Warning: Spoilers for Sonic the Hedgehog #75
Majority Sonic the Hedgehog fans would consider Shadow their biggest rival, and rightly so. After all, since Shadow's debut in 2001, the two have been battling each other at every turn to prove which of them is the fastest hedgehog around. However, Shadow may be the popular choice, but it is not the best. Sonic has another rival who is much better for him than Shadow, and their latest interaction proved that.
In Sonic the Hedgehog #75 by Evan Stanley and Min Ho Kim, when the Resistance ship crashes towards Restoration HQ, Sonic prevents the death of the inhabitants by driving everyone out of the building at super speed. To accomplish this task, he counts on the help of Jet the Hawk, turning it into a race as motivation.
Sonic and Jet save lives at high speed while exchanging taunts, and once successful, they share a moment where they promise a rematch. The dynamic between Sonic and this unexpected rival puts his dynamic with Shadow to shame, as he and Jet challenge each other in ways that he and Shadow don't.
Jet the Hawk is Sonic the Hedgehog's biggest rival, not Shadow
Sorry, Shadow: Jet is the perfect narrative for Sonic
Jet the Hawk made his debut in 2006 Sonic Knights video game as a skilled pilot who puts Sonic to the test. His exemplary proficiency with his Extreme Gear board allows him to keep up with Sonic, igniting their rivalry that now spans an entire video game trilogy in addition to the comics. Jet is known for his huge ego, which gives him a tendency to look down on others, just like Shadow does. However, What differentiates Jet from Shadow is that he expresses his arrogance through jokes with Sonic, making their interactions much more fun..
Sonic and Shadow certainly have a relationship, but it's a less light-hearted relationship due to Shadow's seriousness as a character. Jet, on the other hand, is willing to relax racing with Sonic and have fun. This dynamic allows them to push each other to new heights in a more uplifting way. As they gather survivors together at Restoration HQ, for example, each channels their rivalry into trying to save more people than the other. Sonic and Jet's competitiveness is fun, solidified by Jet's willingness to concede a draw - only if there is a rematch later, of course.
Shadow the Hedgehog may be Sonic's most popular rival, but he's not his best
The Sonic comics don't do enough justice to make their showdowns memorable
Shadow is the ideal narrative counterpoint to Sonic in most episodes of the franchise, including the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 film, but IDW Publishing's Sonic the comics misrepresented their rivalry. Aside from the differences in dynamics, one of the main reasons Shadow is a worse rival than Jet is because the comics don't paint him as Sonic's equal. Jet has demonstrated that he can potentially surpass Sonic, while Shadow often falls short, such as when he contracts the Metal Virus despite Sonic overcoming him. If Shadow wants to regain his role as Sonic the Hedgehogtrue rival, he should learn a thing or two from Jet.
Sonic the Hedgehog #75 is now available from IDW Publishing.