IDW Sonic #70 Cover and Solicitation Revealed - Who is the Phantom Rider?

Solicitations and cover artwork for the next IDW Sonic #70 have hit the internet, with the introduction of a brand new mech character - and look! It's a giant talking egg!?

In the upcoming issue Sonic takes to his trusty Extreme Gear, Sonic Riders-style, as the Clean Sweepstakes story (that begins in issue #69) continues. A new mysterious racer, dubbed the Phantom Rider, suddenly appears and plans to cause drama on the track.

Here's the awesome logo-less Cover RI as shared by IDW artist Nathalie Fourdraine:

"Logoless version of my #70 cover! It's Sonic and...!?," Fourdraine teases, adding "Who's that guy?! And more importantly is that a giant talking egg???" Fellow artists Aaron Hammerstrom and Min Ho Kim threw in that the pair may have also had a hand in the Phantom Rider's design...

Here's the solicitation, from PRH:

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Sonic the Hedgehog #70
Author Evan Stanley
Illustrated by Aaron Hammerstrom
Covers: Aaron Hammerstrom (A) / Abigail Starling (B) / Nathalie Fourdraine (RI)

Welcome back, race fans! Extreme gear engines are revving as we prep for the second leg of the Clean Sweepstakes! But there’s drama on the track! As Tails and Amy go to investigate a mystery of their own, only Sonic is left to answer the question, who is the Phantom Rider?!

On sale Jun 19, 2024 | 32 Pages | $3.99 US

And here's the leaked logo-fied version (via IDWSonicNews):

Who is the Masked Phantom Rider? Place your bets in the comments section below!