The Dark Matter are the secondary antagonists of the Kirby franchise.
They are collective-minded cycloptic intangible, and parasitic creatures with the ability to possess others who frequently terrorize Planet Popstar and other planets throughout the galaxy, with the goal of turning them into dark worlds.
Notable Members[]
Dark Matter Blade[]
- Main article: Dark Matter Blade
Dark Matter Blade
Also known as Dark Matter Swordsman, this Dark Matter appears in Kirby's Dream Land 2. He was named in the game Kirby: Planet Robobot. According to the manual, it is stated that he targeted Dream Land because he grew envious of its lifestyle and the fact that no one wanted to be his friend. He possessed King Dedede and shattered the rainbow bridges that connected the islands of Dream Land in order to take them over. After Kirby defeats the possessed Dedede, Dark Matter retreats. If Kirby has collected all of the Rainbow Drops, then they will form the Rainbow Sword and Kirby will get to fight Dark Matter. After his stamina is drained in Phase 1, the boss will reveal his true form. After being defeated, he explodes.
If Kirby has not collected all of the Rainbow Drops and defeats Dedede, the bad ending then plays out. Dark Matter remains in the king's body while Kirby and his animal friends go on a victory march through the rain. As Kirby, Rick, and Coo leave, Kine will linger behind and stare at the sky, as if sensing that something is wrong. Dark Matter also appears at the end of the scrolling list of enemy names in the credits, presented in a cross between his swordsman form and his true form, listed as "!?".
Dark Matter Blade eventually returned years later in Kirby Mass Attack as the final boss of one of its sub-games called "Kirby Quest", and then in Kirby: Planet Robobot as a clone created by Star Dream to fight Meta Knight. He fights exclusively in his swordsman form and not his true form. This is due to Star Dream being unable to comprehend the alien nature of Dark Matter's true power, resulting in the boss never fully transforming into his eyeball form in his battle with Meta Knight. However, he is able to reveal his eye from underneath his cloak. Upon defeat, he does briefly assume his true form just before he explodes to death.
Gooey[]
Gooey is a small blue blob with two eyes instead of the usual one in the Dark Matter chain as well as a long tongue and mouth. Gooey is also similar to Kirby in many ways, being able to use copy abilities like Kirby, Tac, and Miracle Matter, absorb stars and enemies, and use Animal Friends. Gooey, unlike the rest of his chain, is docile and an ally to Kirby. Gooey first appears in Kirby's Dream Land 3 as a CPU or player-controlled ally.
Zero[]
Zero with small Dark Matters around him.
- Main article: Zero (Kirby)
Zero is the core and progenitor of Dark Matter and appears in the game Kirby's Dream Land 3. Zero is a gigantic being of negative energy who exists within a large Dark Matter cloud known as the Hyper Zone, serving as the god of it. After the death of one of its strongest descendants, Blade, Zero along with the Dark Matter species, declares war on Popstar in an attempt to secure the Love-Love Stick, a scepter full of positive energy and one of the few things capable of defeating Dark Matter as well as revenge for the species being humiliated by Blade's downfall. However, Kirby gets to the Love-Love Stick first and travels to the Hyper Zone to take down Dark Matter. After defeating a cloud of Dark Matter, Zero teleports in to fight Kirby himself. Kirby then used the Love-Love Stick to destroy Zero's outer shell, leaving only its eye. After finishing off Zero's eye, Kirby escapes while the Hyper Zone collapses and peace returns.
0²[]
0² battling Kirby and Ribbon.
0² is the new form of 0 after its death and the true final boss of Kirby: The Crystal Shards. It is alluded to that 0² may be a revived version of the original 0, but this is never confirmed outright. It is behind the invasion of the planet Ripple Star, in order to steal the Crystal Shard, a crystal that can easily purge Dark Matter out of an infected person, but it must be used in the hands of a good-hearted person or else its power will not work. 0² sent several Dark Matters to destroy the crystal so that it won't impede their plans. But a fairy named Ribbon takes the crystal to Popstar where Kirby lives.
Ribbon is chased by three Dark Matters who shatter the crystal, unintentionally sending her to Popstar, where she meets Kirby. Meanwhile, a Waddle Dee, an artist named Adeleine, and King Dedede are all possessed by the three Dark Matters. Kirby easily defeats them, thus turning Adeleine, Waddle Dee, and King Dedede back to their normal selves. They all together travel to other planets, recovering the pieces of the Crystal. They then go to Ripple Star, which is under control of Miracle Matter, a high-ranking Dark Matter subspecies. Kirby fights Miracle Matter and defeats him.
After Miracle Matter is defeated, the Dark Matter surrounding Ripple Star seemingly vanishes and peace returns. However, if the player has collected all 74 Crystal Shards, then the Crystal will still sense some dark energy, and shoots a beam of light out at the Fairy Queen, turns out to still be under the influence of Dark Matter. After being blasted, the Dark Matter inside the Queen transforms into the Dark Star and begins its final assault.
Kirby, Ribbon, King Dedede, Adeleine, and Waddle Dee travel to the core of the planet to defeat Dark Matter once and for all.
Once they reach the center of the cloud, they find 0² and engage it in a fierce battle. Ribbon picks up Kirby, armed with Ribbon's Shard Gun, and flies him around as they fight 0² in a Star Fox-like fashion. After hitting 0² in the eye enough times, 0² is stunned, allowing Kirby to attack the halo atop 0²'s head. Once Kirby hits the halo enough times and then hits the bandage under the halo, 0² will flip over, which reveals its weakness, a green, spiked tail. Kirby shoots the tail with shards and destroys 0², finally ending the evil entity.
Although 0² was deceased and they were presumed to have gone extinct during the Ripple-Pop-Dark Star war, other Dark Matters would live on to fight Kirby in later games.
Dark Rimuru, Dark Rimura, and Dark Rimuro[]
The trio chasing after Ribbon.
- Main article: Dark Rimuru, Dark Rimura and Dark Rimuro
Dark Rimuru, Rimura, and Rimuro were a trio of three Dark Matter that begin the plot of Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. They initially appeared as a large Dark Matter cloud that invades the planet of Ripple Star until Ribbon evaculates the planet's crystal, which causes the entity to split into three smaller versions of itself. The trio's attempt to stop Ribbon had caused the crystal to shatter, leading to portions of the crystal to scatter to various planets.
On Popstar, the three of them possess Kirby's allies. Rimiru possesses a passing Waddle Dee, Rimira possesses Adeleine, and Rimiro possesses King Dedede. Kirby defeats all three of them, and the Waddle Dee, Adeleine, and King Dedede embark with Kirby on his quest to find all of the Crystal Shards.
Miracle Matter[]
Miracle Matter
- Main article: Miracle Matter
Miracle Matter is a special Dark Matter that can use some of the powers Kirby can conjure. Miracle Matter was assigned control of Ripple Star when Dark Matter took it over, but was later defeated by Kirby. It resembles a white icosahedron with two red eyes on each face.
Miracle Matter possesses several powers that Kirby uses: fire, ice, cutter, bomb, lightning, needle, and stone. All of them are really powerful and very hard to dodge. But the ability it uses is also its downside, as it can take damage by the same element it uses at the time. Attacking it with a different ability than the one it uses will not damage the boss.
Dark Mind[]
Dark Mind
- Main article: Dark Mind
Dark Mind is a similar being to Dark Matter and may be the mirror equivalent of it. He is a powerful force seeking to conquer the Mirror World. Meta Knight found out about his plans and traveled to the Mirror World to stop him. Unfortunately, he was defeated and sealed inside the Great Mirror by Dark Meta Knight, an evil mirror world clone of Meta Knight and Dark Mind's right-hand man. However, Kirby was able to save Meta Knight and defeat Dark Meta, prompting Dark Mind to confront him. Fortunately, Kirby was able to defeat him with the power of Meta Knight's sword, Galaxia, thus erasing all of his influence from the Mirror World.
Dark Nebula[]
Dark Nebula
- Main article: Dark Nebula
Dark Nebula, also called Dark 0, is the tyrannical ruler of the Underworld and the final boss of Kirby Squeak Squad. Although he was never seen associating with Dark Matter, he was confirmed to be a member of their species in the 20th-anniversary encyclopedia. Before the events of the game, he was sealed inside a chest, though it was later released when Daroach opened the chest, expecting to find a strawberry shortcake. After being released, Dark Nebula possessed Daroach, transforming him into Dark Daroach, and flew off into the galaxy with Kirby in pursuit.
After defeating Dark Daroach, Dark Nebula flew off in the form of a small star to continue his battle. Kirby chased him down and defeated him.
Dark Crafter[]
Dark Crafter
- Main article: Dark Crafter
Dark Matter reappears once more in the form of Dark Crafter, the main villain of Kirby and the Rainbow Curse. In the game, he possesses Claycia and uses her powers to drain Dream Land of its color. After Kirby knocked off the shades that possessed Claycia, Dark Crafter emerged from the shades and attempted to escape, but was defeated and destroyed. This is the first time Dark Matter has been toned down and far less threatening and treated more kid-friendly in this game.
Master Crown[]
Master Crown
The Master Crown's final form - Mistilteinn.
- Main article: Master Crown
The Master Crown is a seemingly sentient crown that was crafted by the ancients that grants its wearer limitless power. After Kirby and friends defeat Magolor for the first time, the crown takes control of him and turns him into a manifestation of itself. During the fight with Magolor in this state, one can sometimes see an eye with a red iris and a black pupil in his mouth. This eye resembles that of a Dark Matter’s (and to a lesser extent, 0’s), leading some to believe that the crown may be related to the species in some way. Additionally, in both phases of the fight with Magolor, the Master Crown has the design of an eye, which the Dark Matter species is mostly known for. Also, the music that plays against the fight against Magolor's first form when he wears the Master Crown is a heavily remixed version of Hyper Zone, the place Dark Matter is fought in Kirby's Dream Land 3. Void Termina, a reincarnation of Void, another presumed member, also uses swords that have hilts that are nearly identical to the Master Crown, and even uses a replica of it to fire lasers.
Void Termina[]
Void Termina
- Main article: Void Termina
Void Termina is a primordial form of Dark Matter that was sealed off by a group of four legendary heroes for his destructive capabilities. That is, until the Jambastion Cult lead by Hyness obtained the Jamba Heart restraining the dark lord and performed rituals to free him from the Divine Terminus, though Kirby and his allies fought victoriously against the dark lord and defeated him.
At one point during his fight with Kirby, Void Termina's core assumes a form resembling the puffball, possibly suggesting a link between Dark Matter and Kirby's species.
The pause descriptions state how Void Termina had been reincarnated throughout the aeons he laid sealed; though not confirmed, this may imply Void Termina is the original source of Dark Matter, even older than 0.
Possessions[]
King Dedede[]
In what is seen as one of the darker points of the series, a possessed King Dedede fights Kirby in both Kirby's Dream Land 2 and Kirby's Dream Land 3, possessing many surreal abilities such as his stomach opening up to create a mouth, spitting out balls of Dark Matter, and floating without having to puff up. Defeating King Dedede once all seven Rainbow Drops (Kirby's Dream Land 2 )/30 Heart Stars (Kirby's Dream Land 3) have been found reveals Dark Matter as the final boss of the game, and the source of Dedede's powers.
In Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, King Dedede is fought very early on in the game, and is possessed by Dark Matter once again. His attacks are similar to the ones from previous games; using his hammer and spitting out Dark Matter orbs.
Waddle Dee[]
In Kirby 64, Dark Matter possesses a Waddle Dee who ends up being Kirby's friend. Waddle Dee's strength doubles during the fight, as well his physical features of having two eyes changed to one big single eye like that of a Waddle Doo. Dark Matter leaves the body after the battle and Kirby is reunited with his Waddle Dee friend.
Magolor[]
Magolor was once possessed by the Master Crown, a member of the Dark Matter species after losing in the first phase in Kirby's Return To Dreamland. This Magolor carries most of the same abilities normal Magolor possesses, but as well as more ones. Once Magolor (Magolor Soul in the EX version) is defeated, the Master Crown disappears never to be seen again.
Whispy Woods[]
In Kirby's Dream Land 3, Whispy Woods gets possessed by Dark Matter and is the boss of Grass Land. He has the same regular attacks and moves, though after damaging him halfway he pulls his roots out and chases after Kirby. He is again possessed during the events of Crystal Shards.
It is unknown if Whispy got possessed by Dark Matter Blade's influence in Kirby's Dreamland 2 or is trying to protect himself from possession since he wears a face mask during his boss fight.
Daroach[]
In Kirby: Squeak Squad, Daroach was possessed by Dark Nebula, transforming him into Dark Daroach.
Claycia[]
In Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, Claycia is possessed by Dark Crafter with black sunglasses and attempts to steal all of the color from Dream Land. Kirby, Waddle Dee, and Elline manage to defeat Claycia and remove the sunglasses, returning her to her senses. As Dark Crafter runs off to steal the colors himself, Claycia and Elline make a rocket painting which transforms Kirby to chase after and defeat Dark Crafter.
Jambastion Cult[]
In Kirby Star Allies, Void Termina spearheads the cult, serving as their god and manipulating them to release it with the false promise that it would grant them eternal bliss. After failing to defeat Kirby, Void demanded Hyness to sacrifice himself and the mages to complete its form. Once fully formed, Void Termina began to rampage across the cosmos, forcing Kirby and his friends to duke it out with Dark Matter one last time. Even after its defeat, the darkness inside the hearts of Hyness and the Mages instilled by Void corrupted them, creating a rift in reality and sending them into Another Dimension. After Kirby defeats them, he uses a massive friend heart to dispel Void Termina's control over them, ending the species' tyranny for the forseeable future.
Powers and Abilities[]
Darks Matters are very powerful creatures; their most notable ability is to possess living creatures and acquire their abilities and powers. Dark Matters can generate lightning from their eye, and fly at will. Finally, they can also change their appearance to become humanoid and generate energy projectiles.
Other Media[]
Super Smash Bros[]
Under the name "Dark Matter", Dark Matter Blade appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a legendary class primary attack-type spirit. His spirit battle is a stamina battle against King Dedede, followed by Meta Knight on the Ω form of the Halberd. Both have increased power to their weapons and have a random chance to deal a critical hit. Lord Nightmare can also be summoned frequently.
Gallery[]
Images[]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- Although most Dark Matters act hostile towards Kirby, one Dark Matter, named Gooey, is actually a close friend of Kirby's.
- Magic is only used by two members of the Dark Matter group: 0 and Dark Nebula.
- All Dark Matter creatures can teleport, but use it when needed.
- Most of their weaknesses have to do with their eye.
- A sole Dark Matter appears in Kirby Mass Attack as the final boss of the Kirby Quest sub-game. Assuming that the game is canon, it shows that Dark Matter didn't go extinct during the end of the Dark Matter Trilogy. It would later be confirmed that Dark Matter did survive the extinction if Void Termina's cultists describing themselves as "masters of a matter most dark" is any indication.
- Miracle Matter is the only Dark Matter creature to have more than three eyes; he has over ten on his body.
- Miracle Matter is similar in appearance to 0, sporting a completely white color scheme along with red eyes.
- Whenever Miracle Matter is damaged, he loses an eye.
- Some people believe that Void Termina is the true progenitor of the Dark Matter species and not 0, assuming that Void Termina is indeed unrelated to 0 or his successor, 0².
- The "Dark Matter Trilogy" of Kirby games have the same treatment as the Dark Seeker Saga, which is also known as the Xehanort Saga.
- The Dark Matter clone unleashed by Star Dream wields a sword that closely resembles the Rainbow Sword (the weapon Kirby originally used to defeat the first incarnation of the villain), albeit shrouded in shadowy wisps. It is unknown if this is merely a copy created by the clone itself or if Dark Matter is indeed powerful enough to corrupt the true sword for its own uses.
Dark Matter
