Johnny is based on the generic rabbits in the early Sonic games, one type out of several creatures who would pop out of destroyed enemies and hop away. Johnny was first named in issue 8, marking his first confirmed appearance.
After helping to found the Freedom Fighters, Johnny’s appearance become more anthropomorphic. He started to wear a red jacket that became his uniform of sorts, and used an odd metal staff as a weapon.
In the final arc of Sonic the Comic, based on the events of Sonic Adventure, Johnny was killed after repairing an object meant to stop the rampaging Chaos, attacked by Chaos himself.