Shadow and Rouge Crash the Party in Sonic the Hedgehog #80

Sonic’s always ready to team up with his closest allies, but sometimes backup arrives from the least expected places. In Sonic the Hedgehog #80, set to release July 30, the Chaotix are caught off guard as two familiar faces enter the fray—Shadow the Hedgehog and Rouge the Bat.

In an exclusive early look at the upcoming IDW issue from Comicbook.com, Sonic and the Chaotix—Vector, Espio, and Charmy—find themselves in the middle of a battle with a powerful robot threatening Rainstorm Forest. As the odds stack against them, Shadow and Rouge swoop in just in time to turn the tide. However, not everyone is eager to trust their surprise assistance.

Rouge reveals that she’s investigating Sweeps Inc., which was recently exposed as a front for illegal weapons and pollution. Hired to sniff out anything still hidden, Rouge’s presence raises eyebrows, especially from Vector, who isn’t thrilled when Charmy lets slip that he and Espio had been captured earlier.

While Sonic cracks a joke asking whether Shadow is helping Rouge or just enjoys wrecking robots in the rain, tension lingers between the Chaotix and the new arrivals. Before the issue preview ends, Shadow spots something off-panel, hinting at more trouble just around the corner.

The official synopsis for Sonic the Hedgehog #80 reads:
“As Sonic and the Chaotix struggle against dangerous robots… Wait, what are Shadow and Rouge doing here?! Banding together to figure out Dr. Eggman’s next scheme, Sonic and the Chaotix follow their last lead into a rain-drenched secret base full of dangerous robots. As the situation quickly turns scary, they must ask themselves: Will they find the answers they’re looking for? Or have they walked right into a trap set by Dr. Eggman? But that’s not all! Everything gets even wilder when Shadow and Rouge arrive, leaving our heroes wondering whether they’re here to lend a hand… or make things even more dire.”

Sonic the Hedgehog #80 is written by Ian Flynn, with art by Aaron Hammerstrom and Matt Froese, colors by Valentina Pinto, and lettering by Ed Dukeshire. The issue releases July 30 from IDW Publishing.

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