History Fridge / SonicTheHedgehogIDW

* Imposter Syndrome Issue #3 confirms that both Surge and Kit are both brainwashed and cannot remember their old identities. This means that somewhere, there are two missing people who probably have loved ones that will be horrified when they find out that their friend or family member has been brainwashed into becoming a supervillain.

** Not to mention that most of Eggman's highly effective robots like the E-series ended up betraying him, with [[Videogame/SonicAdventure Gamma]] destroying his brothers and Omega turning rogue and joining Team Dark. Metal Sonic, by comparison, was always loyal to Eggman, and even the [[Videogame/SonicHeroes one time]] he betrayed him, Metal Sonic 1) left him alive, [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation which can be argued]] was done to please his master in a LoopholeAbuse kind of way, and 2) obtained the power of Chaos and copied the data from Shadow on his own merits. It's possible Eggman has [[VillainRespect respect and pride]] for Metal Sonic to have gone that far, even if he joined the heroes against him.

* The final point tends to be consistent with any other respectful moments from Eggman, that he will show open reverence so long as it under ''zero'' terms can be insinuated as him deeming himself inferior to them. He lampshades that he would never humour Dr Starline by complementing him, making sense because Starline viewed himself as Eggman's HyperCompetentSidekick, but Eggman is perfectly fine acknowledging him in death because ''he'' defeated him, so complimenting his talents from now on can only make himself look ''even better''.

* The Master Emerald was able to completely cure Sonic of his Metal Virus infection and allowed him to go super. However, at the time it was created, Dr Eggman had all 7 Chaos Emeralds and told Dr Starline that its secret ingredient was a "trade secret". It's likely that the secret ingredient was negative Chaos energy, hence why the Zombots quickly got out of control and why they were so resistant. Remember that it also took Super Sonic to defeat [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Perfect Chaos]] and [[VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy Ultimate Gemerl]], both of whom who used negative Chaos energy to empower themselves and were also defeated by Super Sonic.
* The guards' choice of Wispon at the prison is a remarkably intelligent one. The Hover Wispon allows them to push prisoners back with little risk to the prisoners' health. It is a perfect crowd control weapon, great for disabling single prisoners or breaking up groups.
* In "Eggman's Day Off", out of the figurines that Eggman singles out as his enemies, he chooses the fox (Tails) and the chameleon (Espio). Why them in particular? They have the most amount of history with Eggman - Tails has personally beaten him in [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 mech-to-mech combat]] and has [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure foiled Eggman's plots all on his own]], while Espio was a part of [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes Team Chaotix when they beat up Eggman for refusing to pay them]], and if you take [[VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix Knuckles Chaotix]] as canon, was part of the team that took down Eggman and Metal Sonic Kai in that game. Most other Sonic characters haven't fought against Eggman personally (as in, not one of his mechs or lackeys) as much as they has.

** This also puts his [[AdaptationalPersonalityChange change in personality]] from VideoGame/SonicForces in perspective. Being indirectly responsible for the creation of one of the deadliest foes you and your allies have ever faced as well as Eggman's complete take over of the world, already isn't going to do well for anyone's conscious (even if they are a brooding AntiHero). Plus unlike Sonic (whom had the 'luxury' of being imprisoned.) Shadow likely witnessed it and the brutal war that followed first hand, making whatever [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone guilt he feels]] grow further. To pour more salt on the wound, He had to see Sonic (Alongside Classic Sonic and The Custom Hero) fix his mistake, while he was reduced to being another soldier on the front lines, which certainly wouldn't help [[BreakTheHaughty his ego.]] When you add all that up, it makes sense why He'd grow [[TookALevelInJerkass more rasher, prideful and violent than He previously was.]] In his mind, he has a lot to make up for.
* Despite Starline's objections, Eggman deciding against reinacting Neo Metal Sonic's plan was probably the smarter choice. Metal only got as far as he did because no one knew he was an element in play, which allowed him to operate mostly unimpeded. Sonic and pals now know he's out there and one of the biggest advantages Metal was able to get the first time round, the Master Emerald, is now fully guarded.

* It makes sense that Dr. Starline would lose a fight against his own creations. Starline was never much of a fighter back when he had the Warp Topaz, fled when he first had it and as shown in ''Chao Races and Badnik Bases'' and ''Imposter Syndrome'' that Starline does poorly in fights against many opponents.
** Additionally the limitations of his Tricore references how VideoGame/SonicHeroes only allows you to control one character at a time, forcing you to switch out if you need to change type. As Surge demonstrates, the Tricore's advantages are limited if she can move faster than he can change powers which allows her and Kit to turn the tables against their master.
* Dr. Starline is surprisingly similar to another villain: [[VideoGame/SonicForces Infinite.]] Both of them are white creatures who were on Dr Eggman's side, are named after an easter egg or glitch in the series's history e.g Fun is Infinite depicting a creepy Sonic with a realistic face and ***/Wechina who is an off-colour Knuckles), try to manipulate the perceptions of others for their own gain(Infinite uses the Phantom Ruby, Starline uses his Hypno Glove), both of them are psychopathic with no redeeming qualities, both of them use a gemstone (Infinite's Phantom Ruby and Dr Starline's Warp Topaz and later Tricore) that immensely boosts their power and are over reliant on them, both of them manage to defeat Sonic (or in Starline's case, nearly kill him), both of them have allied with Zavok and Metal Sonic and both of them are important antagonistic figures in their respective stories.
* Well of course Dr. Starline lost to Dr. Eggman during Issue #50. Dr Eggman has years of experience in the field compared to Starline and unlike Dr Starline has had to learn how to adapt to the chaotic world around him due to Sonic constantly challenging him. In addition Dr Starline's logical but rigid thinking and his own obsession with the mad doctor means that his plans fall apart because he doesn't seem to realize that the world doesn't operate with the same tunnel vision that he does.
** During their mech fight, Dr Starline chooses the [[VideoGame/SonicLostWorld Eggrobo]] to combat the [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes Egg Emperor]], a matchup that ends in Dr Eggman's favour. It makes considering that most of it's attacks are projectile based which can be shielded against, Starline's own inexperience in piloting it, the mech still being damaged and because it's far weaker due to not having the world's life force as a power source.
** Even without a mech, Dr Eggman would be able to put Dr Starline in his place. He's already been betrayed several times by other villains (organic and machine) enough to be wary of Starline's powerset and therefore create countermeasures to shut down all of Dr Starline's tricks. Not to mention that Dr Starline himself is a poor fighter who relies on his powered stones like [[VideoGame/SonicForces Infinite]] and is far, far weaker without them due to his lack of actual combat experience.

* FromACertainPointOfView, Dr Starline really ''is'' Dr Eggman's worst lackey. For starters, Dr Starline shows his superior up by [[BeginnersLuck nearly killing Sonic on the first try]], something that Dr Eggman has failed to do for decades. There's also Dr Starline's [[AscendedFanboy constant fawning over him]] which makes him seem [[CelebCrush clingy and overly dependent]] and that's when he isn't [[SingleIssueWonk criticizing everything he thinks is wrong with Dr Eggman's plans]], which makes him seem imprudent and arrogant. And that's before he goes behind Dr Eggman's back and accidently makes their Metal Virus problem far worse. Or his refusal to cooperate by not handing his Warp Topaz over when asked, believing he could come with a solution to fix the Metal Virus ''despite'' making the problem worse in the first place. Then much like most of Dr Eggman's previous lackeys, he turns traitor. Dr Starline then becomes a massive thorn in his former boss's side by breaking out several people he was hoping to keep imprisoned, stealing his resources and claiming them as his own before having the gall to act as [[UnwantedAssistance though he's being helpful]] and that he has the right to call himself Dr Eggman's superior while treating him as second banana. At this point, it's easy to see why he just sticks with [[TheDragon Metal]] [[EvilKnockoff Sonic]] when all his other henchmen/associates [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure flooded an entire city]], [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 ended up turning good]], [[VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy went mad with power once he absorbed all 7 Chaos Emeralds]], [[VideoGame/SonicRush wanted to destroy the planet after losing]] and [[VideoGame/SonicRivals later tried to turn against him for his own plans]], [[VideoGame/SonicLostWorld betrayed him as soon as their only restraints were gone]] or [[VideoGame/SonicForces intended to incinerate him along with everyone else]] and now this.
* The reason why Surge hallucinates Dr Starline? Her mechanical skeleton wasn't designed with the Dynamo Cage in mind, causing glitches in her systems. As for why the Dr Starline hallucination has BlackEyesOfEvil in #53 but not in the issues after, it's implied that the hallucination is becoming more real to Surge as the Dynamo Cage continues to fry her brain in tandem with being in a place that triggers her traumatic memories.

* #54 confirms that only Surge can see the hallucination Starline but not Kit. It'd seem like an oversight but then you remember that Dr Starline never programmed Kit with the same level of hate for Tails like Surge has for Sonic. Or that him underestimating Kit allows Surge to use his Hypnoglove to trick him into thinking they were still on board with his plan. Or that Kit's lack of programmed hatred allows Tails to talk him down unlike Surge who goes down fighting. If anything, the various oversights in regard to Kit's programming actually allow him to be far more reasonable than Surge whose brainwashing is far deeper.
* The reason why [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Mecha Sonic]] despised [[VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy Mecha Knuckles]] and ended up destroying him in Scrapnik Island #2? Mecha Knuckles reminded Mecha Sonic of the very person who destroyed him and caused Dr Eggman to scrap him in favour of Metal Sonic.
* When the leftovers of Dr Starline's schemes (including living experiments) leave both sides struggling well after his death, Eggman, who never shown Starline respect in life, is actually ''[[VillainRespect amused]]'' by all the carnage he has caused. This makes even more sense when you consider that Starline has essentially [[VillainousLegacy pulled a Gerald on everyone]].
* The Metal Virus saga {{Foreshadow}}s Starline's poor judgement of Eggman in advance of their last showdown (fittingly both issue milestones of 25 and 50). He summons the Zeti because he believes Eggman has no plan against the virus going out of control. In truth he did, if an incredulous one; to bail on the whole planet and start anew on a different one. It is heavily implied [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder he intended to leave Starline at the mercy of the virus]], hence playing dumb when he asked about it. In both arcs, Starline comes out short because he chose to believe [[HanlonsRazor his mentor was incompetent rather than capable of scheming behind his back]].

** Following Starline's dismissal, Eggman admits his backup plan was to simply let the planet get enveloped by the virus and immigrate to a new one. Given Starline brought in the Deadly Six because Eggman never told him that, even saying idlely he was working on a cure in their last interaction beforehand, it can be implied that [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness Starline was deemed surplus to this plan]], and his screw up just led to Eggman taking the more upfront approach about it. Starline not only unwittingly saved everyone from the virus, but also himself from a more fatal betrayal.
* The [[OCStandIn Custom Hero]] is definitely a Zombot during the Metal Virus saga. Angel Island is the only uninfected place by the time of the climax pretty much confirms it.

* Although a background detail its implied that even after the Metal Virus was defeated and erased that many people went missing either due to traveling far away from their hometowns as Zombots or...possibly coming out of their zombot state in dangerous parts of the world and succumbing to the elements. Considering how in the 2020 annual that Big saw Zombots falling off a bridge or when Zavok tossed Zombots onto Angel Island that some fell off the Island into the ocean its very easy to see were the missing people reports are likely coming from.

* Just how deep is Starline's influence in regards to Surge and Kit? In #53, the Dynamo Cage's power is implied to cause Surge to start hallucinating the doctor despite Dr Starline being dead. The hallucination claims that it'd take ''all day'' to get the root of why she'd want his counsel despite Surge having been utterly frustrated with him and later intending to betray him later down the line.

* Though a minor detail, the fact that Surge and Kit only sleep on a cheap bunkbed without duvets and only a single pillow really does enforce that Dr Starline only cared enough to get them on his side but never really cared for their wellbeing. The lack of personal belongings also further implies that Dr Starline didn't want Surge and Kit having any identity of their own outside of his twisted vision for them.
* So if Mecha Sonic MK: II had succeeded in [[GrandTheftMe transferring his mind to Sonic's body]] and escaped Scrapnik Island, what would happen? Would Sonic be [[AFateWorseThanDeath trapped in a rusted body]] for the rest of his life? Would Mecha Sonic try and ally himself with Dr Eggman only to realize that the mad doctor forgot about him? Or would Dr Eggman relish the opportunity of having a corrupted version of his archnemesis help him [[TheBadGuyWins take over the world]]? Would Mecha Sonic decide to [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge take vengeance upon his former master for abandoning him]]? How would Sonic's friends react upon realizing that their "friend" has turned to evil, unaware that [[DramaticIrony it's actually Mecha Sonic]]?

!![[AC:FridgeLogic]]
* In Scrapnik Island #2, if [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Mecha Sonic]] and Sigma's eyes act as light sources, why would they give Sonic a flashlight in the darkness when they are already lighting the way?
** Considering the three were splitting up to search through the darkness of the Death Egg, Sonic would need his own light source when he searches through some of the wreckage that Mecha Sonic wasn't looking through.

* FromACertainPointOfView, Dr Starline really ''is'' Dr Eggman's worst lackey. For starters, Dr Starline shows his superior up by [[BeginnersLuck nearly killing Sonic on the first try]], something that Dr Eggman has failed to do for decades. There's also Dr Starline's [[AscendedFanboy constant fawning over him]] which makes him seem [[CelebCrush clingy and overly dependent]] and that's when he isn't [[SingleIssueWonk criticizing everything he thinks is wrong with Dr Eggman's plans]], which makes him seem imprudent and arrogant. And that's before he goes behind Dr Eggman's back and accidently makes their Metal Virus problem far worse. Or his refusal to cooperate by not handing his Warp Topaz over when asked, believing he could come with a solution to fix the Metal Virus ''despite'' making the problem worse in the first place. Then much like most of Dr Eggman's previous lackeys, he turns traitor. Dr Starline then becomes a massive thorn in his former boss's side by breaking out several people he was hoping to keep imprisoned, stealing his resources and claiming them as his own before having the gall to act as [[UnwantedAssistance though he's being helpful]] and that he has the right to call himself Dr Eggman's superior while treating him as second banana. At this point, it's easy to see why he just sticks with [[TheDragon Metal]] [[EvilKnockoff Sonic]] when all his other henchmen/associates [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure flooded an entire city]], [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 ended up turning good]], [[VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy went mad with power once he absorbed all 7 Chaos Emeralds]], [[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries wanted to destroy the planet after losing]] and [[VideoGame/SonicRivals later tried to turn against him for his own plans]], [[VideoGame/SonicLostWorld betrayed him as soon as their only restraints were gone]] or [[VideoGame/SonicForces intended to incinerate him along with everyone else]] and now this.

** Both arcs also show the other side of the coin, as in both, while Starline's rebuttals are thwarted pretty easily, [[KarmaHoudiniWarranty Eggman's plans go pear shaped and even nearly cause his demise as a result of Starline's leftover machinations]] (the Zeti-controlled Zombots in the first instance, and his dealings with Surge and the exposure of Eggperial City in the second). As Tails lampshades, while Starline underestimated Eggman's wits, simply being faithful to the platypus in the first place likely would have saved the doctor a lot of trouble.

** Both arcs also show the other side of the coin, as in both, while Starline's rebuttals are thwarted pretty easily, [[KarmaHoudiniWarranty Eggman's plans go pear shaped and even nearly cause his demise as a result of Starline's leftover machinations]] (the Zeti-controlled Zombots in the first instance, and Surge in the locked down Egg Base in the second). As Tails lampshades, while Starline underestimated Eggman's wits, simply being faithful to the platypus in the first place likely would have saved the doctor a lot of trouble.

* FromACertainPointOfView, Dr Starline really ''is'' Dr Eggman's worst lackey. For starters, Dr Starline shows his superior up by [[BeginnersLuck nearly killing Sonic on the first try]], something that Dr Eggman has failed to do for decades. There's also Dr Starline's [[AscendedFanboy constant fawning over him]] which makes him seem [[CelebCrush clingy and overly dependent]] and that's when he isn't [[SingleIssueWonk criticizing everything he thinks is wrong with Dr Eggman's plans]], which makes him seem imprudent and arrogant. And that's before he goes behind Dr Eggman's back and accidently makes their Metal Virus problem far worse. Or his refusal to cooperate by not handing his Warp Topaz over when asked, believing he could come with a solution to fix the Metal Virus ''despite'' making the problem worse in the first place. Then much like most of Dr Eggman's previous lackeys, he turns traitor. Dr Starline then becomes a massive thorn in his former boss's side by breaking out several people he was hoping to keep imprisoned, stealing his resources and claiming them as his own before having the gall to act as [[StopHelpingMe though he's being helpful]] and that he has the right to call himself Dr Eggman's superior while treating him as second banana. At this point, it's easy to see why he just sticks with [[TheDragon Metal]] [[EvilKnockoff Sonic]] when all his other henchmen/associates [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure flooded an entire city]], [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 ended up turning good]], [[VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy went mad with power once he absorbed all 7 Chaos Emeralds]], [[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries wanted to destroy the planet after losing]] and [[VideoGame/SonicRivals later tried to turn against him for his own plans]], [[VideoGame/SonicLostWorld betrayed him as soon as their only restraints were gone]] or [[VideoGame/SonicForces intended to incinerate him along with everyone else]] and now this.

** Additionally, Surge becomes more terrified of the hallucinations the less nightmarish they get and more like his usual SmugSmiler self. The whole ''Overpowered'' arc is the cast realising that Starline, for all his buffoonery, [[NotSoHarmlessVillain was actually a very disturbed and dangerous individual]]. The hallucinations aren't becoming more inffectual in Surge's eyes, the normal Starline is the ''worst one'' for her.

* On the topic of the Dynamo Cage itself, Cubot had explained in #52 that it can harness the energy from Wisps ''by force'', as demonstrated when she uses it to steal all but one of Whisper's Wisps by the end of #53. [[ExplainExplainOhCrap At the same time, however, he never really explained what happens to the Wisps]] ''[[ExplainExplainOhCrap themselves]]''; if it can take their energy through force, [LifeDrain what's stopping it from out and out]] ''[[LifeDrain killing them?]]''

* Sigma seems to be designed after the older E-Series units ( i.e., not like the [[VideoGame/SonicBattle Phi line]] or Omega), so there's a real possibility that he has an animal inside powering him. Given Sigma's condition and the fact he was in the ocean for an unknown amount of time, said animal's chance of survival is looking rather slim.

* Sigma seems to be designed after the older E-Series units ( i.e., not like the [[VideoGame/SonicBattle Phi line]] or Omega), so there's a real possibility that he has an animal inside powering him. Given Sigma's condition and the fact he was in the ocean for an unknown amount of time, said animal's chance of survival is rather slim.

* On the topic of the Dynamo Cage itself, Cubot had explained in #52 that it can harness the energy from Wisps ''by force'', as demonstrated when she uses it to steal all but one of Whisper's Wisps by the end of #53. [[ExplainExplainOhCrap At the same time, however, he never really explained what happens to the Wisps]] ''[[ExplainExplainOhCrap themselves]]''; if it can take their energy through [LifeDrain what's stopping it from out and out]] ''[[LifeDrain killing them?]]''