Zero/Archie Comics

This article is about Zero in the Archie Comics series.

History
Zero first appears briefly in Issue 35 of Archie Comic's Mega Man during Dr. Cain's explanation of what the Maverick Hunters are, where he is seen fighting Sigma while he was still a Maverick.

In Issue 37, Zero, investigating an explosion, teleported in and grabbed one of the two people responsible. He then dissuaded X of coming close to becoming Maverick when the latter warned him that the two perps, although dangerous, were still human, and preempted X's thanks for saving him. Zero also explained the history and motives of the group the two people belonged to, the Emerald Spears. He later appeared in the next issue, as part of a task force (which also included Vile and three unnamed Reploids), saving X from the Wily Walker. He then told X to go to Dr. Cain to see if he discovered any weaknesses in the Wily Walker while they try to stop it. Issues 39 and 40 saw Zero and his allies-including X and Sigma-continue their efforts to halt the Walker, though Vile angered Zero by launching an attack that endangered nearby civilians. Eventually the Reploids succeeded in defeating the Walker for good, though Zero was instructed by Sigma to keep his eye on Vile.

Eventually, after Sigma turned maverick, Zero remained to lead the Maverick Hunters. Eventually, under "complicated" circumstances, Zero and X ended up fighting each other.

Zero would later take part in the Worlds Unite crossover event, joining his fellow Maverick Hunters in teaming up with Mega Man, Sonic the Hedgehog and other heroes in battling an alliance led by Sigma. He and his fellow Hunters first appeared in Sonic Universe Issue 76, where they attacked one of Sigma's fortress in a final bid to take him down once and for all. He, alongside Axl, initially was going to accompany X to confront Sigma, although because of an ambush set up by the now-Maverick (and repeatedly-revived) Vile, Zero and Axl elected to stay behind to hold Vile off (with Zero in particular expressing irritation at how "mouthy" Vile gets after each revival). Ultimately, the Hunters secured the base, although their primary objective, stopping Sigma, was a failure due to Sigma escaping at the last minute via a portal, also cryptically hinting that he'll soon conquer several worlds just before escaping. After securing the base, Zero, alongside X and Axl, met Silver the Hedgehog, a resident of a different dimension, who was trying to close the Genesis Portals. After Silver subdued Vile, he then gave them the coordinates of where Sigma might have gone after analyzing the computer, opening a portal for them. However, the portal instead took them to an alternate reality to that dimension. As the portal closed off behind them just as Zero suggested going back upon learning they went to the wrong dimension, X elected to try and find locals to inquire where to find another portal-creating device. However, one of the locals, Sticks the Badger, witnessing them and believing them to be invaders, proceeded to attack them (also hitting Zero in the head with a boomerang), although X managed to explain to her that they were actually cops trying to capture a criminal who escaped to a different dimension. Sticks then, after learning their true reason for coming, decided to aid them and took them over to Dr. Eggman's lair to use dimension-transport technology there (also strongarming Comedy Chimp and Fastidious Beaver to help, to Zero's annoyance). When encountering two robot locals who attempted to ward them off, Zero in turn proceeded to threaten them into opening the portal, to X's concern, although they nonetheless managed to get to the portal.

Short Circuits
Prior to his formal debut, Zero appeared in issue 34 in its Short Circuits, where like X, he was excited about appearing in a Mega Man comic until Mega Man and Roll escort them off the premises. He would later appear in issue 38's crossover, spotting a despondent Roll watching Mega Man and X going off together. Giving Roll a helmet identical to his own, he invited her to join him on an adventure of their own.