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Rough and Tumble having been turned into Zombots, from Sonic the Hedgehog #15.
Zombots,[1] also referred to as the infected,[1] is a term that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by IDW Publishing. It is a term applied to animals who has been infected by the Metal Virus and turned into soulless robots serving Dr. Eggman.
Concept and creation
According to Ian Flynn, the metal skin feature from Sonic Heroes served as the inspiration for the Zombots.[2]
Description
Anatomy
Zombots are made up entirely of a liquid metal composition, giving their skin and fur/hair a metallic sheen. As such, their bodies are highly mallable, as the simplest blunt impact can deform a Zombot's body.[1] They also possess red sclera, and may possess extra features, such as sharp claws.[3] Other than that, a Zombot retains the shape it had back when it was an organic being.
Characteristics and culture
Described as "robot zombies" by Sonic, the Zombots are completely silent, emotionless and without personalities. They are also completely unresponsive to outside verbal chatter; noticeably a Zombot Tumble was unresponsive to taunts from Sonic that would have sent the old Tumble into a fury. This has led Amy to call them "soulless". Having been deprived of their free will as well due to the Metal Virus, they instinctively obey only the orders of Dr. Eggman.[3][4]
As implied by Dr. Eggman, the Zombots do not need to eat and feel no hunger.[4]
Because the Metal Virus causes its victims to display aggressive tendencies without direction,[3] the Zombots are highly volatile and aggressive towards non-infected subjects. However, they appear to be at least docile towards their own kind.[5] When not engaged in combat or wandering around on their own, Zombots behave like they are in a mindless daze.[4]
Powers and abilities
A Zombot Tumble recovering from Sonic's assault, from Sonic the Hedgehog #15.
Zombots possess increased strength, seeing as Zombot Rough was able to make a rock wall crack with a single punch[1] and regular citizens were able to smash though a thick wooden door using only their fists.[4] As implied by Dr. Eggman, Zombots are also immune to illnesses and don't feel hungry.[4]
While the Zombots' liquid metal bodies become less durable following their transmutation, the Zombots possess the power to manipulate their own liquid body composition, allowing them to instantly reconstitute and restore their bodies whenever they receive a damaging blow. This makes they virtually unstoppable opponents.[1]
Because they carry the Metal Virus, Zombots are able to spread the Metal Virus to any living tissue, be it either flora or fauna, through the slightest physical touch.[3] Once the virus has been passed onto a victim, the Zombots can accelerate its infection rate by exposing the victim to more of the virus (like through extra touches).[5] However, they cannot pass the virus onto processed or inorganic matter.[3]
History
Infection
The first Zombot (a term of which had not been coined yet) created was a Pocky that Dr. Eggman used to experiment with the Metal Virus on. This Pocky was saturated in the virus, instantly turning it into a Zombot, which Eggman used for further experimentation. Dr. Eggman ordered the Zombot Pocky to grab a Picky and saw that Picky get infected as well.[3] The next Zombot to be created was a Ricky in Eggman's captivity, who had been infected with the Metal Virus during Eggman's experiments. However, it first became a full Zombot after Eggman used the Zombot Pocky to accelerate the virus' infection rate on it.[5]
While fighting Sonic and Amy in Echo Mine, Rough and Tumble unintentionally released backpacks full of the Metal Virus onto themselves, turning them into Zombots. These two then began fighting Sonic and Amy, who proved unable to harm them. Although Sonic ultimately managed to get rid of Zombot Rough and Tumble by knocking them into a refuse pit, he got infected with the Metal Virus in the process, slowly turning him into a Zombot. Meanwhile, having heard Sonic call Rough and Tumble "Zombots", Eggman decided to call the infected just that, as he thought the name was "catchy".[1]
Elder Scruffy and a child turned into Zombots, from Sonic the Hedgehog #16.
After checking in at Tails, Sonic discovered that he could keep his Zombot transformation in check with his speed, although he could not cure himself of it. In the meantime, Eggman flooded Windmill Village with his Metal Virus, creating even more Zombots from the inhabitants, who in turn transformed those that avoided the virus flood. Afterward, the Zombots followed Eggman's orders and began heading out to create more Zombots. One Zombot Flicky in particular, who got infected while it slept, flew towards a city.[4]
List of Zombots
- Elder Scruffy
- Rough the Skunk
- Tumble the Skunk
- Various citizens of Windmill Village
Trivia
- The Zombots are similar to the Robians, from the previous Archie Sonic the Hedgehog comics, who where anthropomorphic animals that were converted as robotic slaves who acted as the primary labor force for Dr. Ivo Robotnik.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Sonic the Hedgehog #15, "Patient Zero"
- ↑ Ian Flynn on Twitter. Twitter (27 February 2019). Retrieved on 27 February 2019.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Sonic the Hedgehog #13, "Calling Card"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Sonic the Hedgehog #16, "Infection"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Sonic the Hedgehog #14, "Misdirection"
External links
- Zombot at IDW Sonic Hub Wiki, the IDW Sonic wiki.