Sonic the Hedgehog Is About to Kill Off a Fan-Favorite Character: "Only One Will Walk Away"

IDW Publishing's long-running Sonic the Hedgehogcomic series has reached a climactic showdown between two of its most exciting characters, Whisper and Mimic, and the synopsis for an upcoming issue declares that "only one of these former comrades will walk away" from this "thrilling battle years in the making," which has the potential to change the trajectory of the series moving forward.

As reported by IGN, Sonic the Hedgehog #79 – written by Ian Flynn, with art by Adam Bryce Thomas – will feature the dramatic final fight between hero Whisper the Wolf and antagonist Mimic the Octopus, two characters who debuted in the comics and have flourished as part of the franchise's extended universe.

Now, the creators behind IDW's Sonic are prepared to say goodbye to one of these characters, as their ongoing rivalry reaches a point of no return that both of them cannot survive.

Two Breakout Comic Characters Clash For The Last Time In IDW's "Sonic" Series

Sonic the Hedgehog #79 – written by Ian Flynn, with art by Adam Bryce Thomas; Main Cover By Thomas; Variant Covers By Tyler Mcgrath & Nathalie Fourdraine

Whisper and Mimic's deadly showdown comes as part of the larger "Scattered Pieces" story arc, which kicks off with Sonic the Hedgehog #76 and concludes in Sonic #80. IDW's solicitations for the issues are sparse on details, in order to maintain the surprises the arc has in store, but fans now know that one of these two characters will not make it out of the penultimate issue alive. The teaser for Sonic #79 reads:

The long-running feud between ace sniper Whisper and sinister assassin Mimic is coming to a climactic showdown!

Only one of these former comrades will walk away! Can Tangle and Silver help turn the tide of battle? Or will Whisper suffer another friend getting caught in the crossfire? It’s a thrilling battle years in the making!

Notably, the synopsis also teases potential danger for allies Tangle and Silver, suggesting that the issue could have a higher body count than just one.

IDW's Sonic series has been well-received among the fandom since it began in 2018, but it has begun to elevate its storytelling in the past year in particular, as many plotlines and character arcs that have gestated for some time have finally paid off. Whisper and Mimic's gamechanging confrontation from Sonic the Hedgehog #79 is set to be just the latest, greatest example of the series' increasing evolution. With Sonic #76 out now, fans have just a few months of fraught speculation in store before they know who survives.

Mimic Or Whisper? Sonic Fans Aren't Ready To Let Go Of Either Character

The "Scattered Pieces" arc covers Sonic the Hedgehog #76-80

Killing off Whisper would be a bold dramatic move for the Sonic comic series, though as gutwrenching of a story beat as it certainly would be, it would deprive readers of a character who has carved out an impactful role in the franchise over the course of this run. The flip side of that is, while Mimic's defeat at Whisper's hands would be a triumphant pay-off to their extended conflict, it would also rob the series of one of its most dynamic antagonists.

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In other words, both options have their pros and cons, and fans will find themselves on both sides of the divide as Sonic #79 approaches. Overall, this appears to be a major turning point for the series. As author Ian Flynn explained:

IDW’s Sonic the Hedgehog has been going strong for seven years now, and in that time has cultivated a number of storylines, characters and narrative elements it can call its own. A lot of those all came to a head in Evan Stanley’s latest arc. Reaching a story’s climax is always fun, but I’m also just as eager to explore the follow-up. There will be a lot of fans asking 'What happens next?' My arc gets to answer that, bring a few conclusions of my own, and set the stage for Evan’s next major arc with the series.

With the short and long-term future of Sonic the Hedgehog promising some of the franchise's most intense stories in its long history, there has never been a better time to explore the franchise beyond its original video game medium.

Sonic the Hedgehog #76 is available now from IDW Publishing.

Source: IGN

Sonic the Hedgehog

Movie(s)

Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie (1996), Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022), Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)

First Film

Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie (1996)

TV Show(s)

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Underground (1999), Sonic X (2003), Sonic Boom (2014), Sonic Prime (2022), Knuckles (2024)

Video Game(s)

Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog CD, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Heroes, Sonic Unleashed, Sonic Colors, Sonic Generations, Sonic Lost World, Sonic Forces, Sonic Frontiers , Sonic Shuffle, Sonic Advance 1, Sonic Advance 2, Sonic Advance 3, Sonic Rush, Sonic Rush Adventure, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood

Character(s)

Sonic the Hedgehog, Tails Prower, Knuckles the Echidna, Amy Rose, Dr. Eggman, Mighty the Armadillo, Ray the Squirrel, Vector the Crocodile, Charmy the Bee, Espio the Chameleon, Shadow the Hedgehog, Big the Cat, Rouge the Bat, Metal Sonic

Comic Release Date

229797,248991,248992

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