Shadow the Hedgehog first appeared in Sonic Adventure 2 in 2001 and quickly became a staple of internet culture due to his dark, brooding persona and 'edgy' aesthetic. Known as the Ultimate Lifeform, Shadow is frequently memed for his use of firearms in his 2005 standalone game and his iconic, unintentionally hilarious hunt for the 'damn fourth Chaos Emerald.' These memes often lean into 'edgelord' humor or parody the overly serious tone of early-2000s gaming. Today, Shadow memes are used to represent everything from genuine coolness to satirical nihilism, making him one of the most versatile and recognizable characters in the Sonic franchise's meme pantheon.