The Skull (Arbin Gordon in the JP version of F-Zero X) was once the greatest driver in the F-MAX Grand Prix, a competition that predates the coming of F-Zero by some 200 years. Thanks to the inexplicable powers of science and black magic, he has returned to this world to compete once again. With his remarkable technique and decision-making powers, he now has a chance to extend his legacy into a new generation.
What happened after F-MAX is unknown, but two hundred years later, he emerged as a figure composed of only a skeleton. He joined the F-Zero Grand Prix to compete yet again, with the Sonic Phantom as his machine. He's become an even better pilot than before, as he now no longer fears death and can make split second decisions better than ever before.
In the anime, his incarnation plays a supporting antagonist role, where he works for the Dark Million organization as a henchman, and his black magic powers come to use. His backstory was also changed to that of an F1 racer revived by the anime counterpart of Black Shadow, but this is only from F-Zero Climax and not an element explained in the anime.
Ikran's F-Zero timeline[]
The Skull was indeed the survivor in the F-MAX Grand Prix and he was chosen by Black Shadow as a black magic artist for Dark Million. He was the one who conjured/resurrected Rick's late girlfriend, Haruka, and brainwashed her as Miss Killer. He too attempted to create a deadly spell that was supposed to kill Rick by disabling him to breathe; it was then he noticed Haruka and Luna Ryder were two entities.
He finally met his maker in Dark Star, after he failed to put several pilots (Gomar & Shioh, Beastman, Leon, Draq, and Rick) to sleep and have their worst nightmares destroy them! Yami confronted the black artist and shown him one of his 5,000-year-old techniques! Since he never relied on camaraderie, just intelligence and science alone, the pharaoh bested him and shattered his bones as his vessel became lifeless. As a result, Dr. Stewart eventually came back as his normal self once Rick healed him with his new thermal energy from his Reactor Mights.
Trivia[]
- He's the oldest F-Zero pilot with a known age. However, considering that the ages of many racers (such as Deathborn) are unknown, it is also possible that he isn't the oldest.
- He is named "Arbin Gordon" in the JP version of F-Zero X, and hinted at within the files of F-Zero GX.
- The Skull's in-game Voice Clips and model from F-Zero GX makes reference to this, as the internal data names them "gordon."
- Sterling LaVaughn is not a canon nor official name, as the F-Zero X website bios contradict heavily with actual canon and official information in both English and Japanese F-Zero content.
- The Skull shall be chosen as one of Ikran's Undead Characters.
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