Best Villain? Part 4: The Eggman

Ivo Robotnik!

The most recognizable Sonic villain by far. Some say Eggman is the only villain the series needs (though even the character himself gets bored with the constant defeats). "Egg Salad" has had ups and downs, going from one extreme to another. The biggest challenge, it seems, is balancing his history and comedic traits while still making him a threat.

Sonic 1 introduced us to a dangerous foe, though his round appearance made him laughable, too. The classic era was spared of the funny/serious debate thanks to it's simplistic plot and balance.

Still, this was a problem bound to happen. It was even encountered in the Sonic cartoons. Adventures actually--despite being a slap-stick, funny show--was well balanced. Dr. Robotnik had a huge, ugly appearance and would do dumb things by mistake, but his hatred for Sonic seemed very real. His plans for Sonic gave the usually light-hearted show some tension.

HA

Sat Am set a very different standard. With Jim Cummings creepy voice and the different tone and script, Robotnik was a terrifying dictator. Though slightly redesigned, they couldn't mask his fat, (supposed to be funny) appearance. It was a sharp take on the character, but it didn't really fit with the Robotnik Sega created.

The OVA's version of Eggman/Robotnik was far more on the laughable side. Underground tried to compromise a bit by combining Sat Am Robotnik's forceful take and some of AoStH's mild stupidity. Unfortunately it wasn't a very memorable result. 

Then the problem hit the games. Sonic Adventure tied up the Eggman/Robotnik trouble, but this version of Ivo was more serious than expected. This continued for a while. He was now serious, but not quite as deadly sounding. He would often be over turned by other monsters or villains.

THE CREEPIEST THING ALIVE!

06 intended to make the character a threat again, reducing his comedic elements to an all time low and having him with sleeker, less cartoony robots. Unfortunately his "realistic" redesign is both creepy and hilarious as heck.

Unleashed also treated him in a similar way, but gave him a few funny moments. Generations let Eggman keep control over a monster and kept him as the main villain. Forces continued this.

Meanwhile games like Sonic Colors over-saturated his comedic energy. Though he was the main villain of the game, his constant presence and his failures (like trying to mind-control Tails) discredited his actions. And he made an Amusement Park that looks fun rather than the deadly trap seen in Unleashed.

06 and even Unleashed pushed the character too far one way, Colors and Lost World another. Adventure days and some of the other games are lackluster in comparison to either extreme.

So what's the balance?
The Movie gave the character a serious nature but left in a dance scene and other funny stuff, but he didn't feel like the same character.
Sonic Boom's Eggman is so far on the comedic side pretty much Sonic's friend. 
What does that leave?
Sonic X.

Sonic X handled Modren Robotnik--Eggman--the best. He would make jokes and use puns. He was also overconfident and bragged a lot. He's be defeated, but he's be back ("I'm like a bad penny. I always turn up." "I'm like a rubber ball. I keep bouncing back." etc).

But had his serious moments, too. He almost drowned Sonic. In the Season 1 finale, he beats the crap out of Sonic and dumps his body in the ocean. The adaptations of the Adventure games were handled with more energy. At the end of season 2 things started getting less serious, but the show was supposed to end...

Instead it came back with a threat bigger than Eggman, the Meterex--but the mad Doc wasn't out of the battle yet. He even joined the Meterex and gave them new technologies like the Star Shield. Still, realizing the intensity of the situation he helped Sonic at least twice.

The show had the freedom and time to show the different sides of Eggman. Maybe it's not possible to find that perfect balance in a game. Sonic Unleashed was close. Sonic Battle did a pretty good job.

Still, if one thing is for sure it's this: no villain will ever have the same determination (or history) against Sonic like Eggman does. 

BOMBS AWAY! YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY: THE MORE THE MERRIER! GET A LOAD OF THIS! I HATE THAT HEDGEHOG!