Sonic the Hedgehog may be widely regarded as the best hedgehog around, but after 23 years of competition, Shadow has finally given him a run for his money. Shadow's latest, greatest power feat puts Sonic to shame and proves he has what it takes to be the most powerful character in the entire Sonic franchise, officially laying their decades-long rivalry to rest.

In the "Urban Warfare" arc of IDW Publishing's Sonic the Hedgehog – written by Evan Stanley, with art by Adam Bryce Thomas – Shadow and the rest of Team Dark help Sonic and friends infiltrate Dr. Eggman's Eggperial City to thwart his nefarious plot.

Shadow figures out how to perform his Chaos Control technique by channeling the artificial emeralds that power the city, controlling them and sending them flying up into space. Shadow's craziest attack yet solidifies that he is finally stronger than Sonic, changing the status quo of their classic rivalry.

In A Climactic Comic Story, Shadow Unleashes His Most Impressive Chaos Control In Sonic Franchise History

Sonic The Hedgehog #61 – Written By Evan Stanley; Art By Adam Bryce Thomas; Color By Rik Mack & Valentina Pinto; Lettering By Shawn Lee

In Sonic the Hedgehog #61, Sonic embarks on a mission with his allies to vanquish Eggperial City; Shadow is among these allies, and he utilizes the Chaos Control in a remarkable way by charging it with Eggman's crystals instead of Chaos Emeralds. Shadow doesn't only perform one Chaos Control in this climactic confrontation with Dr. Eggman, either. He performs three in total; one to teleport the artificial emeralds, one to trap Eggman within them, and one to teleport them off to space before he and his fellow Resistance fighters are caught in their explosion.

Typically, real Chaos Emeralds.

Shadow’s Iconic Rivalry With Sonic Gets Flipped On Its Head Thanks To This Raw Display Of Power

After 23 Years, Shadow & Sonic Undergo A Major Role Reversal

Sonic's rivalry with Shadow can be traced back to the beloved video games that put the blue blur on the map. In 2001, defeat the giant Biolizard.

Shadow's origin story will soon be adapted to live action in the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie, which arrives in theaters on December 20, 2024!

Shadow has become a franchise mainstay, and he's even starred in his own solo story in the recently released Shadow and Sonic's feud stems from Shadow "sensing" that Sonic is an enemy. Now, in IDW Publishing's Sonic the Hedgehog series, the two hedgehogs are allies who compete against each other - though Shadow tends to fall short. Considering their lengthy history, Shadow's newfound triumph over Sonic has been a long time coming.

Shadow Deserves A Win After His Recent Failures To Reach Sonic’s Level

Sonic's Rival Hasn't Had The Best Luck Lately

Shadow has earned this power-up, since he hasn't exactly thrived in the arrogance gets the better of him as he refuses to run from the fight, taking on more enemies than he can handle alone, which results in him being infected with the Metal Virus.

Curious to learn more about the mysterious contagion Shadow lost against? Read the full Metal Virus Saga in Sonic the Hedgehog #13-32, available digitally and in various collected formats from IDW Publishing!

Shadow's misstep during the Metal Virus infestation isn't the only instance where he has been knocked down a peg right when he's overtaking Sonic. As mentioned before, in Sonic the Hedgehog #59, Shadow's first try at tapping into a Chaos Control without real Chaos Emeralds doesn't go well. The crystals' power quickly overwhelms him, causing a surge of energy that entraps him within the very crystals he's drawn power from. It requires encouragement from Silver the Hedgehog to pull him out of his anguish, and with Silver's words in mind, he rises from his failure to reach greater heights.

Sonic May Lack Shadow’s Chaos Control Power, But Their Competition Is Far From Over

Sonic Will Always Find A Way to Catch Up To Shadow (And Vice Versa)

As astounding as Shadow's latest feat is, it doesn't mean that Sonic is incapable of catching up to his rival; in fact, Sonic has also pulled off many remarkable feats over the years. In Sonic the Hedgehog #61, shortly before Shadow's Chaos Control, Sonic unleashes his own astounding potential when he including Amy Rose, who has assisted him with other exciting combos in the past; nonetheless, a testament to how Sonic can still overpower Shadow if he works at it.

Sonic will never stop racing to beat Shadow, and their fast-paced rivalry will undoubtedly remain a staple of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise for many years to come.

Ultimately, Sonic and Shadow's competition with one another has stood the test of time because of how frequently they're able to turn the tides of their dynamic. Every time Shadow powers up in some way, Sonic unearths a new technique and successfully levels the playing field. Even if Shadow is stronger than Sonic at the moment, there's no guarantee that this status quo will remain intact for long. Sonic will never stop racing to beat Shadow, and their fast-paced rivalry will undoubtedly remain a staple of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise for many years to come.