Summary
- Knuckles and the Chaotix could reunite for another mission, but a permanent partnership is unlikely due to Knuckles’ obligations as the guardian of the Floating Island.
- The Chaotix’s leader, Vector, is driven by money and will find a way to reconnect with Knuckles to ensure they are compensated for their services.
- Knuckles enjoys the company of the Chaotix and may have unfinished business with them, suggesting there could be future interactions between them.
Warning: Spoilers for Sonic the Hedgehog #66Although their one-off mission is over, IDW Publishing’s Sonic the Hedgehog is hinting that Knuckles the Echidna could once again team up with the Chaotix like in the games. IDW initially broke precedent by making the Chaotix a detective agency that was in no way affiliated with Knuckles, even though the games originally had Knuckles serve as a main member. Although early issues of Archie’s much older continuity saw Knuckles lead the Chaotix, the series soon retconned the team forever.
That’s why longtime Sonic fans were happily shocked when IDW’s official solicitation and cover previews of Sonic #65 first hinted that Knuckles and the Chaotix would join forces. The team proved to be a resounding success upon their debut as well, with Knuckles greatly complementing the Chaotix’s dynamic.
The caveat, however, was that Knuckles and the Chaotix would part ways, since the Echidna only hired them to retrieve some stolen artifacts. And by the end of issue #65, they locate the thieves and are preparing for the final battle. Luckily, Knuckles still has unfinished business with the Chaotix even after their mission ends in Sonic #66’s short story “Relic Rounding Rumble Part 2” by writer Ian Flynn, penciler Mauro Fonseca, inker Rik Mack, and colorist Reggie Graham.
Knuckles and Chaotix Will Likely Reunite in IDW’s Sonic
After Knuckles retrieves the stolen relics by the end of the short story, the Chaotix have to suddenly leave for a previous engagement before they can finalize how Knuckles will pay for their services. Since Chaotix’s leader Vector is especially driven by money, he will undoubtedly find a way to reconnect with Knuckles so that his team can be compensated accordingly. It is highly unlikely Vector will let Knuckles slide without paying. Meanwhile, Knuckles not only clearly conveys that he enjoys their company, but his actions imply that he wants to say something else positive about them before deciding against it, suggesting he may have some unfinished business with the Chaotix as well.
Having Knuckles and the Chaotix reunite for another one-off mission would be a lot easier for IDW to spin as opposed to them forming a permanent partnership. Knuckles is obligated to stay on the Floating Island because he’s its guardian, so there’s no way he can leave to work with the Chaotix. The only reason why he requested their services is because it concerned the island. Knuckles is especially tethered to the island because he still feels responsible for Neo Metal Sonic’s previous assault on his home. He also recently advised Blaze the Cat, who’s a guardian as well, to take a vacation whenever the opportunity presents itself, alluding to the fact that he would like to but can’t. Meanwhile,in the previous Archie Comics continuity, Knuckles could only team up with the Chaotix because they spent a great deal of time on Angel Island with him, and since the Chaotix have their own detective agency off-island in IDW, it’s unlikely that they would or even can relocate.
So, even though Sonic the Hedgehog #66 is hinting at the possibility that Knuckles could one day reunite with the Chaotix in the near future, there’s still not much of a chance that it will be permanent, though, crazier things have happened in IDW’s universe.
Sonic the Hedgehog #66 is available now from IDW Publishing
