Art by Chib-Jen-Hen

Edit: Was not expecting a feature, thank you!

Initially, this blog was going to be solely dedicated to Vector but as I began writing I realized that I didn’t have enough content to make a complete blog. So I decided that since I’d likely have the same situation with the other characters, I included them here as well. Team Chaotix have a unique cast of characters that blend in a way which makes them feel like one unit or one character, so it worked out in the end.

Espio

Being the head honcho, it makes more sense to talk about Vector first, right? Well, I would have but I’ve chosen Espio because I’m just so used to listing the speed character first and viewing them as leader - plus, he’s truly the brains of their operation; he keeps both Vector and Charmy mindful of their missions when they get off track. And being as the Chameleon is understandably the most popular character in all of Team Chaotix, it should be of no surprise to anyone that he is one of my favorite Sonic characters. So of course I favor him over the others.

His rigid and stoic personality rivals that of Shadow - however unlike the black and red Hedgehog, Espio expresses himself in a manner that is more laidback and quiet rather than brooding. I’ve never heard anyone complain that he is edgy so he must be doing something right. Sure, he has a tendency to be stubborn, opinionated, and sometimes even a bit self-obsessed, but that’s only because Espio knows he’s intelligent and arguably more adept at sleuthing than Vector thanks in no small part to his ninja training.

Speaking of which, undoubtedly, being a portrayal of the fantasized assassins is what gives Espio his broad appeal. I would have had zero interest in Naruto were it not for Espio. I also admire the way his reserved demeanor hides a burning sense of justice and desire to quell evil in its path. This makes him a dangerous weapon; almost like a living switchblade where he remains civil and soft-spoken but his inner warrior lies dormant until he enters combat.

Vector

People seem to like this Croc quite alot, almost as much as Espio, it seems. I’m not really sure what is so appealing about Vector and why he’s so popular, but I personally have mixed feelings about him. For a time, I disliked him because of his inherent greed but I gained a slight respect for him when I realized he isn't a crook (I mean, he jails them, after all) and will not get into anything illegal. And anyone who loves money but has the heart to take charitable jobs involving children must not be too bad, especially if a tough guy like him is capable of being such a softie. I really strongly relate to his love for music and I wish more characters like that existed.

I also relate to his child-like heart - the dude can’t seem to get a grip on when to play and when to work, especially when he lets his position get to his head but he’s nowhere as bad as Charmy. And this trait of his along with their occasional bickers and chemistry is what makes him feel like he’s a father figure to the little guy. Since Espio is just the silent type, capable of leading but follows orders to stay in the shadows, Vector is the glue that holds the Chaotix together - the cream filling in the middle of a cookie - and his ability to keep cool in heated scenarios is what makes him the leader. He relates (or disputes) with Espio due to his maturity as a boss but he also relates to Charmy because he’s so easy-going - however, the inner boss comes back full circle when the kid misbehaves and this is where Vector’s personality splits into a tug-a-war. He may not always be a good leader but no one else can lead a couple of operative oddballs as effectively as him.

Charmy

This buzz boy is an interesting character because he has mostly amassed a rather large group of fans who find him annoying while a select few find him cute. I’m not really sure how to feel about the Bee, I used to like him because I related to his scatterbrained attitude but when I sat down to think about how I truly felt, I could take him or leave him. Sure, he’s hyperactive kid who’d rather play than work but he’s also occasionally humorous, which - despite his innate habit of being grating to one’s nerves - adds to the charm of the Chaotix.

Mighty

This Armadillo may be one of Sega’s forgotten characters but he’s also the most popular forgotten character - and for good reason. He's coming back in Mania Plus and Archie’s portrayal of him made it seem like he was never forgotten in the gaming universe at all, even if he only appeared in comic form. And to be perfectly honest, I could care less that he had only a few appearances in the games - he started out replacing Sonic’s model, and I’ll never be able to disassociate him with that. I’d prefer to remember Mighty as his own character rather than simply a Sonic recolor (or, I suppose, redesign). He served more of a purpose in the comics than he did in Knuckles Chaotix. I think it’s pretty neat to see just how much depth he has - from the “bro” friendship he had with Sonic,

to the brotherly relationship with his timid Flying Squirrel friend Ray in the same way that the Blue Blur and Tails are brothers, to how beautifully he manages to maintain his decorum in spite of his paranoia that his explosive anger ands great strength could create a loss of control, and how uses that anger to when his sister Matilda had been badly injured.

I'd have added Ray as well but other than the the tremendous loyalty he has to Mighty and his endearing nervousness, I don't know him all too well - even after taking a gander of his profile. But like I said, the aforementioned bond ‘tween he and the Armadillo speaks for his character.

Conclusion

I could have written individual blogs for the more well-known trio of Espio, Vector, and Charmy but I just could not bring myself to separate these three goofballs just to write maybe a paragraph for each character. They are an inseparable bunch, working together in harmony, matching their strengths, weakness, and oddities perfectly. Yes, Espio and Vector may butt heads and have their disagreements while putting up with the prankster Charmy, who in turn has to juggle between being a kid and sitting still or paying attention long enough to actually learn something from his older comrades, but they work together perfectly as different sized cogs in a well-oiled machine. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Mighty may not be strictly required to complete the team as the trio fills all roles just fine, but when he’s with his young companion, as a duo, they are just as inseparable as the other three. I have an appreciation for the two as they complement each other well.

#blogreview