Zavok (ザボック Zabokku) is a recurring antagonist of Sonic the Hedgehog series and the leader of the Deadly Six.
Appearance
Zavok is a large horned red and black demon creature with a heavy upperbody build and relatively smaller lower body. He has thick teal eyebrows and matching hair pulled back into a ponytail. His claws on his hands and feet match his hair's coloring.
His lower jaw of sharp zigzagged teeth blends in with his torso, standing out against his darker colored head. Along his shoulders several black spikes jut out. Around his wrists he wears a pair of spiked wrist bands.
History
Past
In the distant past Zavok was trained in martial arts by Master Zik, becoming the strongest Zeti under his tutorage. Master Zik then formed the Deadly Six, and placed Zavok in charge of this group of Zeti warriors where they lived on the mysterious continent of Lost Hex.
Sonic Lost World
Dr. Eggman arrived on their continent, and armed with the Cacophonic Conch, was able to enslave the Deadly Six. Begrudingly forced to serve Eggman, Zavok bided his time, capturing animals as a fuel source for his army of Badniks. Eggman showed Zavok how to create Badniks and explained how he was planning to use the Zeti to destroy Sonic and take over the world using his machines. Zavok uses Zazz, who is already eager to fight Sonic in order to learn about Sonic's abilities regardless of the outcome.
After Sonic defeats Zomom, Eggman attempts to punish the Zeti for losing to Sonic with the Conch, only for Sonic to kick the Conch away from Eggman's hands. Now free from the Conch, Zavok commands his brethren to take control of Eggman's tech and turns it on Eggman, Sonic, Tails, Orbot and Cubot and they quickly force their opponents to flee.
Now in command of Eggman's fleet, Zavok plans his revenge on Eggman, by destroying Eggman's world, and using it to give him and the rest of the Zeti unbelievable power. He turns Eggman's Extractor off the Lost Hex, and aims it down towards the planet below, turning the machine on and begins to drain the life out of the world down below.
After reviewing footage of the various battles Sonic has engaged in with them, Zavok begrudgingly admits he is more formidable than expected. Master Zik suggests they grab Sonic and transform him into a Badnik the way Eggman showed them in order to create a powerful slave, to which Zavok agrees.
They set a trap for Sonic, an animal capsule which Sonic immedietly tries to open to rescue the creatures inside. Sensing something weird with the Miles Electric, Tails leaps in front of Sonic to stop him getting caught, who accidentally knocks Tails into the capsule, immedietly teleporting to the Zeti's headquarters.
Zavok and the rest of the Zeti are disappointed to see they've actually caught Tails rather than Sonic. Zavok chews out the rest of the Deadly Six for their incompetence, but calms himself down and attempts to work out how they can use Tails to their advantage instead. Zavok approaches Sonic letting him know they have Tails, and telling him they plan to transform him into a robot, before retreating.
With the extractor draining the Earth, Amy contacts Sonic letting him know that her and Knuckles aren't going to survive much longer. Zavok arrives to mock Sonic's inability to save his friends, and states he will soon be all alone. Zavok engages Sonic in combat eventually leading to Sonic knocking him off a mechanical dragon.
Zavok returns to the lab where he and Zomom have Tails strapped to a metallic bed. Zavok informs Tails he will be the instrument of his revenge. They begin the roboticization process and leave the room telling Tails that when they return he will be their slave, with Zomom leaving the remains of his sandwich at Tails' feet.
Zavok alongside Zor and Zeena arrives with the now cyborg Tails to corner Sonic. Believing Tails to now be their slave Zavok commands Tails to destroy Sonic. He points his blaster at Sonic's face, but turns around and opens fire on Zavok and the Deadly Six members, having reprogrammed the machine with a toothpick from Zomom's sandwich. This catches Zavok off guard enough that he and the other retreat. Sonic tracks them down, taking out Zeena, Zor and finally confronting Zavok who transforms himself into a huge version of himself in one last attempt to defeat Sonic. Ultimately he is defeated by Sonic whilst Eggman turns off the Extractor.
Sonic Forces
At some point Infinite was able to create a Phantom Ruby clone of Zavok, alongside Chaos, Shadow and Metal Sonic. He used these to help Eggman overwhelm and capture Sonic, allowing Eggman to take control of the planet. Six months later the Zavok clone is sent to banish Sonic into space under Eggman's orders, but thanks to the resistance's involvement, the power goes down allowing Sonic to escape his cell and restraints. Zavok then engage's Sonic in combat, but is defeated.
Whilst the Phantom Ruby Copy of Zavok is not actually Zavok, it does possess both his physical strength, personalities and seemingly his memories as he utters his disbelief Sonic managed to defeat him again as he faded away.
Later dozens of Zavok clones were created by the Phantom Ruby to defend the Eggman Empire, engaging in the final battle with the resistance. Ultimately the resistance won and managed to neutralise the Phantom Ruby's energy causing the copies of Zavok and the others to vanish.
Team Sonic Racing
Zavok was hired by Dr. Eggman to steal the Ultimate Energy Engine from Dodon Pa, but was spotted by both Big the Cat and the audience of Chao watching the races which tipped the heroes off. In order to save face, Eggman included Zavok on his team alongside Metal Sonic and himself, whilst berating Zavok for failing in his mission. Zavok engaged in races against Team Sonic, Team Rose, Team Dark and Team Vector but was defeated. The ability of his opponents earnt Zavok's respect and he bickered with Eggman over his loss.
Eggman gave Zavok a new task; kidnap Dodon Pa so they could obtain the engine that way. Zavok achieved this new task, but Dodon Pa revealed that the engine was not complete yet, with Zavok pointing out Eggman had caught the heroes attention by causing the Grand Prix to come to a grinding halt. In an attempt to continue work on the engine and distract Sonic, Eggman got Zavok, Metal Sonic and his numerous Egg Pawns to race against the heroes in order to harvest their Team Energy and complete the engine. Eggman then stole the now complete engine and installed it into the Death Egg.
Zavok engaged in one more race against the heroes on the Final Fortress, but lost. The Final Fortress crashing into the Death Egg and causing the villain team to escape Final Fortress as it crashed.
Other appearances
Sonic Forces: Speed Battle
Zavok appears as a playable character in Sonic Forces: Speed Battle. He also comes in a unique American Football variant known as Quarterback Zavok.
Mario & Sonic series
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Zavok is an unlockable guest character for Boxing. He is a power type.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
Zavok returns as an unlockable guest character for Boxing once again. He is a power type.
Personality
Zavok is a malicious and cruel warrior who believes power is absolute. He hates the weak, and despises the idea of working for others who he deems weaker than himself such as Dr. Eggman or Dr. Starline.
Despite his brutish tendencies, Zavok is also calculating and intelligent, able to manipulate the other Deadly Six members through both fear and compliments. He will also often lash out against the other members (aside from his master, Master Zik) if they fail their missions or annoy him. Despite his strict leadership and willingness to punish or even use his team for his own ends, he holds the six in high esteem.
Trivia
- Zavok is the third most recuring antagonist in the Sonic franchise behind Dr. Eggman and Metal Sonic.
- Bizarely despite his hatred of Dr. Eggman, he still joined his team for Team Sonic Racing. He still argues with Eggman during the game however.
Gallery
