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This teased creature is, of course, Shadow the Hedgehog, the most ruthless hedgehog/anthropomorphic character in the Sonic mythos. Introduced in Sonic Adventure 2 on the Sega Dreamcast in 2001, Shadow was the second badass doppelgänger introduced to rival the franchise’s titular hedgehog after Knuckles’ appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 on the Sega Genesis in 1994. Unlike Knuckles though, Shadow never became a true team player or part of the “family,” as seen in the newest Sonic film.
Rather Shadow, who is an actual hedgehog like Sonic, is a lone-wolf antihero with a dark soul and attitude. Indeed, in his own spinoff game, Shadow the Hedgehog (2005), he’s allowed to use guns and fight in a way that Sonic would never approve of. However, as hinted at in the new post-credits scene, Shadow is far older than the blue blur.
Shadow is a genetically engineered immortal, created 50 years prior to the events of Sonic the Hedgehog by Gerald Robotnik (the grandfather of Carrey’s Dr. Ivo Robotnik). Gerald created Shadow to help cure his granddaughter Maria of her terminal illness. It did not work, but Shadow formed a close connection with Maria Robotnik, which made her death all the more traumatic when government agents working for Guardian Units of Nations (G.U.N.) stormed the Robotnik facilities to capture Shadow and killed Maria in the process. They then froze Shadow in suspended animation until he was discovered and set loose by Eggman 50 years later, and manipulated into trying to kill Sonic!
Sonic made a quip in his newest movie about Knuckles being “the Winter Soldier,” but Shadow is the real Bucky Barnes of this lore. He’s dark, brooding, and has a history of leaving bodies in his wake. While he’s teamed up with Sonic from time to time, he prefers to keep his own counsel while running on glowing hoverboots that can outpace the younger hedgehog.
Source: Den of Geek
