Regina Ferrum

Regina Ferrum, also known as the Iron Queen and the Bride of the Four Houses, is an Overlander who worked alongside the Iron King in the Dragon Kingdom to establish the Iron Dominion. Having been trained by a cult of magitek users at a young age, she is capable of using magic spells against her enemies. After being chased away from the Stormtop Village by Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower and Monkey Khan in 3236, the Iron Queen remained unheard of for some time. Nearly two years later she came into contact with Snively and the two began a romantic relationship together with plans to overthrow Dr. Eggman and take control of the Eggman Empire. They succeeded in this after Eggman's decline into insanity, and the Eggman Empire was officially usurped into the Iron Dominion. Her relationship with Snively continued to be a secret from the Iron King, as the two planned to eventually overthrow him too and rule Mobius together.

Early Life
Regina was born into a cult of technomages in the city of Mega Central many years prior to the Great War. As a child, she was taught by cult leaders how to control electronic impulses. As her skills improved, a young Regina was able to control robots from afar and move them to her will. (StH: #202)

Years later when Regina was a young adult, Magitek was made illegal in Mega Central. She along with all other members of the Technomage cult were subsequently arrested and likely executed. However, because of her young age, the High Chancellor showed mercy on her and allowed her to live, though in exile. With no knowledge of any other technomage cults in the Overlander cities and with the Great War having recently began, Regina wandered aimlessly across the planet. Realizing she was the last member of her cult, she decided that Magitek would survive through her and eventually consume and dominate the world. Eventually finding her way to the Dragon Kingdom, she pledged her allegiance to a local warlord, Jun Kun, realizing through him she could rise to power. Since then, the two worked together as warlords in the region. (StH: #202)



Some time after she met Jun Kun, she used her technomagic to awaken dormant machines and aid him in his conquest of the Dragon Kingdom. Unfortunately, their efforts were usually crushed by the warring Clans or the free people they wanted to control, thus, they couldn't get a foothold in the region. This changed when Dr. Ivo Robotnik came to the region, since he wanted to spread his tyranny beyond Mobotropolis. Regina convinced him to use herself and the Jun Kun as his Sub-Bosses in the region. She managed to convince him, and thus they became the Iron Queen and Iron King. Robotnik suppied them with weapons and technology, which enabled the two to gain control over the free peoples of the Dragon Kingdom. However, the four clans decided to fight them harder having learned they received aid by Dr. Robotnik. This prevented them from achieving dominance in the region. (StH: #207)

Hoping to turn the tides in their favour, Regina went before the Bride of Rich Nights and attempted to bribe her with riches. After Rich Nights refused to accept any bribe, Regina had Jun Kun murder her, though she took the credit for this in order to ensure she became the new bride of the Yagyu Clan. With the Yagyu under her control, she used them to randomly aid the various clans from time to time during the Clan Wars while spreading rumours that the clans were joining the Iron Dominion. This troubled the other clan brides, and they soon swore allegiance to the Iron Dominion. With the opposition removed, Regina sought to expand the control of the Iron Dominion when she learned of the declining state of Dr. Eggman from Snively. Instead of consolidating their power in the Dragon Kingdom, which Jun Kun desired, Regina set off with him, the Bride of Conquering Storm and the Yagyu Clan to usurp the Eggman Empire. (StH: #207)

Rulers in the Dragon Kingdom
Sonic and Tails first encountered the Iron King and Queen during their quest for Ixis Naugus. When they arrived at Stormtop Village, they learned that the Iron King and Queen crowned themselves ruler of the village. When the villagers refused to swear loyalty to either, the Iron Queen set Mount Stormtop on fire for over a hundred days and would not lift the spell until the villagers agreed to bow down to them. Sonic and Tails were told by Li Yeun that only the magical Fan of Fen Xing could blow out the flames on the mountain. When the two tried to retrieve it, the Iron Queen cast a spell on renegade cyborg, Monkey Khan, to kill Sonic and Tails before they arrived. They managed to free Khan and he joined them in assaulting the Iron King at his fortress. Sonic and the others returned to Mount Stormtop to blow out the flames, the Iron Queen tried to use her magic to stop them but failed and the flames were extinguished. The Iron Queen left the village swearing vengeance on Sonic. (StH: #60)

At some point in time, Regina used her magitek powers to take control of Monkey Khan. Following this, she used the powerful cyborg to dispose of the Dragon Kingdom Freedom Fighters for her, apparently leaving none of its members left alive. (StH: #201, #204)
 * It is unknown if there are no Freedom Fighters left in the Dragon Kingdom. In StH #194, Regina told Snively over the Eggnet that her forces were having trouble dealing with local uprisings. It is possible Regina simply lied over the Egg Net, or that Monkey Khan is unaware of other Freedom Fighters in the area. It is also possible that she took control of Khan after that talk with Snively.

Schemes and Rise to Power
In 3237, Regina responded to Snively, who was doing a routine checkup on all of the Sub-Bosses around Mobius. After chatting over the Eggnet for some time, the two became romantically attracted to one another and began planning to meet up and overthrow Dr. Eggman, with Snively convincing Dimitri and the Dark Egg Legion to come on side. To show her affection, Regina sent Snively a cologne scent from her region of Mobius, which Snively enjoyed but Lien-Da found repulsive. As Eggman went into a decline in sanity and the Freedom Fighters pressed their advances against his ruined capital city of New Megaopolis Snively and Regina prepared to take over the empire. (StH: #194, #197, #198, #199)

After Eggman lost his sanity after being defeated by Sonic, Regina and her forces made their move. Once the Freedom Fighters and Chaotix left the area, Regina and her Yagyu Clan forces, who had arrived via dirigible, were greeted by Snively and the Dark Egg Legion. (StH: #200)

Queen of the Eggman Empire
Regina's plans were revealed as she learned that New Megaopolis was in ruins and only the Eggdome was operational, calming the Iron King down as he questioned the reason why they took over the Eggman Empire. Dimitri later appealed his case of requiring the removal of the explosives in the cybernetics. As Regina claimed to be unable to remove them, she had Snively give him a briefcase that she said contained microchips that would neutralize the explosives, and though he accepted them Dimitri appeared suspicious of her claims. In a somewhat romantic moment with Snively, she revealed that she planned to crush the Freedom Fighters in New Mobotropolis, dispose of the Iron King and rule the world with Snively. Meanwhile the Freedom Fighters began planning to topple her rule after they were made aware of her takeover by Monkey Khan. (StH: #201)

The night of the failed attempt by Sonic and Monkey Khan to defeat the forces of the Iron Dominion in the ruins of New Megaopolis, Regina revealed some of her past to Snively while in her bedroom chambers. (StH: #202)



The next day, Regina and Snively went to New Mobotropolis to demonstrate how powerful she was. Managing to enter the city before it's shield could be raised by NICOLE (due to the Regina's powers tampering with the nanites), she then used her Magitek abilities to take control of Bunnie D'Coolette. Forcing her to fight her own team mates, Regina was surprised when Monkey Khan arrived on the scene after saving the drained Bunnie's life. While she distracted Khan, Snively snuck up from behind and removed his Power Ring crown, this exposing him to Regina's powers. She then used her Magitek to assume control of Monkey Khan for the second time, ordering him to "Burn the city to the ground." She then made him attack the members of the Freedom Fighters and the Chaotix. Sonic returned and, while fighting Khan, Regina told him that her "control is absolute" and that he destroyed the Dragon Kingdom Freedom Fighters while Snively broke his Power Ring crown so Sonic couldn't use it to help Khan. Sonic did, however, manage to get another Power Ring and Khan was restored to normal. Still, Regina was pleased that they knew "not to challenge her" and that "their faith in monkey fuzz was shattered". (StH: #203, #204)



The following day, upon learning of Dr. Eggman's escape from his padded cell, Regina angrily told Snively that she would not allow her plans to be foiled by his uncle. After dispatching Conquering Storm to ensure the loyalty of the other clans in the Dragon Kingdom, Regina set out with the Iron King, Dark Egg Legion and Yagyu Ninja to recapture Dr. Eggman before he fell into the hands of the Freedom Fighters. Sonic engaged the Iron Dominion while Tails dragged Dr. Eggman back to New Mobotropolis. Frustrated that she was losing, Regina ordered the Iron King to finish the fight. After the Iron King knocked Sonic down, Regina hoped that the hedgehog would prove a valuable bargaining chip in exchange for Dr. Eggman. The Freedom Fighters, however, arrived to reinforce Sonic. They managed to damage the Iron King's armor and Regina's and Snivley's Egg Mobiles before retreating to New Mobotropoils. The Iron Dominion gave chase but NICOLE activated the shield, keeping them out. Monkey Khan and Bunnie taunted that the Iron Dominion's victory blew up in their face. Regina swore revenge before taking her forces back to New Megaopolis. Later Snively visited Regina's bed chambers to comfort her. Her response was that if he ever wanted to enter her chambers again, he must find a way past the shield over New Mobotropolis and slammed the door on him. (StH: #205, #206)

Abilities
Since her early childhood, the Iron Queen has had the power to control robotic machines after being taught Magitek, which appears to also work on beings who are partially robots such as the cyborg Monkey Khan and the half-robot Bunnie. Apart from her magical abilities, she is also a skilled tactician. (StH: #60, #201, #202)

Personality
Regina is as cruel, manipulative and evil as any other villain on Mobius, but has shown a streak of humanity in her relationship with Snively. Indeed the very fact she's capable of love makes her far more human than her former leader Dr. Eggman and his various incarnations. This being said her more human side seems reserved for Snively alone. Still she is far less cold and emotionless than villains like Mammoth Mogul or Dr. Finitevus having yet to show much anger and as long as Snively is around she'll be outright joyful in her cruelty.

The Iron Queen is rather sadistic, taking great pleasure in tormenting her foes even to the point of abandoning a battle once she deems a sufficient amount of torture has been dealt. This is a trait she shares with the Iron King and in both cases shown so far these attempts at 'demoralization' have actually failed miserably despite all three villains' confidence that they have succeeded.

This underestimation of her opponents extends even to Dimitri whom she's confident to have tricked into some situation detrimental to him and his Dark Egg Legion when in fact he seems quite aware of the almost obvious betrayal. All this together it shows that the Iron Queen and Iron King are quite arrogant and shortsighted who seem to prefer letting their enemies analyze them while not doing the same leading to several large weaknesses in their plans.

Romance
Regina is married to the Iron King. While she has been seen to flirt and call him her "love", their marriage was strictly out of benefit. The Iron Queen would plan with her actual lover, Snively to dispose of him years later. (StH: #60, #201)

Regina found actual love with Snively, Eggman's lieutenant and adopted nephew, while he was performing a routine surveillance check of all Eggman's Sub-Bosses. The two spoke back and forth for days over the Egg Network and became emotionally close, the two scheming together to take over the Eggman Empire. Since she usurped the Eggman Empire, Regina has been forced to conceal her relationship with Snively from everyone else, though when the two are alone together they are openly affectionate. She did, however, become rather cold towards Snively when she learned of Eggman's escape and became outraged. The relationship between two appeared to become strained however when Dr. Eggman was taken into custody of the Republic of Acorn, Sonic and the Knothole Freedom Fighters foiling the Iron Dominion's efforts to recapture him as well as take Sonic as a hostage. Following this defeat, Snively was seen visiting Regina's chambers only for her to coldly tell him that if he wished to enter her chambers again he would find a way to disable the shields over New Mobotropolis, then slamming the door in his face. (StH: #194, #197, #201, #202, #205, #206)

Background Information

 * Due to her design, some fans thought she was an Overlander. It was stated in the letters page of Sonic the Hedgehog #71 that the Iron Queen was a Mobian badger. However, Writer Ian Flynn stated that he considered her an Overlander given her character design, adding that the Iron King and Iron Queen's "titles are purely honorary and not romantic. They're together out of benefit, not out of romance" and that "having a human female wed to a animal character might raise some eyebrows." (1)
 * Writer Karl Bollers listed a number of possible plot points that were meant to be post-issue #134, many of them never seeing the light of day. Among them was one where Knuckles the Echidna headed to Kar Leung for some training under Monkey Khan, during which he would be brainwashed by the Iron Queen, while Khan himself would be brainwashed by Dr. Eggman, resulting in a 4-way battle for power between Eggman, the Iron Queen, Mammoth Mogul, and Rouge the Bat.
 * It was revealed as a spoiler in FCDS #3 that "RF" is the Iron Queen. This ended the long-time fan speculation that the two were the same character.
 * Some fans have speculated the "F" in Regina's last name stands for Ferrum, which means "Iron" in Latin just as "Regina" means "Queen". It was later revealed by writer Ian Flynn that her last name was indeed Ferrum in a spoiler tease on his forum. (1) It was first officially in the comics in StH #203.
 * The Iron Queen, along with the Iron King, holds the seventh longest Non-appearance Gap in the comics at 140 issues (StH: #60-200), tying them with the badnik Coconuts.
 * Oddly, despite her use of dark magic, the Iron Queen was not tracked down and eliminated by Sir Connery; possibly it is because her power is derived from magitek and not from the Chaos Force as other dark magic users' powers presumably would have been. Since she was also protected by the forces of the Iron Domnion, it is possible that Connery was simply unable to harm her.