Fang's Gang,[1][2] also formatted as the Fang Gang,[3][4][5] also known as Team Hooligan[6] (チームフーリガン Chīmu Fūrigan?), or just the Hooligans,[7][8] is a group that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a criminal group, consisting of Fang the Hunter as leader, Bean the Dynamite, and Bark the Polar Bear, being hired on a few occasions by Dr. Eggman in an attempt to get the Chaos Emeralds or other values. Occasionally these missions would sometimes cause conflict between Sonic and friends. When not hired by Eggman the group would cause random mischief like stealing[9] or hunting for other gems. The group is heavily known for their wanted criminal status on Earth in small areas or cities, the gang's wanted status has even carried over years later in the present day.
History[edit | edit source]
Classic Era[edit | edit source]
Seasons of Chaos[edit | edit source]
Hired by Dr. Eggman to find all the Chaos Emeralds in exchange for a hefty reward, Fang and his companions Bark and Bean set out on their treasure hunt. Eventually coming across Sonic, Tails and Knuckles in Summer Falls Zone, Fang had Bark and Bean occupy Sonic and Tails while he went after the local Chaos Emerald, Just as he grabbed the Chaos Emerald using his Marvelous Queen however, Tails sabotaged Fang's vehicle, causing it to bounce around and making Fang drop the Chaos Emerald. As Fang retaliated, thus making Tails drop the Chaos Emerald into Sonic's hands, he kept Bean from blowing the gem up. He subsequently shot the Chaos Emerald out of Sonic's hands, causing it to fall over the edge of a waterfall. Deciding to retrieve the Chaos Emerald later, Fang took his gang to Autumn Forest Zone where the next Chaos Emerald was. There, the Fang Gang found the local Chaos Emerald in the hands of Mighty, Ray, and Amy. Despite trying to have his companions take on the tough guys, Fang ended up facing and being defeated by Mighty. However, when Metal Knuckles appeared and escaped with the Chaos Emerald, Fang suspected Eggman was trying to double-cross them. Fang and the rest thus gave chase until they came across Eggman in the company of Sonic, Tails and Knuckles.[1]
Eggman proceeded to explain that Heavy King had taken over his forces and was the one retrieving the Chaos Emeralds. Knowing Heavy King could not be allowed to have the Emeralds, Fang and the others joined forces with each other and went to Heavy King's base in Winter Caverns Zone. The crew soon found Metal Sonic and Metal Knuckles, but Eggman managed to override the signal Heavy King used to control the Metals. With the Metals on their side, Fang and his allies confronted Heavy King, who was now possessing all seven Chaos Emeralds. Using their power, Heavy King overwhelmed Fang (who tried to escape but was restrained by Metal Sonic) and his allies until Sonic managed to distract Heavy King, allowing Fang and the others to take the Chaos Emeralds back in secret. Escaping from the base afterward, Fang and took his leave with his gang, taking the purple Chaos Emerald with them as their reward.[1]
Amy's 30th Anniversary Special[edit | edit source]
The gang would be tasked on a mission from Dr. Eggman and would fail. As punishment, the trio were imprisoned in Capsules by Metal Sonic. Fang would be freed by in Waterfall Grove Zone by Amy and was supposed to team up with him, but he would go on to ignore her which leads to him being captured again after Metal heard of his escape. Bark would be freed by a Flicky in Market Harbor Zone and would assist Amy and Ray in the final fight, while Bean was freed by Ray. In the end the gang went on and let the heroes to celebrate their victory with a picnic.[10]
Fang the Hunter miniseries[edit | edit source]
Fang hears word about a rumored Eighth chaos emerald, the gang asks would sonic, but he thinks they were referring to the Master Emerald. With that they then head off to Angel Island to ask knuckles but Knuckles and Bean and Bark are sick off fang using them for his victory. Bean and Bark decide if things don't change, they will go their separate ways for a while. Later in Mushroom Hill ends up capturing Bark and Bean leaving Fang to save them in Sandopolis.[9]After the rescue they head over to Eggman's abandoned territory. While there they want to fuel the Marvelous Queen but the place started to sink, and the gang would be saved by Eggman.[11] After the rescue the gang was held in a Combi Catcher and Fang tells Eggman why they were in his territory, soon the two then speculating on what the emerald could be but Eggman along with Bark and Bean think it's fake. Eggman would request a mission to find the Hard Boiled Heavies and retrieve the Heavy Wing. Soon the gang infiltrates it only to fight off Heavy Rider and Jimmy which would lead them to a vault and releasees the Warp Topaz along with the Heavy King, Heavy Magician, Heavy Gunner, Heavy Shinobi including Heavy Rider and Jimmy, would confront the gang with Heavy King revealing that the Eighth emerald is fake, leading to a battle.[12] While swarmed by the Heavies Fang then tells them he is thinking of a plan, but Bean ask him to think quickly. Heavy King asks them to return the Warp Topaz, but Fang's plan is to run which leads to a chase around the Heavy Wing, Heavy King demands the other Hard boiled to get the gang and worry about the gem later. Bean suggest calling for the Marvelous Queen, but Fangs attempt fails saying how he needs to be in closer range, Heavy Rider catches up to them, but Bark manages to stop her with Bean cheering him on until he is surrounded by the others. Bark then faces Heavy King on his own while the other robots continue to chase them. Bean them is lead to a trap by Heavy Magician turning into Fang which leads Bean to a dead end with her and Heavy Gunner. Fang takes on Heavy Shinobi which leads to Fang getting frozen, soon after Fang is freed as the Marvelous Queen arrives and hits Heavy Shinobi and Fang defeats him. Meanwhile Bean is still surrounded but manages to summon a mega bomb which blows the robots up, Once reunited with Fang, Bean reminds him about Bark in which the two go to rescue with Fang assuming he's fine. Bark on the edge of defeat is saved by Fang and Bean with the gang warping out. Fang celebrates but Bean is not happy with Fang's antics and him along with Bark quit working with Fang to go do something fun. Eggman then requires Fang's services saying he has been investing some strange islands. Fang agrees to help and leaves for his next gig, saying how he doesn't care about his gang quitting because he doesn't have to split his pay with them and generally found them incompetent anyways.[13]
Modern Era[edit | edit source]
Fallout![edit | edit source]
In the aftermath of the Eggman War, Sonic compared Rough and Tumble's abuse of power in Barricade Town to the "Hooligans" he had encountered in the past.[7]
TailsTube[edit | edit source]
In "TailsTube #5 (Remember When?)", Amy implies that the trio could still be around, noting that she and her friends had not come across them in some time.[14]
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- The grouping together of Fang, Bean, and Bark together originated in the Hooligans of the Archie Sonic the Hedgehog comic series, a mercenary group including the three characters.
- The three later appeared together again as wanted posters in Sonic Mania's Mirage Saloon Zone, and as illusions created by Heavy Magician.
- After the conclusion of the Archie series, the Fang Gang had been forbidden from appearing in Modern Sonic media, and prior to the release of the Sonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia, which brought the name back, could not be referred to by the old "Hooligans" title.[15][16] As of their being mentioned in TailsTube #5, this rule has seemingly been lifted. Additionally, as of a tweet by the official Sonic the Hedgehog Twitter account, the group term "Team Hooligan" seem to have been lifted as well.
- While it is unknown when exactly the group first formed, it can be implied this happened sometime between the events of Sonic the Fighters and Sonic Mania, as the gang is found on wanted posters in Mirage Saloon Zone.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Special, "Seasons of Chaos"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog: Fang the Hunter #1, Sonic Letters Squad
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog: Fang the Hunter #2, Sonic Letters Squad
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog: Fang the Hunter #3, Sonic Letters Squad
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog: Fang the Hunter #4, Sonic Letters Squad
- ↑ https://x.com/SonicOfficialJP/status/1871692334057886131
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Sonic the Hedgehog #3, "Fallout, Part 3"
- ↑ Flynn, Ian; Sega (December 8, 2021). "Sonic Mania". Sonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia. Dark Horse Books. p. 256. ISBN 978-1506719276. "The Hooligans - Fang, Bean or Bark ambush the Tornado, leaving Heavy Magician to assume their likenesses later on."
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Sonic the Hedgehog: Fang the Hunter #1, "story one"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog: Amy's 30th Anniversary Special, "story one"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog: Fang the Hunter #2, "story two"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog: Fang the Hunter #3, "story three"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog: Fang the Hunter #4, "Story four"
- ↑ TailsTube #5 (Remember When?). YouTube. Sonic the Hedgehog (10 October 2023). Retrieved on 10 October 2023.
- ↑ BumbleKast Q&A for March 15th, 2021 - Espio vs. Shredder (36:07). YouTube. BumbleKing Videos (March 15, 2021). Retrieved on October 16, 2023.
- ↑ Sonic Stadium ✪ Sonic News, Community & Fun on Twitter. Twitter (20 July 2018). Retrieved on 20 July 2018.
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