Zone-Imp

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

Zone-Imps
Horizont-Al and Verti-Cal, two Zone-Imps, from Sonic the Hedgehog #10.
Appearances
First appearance	Sonic the Hedgehog #2
Real-world designer(s)
Creator(s) (real-world)	Michael Gallagher
Biographical overview
Habitat	Unknown Zone
Status	Active
Species-related traits
Skills	Nigh-omnipotence Reality warping Space manipulation Matter manipulation Gravity manipulation Physics manipulation Air manipulation Creation of objects Mind control Flight Portal creation Dimensional travel Regeneration Giant robot transformation Super strength (robot form) Enhanced durability (robot form) Energy beam projection {{C|
Features	Human-like anatomy Diminutive size Large, conjoined, green eyes

Zone-Imps are creatures that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics. They are a race of small, Extradimensional, human-like creatures native to the Unknown Zone with the power to manipulate reality. The only known Zone-Imps are Verti-Cal and Horizont-Al. It is unknown whether any other Zone-Imps exist.

Description

Appearance

Cal and Al in their giant robot forms, from Sonic the Hedgehog #59.

Zone-Imps share the same anatomy as humans, although they are shorter, skinnier, and have large, conjoined, green eyes. A Zone-Imp’s height can vary from slightly shorter than an average Mobian to slightly taller than an average Mobian. Zone-Imps have hair, but only on top of their heads. Zone-Imps can also shapeshift into giant robots.

Characteristics and culture

Zone-Imps are normally a peaceful, friendly, and fun-loving race. Zone-Imps enjoy playing baseball as a pastime, and dress in garishly-colored clothes, such as vertically or horizontally-striped top hats, boots, vertically or horizontally-striped pants, and long-sleeved shirts with vertical or horizontal arrows on the front. However, when sufficiently angered, Zone-Imps can become extremely aggressive and vindictive, bent on destroying anyone they have a grudge against. Zone-Imps are also very arrogant, often making boasts about their incredible power and claiming that other life forms are their “geometric inferiors”.

Powers and abilities

Zone-Imps are nigh-omnipotent and possess the ability to manipulate reality in their home zone, the Unknown Zone, though it is unknown if they can manipulate reality in other zones as well, but, considering that Cal and Al travelled to Mobius Prime at least on two occasions, it's very likely that they can. Their control over reality allows them to manipulate the laws of physics, such as creating a miniature tornado, manipulate gravity in a Zone with no such thing existing and manipulate matter, such as turning a platform into quicksand or creating objects out of thin air, such as armor and metal spears. Zone-Imps can also levitate in the air and put other beings under mind control, though strong-willed beings can break free from their control. Zone-Imps possess an impressive healing factor, able to eventually regenerate their entire bodies from total annihilation via their Ethereal Essences. They can also shapeshift into giant robots. In their robot forms, Zone-Imps possess great strength and durability due to their size and metallic body, able to withstand being punched by each other and blasted by energy beams. Their robot forms also have laser cannons which can fire powerful energy beams, and jets which allow them to fly.

Zone Imps are monstrously powerful beings, mere side effects of Cal's and Al's battle threatened existence of unknown amount of other Zones, which are entire universes, Their robot forms might be the result of their bodies adaping to destruction by Ultimate Annihilator, giving them a better protection, bodies also seem to evolve even further, as in Zone Jail Cal and Al reappear in far more detailed and menacing forms than what they appeared in before, indicating them getting stronger.

Zone Imps are qlso stated to be Extra-dimensional, meaning they exists in 4 or 5 spacial dimensions compared to standard 3, which makes them infinitely superior to almost anything in lower dimensions, it is also consistent, considering that Mr. Mxyzptlk, character they are a parody to is also a being from a Higher Dimension.

History

Vertigo A´ Go-Go!

Horizont-Al and Verti-Cal originally lived in the Unknown Zone. When Sonic was teleported to their Zone by a group of Power Rings, Al and Cal greeted him, despite the hedgehog initially mistaking them for minions of Robotnik. Al and Cal subsequently bid Sonic farewell when he was pushed out of the zone by its nonsensical physic. Some time later, Al and Cal would play a game of baseball with each other.

Opposites Detract

Following the activation of the Ultimate Annihilator, Al and Cal’s Zone was decimated to a microscopic level by the omega wave, altering both of them in the process into mechanical demi-gods. Their new forms also caused the hostility between them to grow, with each blaming the other for allowing the Zone to be decimated. This culminated in Al and Cal constantly fighting each other with their powers. Eventually, Sonic and Tails were accidentally sucked into the Zone by a portal on Mobius, and were immediately stunned by a blast for Horizont-Al. Realizing their use, Al and Cal agreed to take control of Sonic and Tails' minds, outfit them with armor and weapons, and use them as pawns to fight their war for them, with Cal taking control of Sonic, and Al taking control of Tails respectively. Although the battle originally appeared evenly matched, Sonic gained the upper hand, and would have destroyed Tails for Cal, had he not broken Al's control by remembering his friendship with Tails. Sonic attempted to convince Al and Cal into living peacefully again, which they briefly considered, only to continue with their destructive war. Believing them to be a lost cause, Sonic and Tails left the Unknown Zone through the portal.

Inside Job

Cal and Al comforting Scourge, from Sonic Universe #29.

Al and Cal's war would eventually start damaging other zones, prompting the Zone Cops to capture them, and return them to their regular forms with Control Collars. Cal and Al would then be brought to the Zone Jail, where they were constantoy beat up by the guards and other inmates. Eventually, Scourge the Hedgehog was imprisoned in the Zone Jail, which led to the inmates bullying Al and Cal less in favor of him. Despite Scourge's hostility towards them, Al and Cal kept him company, and shared their meals with him to cheer him up. They would also help him back up after he was attacked by other inmates. Scourge would later stop Jeffrey St. Croix from abusing Al and Cal, but only as an excuse to beat him up, and not out of fondness for the duo. When Scourge and his Destructix opened all the cells in the Zone Jail, Al and Cal were brought to him by Predator Hawk, as Scourge had ordered. Scourge had Sergeant Simian destroy their Control Collars, despite them pleading him not to, transforming them back into their mechanical forms. Al and Cal then let out their pent-up rage over being abused by the guards and other inmates and went on a rampage through the prison, but were reverted to their normal forms by the Zone Cops' F.O.E. Inhibitors. Once again captured, Al and Cal begged Scourge not to leave them behind, as they had been the only prisoners that treated him kindly. However, Scourge cared nothing for them, and escaped through a Warp Ring with his team, abandoning them to their fate.

List of known Zone-Imps

• Horizont-Al
• Verti-Cal