Shard the Metal Sonic


 * Metal Sonic redirects here. For other characters or uses, see Metal Sonic (disambiguation)
 * You may be looking for the article on the newer models of Metal Sonic created by Dr. Eggman.

Metal Sonic was one of the deadliest Badnik models created by Dr. Ivo Robotnik based off of Sonic the Hedgehog. Metal Sonic v1.0 was meant to be Robotnik's own version of Sonic, and kidnapped Amy Rose as his first mission. He then raced Sonic, but Metal Sonic caused it's own body to melt as he tried to keep his speed up. Metal Sonic was rebuilt into v2.0 soon after the encounter and fought against Knuckles the Echidna and his new Chaotix at Happyland Amusement Park, only to be quickly destroyed even after turning into Titan Metal Sonic with a Power Gem core. Metal Sonic survived the battle and constructed himself a new body much later as v2.5 using the Power Gem, and then kidnapped Tails as bait for Sonic. With new powers granted by the gem, Metal Sonic challenged his organic counterpart to save Tails from Mount Mobius, but found he had developed some form of "conscience" and chose to sacrifice himself to save them both as the volcano erupted. Following this, his core was recovered intact, whereupon Metal Sonic was given a second chance with a new body and identity as "Shard". As part of his reform, Shard was then assigned to be an agent of the Secret Freedom Fighters under the call sign "Jack".

First Encounter (v1.0)
Metal Sonic was first built by Dr. Robotnik so he could have his "own Sonic the Hedgehog" and kidnapped "Sonic's Biggest Fan", Amy Rose, as his first mission. Metal Sonic brought her to the Collision Chaos Zone as bait for Sonic, and then raced his counterpart around the resident Stardust Speedway Zone while using traps and holograms of himself. As they neared the finish line, Sonic took a major lead with his "Figure Eight Super Peel Out" trick, and Metal Sonic overheated his engine while trying to catch up, melting the lower half of his body and lost. (StH: #25)

Fighting the Chaotix (v2.0)
When Knuckles the Echidna and the Chaotix arrived at Renfield T. Rodent's carnival to save the Freedom Fighters, Dr. Robotnik sent a rebuilt Metal Sonic with a Power Gem core to stop them. After a prolonged battle, the new model took enough damage that he tapped into his core to turn into the gigantic, Titan Metal Sonic v2.0. However, Heavy gave Knuckles another Power Gem to become giant as well and take on the behemoth war machine. As they fought, the two crashed into the rigged house of mirrors, restoring Knuckles' stolen powers which he then used to destroy Titan Metal Sonic, seemingly once and for all. (KCX)

Vengeance & Sacrifice (v2.5)
After the Freedom Fighters left Station Square, the Freedom Fighter Special almost crashed. Nate Morgan found out it was sabotaged and Sally decided to send Sonic and Tails out on reconnaissance to see if there were any signs of life. While the friends were doing this, Sonic told Tails to go find some wood for a fire. However, when Tails hadn't come back for an hour, Sonic went out to search for him. But Sonic then discovered that the person who had kidnapped Tails and sabotaged the ship was none other than the original Metal Sonic. The mechanical menace revealed that the Power Gem that was still inside of him when he was destroyed by Knuckles allowed him to rebuild himself. In this form, Metal Sonic could move much faster than Sonic and, deciding to give Sonic a "fair chance" to save Tails, told him that his friend was in the volcano, Mount Mobius. However, the volcano was also due to erupt soon. (StH: #86)

Sonic quickly made his way to the volcano, but was stopped when Metal Sonic attacked him. However, Sonic was able to trap Metal Sonic in his own net and get to Tails before the volcano erupted. The robotic duplicate easily got out of the netting and attacked both Sonic and Tails atop the mountain. Sonic tried to tell Metal Sonic about how there's more to life than just power, but he ignored it. However, when Tails decided to stick with Sonic even while there was lava everywhere, Metal Sonic developed some sort of "conscience" and decided to hold back the lava, allowing the two to escape. Tails' actions allowed Metal Sonic to see he could be more than his programming, and as his two former foes escaped, Metal Sonic was submerged in lava, seemingly meeting his demise. (StH: #87)

Secret Freedom Fighter
Metal Sonic's core programming, which was now a part of the Power Gem, was recovered by Geoffrey St. John shortly after Metal Sonic's attack on Sonic and Tails. Geoffrey and his team were sent to investigate the site, and he intended on stealing the still functional Power Gem for New Mobotropolis before Dr. Eggman could. The gem was then given to Sir Charles Hedgehog, who used the data in order to build the Metal Sonic Troopers. Later Metal Sonic, now going by the name "Shard", was given a second chance to prove himself a hero after he was resurrected/rebuilt by Sir Charles (using parts from Metal Sonic, Metal Scourge, and the Troopers) in order to provide an additional member to the the Secret Freedom Fighters started by Harvey Who. Given the call sign "Jack", he was sent along with agents "Ace" and "Joker" to track Geoffrey's activities in Soumerca. Shard succeeded in planting a tracking device on St. John's Extreme Gear, though the team's attempts to discover what Geoffrey went to Windy Valley for resulted in them being buried in the collapsed tomb of Ixis Vale deep underground. While Silver used his powers to prevent the ground from caving in, Shard blasted a way out. With Silver and Larry wanting to rest, Shard was annoyed, but he soon agreed with the idea when he realized that he too needed to rest. (StH: #238; SU: #41, #43)

The next day, Shard returned to Freedom HQ along with Silver and Larry, and the three of them were scolded by Harvey Who for failing to stop Geoffrey. Silver then explained that they succeeded in placing a tracker on Geoffrey's airboard. When they were told that agents King, Queen of Hearts, and Queen of Diamonds had not returned from their mission, the three were assigned to search for them at the bottom of the pit that was left by the Battle Bird Armada's attack. At the bottom, Shard used his infra-red vision to search for them, and they found the three of them. Elias/King explained that they had no way of climbing all the way back up the pit and that they were also trying not to get caught by Ixis Naugus. They also explained what had happened. After their discussion, they agreed to have Silver approach Geoffrey and ask him about what Naugus was planning before trying to complicate things by capturing and interrogating him. Shard was hiding inside the Lake of Rings, which was the area where Silver approached Geoffrey. His and the rest of the team's assistance was not needed, however, as Geoffrey told Silver everything that was going to happen. The team returned to Freedom HQ and prepared for their next mission- to stop Naugus from taking control of the minds of the Council of Acorn that same day. (SU: #41, #43)

Personality
Initially, Metal Sonic lacked his own personality, acting as another of Robotnik's obedient robots. However, after his defeat at the hands of Knuckles and the Chaotix, and having been forced to rebuild himself, Metal Sonic's personality drastically improved, as did his abilities and appearance. He showed overt signs of emotions while battling Sonic, mocking and insulting his organic counterpart, and shortly before his apparent death, revealed that he could surpass his programming and act as a complete individual. As part of his developed personality, he became arrogant and extremely self-confident in his abilities. Because of this, he's fairly easy going. He's not above playfully (or cruelly) taunting or mocking other, though he seems somewhat protective of Larry Lynx. It's possible that his ability to surpass his original programming stems from his Power Gem core.

Abilities
Having been originally built as a robotic copy of Sonic, Shard shares his counterpart's abilities to move at high speeds and perform the spin-dash. His rockets also allow for flight. His left arm contains a cannon capable of firing lasers and other projectiles. His unique feature, the Power Gem core, allows him some limited shape-shifting abilities (shown thus far by changing size, altering the shape of his cannon-arm and adapting his eyes into a scanner visor) as well as self-repair and serves as a powerful energy source. As a robot, his strength and endurance are above average.

Background Information

 * Metal Sonic's original design matched those of his game counterparts from Sonic CD and Knuckles Chaotix. Rebuilt, his design seems to be inspired by Sonic Rival 2's "Metal Sonic 3.0" design.
 * Even though the comic appearance of the giant red Metal Sonic went unnamed, in the Sega32X game Knuckles Chaotix, this form was known as "Hyper Metal Sonic" and "Metal Sonic Kai". The official name for this form was stated years later as "Titian Metal Sonic v2.0" in the Metal Sonic data file of the first volume of the Sonic Universe Graphic Novel Series.
 * When Metal Sonic first appeared in issue StH #25, he was mistakenly named "Mecha Sonic". This name was later used in issue StH #39 for the roboticized version of Sonic.
 * A group of Metal Sonics played a huge role in the United Kingdom's Sonic the Comic series. This group was known as the Brotherhood of Metallix.
 * Metal Sonic's death in lava is slightly based on that of what happened to his animated counterpart in Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie.
 * This Metal Sonic was given three designations, 1.0, 2.0, & 2.5, on the Archie Sonic the Hedgehog comic blog. (1)(2)
 * Due to lack of artwork resources at the time, Metal Sonic 1.0 is given two quills instead of three.
 * Shard's redesign looks like Metal Sonic 3.0 from Sonic Rivals 2.