Advent Hill Zone - ACT 9!

It's our second Thursday in the Advent Hill Zone and we're keeping this train a-rolling like a Spin Dash!

Time to pop open our ninth box like the Power Sneakers Monitor drawn on it!

The good guys just got some air support! It's Ray the Flying Squirrel!

Star Post #1: General Info 

Ray the Flying Squirrel made his first (and only until a short while ago) game appearance in the 1993 Arcade title SegaSonic the Hedgehog, where he worked alongside Sonic and Mighty the Armadillo to escape Eggman's clutches. After that, he went into total hibernation (aside from a cameo in Sonic Generations) until he and Mighty were reintroduced in Sonic Mania's DLC. Ray's a small guy, but he makes up for that by being a ball of upbeat enthusiasm, always eager to jump into a new adventure with his best pal Mighty. Being a Flying Squirrel, he also has the ability to glide through the air, making him adept for cruising through large stages. Given his relative obscurity, the only cartoon that Ray has featured in is Sonic Mania Adventures. There WAS a place in tie-in media where Ray made a slightly bigger splash, though...

Star Post #2: Trivia

Despite only appearing in a single Arcade game up to that point, Ray still found his way into the Archie Comics, first being mentioned in Sonic Super Special #9 before making his debut in Knuckles the Echidna #26. He was introduced as an old prisoner of Robotnik's who had escaped (alongside Sonic and Mighty,) but had gotten trapped in an alternate Zone following a mishap. Years later, Mighty returned to his previous prison and found Ray, alive and well. (The Zone that Ray was trapped in had a much faster flow of time, making him think that it had only been a few hours between his escape attempt and Mighty's return.) Ray was rescued and returned with Mighty, joining the Chaotix and putting in countless more subsequent appearances. Even after the series continuity got rebooted following the first Mega Man crossover, Ray was still along for the ride. Archie really kept this Squirrel afloat, didn't they?

Goal Plate: Closing Thoughts 

Been WAITING for this guy to show up! My first Ray figure! Little bummed that his eyes have a couple of paint job imperfections, but this is still a huge thing for me as a Sonic nerd. A figure. OF RAY THE FLYING SQUIRREL! Who would've guessed THAT had any chance of happening even just five years ago?

Tomorrow we'll officially be ten days in, so be sure to be back then to see what the Advent Hill Zone has planned for us!