The Gonterman Archive

Blood and Metal

There is no shortage of Sonic the Hedgehog fanfiction on the Internet. You take a quick look at the usual suspects - fanfiction.net, DeviantArt, Archive of Our Own - and it doesn’t take long to find thousands upon thousands of stories featuring that speedy blue hedgehog. Back in 1995, it was a far different story. Sonic fanfiction was scarce. There were a handful of authors who would step up to the plate, many of them being showcased in Bookshire Draftwood’s archive. Those early writers would go on to inspire others, but at the time, anyone who produced enough content in the small pond that was the World Wide Web would gain a degree of notoriety. Even if their skills could be called into question later.

That was the landscape in which David Gonterman wrote Blood and Metal. As mentioned elsewhere, the origins of these stories came from America Online, specifically their proprietary message board system. For a man who so loved classic roleplaying games as a kid, the chance to engage with like-minded individuals in a fresh, modern landscape made total sense. Creating the character “Davey Crockett,” it wasn’t long before his fan character joined the ranks of those AOL users, original hedgehogs and foxes fighting alongside Sonic and the Freedom Fighters in their quest to defeat the evil Dr. Robotnik.

As was the case for most Sonic fandom at the time, the focus of these mental exercises was not on the video game universe, but the world of Mobius as depicted in the Saturday morning Sonic the Hedgehog show. When Gonterman wrote up the first part of Blood and Metal, it was a no brainer to keep it squarely in that landscape. And when it was released? It may seem surprising now, but the story was met with praise. Gonterman was embraced, encouraged to continue the tale. Heck, it wasn’t long before other burgeoning fanfic writers slipped Daveykins into their own Knothole adventures. For some, he was as ubiquitous as Commander Packbell or Sandra Nightweaver.

However, it wasn’t to last. By 1997, the people whom he had considered friends became turned off by his behavior. His relationship with Emily Smith had ended. His reaction to Princess Sally’s “death” in the Archie comic was met with utter confusion. The content of his stories were scrutinized, including the characterizations of his fellow roleplayers. Though he tried to remain relevant in the Sonic fandom with his fan comic Sonic: The Mobius Chronicles, as well as rehosting of the original Sonic resource page, it was too little, too late. The comic had its fair share of ridicule and contempt, and as the Internet grew, the old rat.org content just didn’t hold the same shine it once did.

During the later half of 1998, his Sonic fandom was buried in an old index of files, and by 1999, the “FoxFire Archive Whearhouse” was wiped from the Internet. Trying to disown his previous work, even the mention of Sonic from Davey was a rare sight.

At least, until he decided to try and rewrite it all...

The Main Series

When the Blood and Metal saga first began, the title of the series was simply that - Blood and Metal. However, as the original storyline wound down, the first seven parts were renamed Blood and Metal Alpha. This was to denote the end of the first “book” in the series, and that following “books” would have the next letter in the greek alphabet appear in the title. This was sidestepped with the release of Haunted Fantasies, and completely dropped with what could be called “book four,” Blood and Metal Restart.

Blood and Metal Alpha
The beginning of the saga, lovingly crafted in seven parts. Awoken from a coma, Davey Crockett finds that his lost arm has been replaced with a robot one, care of King Acorn. Giving him a message intended for his daughter, he jumps through the void, landing in Mobius. It isn’t long before be befriends everyone, becomes a fox, and starts dating a girl. It also isn’t long before he discovers his true last name...
A Time of Honesty
In the aftermath of learning he is Robotnik’s son, Davey Kintobor has a conversation with Sonia Hedgehog regarding the more intimate details of their relationship. Then, Uncle Chuck decides to tell an uncomfortable story.
Blood and Metal Beta
Originally intending to go right into Haunted Fantasies, Gonterman instead embraces the format of Alpha and eases into the next phase of his saga. Inspired by ideas from early David Gonterman collaborator Edward Becerra.
Haunted Fantasies
Picking right up from Blood and Metal Beta, Haunted Fantasies dives deep into the inner workings of David Kintobor’s mind and being. Also, Mickey Mouse is in it. Well, for a moment.
Blood and Metal Restart
Continuing to explore the dichotomy of David Kintobor and David Robotnik, the series also introduces the R.O.C.C. - the Retro Orbital Chaos Compressor, from the original western Sonic canon. As the dangling plot threads build to a dramatic finale, the reader is left on a cliffhanger, one continued on in Blood and Metal: Dark Destiny Denied. Unfortunately, BAM 3D is currently lost. Will it be found one day? Did it actually finish the story? Those are the questions we are forced to contemplate.
Blood and Metal Alpha Omega Edition
Sometime after abandoning the many sequals and spin-offs of Blood and Metal, David Gonterman rewrote the final two pages of Alpha, giving it an ending in the hopes of putting the story to rest. This version has been reconstructed from an altered orignal that had the art and html removed.

Subseries

If you assumed Gonterman only worked alone, you’d be wrong. In addition to being inspired by those he roleplayed with, David also teams up with a number of his fellow AOL compatriates, writing a number of stories that helped flesh out the world of Blood and Metal.

Sonia and da Fox (with Emily Smith)
Co-authored with David Gonterman’s short lived Internet girlfriend, this four part tale takes place during Blood and Metal Alpha, focusing on the relationship between David “Crockett” Kintobor and Sonia “Suni” Hedgehog.
Find Your Own Truth (with Edward Becerra)
A four part story featuring the character of Kickaha, a member of Mobius’ “Wild Pack.” While more Becerra than Gonterman, David’s contributions make it a full-fledged spin-off of the Blood and Metal universe.
Note: This story takes place between Becerra's Vision Quest and In a Just Cause.
For Whom the Bell Tolls (with C. Gast)
Hot winds blow and song lyrics are quoted in this story. What else happens is another matter entirely.

From the Archives

The world of Blood and Metal was not written by Gonterman alone. Those who were part of the AOL Toon Talk message boards, and beyond, also chose to write adventures featuring Davey Kintobor as a Freedom Fighter. Many of those stories ended up on the original Foxfire Studios website. Courtesy of the now defunct ETEXT Archives.

The Mecha Sonic Stories
Emily ‘Suni’ Smith
Edward Becerra
C. Gast
Hysteria
Paul Lapensee
Marshank Inc.
Liz Veeneman
James Woollard

Other Works

Sometimes, a story would be released that David Gonterman would seize upon, utilizing its concepts in his own work. A smattering are below.

Blood or Metal
Written by Alex Weitzman, Sally's handheld computer Nicole not only gains sentience, but a body. This new status quo would be integrated into Blood and Metal.
The Return of King Acorn
Written by Holly-Beth “Vixie” Kraft, King Acorn finally returns to Mobius, hence the title. Part of Holly’s own line of fanfics, David Gonterman decided to have this tale take place between Haunted Fantasies and Blood and Metal Restart. Does it mesh perfectly with the BAM universe? Heck, I’m not sure if Holly-Beth even knew Gonterman existed.

Misc

For the uninitiated, guides were created of the many characters swirling about in the world of BAM. Both by the hand of Gonterman and the fans, these are what remain.

Return.