Sol Badguy is one of the most popular and iconic characters in the Guilty Gear fighting game series. Despite his prominence, much about his backstory and relationships remains shrouded in mystery. One of the biggest unanswered questions surrounding Sol is whether he has any children. In this article, we will examine the evidence both for and against Sol having a kid, and try to get to the bottom of this long-running fan debate.
Sol’s Backstory
To understand the speculation around Sol possibly having a child, it is important to first review some key details about his origins and background:
- Sol’s real name is Frederick, and he was formerly one of the lead scientists involved in the Gear Project, which created biological weapons known as Gears.
- After the project got out of control and the Gears turned on humanity, Frederick took on the alias “Sol Badguy” and joined the fight against Gears, determined to eliminate them and atone for his role in their creation.
- Sol is over 150 years old. His extensive lifespan is due to his nature as a prototype Gear, possessing their enhanced physiology and regenerative abilities.
- For most of the series, Sol has been solitary and aloof, interacting minimally with other characters outside of the battlefield.
Given his advanced age and mysterious past, the possibility that Sol fathered a child sometime in the distant past cannot be ruled out. Very little is definitively known about what he was doing or who he was associating with during the century-plus preceding the main events of the Guilty Gear story.
Clues Pointing to Sol Having a Child
While there is no outright confirmation, some subtle clues have led fans to speculate that Sol may indeed have a son or daughter out there somewhere:
- In Guilty Gear Xrd, Sol’s instant kill move produces a massive explosion. In the aftermath, a smaller silhouette resembling a child can briefly be seen behind Sol before vanishing.
- Sol seems to have some kind of special connection to Sin Kiske, the son of his rival Ky Kiske. Their interactions hint at a possible biological bond.
- Design-wise, Sin shares some subtle visual similarities to Sol, such as hair color and facial features.
- Sol shows an uncharacteristic concern for Sin’s safety and well-being at times, behaving almost in a fatherly manner.
- When asked directly if he has any children, Sol evades answering and changes the subject, suggesting he may be hiding something.
While individually these clues are speculative, together they paint the circumstantial picture of Sol being a father who for unknown reasons cannot openly acknowledge or interact with his child.
The Case Against Sol Having a Kid
Despite the intriguing clues, there are also good reasons to be skeptical that Sol actually fathered a child:
- Sol has never directly stated he has a son/daughter, and no other character has definitively confirmed it.
- Sol’s personality is not one that seems prone to settling down and starting a family.
- If he did have a child, leaving them completely alone and unacknowledged seems out of character.
- Sin’s visual resemblance to Sol could just be a red herring.
- Sol’s connection to Sin may be for reasons other than paternity.
- Creating a secret child may simply be bad writing that doesn’t fit Sol’s established character.
With Sol’s extensive backstory still not fully explored, the door is very much open for the creators to establish a previously unknown child if they wished. But without any hard proof, speculation about Sol having a kid remains just that—speculation.
Who Could Be the Mother if Sol Did Have a Child?
If Sol did in fact father a child, who might the mother be? Here are some of the potential candidates:
- Aria – She was Sol’s fiancee before becoming one of the first Gears. Tragically, Sol was later forced to kill her himself. If they had a child beforehand, that could explain Sol’s secrecy.
- Justice – She was the Commander Gear and primary antagonist for much of the earlier games. Justice was obsessed with Sol, so perhaps a child resulted from that unhealthy dynamic.
- Jack-O – A more recent addition to the series, Jack-O’s origins are unknown but she possesses a strange connection to Sol. Their interactions imply a shared history.
- Unknown Lover – Sol may have had a relationship during the 100-year gap in his backstory that the games have not yet revealed.
- Artificial Creation – As a scientist, Sol could have cloned himself or created a Gear child as an experiment.
Unfortunately, there are no definitive answers as to who Sol may have procreated with. Each possibility would represent a major revelation regarding Sol’s unrevealed history if true.
When Could Sol Have Fathered a Child?
Pinning down a timeframe for when Sol could have conceived a child requires piecing together the fragmented timeline of his long life:
- Over 150 years ago – Sol worked on the Gear Project, met Aria, and was transformed into a prototype Gear.
- Unknown period ~100 years ago – Sol rebelled against Gears, changed his name, and fought in the Crusades.
- Several decades ago – Sol fought Justice and the Gears for the first time.
- 20-30 years ago – Sol participated in the Guilty Gear X tournament and fought Justice again.
- Present day – Sol competes in tournaments and confronts That Man.
Based on this incomplete history, the two most likely periods for Sol conceiving a child seem to be:
- Over a century in the past with Aria, prior to becoming a Gear.
- During the unknown 100 year gap after the Crusades but before his emergence in the first tournament.
Of course, without more concrete information, any timeframe is merely educated guesswork. Sol’s true activities during the undocumented periods of his past remain a mystery.
How Would Sol React if His Child Was Confirmed?
Assuming Sol does have a son or daughter he’s kept secret all this time, it raises the question – how would he react if their status as his child was conclusively revealed? There are a few possible scenarios:
- Open happiness at finally being able to reconnect with his progeny.
- Guarded acceptance, but remaining at a distance to keep them safe.
- Feigning ignorance to avoid endangering or compromising the child.
- Annoyance at his privacy being invaded after so long keeping the secret.
- Rage at whoever revealed the information.
- Renewed determination to destroy Gears so his child won’t inherit his pain.
Most likely, Sol would continue to be evasive and deny outright that he has a kid, despite any evidence presented. But internally, he may struggle between wanting to act as a father while also staying away to protect his child from sharing his cursed fate. His reaction would prove an interesting study of nature versus nurture.
How Would Other Characters React to Sol Having a Child?
Finding out Sol is a father could provoke a range of responses from the rest of the Guilty Gear cast:
- Ky Kiske – He would be angered and dismayed that his longtime rival hid something so important.
- Sin Kiske – If he is Sol’s son, he would be overjoyed to finally know his true father. Otherwise, he’d feel profound sympathy for Sol’s child.
- Millia Rage – She’d be happy Sol experienced the joy of parenthood, but sad his child had to be a secret.
- Chipp Zanuff – He’d be jealous that the grouchy Sol managed to make a child while he still struggles just talking to women.
- May – As an orphan herself, she’d find a long-lost child hugely inspirational and insist Sol reconnect.
- Axl Low – He’d try to use time magic to uncover the truth behind Sol’s child.
- Baiken – She’d claim to not care, but may see parallels to her own search for her stolen child.
Opinions would be mixed, but it would certainly change how Sol is viewed by everyone. Some would offer support, while others would feel resentment over him keeping this secret for so long. But all would be eager to learn more about his forgotten family.
What Would Sol’s Child Be Like?
Sol’s kid would have a formidable genetic inheritance, being descended from a prototype Gear. What might such a child developing under Sol’s guidance be like?
- Incredible fighting instincts and potential, surpassing normal humans.
- A struggle to control their Gear powers and instincts.
- A brooding, serious, and disciplined personality.
- A massive Fireseal sword as their weapon of choice.
- A desire to use their strength to protect the weak.
- A love of rock music.
- A solitary nature and difficulty opening up to others.
In short, his offspring would likely take extensively after Sol in appearance, abilities, and temperament. But without his direct guidance for long periods, they would have an even harder struggle controlling the sledgehammer-like power they inherited.
Conclusion
The question of whether hardened warrior Sol Badguy is secretly the father of a long-lost child provides intriguing food for thought among Guilty Gear fans. Cleverly placed clues suggest the possibility, but concrete evidence remains elusive. While the truth may emerge in some future game installment, for now the mystery continues.
Regardless of if he has biological offspring or not, Sol’s gruff exterior clearly belies a deeply buried paternal side to his nature. Perhaps this expresses itself through the glimpses of concern he shows to those like Sin who share similar struggles to master their great power. If Sol does have a child out there, one hopes that they too can learn to tame their strength with wisdom.