Mine]] soon after, Rough and Tumble would open their backpacks, causing the Metal Virus to gush over them and turn them into Zombots. Although Sonic got rid of Rough and Tumble by knocking them into a refuse pit, he got infected with the Metal Virus in the process. Meanwhile, Eggman got ready to share the Metal Virus with the world.<ref name="StH15"/> Sonic soon discovered though that he could burn off the virus and keep it in check with his speed. In the meantime, Eggman, Starline, [[Orbot (IDW)|Orbot]], and [[Cubot (IDW)|Cubot]] took off in the [[Faceship]]. On the Faceship, Eggman had a room dedicated to creating the Metal Virus en masse. He had also dedicated a large hatch in the Faceship to distribute the Metal Virus from a high altitude. Soon, the Faceship arrived at Windmill Village. There, the Faceship dowsed the villagers in the Metal Virus, quickly turning the population in Zombots. Following up on this, Eggman sent the infected villagers and animals off to infect other people with the Metal Virus.<ref name="StH16">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 16|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #16]], "Infection"</ref>
+
Secretly plotting to turn the skunk brothers into Zombots when they faced Sonic, Eggman prepared backpacks loaded with the Metal Virus which he told Rough and Tumble were back-ups they should open if Sonic got the upper hand. Facing Sonic and [[Amy Rose (IDW)|Amy Rose]] in [[Echo Mine]] soon after, Rough and Tumble would open their backpacks, causing the Metal Virus to gush over them and turn them into Zombots. Although Sonic got rid of Rough and Tumble by knocking them into a refuse pit, he got infected with the Metal Virus in the process. Meanwhile, Eggman got ready to share the Metal Virus with the world.<ref name="StH15" /> Sonic soon discovered that he could burn off the virus and keep it in check with his speed. In the meantime, Eggman, Starline, [[Orbot (IDW)|Orbot]], and [[Cubot (IDW)|Cubot]] took off in the [[Faceship]]. On the Faceship, Eggman had a room dedicated to creating the Metal Virus en masse. He had also dedicated a large hatch in the Faceship to distribute the Metal Virus from a high altitude. Soon, the Faceship arrived at Windmill Village. There, the Faceship doused the villagers in the Metal Virus, quickly turning the population in Zombots. Following up on this, Eggman sent the infected villagers and animals off to infect other people with the Metal Virus.<ref name="StH16">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 16|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #16]], "Infection"</ref>
   
 
===Crisis City===
 
===Crisis City===
[[File:FloralForestVillage.png|left|thumb|200px|The Faceship pouring out a large batch of the Metal Virus into Floral Forest Village, from [[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 18|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #18]].]]
+
[[File:FloralForestVillage.png|left|thumb|240px|The Faceship pouring out a large batch of the Metal Virus into Floral Forest Village, from [[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 18|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #18]].]]
Eggman next went to [[Seaside City]] where he spilled the Metal Virus into the city with his [[Faceship]], transforming many of the residents into [[Zombot]]s. However, a small part of the population was saved by the [[Chaotix (IDW)|Chaotix]] and escaped onboard a [[Battleship|Rescue Shuttle]] with [[Vector the Crocodile (IDW)|Vector]] and [[Espio the Chameleon (IDW)|Espio]]. [[Charmy Bee (IDW)|Charmy]], on the other hand, tried to save one of the survivors who had been partially infected with the Metal Virus. However, he was caught by Zombots, who overwhelmed him with their numbers and infected him with the Metal Virus.<ref name="StH17">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 17|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #17]], "Plague"</ref> Continuing onward, Eggman went to [[Floral Forest Village]] where he created another Zombot outbreak by pouring the Metal Virus agent into the village from his Faceship. However, when the new Zombots ignored Eggman's orders, [[Orbot (IDW)|Orbot]] revealed that there had been a steady decline in Zombots obeying Eggman's orders. This made Eggman theorize that the Metal Virus's coding had begun mutating due to the virus spreading through exposure. While [[Doctor Starline|Starline]] got worried, Eggman remained certain he could regain control of the virus. Meanwhile, the Metal Virus steady spread across the village. While keeping the Zombots at bay, [[Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW)|Sonic]]'s own Metal Virus infection grew stronger due to his exposure to the Zombots. Meanwhile, [[Cheese (IDW)|Cheese]] and [[Chocola (IDW)|Chocola]] got infected with the Metal Virus while trying to protect their family from Zombots, and quickly became Zombots themselves. Regardless, Sonic and [[Gemerl (IDW)|Gemerl]] managed to get villagers like [[Cream the Rabbit (IDW)|Cream]] and [[Vanilla the Rabbit (IDW)|Vanilla]] to safety.<ref name="StH18"/>
+
Eggman next went to [[Seaside City]] where he spilled the Metal Virus into the city with his [[Faceship]], transforming many of the residents into [[Zombot]]s. However, a small part of the population was saved by the [[Chaotix (IDW)|Chaotix]] and escaped aboard a [[Battleship|Rescue Shuttle]] with [[Vector the Crocodile (IDW)|Vector]] and [[Espio the Chameleon (IDW)|Espio]]. [[Charmy Bee (IDW)|Charmy]], on the other hand, tried to save one of the survivors who had been partially infected with the Metal Virus. However, he was caught by Zombots, who overwhelmed him with their numbers and infected him with the Metal Virus.<ref name="StH17">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 17|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #17]], "Plague"</ref> Continuing onward, Eggman went to [[Floral Forest Village]] where he created another Zombot outbreak by pouring the Metal Virus agent into the village from his Faceship. However, when the new Zombots ignored Eggman's orders, [[Orbot (IDW)|Orbot]] revealed that there had been a steady decline in Zombot obedience. This made Eggman theorize that the Metal Virus's coding had begun mutating due to the virus spreading through exposure. While [[Doctor Starline|Starline]] got worried, Eggman remained certain he could regain control of the virus. Meanwhile, the Metal Virus steadily spread across the village. While keeping the Zombots at bay, [[Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW)|Sonic]]'s own Metal Virus infection grew stronger due to his exposure to the Zombots. Meanwhile, [[Cheese (IDW)|Cheese]] and [[Chocola (IDW)|Chocola]] got infected with the Metal Virus while trying to protect their family from Zombots, and quickly became Zombots themselves. Regardless, Sonic and [[Gemerl (IDW)|Gemerl]] managed to get villagers like [[Cream the Rabbit (IDW)|Cream]] and [[Vanilla the Rabbit (IDW)|Vanilla]] to safety.<ref name="StH18" />
  +
 
The next location to receive a batch of the Metal Virus from Eggman's Faceship was [[Sunset City]], which created a colossal Zombot outbreak. While helping the survivors, Sonic fought through the Zombots, which only made his Metal Virus infection grow worse. [[Shadow the Hedgehog (IDW)|Shadow]] later engaged the Zombots. While Shadow proved more resilient to the Metal Virus (presumably due to his "Ultimate Lifeform" physiology), it ultimately infected him too after he touched too many Zombots. In the end, Shadow was overwhelmed by Zombots, allowing the Metal Virus to turn him into one too. The Zombot Shadow began to rampage and fight against Sonic and his growing infection. After [[Rouge the Bat (IDW)|Rouge]] took off with the uninfected civilians, [[E-123 Omega (IDW)|Omega]] stayed behind to fight more Zombots. Soon, Sonic and Omega found themselves by the Sunset City Zombots but they were saved by [[Miles "Tails" Prower (IDW)|Tails]] and [[Silver the Hedgehog (IDW)|Silver]].<ref name="StH19">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 19|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #19]], "Crisis City, Part 1"</ref><ref name="StH20">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 20|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #20]], "Crisis City, Part 2"</ref>
  +
  +
===The Last Minute===
  +
Another Zombot outbreak occurred at [[Central City (IDW)|Central City]] after Dr. Eggman used the Faceship to distribute a batch of Metal Virus there. One hour later, Zombots freely roamed the streets; [[Tangle the Lemur]] and [[Whisper the Wolf]] fended off many of them to help uninfected citizens evacuate the city. The Metal Virus had also reached [[Ice Paradise (IDW)|Ice Paradise]], with a number of Zombots engaging Silver in battle as the city was engulfed in flames.<ref name="StH21">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 21|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #21]], "The Last Minute, Part 1"</ref>
  +
  +
[[File:IDWAmy22.jpg|thumb|240px|Amy fighting a horde of Zombots, from [[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 22|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #22]].]]
  +
Tails ended up taking shelter in his lab, both to avoid the Zombots and to study the Metal Virus in hopes of finding a cure. He briefly ventured outside in order to retrieve a sample of the Metal Virus; while he was not attacked outright, he caught the attention of Cheese and Chocola. Meanwhile, [[Vector the Crocodile (IDW)|Vector]] and [[Espio the Chameleon (IDW)|Espio]] returned to [[Restoration HQ]] from a mission in [[List of unseen content in TV and comics#IDW Sonic the Hedgehog|Pine Grove Village]] after it had suffered a random Zombot outbreak. In addition to several refugees, the pair also managed to find the Zombot [[Charmy Bee (IDW)|Charmy]] and imprisoned him in a [[Containment Bubble]], planning to use him as a primary test subject for any cures that may be developed. At the HQ, one of the refugees from Pine Grove Village revealed that he had actually been infected and swiftly turned into a Zombot. This caused a panic among the refugees and the tumult caused Charmy to break out of his Containment Bubble. The virus quickly spread among the refugees, including [[Vanilla the Rabbit (IDW)|Vanilla]]. Just before Vector attempted to close the gates to the HQ's launch bay, Charmy flew out, targeting the one Rescue Shuttle the Restoration planned to use. Vector lunged at Charmy and pinned him down, getting infected in the process. Knowing he was lost to the virus, Vector had Gemerl close the gates behind him as he kept the Zombots back so that everyone else could escape.<ref name="StH21" /><ref name="StH22">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 22|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #22]], "The Last Minute, Part 2"</ref>
  +
  +
Back in Central City, Cheese and Chocola cut the power of Tails' lab just before the fox cub could finish his cure for the Metal Virus. Tails tried to retrieve his computer's server blades to use later at Restoration HQ, but he was interrupted by a Zombot who tore through the lab's entrance. The Zombot destroyed Tails' server blades and was followed by several other Zombots; this forced Tails to use his [[Cyclone (IDW)|Cyclone]] to ram his way out of the lab. Cheese and Chocola attempted to follow Tails, but the fox cub left them behind in the dust with his evasive maneuvers. Tails soon came to the aid of Tangle and Whisper to fend off Zombots while they guarded the uninfected citizens at the city's dock. A [[Battleship|Rescue Shuttle]] soon arrived and the citizens boarded while Tangle and Whisper drove the Zombots away from the ship. The shuttle took off as Tails' Cyclone was overwhelmed by the Zombot horde; realizing that his mech was lost, the fox cub left it to explode and flew himself to the shuttle.<ref name="StH21" /><ref name="StH22">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 22|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #22]], "The Last Minute, Part 2"</ref>
  +
  +
[[File:TangleZombot.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Tangle becoming a Zombot, from [[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 24|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #24]].]]
  +
Another Zombot outbreak occurred at [[Barricade Town]]. The Zombots in the town soon found Sonic and Dr. Eggman there after they fell from up high. They almost attacked both of them but they were commanded to lunge at Sonic only by a radio frequency that Dr. Starline found in Eggman's [[Egg Mobile (IDW)|Egg Mobile]]. After Sonic destroyed the Egg Mobile, Eggman and Starline retreated before the Zombots could attack them. Following that, the Faceship distributed more of the Metal Virus at [[Spiral Hill Village]]. Sonic himself quickly escaped the horde of Zombots in Barricade Town and rushed to Spiral Hill Village to help with the evacuation. During this outbreak, Tangle went to the Mineral Museum to check up on Jewel, whom she discovered had been turned into a Zombot. Tangle was forced to trap Jewel, but not before being infected herself, forcing her to hold back against the other Zombots in the museum until Sonic arrived. After Sonic and Tangle blocked off the Zombot horde using Tangle's tail as a tripwire, the lemur opted to sacrifice herself and remain behind. As Sonic delivered the bad news and fled with the other survivors, Tangle fought against the remaining Zombots with all of her might until she succumbed to the Metal Virus.<ref name="StH23">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 23|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #23]], "The Last Minute, Part 3"</ref><ref name="StH24" />
   
  +
===All or Nothing===
The next location to receive a batch of the Metal Virus from Eggman's Faceship was [[Sunset City]], which created a colossal Zombot outbreak. While helping the survivors, Sonic fought through the Zombots, which only made his Metal Virus infection grow worse. [[Shadow the Hedgehog (IDW)|Shadow]] later engaged the Zombots. While Shadow proved more resilient to the Metal Virus (presumably due to his "Ultimate Lifeform" physiology), it ultimately infected him too after he touched too many Zombots. In the end, Shadow was overwhelmed by Zombots, allowing the Metal Virus to turn him into one too. The Zombot Shadow began to rampage and fight against Sonic and his growing infection. After [[Rouge the Bat (IDW)|Rouge]] took off with the uninfected civilians, [[E-123 Omega (IDW)|Omega]] stayed behind to fight more Zombots. Soon, Sonic and Omega found themselves by the Sunset City Zombots but they were saved by [[Miles "Tails" Prower (IDW)|Tails]] and [[Silver the Hedgehog (IDW)|Silver]].<ref name ="StH19">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 19|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #19]], "Crisis City, Part 1"</ref><ref name="StH20">[[IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 20|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #20]], "Crisis City, Part 2"</ref>
 
  +
After Eggman, Starline and [[Metal Sonic (IDW)|Metal Sonic]] were forced to flee from the [[Deadly Six (IDW)|Deadly Six]] on the Faceship, they were transported via a Warp Portal to [[Angel Island (IDW)|Angel Island]] and met up with several survivors of the Metal Virus. Soon, Eggman revealed that as the Metal Virus mutated, it became unsustainable; any infected heterotrophic eukaryote cells will eventually suffer a form of apoptosis. He went on to say that autotrophic cells will endure slightly longer but not by much. In other words, those infected by the virus will eventually disintegrate, but not for another two hundred years. Meanwhile, the Deadly Six equipped themselves with the [[Chaos Emerald (IDW)|Chaos Emeralds]] and set off into the world to control thousands of Zombots in an attempt to infect the entire world with the Metal Virus.<ref name="StH25"/>
   
 
==Trivia==
 
==Trivia==

Revision as of 21:42, 4 March 2020

Template:IDW

Even with the slightest exposure, my synthetic concoction spreads across organic tissue, converting it into my robotic slave! It's an army that builds itself!


Dr. Eggman, Sonic the Hedgehog #13

The Metal Virus[1] is an object that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by IDW Publishing. It is a synthetically concocted virus created by Dr. Eggman that transmutes organic matter into metallic matter.

Description

Appearance

At a microscopic level, the Metal Virus consists of nanobots that resemble bacteriophages. As such, they appear as spheres with the Eggman Empire decal emblazoned on them and bodies with six legs each. When observed and contained on the other hand, the virus appears like a gray metallic liquid.

Powers and traits

When the Metal Virus makes contact with active organic tissue, be it either in flora or fauna, the virus will spread across the organic matter of the subject and transmute it into a metal-like substance.[1]

RoughGrowBack

Zombot Rough receiving a hit and then recovering from it, from Sonic the Hedgehog #15.

In the case of fauna that have been transmuted by the virus, their bodies' organic matter will be fully transmuted into a liquid metal composition.[2] This makes their bodies more durable than they were before.[3] In addition, the subjects receive the power to manipulate their own liquid body composition, allowing them to instantly reconstitute and restore their bodies whenever they receive a damaging blow.[2] Also, the virus will rob the subjects of their free will and any personality traits, essentially turning them into soulless machines that are programmed to be subservient to Dr. Eggman's orders.[1][2] The virus also causes the infected subjects to display aggressive tendencies without direction.[1] Faunas that have been fully converted by the Metal Virus are referred to as "Zombots", a term originally coined by Sonic.[2]

The virus can make slight changes to a subject's anatomy. This includes making a plant's parts more mechanical in shape and granting Zombots sharp claws and red eyes.[1]

MetalVirusInfection

The Metal Virus infecting a Ricky, from Sonic the Hedgehog #14.

Like an actual virus, the Metal Virus is contagious, and its infection can be transferred immediately through the slightest touch with subjects infected with the virus.[1] The Metal Virus' rate of infection depends on the situation though. Full saturation in the virus causes an immediate and total transmutation, while infections received through touch from infected subjects will spread at a considerable slower rate.[1] However, repeated physical exposure to Zombots will speed up the process.[4] It should be noted that the Metal Virus can also inflict a fair amount of pain on the victim.[5]

Owing to its virus-like nature, the Metal Virus is capable of evolving through mutations in its coding, which are brought about by spreading through exposure. As shown so far, these mutations have caused the Zombots created from the Metal Virus to grow steadily more disobedient of Eggman's orders.[6]

File:Tangle's Final Hours.jpeg

Tangle's painful transformation into a Zombot, Sonic the Hedgehog #24.

As the infected subjects turn into Zombots, the subjects experience a sharp pain as the victims' genetic coding is rewritten at a molecular level, forcing their body mass to be transformed into the Metal Virus.

As stated by Eggman, there is no known vaccine for the Metal Virus; however, speed seems to counteract it to a degree. Sonic, for example, is able to drive the Metal Virus into remission by burning it off and keeping it in check by moving at super speeds while his infection is still underway. However, after he started to slow down, he had a relapse, with spots on his body starting to become metallic again.[7] Later on, it was discovered by Gemerl that Sonic's infection was evolving further so that his speed was losing its ability to reverse its effects.[5]

The Metal Virus can only infect living flora and fauna. It cannot transmute processed or inorganic matter, such as food, processed wood, metal or stone.[1] Clothing worn by living beings appears to be an exception, however.

VirusBreakdown

Eggman explains the eventuality of the Metal Virus, from Sonic the Hedgehog #25.

Eggman later reveals that as the Metal Virus mutates, it becomes unsustainable; any infected heterotrophic eukaryote cells will eventually suffer a form of apoptosis. He goes on to say that autotrophic cells will endure slightly longer but not by much. In other words, those infected by the virus will eventually disintegrate, but not for another two hundred years.[8]

History

Past

The Metal Virus was created at some point by Dr. Eggman. However, it was put on file as his research found that as the Metal Virus mutates, it becomes unsustainable.[9]

Battle For Angel Island

After having his memory restored, Dr. Eggman began his plans to synthesize the Metal Virus, with the intention of unleashing it upon the world to make an army for himself and make everyone suffer for the indignities he endured while he was an amnesiac.[9][1]

Infection

Metal Virus transmute

A Pocky being transmuted by the Metal Virus, from Sonic the Hedgehog #13.

After making his first Metal Virus batch, Eggman began experimenting with it to see the full extent of its abilities. The first test subject was a flower, which it successfully transmuted. The second test was with vertebrate specimens. Eggman covered a Pocky with the Metal Virus, causing an instant transmutation. For the next test, Eggman had the Zombot Pocky touch a Picky, causing the virus' infection to gradual transmute the Picky. After observing the behavior of the Zombot Pocky, Eggman moved onto test four, which involved having a Ricky pick up the transmuted flower and make it touch various objects. The Metal Virus showed no signs of transmuting the objects, but having touched the flower, the Ricky was infected with the virus as well. Deeming the Metal Virus a success, Eggman began implementing it into the next phase of his plan.[1] However, Eggman soon noticed how slow the Metal Virus was to transmute subjects who had been infected with it through touch with infected subjects, which made Eggman worry that the Metal Virus could not be spread very far. As a test to see if greater exposure to the virus could move things along, Eggman had the Zombot Pocky touch the partially-infected Ricky repeatedly. As expected, this caused the infection of the Ricky to spread faster, which Eggman noted was beneficial and began planning to administer the Metal Virus in different locations. When Rough and Tumble then came to Eggman to demand new weapons to use for their revenge against Sonic, Eggman got an idea and told them that "his latest weapon just got out of beta".[4]

FaceshipMixingRoom

The Metal Virus factory on the Faceship, from Sonic the Hedgehog #16.

Secretly plotting to turn the skunk brothers into Zombots when they faced Sonic, Eggman prepared backpacks loaded with the Metal Virus which he told Rough and Tumble were back-ups they should open if Sonic got the upper hand. Facing Sonic and Amy Rose in Echo Mine soon after, Rough and Tumble would open their backpacks, causing the Metal Virus to gush over them and turn them into Zombots. Although Sonic got rid of Rough and Tumble by knocking them into a refuse pit, he got infected with the Metal Virus in the process. Meanwhile, Eggman got ready to share the Metal Virus with the world.[2] Sonic soon discovered that he could burn off the virus and keep it in check with his speed. In the meantime, Eggman, Starline, Orbot, and Cubot took off in the Faceship. On the Faceship, Eggman had a room dedicated to creating the Metal Virus en masse. He had also dedicated a large hatch in the Faceship to distribute the Metal Virus from a high altitude. Soon, the Faceship arrived at Windmill Village. There, the Faceship doused the villagers in the Metal Virus, quickly turning the population in Zombots. Following up on this, Eggman sent the infected villagers and animals off to infect other people with the Metal Virus.[7]

Crisis City

FloralForestVillage

The Faceship pouring out a large batch of the Metal Virus into Floral Forest Village, from Sonic the Hedgehog #18.

Eggman next went to Seaside City where he spilled the Metal Virus into the city with his Faceship, transforming many of the residents into Zombots. However, a small part of the population was saved by the Chaotix and escaped aboard a Rescue Shuttle with Vector and Espio. Charmy, on the other hand, tried to save one of the survivors who had been partially infected with the Metal Virus. However, he was caught by Zombots, who overwhelmed him with their numbers and infected him with the Metal Virus.[3] Continuing onward, Eggman went to Floral Forest Village where he created another Zombot outbreak by pouring the Metal Virus agent into the village from his Faceship. However, when the new Zombots ignored Eggman's orders, Orbot revealed that there had been a steady decline in Zombot obedience. This made Eggman theorize that the Metal Virus's coding had begun mutating due to the virus spreading through exposure. While Starline got worried, Eggman remained certain he could regain control of the virus. Meanwhile, the Metal Virus steadily spread across the village. While keeping the Zombots at bay, Sonic's own Metal Virus infection grew stronger due to his exposure to the Zombots. Meanwhile, Cheese and Chocola got infected with the Metal Virus while trying to protect their family from Zombots, and quickly became Zombots themselves. Regardless, Sonic and Gemerl managed to get villagers like Cream and Vanilla to safety.[6]

The next location to receive a batch of the Metal Virus from Eggman's Faceship was Sunset City, which created a colossal Zombot outbreak. While helping the survivors, Sonic fought through the Zombots, which only made his Metal Virus infection grow worse. Shadow later engaged the Zombots. While Shadow proved more resilient to the Metal Virus (presumably due to his "Ultimate Lifeform" physiology), it ultimately infected him too after he touched too many Zombots. In the end, Shadow was overwhelmed by Zombots, allowing the Metal Virus to turn him into one too. The Zombot Shadow began to rampage and fight against Sonic and his growing infection. After Rouge took off with the uninfected civilians, Omega stayed behind to fight more Zombots. Soon, Sonic and Omega found themselves by the Sunset City Zombots but they were saved by Tails and Silver.[10][11]

The Last Minute

Another Zombot outbreak occurred at Central City after Dr. Eggman used the Faceship to distribute a batch of Metal Virus there. One hour later, Zombots freely roamed the streets; Tangle the Lemur and Whisper the Wolf fended off many of them to help uninfected citizens evacuate the city. The Metal Virus had also reached Ice Paradise, with a number of Zombots engaging Silver in battle as the city was engulfed in flames.[12]

IDWAmy22

Amy fighting a horde of Zombots, from Sonic the Hedgehog #22.

Tails ended up taking shelter in his lab, both to avoid the Zombots and to study the Metal Virus in hopes of finding a cure. He briefly ventured outside in order to retrieve a sample of the Metal Virus; while he was not attacked outright, he caught the attention of Cheese and Chocola. Meanwhile, Vector and Espio returned to Restoration HQ from a mission in Pine Grove Village after it had suffered a random Zombot outbreak. In addition to several refugees, the pair also managed to find the Zombot Charmy and imprisoned him in a Containment Bubble, planning to use him as a primary test subject for any cures that may be developed. At the HQ, one of the refugees from Pine Grove Village revealed that he had actually been infected and swiftly turned into a Zombot. This caused a panic among the refugees and the tumult caused Charmy to break out of his Containment Bubble. The virus quickly spread among the refugees, including Vanilla. Just before Vector attempted to close the gates to the HQ's launch bay, Charmy flew out, targeting the one Rescue Shuttle the Restoration planned to use. Vector lunged at Charmy and pinned him down, getting infected in the process. Knowing he was lost to the virus, Vector had Gemerl close the gates behind him as he kept the Zombots back so that everyone else could escape.[12][13]

Back in Central City, Cheese and Chocola cut the power of Tails' lab just before the fox cub could finish his cure for the Metal Virus. Tails tried to retrieve his computer's server blades to use later at Restoration HQ, but he was interrupted by a Zombot who tore through the lab's entrance. The Zombot destroyed Tails' server blades and was followed by several other Zombots; this forced Tails to use his Cyclone to ram his way out of the lab. Cheese and Chocola attempted to follow Tails, but the fox cub left them behind in the dust with his evasive maneuvers. Tails soon came to the aid of Tangle and Whisper to fend off Zombots while they guarded the uninfected citizens at the city's dock. A Rescue Shuttle soon arrived and the citizens boarded while Tangle and Whisper drove the Zombots away from the ship. The shuttle took off as Tails' Cyclone was overwhelmed by the Zombot horde; realizing that his mech was lost, the fox cub left it to explode and flew himself to the shuttle.[12][13]

TangleZombot

Tangle becoming a Zombot, from Sonic the Hedgehog #24.

Another Zombot outbreak occurred at Barricade Town. The Zombots in the town soon found Sonic and Dr. Eggman there after they fell from up high. They almost attacked both of them but they were commanded to lunge at Sonic only by a radio frequency that Dr. Starline found in Eggman's Egg Mobile. After Sonic destroyed the Egg Mobile, Eggman and Starline retreated before the Zombots could attack them. Following that, the Faceship distributed more of the Metal Virus at Spiral Hill Village. Sonic himself quickly escaped the horde of Zombots in Barricade Town and rushed to Spiral Hill Village to help with the evacuation. During this outbreak, Tangle went to the Mineral Museum to check up on Jewel, whom she discovered had been turned into a Zombot. Tangle was forced to trap Jewel, but not before being infected herself, forcing her to hold back against the other Zombots in the museum until Sonic arrived. After Sonic and Tangle blocked off the Zombot horde using Tangle's tail as a tripwire, the lemur opted to sacrifice herself and remain behind. As Sonic delivered the bad news and fled with the other survivors, Tangle fought against the remaining Zombots with all of her might until she succumbed to the Metal Virus.[14][5]

All or Nothing

After Eggman, Starline and Metal Sonic were forced to flee from the Deadly Six on the Faceship, they were transported via a Warp Portal to Angel Island and met up with several survivors of the Metal Virus. Soon, Eggman revealed that as the Metal Virus mutated, it became unsustainable; any infected heterotrophic eukaryote cells will eventually suffer a form of apoptosis. He went on to say that autotrophic cells will endure slightly longer but not by much. In other words, those infected by the virus will eventually disintegrate, but not for another two hundred years. Meanwhile, the Deadly Six equipped themselves with the Chaos Emeralds and set off into the world to control thousands of Zombots in an attempt to infect the entire world with the Metal Virus.[8]

Trivia

  • The transmutation that the virus causes is similar to roboticization, a reoccurring process seen in the mainline Sonic the Hedgehog video games, the previous Archie Sonic the Hedgehog comics, the Sonic the Hedgehog television series and Sonic Underground.
    • Ian Flynn later revealed that the Metal Virus was originally made for the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series by Archie Comics as a replacement for the original Roboticizer in the reboot, and was going to be introduced in issue 300.[15]
  • Although the Metal Virus is supposed to not infect processed matter, it is somehow capable of affecting people's clothes as well.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Sonic the Hedgehog #13, "Calling Card"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Sonic the Hedgehog #15, "Patient Zero"
  3. 3.0 3.1 Sonic the Hedgehog #17, "Plague"
  4. 4.0 4.1 Sonic the Hedgehog #14, "Misdirection"
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Sonic the Hedgehog #24, "The Last One Out"
  6. 6.0 6.1 Sonic the Hedgehog #18, "Victims"
  7. 7.0 7.1 Sonic the Hedgehog #16, "Infection"
  8. 8.0 8.1 Sonic the Hedgehog #25, "A Sudden Shift"
  9. 9.0 9.1 Sonic the Hedgehog #12, "The Cost of the Battle for Angel Island"
  10. Sonic the Hedgehog #19, "Crisis City, Part 1"
  11. Sonic the Hedgehog #20, "Crisis City, Part 2"
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 Sonic the Hedgehog #21, "The Last Minute, Part 1"
  13. 13.0 13.1 Sonic the Hedgehog #22, "The Last Minute, Part 2"
  14. Sonic the Hedgehog #23, "The Last Minute, Part 3"
  15. BumbleKast #95 - Spider-Man: Far From Home. YouTube (8 July 2019). Retrieved on 16 July 2019.

External links