While the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise is typically not known for a mature plot, its characters have sometimes found themselves in mortal peril. For example, the most recent mainline game, Sonic Forces, implies that thousands of soldiers perish during the fight to reclaim the world from the grasp of Eggman. Although almost assuredly not a serious plot point, it's both darkly humorous and a deep-cut reference to one of Sonic's very first games. One major Sonic the Hedgehog character may have met an untimely demise, if a New Year's Day image shared by the franchise's Twitter page is any indication.
