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This character exists primarily or exclusively within the Post-Super Genesis Wave continuity.
Information in this article may not be canonical to the storyline of the games or any other Sonic continuity.

And once you've slain me, the crewless Black Comet will fall onto your world, finishing off the shattered mess!


— Black Death, Sonic Universe #62

Black Death is a character that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics. He is the secondary hive-mind of the Black Arms, created by Black Doom to take over his role in the event of his death.[1]

Concept and creation[]

Black Death was created as a "replacement" for Black Doom, who was originally supposed to return in the "Shadow Fall" arc before he was written out at the request of Sega. Despite Black Death filling Black Doom's general intended role in the arc as the main antagonist and leader of the second Black Arms invasion, many aspects of the rough plot were still edited to accommodate the change in characters.[2]

History[]

Past[]

Black Death was a "lesser mind" left behind by Black Doom to complete the conquest of a world the Black Arms had previously visited. He subsequently sensed Black Doom's death, and all surviving Black Arms became subject to his control. Realizing that the Black Arms required an edge if they were to take their revenge on Sonic's World, he ordered the creation of a being based on Shadow the Hedgehog, Black Doom's destroyer. The result was Eclipse the Darkling, a being capable of acting independently of the Black Arms hive mind. Eclipse subsequently suggested a new project: the creation of the Dark Arms, which delayed the New Black Comet's arrival at Sonic's World. The detour involved a stop at Planet Wisp, where they captured a number of Wisps for cultivation. While Black Death was loathed to leave their planet still full of life to be consumed, he was persuaded by Eclipse's argument that they could harvest the other Wisps after crushing Sonic's World.

Shattered World Crisis[]

Act One[]

Arriving to find the planet shattered by recent events, Black Death received an unpleasant surprise when Team Dark and Spider Troupe boarded the comet with a nuclear device with which to destroy it. He quickly dispatched Eclipse with orders to destroy Shadow, but the independent being desired to bring Shadow back into the Black Arms fold instead. As Shadow split from his teammates, Eclipse went to intercept him while Black Death released the Black Arms' neurotoxin in an effort to paralyze the others. When they were revealed to have breath masks to protect them, he dispatched a group of Black Annelids to destroy them.

Chaos Blast (PSGW)

Shadow using a fully-powered Chaos Blast to defeat Black Death, from Sonic Universe #62.

Black Death then joined Eclipse in a mental attack on Shadow, attempting to gain control of the Ultimate Lifeform. They succeeded, but even as Shadow attacked his teammates, Black Death sensed the Hedgehog's continued resistance. Shadow eventually broke free of his control and went to confront the leader of the Black Arms. Fearing defeat, Black Death ordered the relocation of the Dark Arms to an escape craft. He and Shadow engaged in battle, during which he had Death's Eye rescue a defeated Eclipse and take him to the craft as well. While Eclipse and the Dark Arms were able to escape, Black Death was destroyed by the power of Shadow's Chaos Blast, and Death's Eye went dormant upon his passing.

Personality[]

Black Death was a surprisingly paternal being, greatly concerned for the fate of the Black Arms under his control. Fearing the extinction of his species, he went to great lengths to preserve them and defeat their enemies. However, he proved utterly malevolent, displaying a perfect willingness to destroy Shadow and his world out of revenge for his fallen predecessor, Black Doom. Perhaps due to most of the Black Arms obeying him without question, he quickly grew irritated with Eclipse's independent nature.

Powers and abilities[]

P62 13 copy

Black Death's projectiles.

One of the strongest members of the Black Arms, Black Death is powerful enough to keep Shadow on his toes during battle, though Shadow noted that Black Death was weaker than his predecessor; while Shadow needed his Super State to defeat Black Doom, Black Death was defeated quickly after Shadow became Chaos Shadow.

Black Death possessed Black Doom's ability to telepathically control the Black Arms as its hive-mind, as well as take control of any rogue members of his own race. He was also able to use Death's Eye as a mobile eye to observe the surroundings. In battle, Black Death had many of Black Doom's abilities. He could summon small flaming meteors from black holes and shoot yellow energy beams from his hands to attack his opponents. He could also project a hologram from his third eye to display what Death's Eye sees.[3]

Trivia[]

  • Black Death largely resembles Black Doom, having the form of a floating upper body with three eyes. However, he is missing Black Doom's horns, his eyes are yellow instead of red, and he has an actual mouth.

Gallery[]

Concept artwork[]

References[]

  1. Sonic Super Special Magazine #9
  2. The Sound of (Videogame) Music - BumbleKast #12. Youtube (7 March 2016). Retrieved on 1 August 2022.
  3. Sonic Universe #60, "Shadow Fall Part Two: A Shadow in the Dark"

External links[]

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