Shadow Special Side Story Announced Ahead of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Premiere

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By Justin Epps

Published Nov 26, 2024, 11:00 AM EST

Justin Epps is a Senior Staff Writer (Freelance) at Screen Rant’s Comic Books team, based in Durham. Justin Epps has been working at Screen Rant since 2021. He's a hardcore DC Comics stan and has hundreds of deep dives into iconic DC characters and stories. He's also interviewed several comic industry professionals and multiple comic conventions.

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It won't be long before Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hits theaters and IDW Publishing is capitalizing on Shadow's role with a brand-new one-shot story. As fans wait with bated breath to see what Shadow will bring to the franchise, a new comic will re-examine Sonic the Hedgehog's most tragic rival.

On X, Sonic news account IDWSonicNews posted an excerpt of IDW's View from the Back Page which discussed the huge milestone of IDW Publishing's Sonic the Hedgehog series reaching its 75th issue. The feature also discussed the big plans the publisher has in store for the iconic blue hero's franchise as the new year approaches.

IDW Publishing promised it had big things in mind for Sonic The Hedgehog, but it's also going to be putting the spotlight on Shadow the Hedgehog. IDW's feature also confirmed Shadow would be getting a one-shot comic following the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Shadow the Hedgehog Getting a Brand-New Comic Following Film Debut

The Perfect Opportunity to Get Sonic Film Fans Up to Speed

Shadow looking angry in Sonic The Hedgehog 3.

Sonic the Hedgehog might be SEGA's most well-known mascot, but if there's a character that rivals him in popularity, its Shadow. Shadow made his first appearance in the game Sonic Adventure 2, which followed him, in part, as he and his team attempted to conquer the world. Shadow became an instant hit with fans and he later got his own spinoff game, Shadow the Hedgehog, which dove into his tragic past with his creator, Gerald Robotnik, and Maria Robotnik. Beyond the games, Shadow has appeared in numerous Sonic adaptations, including shows like Sonic X, Sonic Boom, and Sonic Prime.

Fans of Paramount's Sonic film franchise got a surprise in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, where the post-credits scene revealed that Shadow did indeed exist in this film's universe and that he was currently being held in one of G.U.N.'s private research facilities. As Sonic the Hedgehog 3 began being developed, it was revealed that Shadow would play a huge role in the third movie and that he would be voiced by film icon Keanu Reeves. Though the film has yet to be released, fans are incredibly hyped to see Shadow's role in the new film.

Film Continuity or Not, The Shadow One-Shot is Being Timed Well

Everyone Can Learn More about Sonic's Dark Rival

Details are obviously scarce right now, so there are no details on whether this new book will tie into the film franchise's universe or IDW Publishing's line (though it's more than likely the latter). But it's still a good opportunity for fans who may just be discovering Shadow for the first time. A new one-shot could give new fans a deeper examination of Shadow's harrowing past and inspire them to seek out more material regarding Shadow. While Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will help bring Shadow to a bigger audience, this upcoming story can really dive into who he really is.

Source: X