History Webcomic / GhostsOfTheFuture

[[caption-width-right:350:This artwork was created around the [[ArtEvolution comic's first year]].]]'''''[[http://evanstanley.deviantart.com/gallery/83636#/d13l3kj Ghosts of the Future]]''''' is a ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' fan comic written and illustrated by Evan Stanley (''[[PromotedFanboy a]]'' writer and artist on the official ''Sonic'' comics, both [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics Archie]] and [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW IDW versions]]), co-written since issue 10 by Tom Campbell (aka Okida, the creator of ''Webcomic/SonicTheContinuation''), and colored since issue 18 by Reggie Graham (another IDW ''Sonic'' artist). It started on September 24, 2007. Presumably due to Evan Stanley being busy working on the official ''Sonic'' franchise, the comic has been in a quiet hiatus since January 7, 2021.

--> '''[[https://spiritsonic.tumblr.com/post/152340297659/what-made-you-want-to-start-gotf-i-apologize-if Evan Stanley]]''': Back then I didn’t [know I probably can't do that better]. That’s what got me started on fancomics; I looooved the bigger, darker fancomics on Sonic Verse Team, Website/{{DeviantART}}, and the original Summer of Sonic website. Combine that with lingering hype for [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Sonic '06]]'s plot and and [sic] [[AuthorAppeal themes from some of my fave stories in general]], and [[InspirationForTheWork what GOTF would come to be formed]].

* LionsAndTigersAndHumansOhMy: Humans and [[HalfHumanHybrid human-animal Hybrids]] co-exist. Eggman the human is shown in the first issue and Maria and the Commander are referenced to in the comic. Issue 8 shows a few human characters as {{Cameo}}s, one who is a LittleBitBeastly. Issue 16 shows plenty of humans and some Hybrids together in a {{Flashback}}. [[FantasticRacism They didn't get along at first]], as the BackstoryHorror shows.

* DoesNotLikeShoes:
** Venice walks around barefoot.
** [[spoiler:Nicole]] goes barefoot, as per the character's original design.
** Tikal and [[spoiler:Scourge]] lose the shoes from their original designs.

Not to be confused with the ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' arc of the same name, ''[[Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm Ghosts of the Past]]'', or [[Literature/AChristmasCarol the Ghost of the Christmas Yet to Come]]. See also ''Webcomic/TheMurderOfMe'', another popular ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' fancomic which is also a DarkFic with a supernatural flavor and starring the three hedgehogs as the protagonists. It is also created by a red-haired PromotedFan, albeit named Gigi Dutreix, and Stanley is in fact best friends with them.

* ApatheticCitizens: [[https://spiritsonic.tumblr.com/post/153704544459/how-much-of-the-world-wouldve-been-destroyed-had According to lore]], citizens are in denial concerning fantastical disasters related to Chaos Energy due to their gradual development. [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything Reminds you of a common attitude towards climate change?]]

Not to be confused with the ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' arc of [[NamesTheSame the same name]], ''[[Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm Ghosts of the Past]]'', or [[Literature/AChristmasCarol the Ghost of the Christmas Yet to Come]]. See also ''Webcomic/TheMurderOfMe'', another popular ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' fancomic which is also a DarkFic with a supernatural flavor and starring the three hedgehogs as the protagonists. It is also created by a red-haired PromotedFan, albeit named Gigi Dutreix, and Stanley is in fact best friends with them.

[[caption-width-right:350:This artwork was created around the [[ArtEvolution comic's first year]].]]'''''[[http://evanstanley.deviantart.com/gallery/83636#/d13l3kj Ghosts of the Future]]''''' is a ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' fan comic written and illustrated by Evan Stanley (''[[PromotedFanboy a]]'' writer and artist on the official ''Sonic'' comics, both [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics Archie]] and [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW IDW versions]]), co-written since issue 10 by Tom Campbell (aka Okida, the creator of ''Webcomic/SonicTheContinuation''), and colored since issue 18 by Reggie Graham (another IDW ''Sonic'' artist). It started on September 24, 2007 and continues to this day.

Not to be confused with the ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' arc of [[NamesTheSame the same name]], ''[[Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm Ghosts of the Past]]'', or [[Literature/AChristmasCarol the Ghost of the Christmas Yet to Come]]. See also ''Webcomic/TheMurderOfMe'', another popular ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' fancomic which is also a DarkFic with a supernatural flavor and starring the three hedgehogs as the protagonists. It is also created by a red-haired PromotedFan, albeit named Gigi Dutreix, and Stanley is in fact best friends with her.

Not to be confused with the ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' arc of [[NamesTheSame the same name]], ''[[Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm Ghosts of the Past]]'', or [[Literature/AChristmasCarol the Ghost of the Christmas Yet to Come]]. See also ''Webcomic/TheMurderOfMe'', another popular ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' fancomic which is also a DarkFic with a supernatural flavor and starring the three hedgehogs as the protagonists. It is also created by a red-haired PromotedFangirl, albeit named Gigi Dutreix, and Stanley is in fact best friends with her.

* DarkFic: The fancomic is noticeably more depressing and sometimes [[BloodierAndGorier grislier]] than the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' canon, [[DownerBeginning beginning]] with Sonic and his friends being bloodily massacred by a mind-controlled Shadow and following that up with the trauma and guilt Sonic's ghost and Shadow suffer. The fancomic features content typical of a PG-13 work to accompany the darkness, such as mild profanity,[[PrecisionFStrike occasionally stronger]] profanity, and sexual innuendo. There's even rudimentary [[NippleAndDimed partial nudity]].

CurseCutShort: Another Character Interrupts example. In issue 15, Scourge calls Antique a "'''''crazy [[PrecisionFStrike bit--]]'''''" and is interrupted by Silver. Silver's speech bubble covers up most of the "bit--".

** Chaos Spirits [[SupernaturalLight glow like usual]] and have the usual abilities of {{Flight}}, {{Invisibility}}, {{Intangibility}}[[note]]Chaos Spirits are [[https://spiritsonic.tumblr.com/post/165177346019/of-all-the-characters-if-any-whose-the-singer-of semi-tangible by default]], which means things can fall from them if they're not careful[[/note]], and [[DemonicPossession Possession]], but Sonic gains more jewelry for every Chaos Emerald he gains and can [[spoiler:unleash bursts of energy to dissapiate Scourge's spirit temporarily]]. Chaos Spirit can alternate between normal feet and FogFeet (with the exception of [[spoiler:Vennie's ghost]], who remains with FogFeet permanently) and transform into an orb of light.

** Unlike typical ghosts in fiction, Chaos Spirits [[https://spiritsonic.tumblr.com/post/166478407219/so-is-she-a-ghost-on-earth-forever-or-would-she are not permanent]], though they usually last [[LongLived a few thousand years]]. When nearing their end, [[https://spiritsonic.tumblr.com/post/165300288279/can-sonic-or-shadow-actually-diebe-destroyed-i they start]] very, very slowly turning into {{Soulless Shell}}s by losing their memory, then [[LossOfIdentity their sense of identity]], then their physical idenitity, and then finally their sentience, and finally dissolve back to Chaos Energy at their end. Their period can be shortened by repeated mental stress (a DespairEventHorizon can outright [[https://spiritsonic.tumblr.com/post/177646649649/woah-how-can-you-kill-a-ghost "kill" them]]) and injury (known as "peeling" or "fraying").

* CensorShadow: [[spoiler:The Sorceress of the Black Isle's]] ''[[FullFrontalAssault naked]]'' [[spoiler:[[OneWingedAngel Darkwing form]]]] has a shadow covering up the groin, though her nipples are visible, albeit rudimentary to the point they look like simple bumps).

* FanDisservice: [[spoiler:The Sorceress of the Black Isle's [[OneWingedAngel Darkwing form]]]] [[https://www.deviantart.com/comments/1/121227600/1056069358 is intended]] to evoke this effect. She's [[FullFrontalAssault naked]] with visible nipples, but the overly muscular, masculine body makes the form disturbing rather than arousing.

* MatureAnimalStory: Yes, ''Ghosts of the Future'' may star your favorite FunnyAnimal characters from ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'', but it's a comic for teenage ''Sonic'' fans and older and a DarkFic, with bloodshed, ([[PrecisionFStrike usually]]) mild profanity, sexual innuendo, and [[NippleAndDimed partial nudity]] (albeit tame-looking) to prove it. Not to mention the BackstoryHorror: It's revealed that the creation of the modern FunnyAnimals, or [[HalfHumanHybrid Hybrids]], (yes, they were {{transhuman}} {{Designer Bab|y}}ies) was made possible through the manipulation of human women by offering them and their loved ones free healthcare and pensions [[QuestionableConsent if they consented to bear the Hybrids]].

** In issue 15, Scourge calls Antique a "'''''crazy''''' '''''[[CurseCutShort bit--]]'''''".

* BackstoryHorror: [[https://spiritsonic.tumblr.com/post/165337436959/woah-so-all-this-hybrid-backstory-means-shadow The history of the Hybrids]], particularly the period 200 years ago, as explained in the lore is DarkerAndEdgier than the comic, which is already a DarkFic itself, to the point Evan Stanley attached a ContentWarning and [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=b9tcd2k65789p1pglrd92nvr&page=461#comment-11524 refused to go into further detail]]. The origin of the Hybrids in modern times, [[https://spiritsonic.tumblr.com/post/165302208889/are-the-satam-characters-canon-to-gotf-would-they including Sonic and many other canon characters]], involves [[spoiler:[[ArmiesAreEvil G.U.N.]]]] exploiting human women, many of whom were poor and [[EvilColonialist from developing countries]], by recruiting them to [[DesignerBabies bear the Hybrids]] under the [[QuestionableConsent offer of free healthcare and pensions for them and their families]], so that [[spoiler:G.U.N.]] could have superpowered {{transhuman}}s to raise as {{Tyke Bomb}}s for wicked purposes. When the breeding program was exposed to the public and subsequently shut down, G.U.N. discarded their Hybrids with little care, leaving them to be [[FantasticRacism discriminated by the humans]]. Finally, they [[InternalRetcon covered up the original history]] with an immensely abridged and {{Bowdlerised}} version.

* GratuitousForeignLanguage: In issue 7, Shadow says an Arabic-sounding phrase in phonetic language, "Y falazas, i ees serak! Y falazas i ees serak!" (at least "i ees serak" is Arabic for "is stolen"), which is based on a summoning chant used in both ''VideoGame/SonicStorybook'' games. Evan Stanley [[https://www.deviantart.com/comments/1/160979375/4747256136 stated]] that her present self would be more sensitive about using gratuitous foreign language she isn't familiar with.