Sonic the Hedgehog and his arch nemesis Dr. Ivo Robotnik will always be interminably locked in endless conflict, but that doesn’t mean extraordinary circumstances haven’t forced them to join forces. In Archie Comics’ discontinued Sonic the Hedgehog comic book series, their rivalry begins when the Overlander known as Robotnik betrays the Kingdom of Acorn. It’s made worse because it comes after King Acorn graciously accepts him as one of their own despite being enemies.
The most eye-opening of their surprising team-ups occurred during their fight against Robotnik’s son. Robotnik didn’t have this son biologically, though. He was actually a sentient computer virus named A.D.A.M. that Robotnik made by mistake, unlike his android daughter, Mecha, whom he made on purpose. Even more of an eye opener is that Robotnik essentially forced himself onto Sonic’s team to ensure his son’s destruction. For until that point, he had just been rooting for Sonic from the sidelines (which is weird to see on its own).
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Robotnik feels compelled to murder his son upon learning that A.D.A.M. is the true identity of the mysterious entity known as Anonymous, who has been conspicuously going behind his back to set certain events in motion. A.D.A.M.’s massive conspiracy under the moniker Anonymous eventually leads to him unleashing Sonic’s worst enemies, Ixis Naugus and Mammoth Mogul. Rather than embracing Anonymous, Robotnik views him as an adversary since he doesn’t approve of Anonymous’ methods. These include sicking an army of Metal Sonics on Robotnik and tricking him into destroying his daughter Mecha, which A.D.A.M. later reveals he did so that he would be the only child for his father to love.
After his identity is blown, A.D.A.M. captures Shadow Hedgehog and Tails to help him power a machine that will allow him to absorb all of the Chaos Emeralds, transforming him into the most powerful being in existence. Ironically, A.D.A.M. does all of this to impress his father. But Robotnik only views him as a double-crosser and his actions as treasonous. So Robotnik frees Shadow and Tails and provides the strategy to help them defeat A.D.A.M., even going so far as helping Sonic when he falls at one point during the battle.
Incredibly, Robotnik’s drive to murder his son is more surprising than him teaming up with Sonic, especially since the blue hedgehog isn’t the one who destroys him. Sonic even outright refuses to do so, as A.D.A.M. is linked to one of Sonic‘s friends. So if one dies, then the other will too. Because of this, Robotnik gladly picks up the slack and pulls the trigger. More disturbing is the first thing Robotnik says after doing the deed: “So much for family. What a colossal waste of time.” He is more concerned that destroying A.D.A.M. means he loses all of the Chaos Emeralds. That’s cold.
