Knuckles the Echidna

Knuckles is the last guardian of Angel Island and the mystical Master Emerald, a duty inherited through his ancient echidna bloodline. Fierce and solitary by nature, he crossed paths with Sonic after being tricked into opposing him.

Few characters in Archie's Sonic universe have proven as enduring — or as beloved — as Knuckles the Echidna, who burst onto the scene in 1994's Sonic the Hedgehog #13, brought to life by Mike Kanterovich, Ken Penders, and Dave Manak. Debuting in the Modern Age, Knuckles has shared pages with some of comics' most iconic anthropomorphic adventurers — Sonic, Tails, Amy Rose, and the villainous Ivo Robotnik among them — across a remarkable 32-year publishing run that stretches from the mid-'90s all the way to 2026. With 97 catalog appearances spanning Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Universe, and Sonic Boom, plus two collector-recognized key issues to his name, he's far more than a supporting player in Archie's vibrant, energetic world. For fans of the era and anyone who loves a character with real staying power, Knuckles is absolutely worth tracking down.