Archie Big is Awesome

[@nerdybirdy2002]

You hit the nail on the head in the first 30 seconds! What defines Big's personality isn't stupidity, it's _simplicity._ He isn't a brave hero standing up against evil, an anti-hero who is indifferent to the world, or anything in-between. He's just a big fuzzy guy with a "go-with-the-flow" worldview. He has only two sweet but simple motives: take his tiny best buddy along on pleasant and peaceful fishing trips and treat those who treat him well with kindness and loyalty regardless of their background. It's the latter motive that sometimes makes him the voice of reason for the rest of the characters whenever things get rough. Among a cast of complex characters living with an even more confusingly complex world, he's the most simple-minded character, and that's why he's one of my top favorites! :^D

[@charmyzard]

He's got life figured out.

[@TheDoughboy1917]

You mentioned the "era of hating Sonic's friends" I remember that well. A big thing with Sonic 4 was that it was *just* Sonic & Eggman. I always wondered why there was such a huge backlash to the supporting Sonic cast. I'm glad people have come back around to them!

[@beauwalker9820]

Yeah, I think it started with "Sonic Heroes" but I honestly loved all the characters and different personalities they had in it. Plus it brought back the Chaotic, and I'm a sucker for bringing back obscure characters. (You can imagine how Happy I was when Fang came back, though shame like Mighty and Ray he's not allowed in the "modern" canon...)

[@Chillin-jg8vg]

People who hates Sonic friends aren't real Sonic fans.

[@windscar15]

@@TheDoughboy1917 that era to me is also synonymous with the “self-hating” Sonic fan. This was around the post 06 era where the games were really struggling. Chris Chan’s discovery along with a greater visibility to the weirder sides to the fandom contributed heavily to the negative discourse surrounding Sonic at this time. This is also the era of the infamous IGN clip “Sonic was never good”. The fans that were left were basically having to shill the classic games exclusively to outsiders and try to make it sound as if Adventure and Heroes ruined the franchise with the additions to the cast. Never mind that Mario had been adding characters for years and they have less personality than Sonic’s extended cast. It was a hard time being an open Sonic fan from 2006-2010 without being called a furry automatically as a slur along with other things I won’t mention here.

[@Fatih_M177]

It's weird, cause Mario also has "Stupid Friends", Every franchise of all mediums has side characters or "Stupid Friends". Never really understood why Sonic gets criticized for something so basic, Like in most cases, having some side characters is to be expected. Cause if you don't, then the world just kinda feels very Empty.

[@2bdaqueen268]

⁠@@Fatih_M177 it was just another instance of “oh, but when I do it it’s a problem!”

[@2bdaqueen268]

Big was one of those characters that was hated just because the fandom told you to hate him but he’s always been an awesome, kind hearted cat who just wants to vibe.

[@infiniteoctopaw]

Right!? He's just a chill cat.

[@monroe7532]

This is so true, looking back, the early 2000’s to 2010’s of the sonic fandom was extremely toxic, the mischaracterization and hatred toward so many characters was insane and so many bad takes of characters. It’s like if a character wasn’t one of the “cooler” characters, like sonic or shadow, they would for sure get shit on

[@2bdaqueen268]

@@monroe7532 hit the nail on the head, prime examples are Silver, Amy, Charmy, Cream, they all got hated on especially back then, but now I’m starting to notice that the characters that were hated on back then were childlike/immature/inexperienced

[@alphadroid_131]

@@2bdaqueen268I know about Silver, Amy and Charmy hate, the latter two I’ve seen appear even in the modern day but Cream hate!?

[@shadowthief6471]

Dang the fandom is really dumb back then

[@PixelatedPerfection]

i feel like the possible funniest implication of big's answers from the post-super genesis wave is that it's entirely possible that by some miracle he _does_ remember, but just does not care in the slightest about the universal reboot because there's no immediate problem for him to deal with

[@SuperFerret-b4l]

I love how it's all but outright stated that Big is an absolute unit of muscle that just wants to relax and fish

[@idkwhothisis-uv8tq]

This is Big. Big is nice, protects his friends, and likes the simple things in life. Be like Big. (I haven’t even read the Archie run and he is already my favorite character).

[@connorprince8551]

Big the cat solves a multi species war

[@NightFuryLover31]

Big’s a great guy. I love him. I do love the fandom joke about him being a god because of his habit appearing out of nowhere, and his great strength.

[@2bdaqueen268]

Would that make Froggy his divine messenger/guide?

[@soosibms]

@@2bdaqueen268maybe

[@Skibster-w9l]

@@2bdaqueen268It’s his friend.

[@skipskipskippety99]

Lol

[@BagOfMagicFood]

"But when the world needed him most..."

[@GamerScottYT]

10:48 "its not nice to attack my friends!" "Hyup!" *blows up silver sonic* *doesnt explain* Savage

[@Dummigame]

I do think silver gets blown up by some cannon thingy, but just chucking the mech up is already quite savage

[@MrRAGE-md5rj]

It was Rotor on the cannon that finished off Silver Sonic. That said, Big gave it quite the "helping hand."

[@CountDVB]

Honestly, given how Ian's personal opinion is that Big is the strongest Mobian in raw power (beating out even Mighty and Bark), he might be strong enough to actually fight the TItan Metal Sonic.

[@zeusthefox1585]

Oh most likely.

[@peytonreed937]

I need to see him in a smash crossover humbling a fire emblem villain.

[@BuckarooBanzai84]

That assessment of Big as being like Totoro is actually perfect! And personally, the way I've always seen it is that he's kind of the "Sloth" to Cream's "Chunk". (that ref being for all of my fellow 80s kids) And that he's sort of an adopted member of Cream's family. =)

[@sharzinlalebazri5673]

Big is such a chill dude. I can't believe how so many people were gaslighted by the internet into hating him.

[@jesperronnqvist8945]

Hopefully Big will get some time to shine in IDW soon enough Honestly, the one interaction I NEED to see is Big with Surge & Kit

[@yoshivsworld5603]

yes just yes

[@drakobloodwing540]

Bro I would love for him to eat a bit, that friend.They both like or them trying to start sharing and just get plenty of fucking implant.It's cool floor

[@richardquinata76]

Oh he'd be *the* person that pulls Surge and Kit out of their funk. Simple he may be, but Big is just the breath of fresh air the two need. No manipulative scum like Clutch and Mimic, no sermons of right and wrong from people like Sonic, just give Surge and Kit someone that would treat them like normal people. Big's constant traveling to fish would probably be an enjoyable experience.

[@yoshivsworld5603]

@@richardquinata76 actually yeah totally!

[@xaviidk]

Remember, my man didn't care about the metal Virus. He only cared about froggy. And after he got his friend back. He went back home... that was almost taken over completely, and didn't mind at all, he was infected, froggy was fully converted, his own home was infected... He didn't care about that. He was just glad... to be home... with his best friend

[@teaoftraffic]

big in archie: *he will fuck your shit up if he feels like it despite his dopey appearance* like at 6:59

[@CountDVB]

Pretty much. He's even more or less canonicaly the most physical powerful character, beating out Mighty and Bark the Polar Bear.

[@barozukos7791]

​@@CountDVB id say second only to Knuckles

[@CountDVB]

@@barozukos7791 I’m going by what Ian Flynn noted about Mighty

[@barozukos7791]

@@CountDVB Ian thinks Mighty and Bark are stronger than Knuckles? I could see them being at least as strong but he's been stated several times to be as strong as Sonic is fast, and Sonic is the fastest thing alive so like

[@CountDVB]

@@barozukos7791 I think the info was from the Sonic the Hedgehog: The Complete Sonic Comic Encyclopedia

[@luigiboi4244]

I really like Big’s Big Adventure in IDW comics, where he’s just a himbo that really cares about his friend Froggy, and wants to make sure that Froggy is safe. It’s so horrifying and sad watching Big getting infected while cuddling Zombot Froggy. All this in a SIDE-COMIC.

[@shroomer8294]

Fun fact: He isn't wearing socks in sandals, those are his actual feet.

[@Mysticgamer]

Yeah, sonic characters don't have toes for some unfathomable reason.

[@allstardawn6062]

​​@@Mysticgamer Which is definitely weird in Archie's case considering the Mobians are supposed to have 3 toed paws yet big is still shown with blobfeet, maybe he's just really furry ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

[@Mysticgamer]

@allstardawn6062 I know, but the weird no toes really only applies to the video game characters. Like the white gloves and 5 fingers.

[@teaoftraffic]

@@allstardawn6062he is built different

[@BalancedtheScales]

I’ve never really noticed this before And now I will suppress this comment’s existence and continue my life in bliss

[@fryguy9704]

When I first discovered Big the Cat through SA1, I had a “OMG he just like for real” moment. He was kinda like my hero. Something about a slow thinking, straightforward, big guy with a pet frog and 2 of his best friends being girls just kinda clicked with me

[@alarmlessRifleman]

I have a friend who isn't a Sonic fan like me, but she absolutely loves Big and Froggie. She sees herself in Big, both being plumpy, both adoring frogs, both preferring to live a simple routineus life, and as an autistic person, she thinks that Big needing time to digest information and being on a slower side in general might be a sign that he's neurodivergent too. As an adult man who had been headcanoning Sonic as having ADHD my whole life because of how much I can relate to him, I can see how some people might like characters like Big - he's relatable to many. Just a simple dude who likes being by himself, fishing with his amphibious buddy, staying out of trouble; not a dumbass by any means, just slow on the intake and non-agressive.

[@BloxxyBoyo]

Archie big is the type of character to get a short film like the other side characters that becomes loved by many

[@charmyzard]

The wisest chad who knows how to take things simple with a truly enviable position who just wants to chill with his frog friend and help out if his strength is needed.

[@trackmastertheman7801]

Well I think they should do is since big likes to fish, that he should be an allegory for Sonic to learn patience, although Sonic is a Great hero he likes to jump into situations without thinking or waiting, so having Sonic hanging out with big Moore would teach him to just SLOW DOWN.... Also because Big likes to sit down and see the sights, I imagine although maybe not book smart I do think he would be WISE, in making moral decisions. Something that a lot of Sonic characters could learn.

[@lmaojustchangedmyname4565]

One thing I would find hilarious to see is Big the cat meeting Surge & Kitsunami. They’re such polar opposites, Surge and Kit’s lives are chock full of stress, chaos and trauma, being hypnotized, manipulated and controlled by villains who want to use them for their own benefit… while Big just fishes and chills. I feel like Surge would absolutely dislike him, but Kit wouldn’t mind him that much and maybe even like Big. Either way, I know it won’t happen, but I’d love to see it

[@Hugelag]

Big the cat makes me smile. He exudes a warmness that feels unmatched. Like a teddy bear with the ferocity of an actual bear.

[@MellowedGrooves]

Oh my god, a video thats just perfect at capturing one of my favorite characters, thank you Everyone always hates on Big and call him stupid or something, it makes being a fan of him hard cause you got people hating on him for being so simple, or hating on him for being on amy and creams team and assume hes creepy or someshit. Big has always been a character close to me, and I think it's cause I can see similar autistic traits that I have, in Big. They'd probably never confirm anything, but having be so oblivious to tone and straight forward with his goals and wants hits close to home for me. I love Big the Cat, and I hope he keeps getting used more

[@Lucario4thewin]

Big is a cat of few words, not because he is stupid, but because he doesn't waste his breath or time on trivial matters. Just fishing with his buddy Froggy is enough.

[@deppo436]

In some ways, as one of my favourite characters from Sonic, I guess it's kind of a good thing Big was so heavily memed on in hindsight considering where we are now. It managed to keep him relevant to a degree that SEGA or Sonic Team thought he was good enough to return for spin-offs like Sonic Rumble and even the mainline entries as seen with Frontiers. Heck he even was heavily rumoured to appear in the second Sonic Movie as a cameo in a cut scene that was similar to bar one in the final movie. And seeing the later Archie issues start to treat like a character and less of a joke was really sweet. Hopefully IDW will eventually do the same for him. I think Big's "biggest" role in IDW so far was during the Zombot saga if I'm not mistaken which is certainly a while ago now. And even then that was just a small side story.

[@_G.C]

That appearance in the sonic movie was going to be as a skeleton. Hollywood is still living in 2018 so I'm not surprised

[@carso1500]

​@@_G.Cits already been confirmed that he is going to appear in the movies as a proper character

[@carluzzosolatorobo7882]

I love this BIG cat, and is so....... "Cute"?, that i imagine he sooooo fluffy (like a big pillow)

[@godzillameister]

Big is kinda like Caboose from Red vs Blue, everything falls into 2 catergories, either he doesn't understand it or he just doesn't care.

[@smileyman1721]

Holy crap I hadn't drawn that comparison! Love both characters.

[@Mystic-Aidan]

Glad to see somebody else adknowlaging the best character in the entire series, and especially the Archie comics.

[@crpineo]

10:47 "this time stopping it with his bare hands." Objection! He's wearing gloves! :v

[@Zerneygreensaberman0728]

Big the cat is by far one of my favorite sonic characters and the Archie comics really handled my boy

[@DaSwagGoose]

About damn time people give big the love he deserves 😤

[@j-dawg859]

Ah yes, Big the Cat.

[@turbobrony1472]

Love how you broke down details about Big's character in the series, especially his role in the Archie Sonic comics, and I quite agree with all this, as well as hoping that we see something like this in future in the IDW Sonic comics.

[@ericparazak8448]

Can we all just appreciate how well drawn Ron Lim's art is in the Archie Sonic Super Special? (Starts at 2:58, ends at 4:13) It actually looks good here!

[@seelcudoom1]

i love big as a "civilian hero" and i think idw could include that without even having him be in focus, just put him in the background while sonic and the gang are fighting whatever eldritch horror or big death robot eggmans got this time you see big shielding some kids from the rubble, and in the aftermath while the main gang are doing exposition you see him trudging along doing clean up, hes not a fighter but he still saves people

[@vyxievenomous5654]

I love when you do voiceovers of the comic. You've definitely got me excited to get to big in my readthrough.

[@dragoncross42]

Makes me want to look back and read many of Bigs moments in the comic. This was a nice video!!

[@eriksieurin334]

"Hooray! I'm helping!" is one of the best comics line as ever.

[@SpikeForrestGaming]

6:55 Note that this is with his left arm. He punches a large partly-mechanical wolf through a brick wall with a single punch of his left arm. (Assuming he’s right handed, this fact is notable.)

[@corsaircarl9582]

Big the Cat is how I play my barbarians in D&D. Except if the mean bully makes his friends cry, he rips them in half.

[@Theyukistan]

THE PEAK1! 1! 1! 1! 1! 1! 1! 1!

[@godzillapark9075]

8:56 bottom left corner, that guy kinda looks like Super Mario

[@Vlad_Ibarr]

I was about to comment that

[@smileyman1721]

I love this guy! Once you get past the thousand yard stare, he's adorable. He's probably a breath of fresh air for Sonic's characters because he's one of the only ones who doesn't have _legendary_ amounts of baggage or angst for any reason. All he wants to do is _fish!_ I imagine everyone visiting Big's abode after a, _ahem,_ big event where a lot of complicated feelings get felt and trauma gets dumped and his simplistic worldview and how he's just fishin away comforts them. Also, _"Too hard?"_ is going to make me laugh like an idiot every time.

[@thefizzwizz1662]

Big has been, and always will be one of my favorite characters. Sometimes it takes someone with a simplistic point of view to simplify a complex problem to produce an idea solution. Not every complex issue needs a complex answer. Sometimes, you just gotta love nice people no matter where they come from and protect those you care about most.

[@coldrodproductions4781]

I love these longer content videos, I hope they stick around

[@HiperPivociarz]

What you see is what you get. Just a guy who loves fishing.

[@ArnoldStark123]

"Well done video, dude-seriously, well done😁👏

[@dr.shakib9961]

It's always nice to see him making appearances.

[@COOLERthenU]

Big the cat is vocied bye duke nukem

[@oscarljungberg8821]

"It's not nice to attack my friends!" *HUP!* *BOOM!* I love that part. Also we get more of that in Sonic Heroes. ~

[@mralexander4209]

Strongest Shadow fan. Vs. Weakest Big the cat enjoyer.

[@SaiyanGamer95]

You wanna know something? Ian has stated that Big is his favorite character.

[@Chillin-jg8vg]

Big the cat is the Patrick Star of the Sonic universe they may be slow but they got hands.

[@xaviidk]

My man is so chill that he doesn't even even care about being infected by the metal virus, he was just glad that he has foggy back and he was home

[@user-ux7sq3wf1v]

Big the CHAD

[@Dem0n2c]

Big is amazing, I love him. He is Big! He is just.. simple and I love that.

[@slimebucket642]

Roboticized Big in the Mega-Man Crossover comics fishing after being told to do what he does best will be one of my favorite comic panels ever lmao.

[@wooper2654]

I'm so glad people are coming around to Big. One of my favorite little moments is in that one arc where Nicole fights Phage during that time when Sally, Tails & Big go to get a chaos emerald at where Dr. Ellidy lives, there's this one scene where Sally and Big go to investigate some stuff: Sally: Hey, Big? What do you think of Nicole? Big: Nicole? I like her. She's nice. Sally: You don't think it's weird that she's not organic like us? Big: Uh, nope? Big: As long as they're nice, I don't care what anyone is. Sally: 😊 Edit: fuck

[@Logan-tinyplanetss]

wonderful video!!! thanks!! i love big the cat!!!!!!

[@davidleonard272]

So I guess the best way to sum up Big the Cat is, "Big abides."

[@_SYDGAMING_]

It's gonna be a windy and sunny day with this one

[@liamgaming6752]

Every version of big is the best

[@ItsChevnotJeff]

The closest Big can get to an "evil" doppleganger is Omega, who is likewise a bit simple in motives and mannerisms, being just wanting to destroy eggman's robots, but when you look deeper there is a whole other story inside, kinda like Shadow

[@Gerardbackupplz]

Pause there’s a Big Squish otw? I need

[@Savagewolver]

Big arguably has the best theme from adventure, such a bob to mellow out to, but how can you not love this big lug. Good hearted, strong, and simple to a fault. In a way, he’s kinda like Kirby.

[@Mysticgamer]

I didn't care for Big in SA but, I did in Frontiers. After running around trying to figure how to get the chaos emeralds for three islands and having to complete the cyber levels, I was done. I looked until I found Big's fishing portal and I fished up the rest of the keys and emeralds.😅

[@thatboi7629]

I love your Big voice!!!

[@erickchristensen746]

Big the Cat should be the one to bring Surge out of her hypnotized funk and into the good side. I think it would be very wholesome

[@lukescrew1981]

He just wants to fish man

[@Doctor_Odin]

It’s funny that the college age freedom fighter is depicted as an absurdly strong airhead. (Big is canonically 18)

[@remainderofsturgeonslaw7156]

Even though he probably was (literally and figuratively) thrown to the Wolves to be an expendable by whoever leads the Cat Country, I’ll consider my personal alternative that Big was sent in because he was one of the best diplomatic negotiators of Cat Country I mean his direct way of speaking implicates the staunch finality of whatever he demands or an immediate answer to whatever he asks, he’ll stand ten toes down on whatever orders he’s given against all parties, not to mention as an experienced fisherman(cat) he’s probably got an ocean’s worth of patience to deal with whomever he’s talking back and forth with as he explains and counteroffers the other party’s demands... and now looking at my list of reaching, I probably gaslit myself into legitimately thinking Big might actually a decent diplomatic negotiator

[@derreinbrown5927]

You should have add the part where he and (mostly) Froggy got them and everyone else poetic justice by being the one who get Eggman during the end of the zombot story.

[@muertovag4145]

10:52 I like their smiles.

[@Lolbitdrangonmaster]

1:08 here's a funny movie idea: have big be related to tails in some way.

[@windscar15]

Would you argue that Big is the Yajirobe of Sonic?

[@shroomer8294]

I guess. Sonic characters are all just Dragon Ball characters. Tails is Krillin, Knuckles is Piccolo, Shadow is Vegeta, Silver is Trunks and there's probably more that I don't know about since I've never really watched Dragonball.

[@windscar15]

@@shroomer8294 by that logic, wouldn’t Amy be Bulma? Espio Tien? Vector Yamcha? (Only not lame like Yamcha)? And Charmy Choutzu?

[@shroomer8294]

@@windscar15 I guess, I'm not familiar with Dragonball. I probably misspelled all the names. Isn't Trunks Vegeta's son btw? Imo that would confirm Shadow to be Silver's ancestor.

[@loona2n]

No, because Big gets shit done even if things aren't dire but Yajirobe only contributes if things are really bad. They are also very similar in that they are very simple people. Yajirobe likes to eat and be lazy and Big likes to fish

[@awesomepixel447]

No because Big actually helps Sonic and friends but doesn't run away like Yajirobe

[@Twilightman89]

Big is a friend I want to have for life

[@codenamexelda]

Seeing the sonic satam crew in the same panels as the sonic adventure crew feels weird to me, i always thought they were separate timelines or something.

[@TheLoneWolf-jp1xq]

The Wolf Pack and the Felidae would still be fighting, and Sally wouldn't be alive if Big didn't go in the fortress. This is why I like the Archie Sonic comics, they will sometimes focus on other characters, not just Sonic.

[@goodstar6387]

He bit like Patrick from the early season of Spongebob, dumb yet a good friend who strong Edit: Same with Ed from Ed, Edd, N, Eddy

[@garveyneal1672]

I wish IDW's Big the Cat was someone like this one.

[@ASleepyFox12]

I need to read Archie (I just keep pushing it off alot lol) but this why everyone should love big. He just a chill guy who loves fishing and loves helping his friends. What else can you ask for.

[@__-be1gk]

They can't use Big because he's either compltetely irrelevant to the story or just *instantly solves all problems* because of his combination of his only 2 character traits being he's ludicrously strong and very direct, so he just cuts to the chase of everything and has the means to easily do so.

[@mattgoggin3831]

Big is truly the forest gump of the Sonic universe

[@Braxton-m8w]

Just without the running

[@lukescrew1981]

I wish the genesis wave never happened

[@tony-p9e]

Big is a kind hearted character

[@bigdaddydons6241]

I know its been beaten to death with jokes but in the best of ways Big is an amazing down syndome character, he reminda me of so many people ive met who have down syndrome, they are not dumb, they arent stupid, they are incredibly loving and simple. And are incredibly capable when it comes to doing things for what they love. Fuckin love my downie friends

[@kdhansome]

Japan would go crazy with a new fishing game with tons of cameo Think about Big verse Noctis.

[@JenerikEt]

My names Big and I'm big!

[@igorgabrielpedrosaferrogab9325]

What you mean big isn't part of the worlds collide crossover? He was playing cards with quint!

[@gelusvenn5063]

"I don't think Ken cared much for big" So he is automatically a good character.

[@matthewisguy7336]

11:58 CHIP!!!!!

[@Haze-wb5ot]

I love him he’s the BEST

[@wub9044]

Honestly, I never really saw Big as some sort of bumbling idiot. I've moreso seen him as a very chill and wise uncle type of character who's gone through alot in life and would happily give you an advice.

[@spiderzilla7o7]

I just see him as Sonic’s version of buu.

[@beanman9760]

Big the cat is big the friend :)

[@BigK13372]

Yeah the Archie Comics did to Bigs what the Clone Wars tv series did to Jar Jar

[@jamesmoss3424]

Big is very strong. 😀👍🐱

[@BigBossMan538]

I’ve never hated Big. He’s always been a harmless character and I think the hatred towards him is overblown. I’ve grown to really like Big unironically.

[@iZ-the-Egoni]

People don’t like Big because he came before all the other characters people don’t like. He’s the original target of unlike-atude. Fuck those people. The games had almost zero explicit plot before Adventure. It and its character driven story/plot did more to expand the world of Sonic than the so-called classic games. Also his fishing mini games rule. Totally unexpected but cool addition to an awesome game. Just gotta learn how to play 'em properly