Sonic and Dr. Eggman's Forgotten Enemies are Back for Revenge
Warning! Spoilers ahead for Sonic the Hedgehog #41!
The Deadly Six are back after Sonic the Hedgehog and Dr. Eggman were forced to team up against this particular group of Zeti during the Metal Virus outbreak, and these demons are looking to finally enact their revenge.
Dr. Eggman already wasn't too keen about the Deadly Six before unleashing the Metal Virus on the world. There was a time, however, when he was interested in the Zeti's inherent electromagnetic ability to control machinery and attempted to harness their power by overthrowing their home on the mysterious, floating continent known as the Lost Hex. But when that endeavor failed, Dr. Eggman wanted nothing else to do with them and thought it best to let them be.
The Deadly Six soon barged their way into Dr. Eggman's life when he later unleashed the Metal Virus on Sonic's world that could transform living creatures into metallic creatures known as Zombots. When he lost control of the Zombots, Dr. Eggman's fanboy and lackey Doctor Starline learned of the Deadly Six's electromagnetic abilities and thought Dr. Eggman could use their powers to take back control. But the Deadly Six were apparently still mad at Dr. Eggman for invading their world and for attempting to enslave them and used their powers to control Dr. Eggman's Zombots for themselves. The threat was so great that Dr. Eggman had no other choice but to work with Sonic to stop the Deadly Six and succeeded. But now that they're back (once again, thanks to Doctor Starline's incessant meddling), they have their sights set on Sonic and Dr. Eggman.
It's not a stretch to assume that the two enemies will once again be forced to put aside their many differences to take down the Deadly Six. But based on recent developments, it appears as though this won't be happening for quite some time. While Dr. Eggman had originally set out to defeat the group of villainous Zeti upon learning of their return, his efforts are stopped short when he's attacked by the Blue Blur, in Sonic the Hedgehog #41 by writer Ian Flynn and artist Adam Bryce Thomas.
It's ironic because Dr. Eggman tries to explain his intentions to his assailant, but all attempts to engage in a calm, rational discussion are thrown out the window when the villain eventually snaps and calls Sonic inept. This then compels the Blue Blur to point out Dr. Eggman's own ineptitude, a comment that quickly devolves into a verbal battle of semantics and insults that only further fuels their actual fight.
If Dr. Eggman had been able to refrain from insulting Sonic and Sonic hadn't allowed those verbal jabs to compel him to play the blame game, then they may have been able to stop and prevent the Deadly Six from enacting their revenge. For at that time, the Deadly Six were vulnerable. Even though they were no longer incarcerated, they still hadn't reunited and didn't have a basic strategy. But all that changes for the worst by issue's end. And it's clear by Sonic's later actions that he is playing right into their demonic hands. Will Sonic and Dr. Eggman be able to work together again? They definitely weren't happy about it during the Metal Virus Saga. It doesn't help that, earlier on, Dr. Eggman crashed Sonic's celebration followed by Sonic recently destroying Dr. Eggman's maze and simulation tower, that's for sure.