History NightmareFuel / ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog

%%Image chosen via crowner in the Image Suggestion thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/crowner.php/ImagePickin/ImageSuggestions104
%%https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1452266899092104700
%%Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ht_8.jpg]]

* This version of Dr. Eggman was done up quite handily as a source of NightmareFuel when he first got started; in his debut, his RoboticReveal was done by having ''acid melt off his artificial skin'', showing the horrific metallized being underneath the bubbling flesh. Then, once his satellite explodes with him on it, we see him alive and well in his current body, having [[BrainUploading downloaded his consciousness into it]], a trait that allowed for a lot of FamilyUnfriendlyViolence against him. An unkillable, inexhaustible robotic MadScientist with the power to turn you into one of his mindless robotic slaves with a mere pat on the back. Before he replaced Prime!Robotnik, he had successfully crushed the Freedom Fighters on his own planet and was ruling it, unopposed, and merely came to Prime!Mobius as a SelfImposedChallenge.
* The whole process of roboticization. Here`s how it works: First, someone is forced to step into an ominous looking device (with most examples in the comics being forced against their will into it), then when the machine activates they [[AndIMustScream see their whole body turn from flesh to metal (with the process also being far from painless), and finally they feel their free will and ability to think for themselves fade away]], with Bernie and Lupes forced transformations highlighting the whole horror of the experience.
* The image cover of Sonic the Hedgehog issue #176 shows an enraged Sonic overlooking the destroyed burning remains of what was Knothole village while holding a ruined flag in his hands with an acorn symbol upon it. Scary, emotional and heartbreaking.
* Issue 3 had everyone think Robotnik got hold of atomic bombs and went over the destruction the weapons could cause. While it turned out he had only gotten ''insecticide'' bombs, later on Robotnik ''did'' get atomic bombs.
* The original Dr. Robotnik had many of these moments, such as when he gleefully tests a matter-vaporizing weapon on a pleading Overlander.
* The [[http://archive.sonichq.net/images/scans/archie/sonic/deathegg1.jpg launch]] of the first Death Egg is done in a [[http://archive.sonichq.net/images/scans/archie/sonic/deathegg2.jpg two-page splash panel]] that fills the entire length of the pages.
* The [[http://archive.sonichq.net/images/scans/archie/sonic/wipeout1.jpg Knothole]] [[http://archive.sonichq.net/images/scans/archie/sonic/wipeout2.jpg Wipeout]] in Endgame: Director's Cut. Robotnik [[spoiler:apparently]] vaporizes Knothole Village and everyone in it with the Ultimate Annihilator.
** Sonic and Robotnik fight to the death as [[http://archive.sonichq.net/images/scans/archie/sonic/sonrobgb.jpg the world is erased]].
* [[http://archive.sonichq.net/images/scans/archie/proart/large/whoops.jpg "Whoops Apocalypse"]] from issue #51, as Sonic is plunged into a VR world where his friends have all been roboticized and turned on him. Originally, the culprit would have been Sally, who had ''really'' died during Endgame and was replaced with a robot double of her.
* Robo-Robotnik destroyed future!Mobius with nuclear weapons.
* [[http://archive.sonichq.net/images/scans/archie/sonic/chilling.jpg Bernie's roboticization]]. Her husband Jules grabs her and throws her in, and her pained expressions are horrifying.
* While the plot point didn't really go anywhere, from around issue 100 to 118 Robotnik could roboticize anyone with the slightest touch, making just being in the room with him dangerous.
* One Zone Wars story had Sonic accidentally kill an alternate, monstrous version of his father while retrieving half of a Chaos Emerald from him. Zonic the Zone Cop revealed himself to be an alternate Sonic, and reminded him that Jules was technically his father too.
* Lupe's [[http://archive.sonichq.net/images/scans/archie/sonic/lupe1.jpg roboticization]] in Sonic Super Special 11. She [[http://archive.sonichq.net/images/scans/archie/sonic/lupe2.jpg partially resists]] it and buys time for her friends to escape, but [[http://archive.sonichq.net/images/scans/archie/sonic/lupe3.jpg stays behind]] with her roboticized husband and children as her mind fades completely.
* Nack shooting Mina in the back with a gun. The kind that shoots '''bullets''', not [[FamilyFriendlyFirearms lasers]].
* The fates of the original Freedom Fighters. They went off to save the king, only for Robotnik to reveal that they've been lured into a trap, which was set up by one of their own, Trey Scales (who claims that treachery is "in his nature", since he's a snake). Scales [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness is promptly thrown into the roboticizer with his former teammates]] and all of them are roboticized and banished to the Zone of Silence, never to be seen or heard from again. If that weren't enough, it's later revealed by WordOfGod that they were eventually [[KilledOffForReal destroyed]] by Feist.
** Perhaps the worst part is just ''why'' Trey Scales may have done this. In the Official Encyclopedia, it's noted that Trey always wore the official army cap from his homeland of the defeated Southern Baronies, who had been forcibly reintegrated into the Kingdom of Acorn after seeking independence at some point before Robotnik's campaign of conquest. The same source suggests he might have sold out his partners as a final, petty form of revenge for the defeat of the Baronies, placing his own patriotic pride over the survival of his species.
* Robotnik's 'daughter' Mecha had laser eyes and nearly killed Sonic when she first fought him.
* Eggman's Egg Vineyard, also known as the Egg Grape Chamber. Sounds like a goofy name right? Until you're on the receiving end of it. This invention has three separate phases of torture: mind eraser, toxic infusion, and energy drain. ''essentially sucking the life from living beings'' and turning it into energy for Eggman to use.[[note]]The "grape" part of "Egg Grape Chamber" comes from the fact that it consists of bubble-shaped cells held together in large clusters, like a bunch of grapes.[[/note]] He ends up killing almost all of Albion's inhabitants using them. Both Naugus and Charmy suffered varied levels of mental damage from this (The former was reduced to a snarling animal until Geoffery restored him with a Chaos Emerald. The latter's mind regressed to that of a child with no memories of his royal heritage until the CosmicRetcon).
* In issue #60, the Iron Queen vowed to return after her defeat. When she finally did, she took over New Mobotropolis and Nicole.
** Even in her first appearance she was creepy, with her face being [[http://media.sonicscanf.org/comics/sonic-the-hedgehog/060/11.jpg in constant shadow]].
* During a mission to prevent ADAM's nanties from taking over Mobius, Bunnie is captured and nearly killed by ADAM attempt to absorb her metal limbs in a horrifying fashion. Sonic and Uncle Chuck managed to save her by using logic and convince ADAM that killing Bunnie would contradict his current goal.
* Antoine's evil alternate universe counterpart Patch making a complete mess of Antoine's life and nearly ruining his relationship with Bunnie, then topping it off by poisoning Antoine's father.
* Having the resident badass AntiHero Shadow [[http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b389/Rae_Logan/scaryshadowmoment.png screaming mutely and twisting in pain was somewhat disturbing.]]
* Mina didn't take the Iron Dominion's invasion of New Mobotropolis well. Particularly Nicole being BrainwashedAndCrazy. The nightmare she had a few issues after the Dominion's defeat is proof of that.
* After Robotnik recruits the Dark Legion, a rebellious techno-cult of Echidnas who broke away from the rest of their society over [[TranshumanTreachery their obsession with cybernetically upgrading themselves]], once he has restored their cybernetic components, he squashes any treacherous sentiments they may be holding with one simple sentence: "[[RewardedAsATraitorDeserves If you or any of your echidna-buddies cross me]], [[ExplosiveLeash you're all going up like a fireworks festival]]." Complete with a SlasherSmile and the green lighting, Eggman just proved he can still scare if he wants to.
* The cover of Issue #175 showing a diabolic Dr. Eggman holding up a passed out beaten Sonic in chains and BreakingTheFourthWall while doing do.
* Issue 200. Eggman's [[VillainousBreakdown mental breakdown]] after [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EnuUEijW8AATdi_?format=jpg&name=medium losing one too many times to Sonic]]. He screams bloody murder, rips his moustache, tries to punch Sonic, then starts banging his fists on the ground, shouting gibberish. Even Sonic looked horrified and concerned for his [[ArchEnemy archnemesis]].
* [[http://41.media.tumblr.com/8e49af82e3ee71d0b8719a0b304bf94e/tumblr_nladangDPc1rlmkzto1_1280.jpg Lien-Da]]'s SlasherSmile in this picture.
* [[http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100311220202/archiesonic/images/thumb/9/94/Th_DrIvoRobotnik-1-2-.jpg/642px-Th_DrIvoRobotnik-1-2-.jpg This panel gives us a very surprising reminder of what the original Dr. Robotnik was like.]]
* [[OmnicidalManiac Dark Enerjak]]. An evil godlike AlternateUniverse Knuckles who threw the world into chaos after Sonic was unable to stop him ([[TheBadGuyWins yep, you read that right]].) Anyone who has the misfortune to lose against Enerjak has his/her "Core" ([[SoulJar which is basically their soul]]) [[AndIMustScream extracted from his/her body by him]], which he can use to [[http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110429040129/archiesonic/images/5/5f/Prelates.jpg create evil robotic clones of them called Prelates]]. [[http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110224070925/archiesonic/images/1/14/Photo.png Just look at his body count]], which includes [[TheHero Sonic]], [[MadScientist Eggman]], even ''[[NighInvulnerable Shadow]].''
* The Light Mobius alternate timeline, where Shadow conquers Mobius, and becomes progressively more insane. Again, this is [[AntiHero Shadow]] we're talking about. He is capable of dealing some serious [[CurbStompBattle one-sided fights as well.]] And by the end, he's hit a serious HeelFaceDoorSlam, ending with him [[spoiler: trying to destroy the entire world and rebuild it, [[NotSoDifferent just like Eggman.]]]] The worst part? As ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'' shows, all it takes is a little SanitySlippage to make him '''just like this.'''
* The end of #225 has Eggman literally gunning down Sally before activating his Genesis Wave.
** Though Sally was saved from that fate when Sonic reversed the GW effects four issues later, she becomes a Robian again after her HeroicSacrifice, much to Sonic's horror. Eggman just laughs.
*** Her behavior and actions throughout the Mecha Sally storyline, before the CosmicRetcon, makes her an entirely different and terrifying person, despite being under Eggman's control the whole time. This would affect her in #256 and #257 following said recton, when she and the rest of the Freedom Fighters obtain memories from their previous life.
* The Order of Ixis taking control of Ixis Naugus in ''Sonic Universe'', making him an even more crazy and more dangerous being in the process.
** There's also the twisted SlasherSmile given by Geoffrey [[spoiler:after Naugus possesses his body]].
** Hell, Naugus' whole origin is NightmareFuel; he's not even a normal person, ''[[BodyHorror he's three people fused into one abomination]]''.
* The Tails Doll manages to be creepy in its familiar form. Must be the dead eyes and the glowing gem that causes bad things to happen.
** Not to mention the [[EldritchAbomination true form]] of the Tails Doll/Operation: Deadly Cuddles. [[http://images.wikia.com/sonic/images/4/41/Tails_Doll_CREEPY!.jpg HOLY CRAP!!]]
* Issue 256: [[spoiler:Thanks to Eggman disrupting Sonic's Chaos Control at the end of the crossover, the entire multiverse collapsed on itself, with Mobius Prime and Blaze's world being the only confirmed survivors. Eggman has committed the single greatest act of mass-murder in the comic's history.]] And then Mobius breaks apart.
* Sonic gets a face full of the dark energy that's seeping out of Mobius's core and, with every stressed-out moment from then on, comes dangerously close to snapping. This version of the Werehog may not be as benign as his game self.
* In #262, Sonic and Rotor [[http://oi62.tinypic.com/2u8uutd.jpg start drowning]] because their air necklaces aren't fully charged, and Sonic starts to turn into the Werehog. The [[http://oi60.tinypic.com/2itmz6a.jpg Off-Panel]] is ''even worse'' about this as Sonic is his usual self... and still drowns.
** It gets worse in the next issue, two pages in Sonic tries to make a [[TakingYouWithMe final stand]] via HeroicResolve, about to turn into the Werehog, but the [[GiantMook Dark Guardian]] throws Rotor at him, [[HopeSpot halting his transformation]]. The next panel shows Sonic, wide eyed, trying to keep going, then it cuts to him and Rotor [[OurHeroIsDead floating limp and unmoving in the water]].
* The end of Universe #67 gives us [[spoiler:a nasty hallucinatory jump scare involving Relic [[NightmareFace bugging out]].]]
* Issue #265 shows us what the world looks like through the Werehog's eyes. It isn't pretty.
* Phage. She gets [[http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/886/843/1e7.jpg one page]] at the end of SU# 71 and has [[LivingShadow already]] [[GlowingEyesofDoom guaranteed]] [[WhiteMaskofDoom a place]] [[MoreTeethThantheOsmondFamily here]].
* While the above mention about explosives during the Pre-SGW era wasn't much better, his method for punishing his subordinates in the Post-SGW era is much more sadistic. In "Eggman's Dozen," Eggman shows his subordinates what he'll do to them if they rebel. He [[spoiler:shuts off the Foreman's muscles, rendering him unable to move or talk, but can still hear and see, and locks him in a tiny, lightless box for 50 years]]. Sonic Universe #86 then has him change his mind, [[spoiler:using the Foreman as the test subject for a new roboticizer instead]].
** Maw's ability is to [[http://preview.ibb.co/b5xx5a/Maw_Attack.png inhale]] his opponents, devouring them utterly. Where they go is never explained. Even Nephthys, one of his fellow Egg Bosses, is horrified when she sees him use this attack.
* Battle Kukku XV, leader of the Battle Bird Armada, apparently has similar bomb-conjuring powers to Bean the Dynamite. When he shows off what he can do with them in ''Eggman's Dozen'', he horrifies his fellow Egg Boss, Abyss the Squid. The panel of him about to use them, complete with one of the creepiest {{Slasher Smile}}s in the comic's history -- complete with ScaryShinyGlasses to boot -- is just that extra bit of overt creep to help the FridgeHorror sink in.
* Scourge is just plain creepy. Having been nothing but a cheesy 80s punk in a leather jacket back when he was introduced back in 1994, he [[TookALevelInBadass seriously amped up his game]] -- [[FromNobodyToNightmare and his intimidation factor]] -- after the long hiatus between his appearances in 2006. He now has razor-sharp teeth and nasty scars on his torso. Sneaking into Sonic's home, he confesses as openly as the rating allows to having murdered his own father as part of a bid to intimidate Sonic's dad. When Sonic and friends meet Patch, the "Anti-Antoine" likewise reveals that Scourge ''[[EyeScream did something]]'' to his eye to cement his new identity, [[NothingIsScarier with the only words he says]] being "the patch ''used'' to be for show". By the end of the arc, hopped up on Anarchy Beryl, "Super Scourge" (complete with terrifying black and red eyes) starts raving about how he's going to spindash both his own world and Sonic's world ''in half'', '''just to prove he can''', before going on to world after world, destroying everything in his wake until he finally gets the respect he feels that he deserves.
-->'''Scourge:''' Sonic's dad [[WasOnceAMan isn't really a Mobian anymore.]] [[SelfMadeOrphan My dad simply isn't]].
** The worst part of it is, even as Scourge, he's ''still'' Sonic's EvilTwin. ''This'' is the kind of things that Sonic might do if he ever went off the deep end...
--->'''Scourge:''' All it takes is just one bad day, and you’d be just like me.
* Rotor's father, Tundra, stands out even amongst the ranks of the comic's world-conquerors and mass-murderers for just how ''banal'' his evil is. [[AbusiveParents He abused and tormented Rotor all his young life]] for wanting to live a peaceful life as an inventor, rather than a brutal barbarian like the rest of "the Herd". When Robotnik took over, rather than fight, he ''chose'' to serve Robotnik willingly and justified this as being in accordance with his MightMakesRight principles. After he was de-roboticized, he ended up ''voluntarily'' joining Eggman's forces a second time for the same reason, letting himself be Legionized in order to serve as the Egg Boss of the Artika region. And he doesn't regret what he's done at all.
** Perhaps the worst part is that he's a Super Genesis Wave retcon character; in the original canon, Rotor's father was the loving Sherman Walrus, who heroically sacrificed his life fighting ''against'' Robotnik. So even without meaning to, Eggman's meddling with reality has hurt people.
* Eggman's above-mentioned new roboticizer after the reboot, while never seen, is NightmareFuel galore in retrospect. Two years after the series was cancelled, Ian Flynn revealed this "roboticizer" was in fact the Metal Virus, the subject of ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW'''s ZombieApocalypse story arc. Thought the ''old'' roboticizer or Legionization were bad? How about being ''slowly and painfully turned into a hideous, metallic, zombified version of yourself at the molecular level''?
** For an idea of what the Metal Virus could have wrought in the old comic, take a look at [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/sonic/images/0/05/Zombot_Group.png/revision/latest?cb=20200213143938 this scene]] from the new one. Yeah, the Shattered World Crisis was '''''nothing''''' compared to what awaited the Freedom Fighters and Mobius past Issue #300.
----

* Issue 200. Eggman's [[VillainousBreakdown mental breakdown]] after losing one too many times to Sonic. He screams bloody murder, rips his moustache, tries to punch Sonic, then starts banging his fists on the ground, shouting gibberish. Even Sonic looked horrified and concerned for his [[ArchEnemy archnemesis]].

* Eggman's above-mentioned new roboticizer after the reboot, while never seen, is NightmareFuel galore in retrospect. Two years after the series was cancelled, Ian Flynn revealed this "roboticizer" was in fact the Metal Virus, the subject of ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW'''s ZombieApocalypse story arc. Thought the ''old'' roboticizer or Legionization were bad enough? How about being ''slowly and painfully turned into a hideous, metallic, zombified version of yourself at the molecular level''?
** For an idea of what the Metal Virus could have wrought in the old comic, take a look at [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/s,onic/images/0/05/Zombot_Group.png/revision/latest?cb=20200213143938 this scene]] from the new one. Yeah, the Shattered World Crisis was ''nothing'' compared to what awaited the Freedom Fighters and Mobius past Issue #300.
* Dulcy the Dragon's pre-Super Genesis Wave story As a baby, she was one of only a handful of dragons who escaped being roboticized, and got to watch her mother being turned into one of Robotnik's cybernetic slaves before she escaped. She was then exiled forever from the remnants of her people for daring to sneak above ground and then helping Sonic and Sally. After Mobotropolis was recaptured, she took a mate named Zan... who turned out to be a [[DomesticAbuse abusive husband]] and [[FantasticRacism a Dragon Supremacist with genocidal inclinations]]. She was ultimately freed of him when her old buddies Sonic and Sally rescued her... and then G.U.N shot Zan to death in front of her. And then it turned out that the roboticized dragons had been underground and thusly weren't reverted to normal by the Bem, so when they attacked the last dragon stronghold, Dulcy had to help kill many of her people. Ironically, her post-[=SGW=] life is actually far less traumatic!

* A meta example. Near the end of Issue 253, Egg Boss Axel expresses fear of Eggman's newest roboticizer, which Egg Boss Maw also alludes to near the end of ''Sonic Universe #86''. Ian Flynn later revealed what this "new roboticizer" would have been: the Metal Virus, a bioweapon that gruesomely roboticized those infected with it into metallic zombies. The comic and its spin-offs were cancelled before the Metal Virus was meant to be introduced, so the new ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW'' series featured it instead; we all know how '''that''' turned out...

* The whole process of roboticization. Anyone who falls victim to this [[AndIMustScream first sees their body turn from flesh to metal, and then feels their free will and ability to think for themselves fade away]], with Bernie and Lupes forced transformations highlighting this. In an early issue, Bunnie has a nightmare of this happening while she becomes fully roboticized overtime.

* The whole process of roboticization. Anyone who falls victim to this [[AndIMustScream first sees their body turn from flesh to metal, and then feels their free will and ability to think for themselves fade away]], with Bernie and Lupes forced transformations highlighting this. In an early issue Bunnie has a nightmare of this happening while her become fully roboticized overtime.

* Eggman's Egg Vineyard, also known as the Egg Grape Chamber. Sounds like a goofy name right?... '''WRONG!!!''' This invention has three separate phases of torture: mind eraser, toxic infusion, and energy drain. ''essentially sucking the life from living beings'' and turning it into energy for Eggman to use.[[note]]The "grape" part of "Egg Grape Chamber" comes from the fact that it consists of bubble-shaped cells held together in large clusters, like a bunch of grapes.[[/note]] He ends up killing almost all of Albion's inhabitants using them.

* Mina didn't take the Iron Dominion's invasion of New Mobotropolis well. Particularly Nicole being BrainwashedAndCrazy.

* Though Sally was saved from this fate when Sonic reversed the GW effects four issues later, she becomes a Robian again after her HeroicSacrifice, much to Sonic's horror.
** Her behavior and actions throughout the Mecha Sally storyline, before the CosmicRetcon, makes her an entirely different and terrifying person, despite being under Eggman's control the whole time. This would affect her in #256 and #257 following said recton, when she and the rest of the Freedom Fighters obtain memories from their previous life.

* The whole process of roboticization. Anyone who falls victim to this [[AndIMustScream first sees their body turn from flesh to metal, and then feels their free will and ability to think for themselves fade away]], with Bernie and Lupes forced transformations highlighting this.

* In "Eggman's Dozen," Eggman shows his subordinates what he'll do to them if they rebel. He [[spoiler:shuts off the Foreman's muscles, rendering him unable to move or talk, but can still hear and see, and locks him in a tiny, lightless box for 50 years]]. Sonic Universe #86 then has him change his mind, [[spoiler:using the Foreman as the test subject for a new roboticizer instead]].

* Eggman's Egg Grapes. Sounds like a goofy name right? Actually they're devices that ''suck the life from living beings'' and turn it into energy for Eggman to use.[[note]]They're "grapes" in that they consist of bubble-shaped cells held together in large clusters, like a bunch of grapes.[[/note]] He ends up killing almost all of Albion's inhabitants using them.

-->'''Scourge:''' "Sonic's dad [[WasOnceAMan isn't really a Mobian anymore.]] [[SelfMadeOrphan My dad simply isn't]]."

-->'''Scourge:''' "All it takes is just one bad day, and you’d be just like me."

* The whole process of roboticization. Anyone who falls victim to this first sees their body turn from flesh to metal, and then feels their free will and ability to think for themselves fade away, with Bernie and Lupes forced transformations highlighting this.