Rotor the Walrus


 * You may be looking for other versions of Rotor. See Rotor (disambiguation).

Rotor Walrus is a key member of the Knothole Freedom Fighters, using his skills and knowledge of technology and mechanics to provide the Mobians with an edge against the former despot Dr. Ivo Robotnik and, since his demise, the forces of Dr. Eggman. Following Sonic the Hedgehog's return from outer space, Rotor has limited his involvement with field operations and stuck to providing data and technological assistance. In 3237, he was voted in as a member of the new Council of Acorn. Despite his duties as a council member, Rotor has continued to provide tactical assistance to the Freedom Fighters.

Early Life and Family
Rotor hails from Walrus Island in the North Sea where his family was part of the Walrus Herd. His father, Sherman Walrus, was a veteran of the Great War, serving as a member of the Royal Army along side Jules, Bernadette and Sir Charles Hedgehog as a driver for their troop. His mother and little brother Skeeter remained in North Sea however. Rotor was in Mobotropolis for educational purposes during Dr. Ivo Robotnik's coup d'état but was evacuated to Knothole Village along with the other children in the city. Inspired by the Original Freedom Fighters, Rotor joined with Sonic, Princess Sally, Antoine D'Coolette and the young Miles "Tails" Prower to form the Knothole Freedom Fighters after the original group's demise. (StH: #77, #142, #143, SSS: #5)

Knothole Freedom Fighter
When Sonic learned that Robotnik had allegedly developed a powerful bomb (it was really a bug bomb to deal with a pest problem), Rotor joined Sonic and Sally in tricking Robotnik with a phony protest, before disguising himself as Robotnik to steal the bomb (an easy task due to his size). Unfortunately, Robotnik had the idea of disguising himself as Rotor to trick the Freedom Fighters, but the mix-up was quickly resolved. Later, he and Sonic travelled the southern regions of Mobius, where the two witnessed the helpless Bunnie Rabbot captured by two SWATbots to be roboticized. Although Sonic went to save her, he was temporarily stopped as he was attached to Rotor by tether. After rescuing the partially-roboticized Bunnie, the two brought her back to Knothole Village where she became a member of the Freedom Fighters. (StH: #3)

When Sonic was amnesia-ridden and convinced by Dr. Robotnik to attack the Freedom Fighters, Rotor's security systems detected the micro-transmitter placed on Sonic to provide the location of Knothole. Rotor attempted to keep Sonic out of their secret hideout but was bypassed by Sonic with relative ease. Eventually Sonic's memory was restored and the device removed. (StH: #27, #28)

Rotor later developed the "Neuro-Overrider", a device which would allow a Mobian who was roboticized to maintain their free will. Sally hoped to use this to allow herself to be roboticized so she could then infiltrate Robotropolis and steal a roboticizer to learn how to reverse its effects. The Neuro-Overrider fell off Sally as she was roboticized however and she was robbed of her free will. She was safely restored to normal by Dulcy the Dragon. (StH: #29)

Search for the Herd
After receiving a distress call from his mother in the Northern Sea, Rotor piloted his Bathysphere and travelled there to see what was wrong. Upon his arrival, Rotor discovered his family and the entire Walrus Herd had been placed under mind control from a Neuron Bomb by Dr. Robotnik. When he discovered that Robotnik was hoping to freeze the entire planet, Rotor attempted to escape and warn his friends, but was knocked into the ocean by an Icebot. He was quickly rescued by two of the Arctic Freedom Fighters Sealia and Augustus. The three then managed to infiltrate the Herd and Rotor attempted to free them of their mind control. However, the entire Herd attack Rotor, though Sealia and Augustus managed to save him and bring him to safety. Rotor vowed to return and liberate his family from Robotnik's mind control. (StH: #31, #32)

Continued Battle Against Robotnik
After the Knothole Freedom Fighters (except Sonic) were infected by a biochemical weapon from Robotnik, Rotor managed to inform Sonic of what had happened before falling unconscious. Sonic used the Shrink Ray to become microscopic and go inside Rotor to assist his Aunti Body in the fight against the French Frirus and Paris-Site. Sonic was successful and Rotor and the others recuperated. (StH: #33)

Following this, Rotor attempted to de-roboticize Sonic's Uncle Chuck. Despite his efforts, Chuck remained a Robian. (StH: #34)

Not long after this, Rotor created a remote which enabled the Freedom Fighters to travel to the Zone of Silence and locate Sally's father King Max. However, due to King Max being under some sort of spell, the Freedom Fighters are unable to retrieve him and are forced to return back to Mobius Prime. (StH: #36)

Some time later, Rotor sat on the council to review Sonic's idea to use the Neuro-Overrider and allow himself to be roboticized. Rotor objected along with the rest of the council, saying the idea was too risky. After Sonic is captured by Nack the Weasel and roboticized, Rotor helps prepare Bunnie to defend the village against Mecha Sonic. After Bunnie was defeated and Knuckles the Echidna was knocked out, Rotor managed to catch the Echidna in a net during his fall. As Knuckles came too he suffered from delusions, and attacked Rotor as he thought (due to his weight) he was Robotnik. Sally managed to knock Knuckles back into his senses however and the fight continued. Rotor oversaw the Neuro-Overrider used on Knuckles to allow him to keep his free will while becoming Mecha Knuckles to combat Mecha Sonic. After the battle ended, Rotor worked with NICOLE to transform the damaged Mecha Sonic back to a Mobian. (StH: #39, SMM)

Weeks later, with the help of Rotor's Neutralizer, Sonic travelled to the Zone of Silence and was able to finally rescue King Max from the Zone of Silence. Following this, Rotor worked with Dr. Quack to create the Dream Watcher so that they could look into King Max's mind and bring him out of his comatose state. Sonic managed to do this, though King Max remained in his crystallized state. (StH: #41, #43)

Days later, Rotor revealed his new weapon to Sonic, the "Party-Hearty Quadra Sonic Rock 'N' Roller", as well as his Remote Scanner. The same day the Freedom Fighters found themselves working with Knuckles the Echidna to fight Anti-Knuckles and Anti Sonic. They then went to Anti Mobius where they discovered Dr. Ivo Robotnik stealing the energy from the Sunken Island's Chaos Emeralds. After Robotnik was transported back to Mobius Prime, Rotor was disappointed he never got to use his Remote Scanner during the ordeal. (StH: #44)

During Operation: EndGame, Rotor was in Knothole when Dr. Robotnik arrive on the scene. Saying "Robotnik in Knothole? Not in this lifetime!" he attempted to blast Robotnik with the Party-Hearty Quadra Sonic Rock 'N' Roller. Robotnik managed to phase out the gun's blast and destroy it, taking the entire village hostage. Rotor and Tails later managed to sneak into the sewer system, but were caught trying to escape by Combots. (StH: #48, #49)

Return to the Herd
With the death of Dr. Robotnik caused by the Ultimate Annihilator, Rotor decided to return to the Herd. When he arrived back he was relieved and astonished to find that the Herd had regained their free will as a result of the Ultimate Annihilator firing. He spent several weeks with the Walrus Herd, enjoying time with his mother and younger brother Skeeter. However, while there Rotor was unaware that Robo-Robotnik had travelled to Mobius Prime and replaced the late Dr. Robotnik. Thus when the herd suddenly came back under the mind control spell, Rotor did not know what was going on. Hiding out in his Bathysphere, the Herd managed to damage it and cause it to sink. Rotor was rescued by the Arctic Freedom Fighters, who informed him that Robotnik had returned. (StH: #72, #85)

Activities Against Eggman
Returning to Mobotropolis (as he was unaware it was re-conquered by Robo-Robotnik), Rotor found himself meeting up with Mina Mongoose and shortly afterwards Sonic. The group returned to Knothole and Rotor began attending Knothole High School along with his other Freedom Fighters. (StH: #91, #94, #96)

After the Freedom Fighters learned the Sword of Acorns could restore Robians' free will, Rotor asked that they could use it on the mind-controlled Herd to restore their free will as well. Returning to Walrus Island, Rotor planted a bomb on the Walrus-constructed Oil Rig while Sally used the Sword of Acorns to restore the Herd's free will. (StH: #109)

Rotor helps his friends any way he can, even acting as a quasi-mentor to Tommy Turtle, helping him become acquainted with his new life. Unfortunately, this relationship came to an end after Tommy was enslaved by A.D.A.M., resulting in his death under the guns of the Egg Fleet. (StH: #168, #169)

Rotor was also one of the prisoners taken by Eggman during the destruction of Knothole, though quick action by the survivors of the attack resulted in a successful rescue mission. However, injuries to his back (caused by him shoving Tails free from beneath a collapsing roof during the destruction of Knothole) left him unable to participate in Freedom Fighter activities for some time afterwards. (StH: #175, #177)

Council Member
Rotor was elected a member of the new Council of Acorn, a group of six elected members and King Elias established to bring about some much-needed political changes in the Kingdom. Rather than get a break from the stress of combat, however, Rotor found himself in the middle of an even more dangerous situation: Knuckles' arch-nemesis, the Chaos Emerald powered entity called Enerjak, had been reborn thanks to the machinations of the Dark Legion scientist Dr. Finitevus and was intent on conquering Mobius. (StH: #179, #180)

Rotor was attacked by his Anti Mobius counterpart, Boomer, who mocked him for not being able to defend himself. Rotor was brought to tears when he was unable to help defend Freedom HQ from the Suppression Squad as a result of his neck injuries. Instead, he fled the scene to contact the Chaotix about the situation and was later seen at Sally's hearing for disobeying the Counsels orders. Recently Rotor is back on the field team, seen heading into battle with the rest of the Freedom Fighters and Chaotix against the Dark Egg Legion. After the Egg Phoenix was destroyed, Rotor then placed a force field generator down so the Freedom Fighters could call it a day, but he failed to get any sleep himself and instead readied the visual link to New Mobotropolis and later stayed behind while the others went on the final assault. After Sonic managed to defeat Eggman, Rotor helped transport them home in his jeep to celebrate their victory. Their victory was cut short as the Iron Dominion took over the empire. (StH: #189, #190, #197, #198, #199, #200, #201)

Creations
Rotor is known for his numerous creations that aided the Freedom Fighters early on. Some of these include the Bathysphere, the infamous Neuro-Overrider, which would theoretically retain one's free will even if they were roboticized. Rotor also assisted Dr. Quack in keeping the crystallized King Max alive by providing him with medical technology and later helped his patients Geoffrey St. John and Hershey Cat by creating nanites to destroy the nanoprobes Eggman had infected them with. Other inventions include the Party-Hearty Quadra Sonic Rock 'N' Roller and the Remote Scanner. (StH: #29, #31, #43, #44, #118)

Background Information

 * By mistake, Rotor was referred to as Boomer in the earliest issues of the comic book. It was corrected in issue #6, as well as reprints for these early stories. However, in the letters page, when a fan asked the deal with Rotor's old name, it was explained that "Boomer" was actually a nickname the character had in his childhood; some stories depicting the Freedom Fighters in their childhood even have him addressed as Boomer.
 * Rotor's age is taken from the letters page of StH #46 where it is stated he was 16. Since the issue canonically took place two years ago, in 3235, Rotor's current age would be 18. Given there is no contrary information regarding his age, this is recognized by this site's canon policy.
 * In Sonic the Hedgehog #148, Rotor reacts to Fiona Fox discovering a gun stating "The Freedom Fighters never use guns. Never have, never will.". However, this is a contradiction of his use of the "Party-Hearty Quadra Sonic Rock 'N' Roller" gun which he created.
 * In Sonic: Evolution of a Hero, it is stated that Rotor helped in educating Tails to genius levels.
 * Former writer Ken Penders revealed Oct. 30, 2009 on his message board that he considered Rotor to be homosexual, stating "I thought it was fairly obvious Rotor was gay, and begun laying the groundwork for that storyline during the MOBIUS: 25 YEARS LATER segments. I even showed his life partner without saying as such and planted clues between the lines.". (1) This suggests that Cobar was Rotor's "life partner" in Mobius: X Years Later, which was confirmed on his message board. (2). Because of the fear of backlash over the relationship, SEGA ordered Ken to keep the relationship low-key, only providing subtle hints in the series as to the relationship. (3)

Appearance
Rotor’s initial comic design was based primarily on that of the SatAM pilot episode; the later changes made to his colour scheme and general appearance on the television show were never adapted. As such, he is generally larger than most of the cast and has violet skin with darker toes and fingers; he wore a teal bandolier-like tool belt and a backwards yellow cap. While the SatAM design eventually went with brown eyes, Rotor, like many in the comic’s early days, started off with light blue eyes; they’ve since been established as green.

As a child, he wore green overalls. He briefly sported a wool cap, shirt and large medallion, but his biggest shift in design came with the addition of glasses, a brown bomber jacket and a slight tuft of hair. For a short time he wore a neck brace. Aside from his everyday outfit, he is sometimes depicted in his blue and red Council of Acorn uniform.