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vlazed · 1 year

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The Fascinatingly Inconsistent Design of Dark Matter Blade

Being one of the most infamous Kirby villains, Dark Matter has been subject to many cameos and references since its first appearance back in Dream Land 2. Throughout that time, it has varied from appearance to appearance, and that’s what I’ll be diving into today!

I’ll specifically be dissecting their Dark Matter Blade form in this post, I will likely make a separate post for their orb form, as while less numerous, it has still undergone interesting changes over the years.

Kirby’s Dream Land 2

This is the form Dark Matter first takes when expelled from Dedede’s body to battle Kirby and their Rainbow Sword, also referred to as Dark Matter Swordsman. What an epic swordfight to start out the final boss fight with!

Due to Kirby’s Dream Land 2 being a Game Boy game, Dark Matter Blade lacks any color in this first iteration. But worry not, they received official artwork to accompany their first appearance, have a look:

Ahh, much better! It is here that the mainstays of Dark Matter Blade’s design are established. Cloak with strips of triangles going up the middle, shoulder pads with golden trims, flowing black hair, and a visor containing a single eye. Two details I want to specifically point out here are:

Their eye. Specifically, the dark grey pupil and white sclera. This stands out because of how it differs from most eyes on Kirby characters, as they often don’t have sclera to speak of, making Dark Matter Blade’s stand out in that regard. It gives them a sort of creepiness factor, having a plain old eyeball up in there.

The piece directly below their mask. Due to it’s similar coloration to the shoulder armor, it is typically interpreted to be a third piece of armor, though the lack of detail in this illustration can cause it to be confused for a scarf as well.

Kirby Squeak Squad

After a significant span of time with only their orb or “Real” form appearing, Dark Matter Blade finally got new artwork for the release of Kirby Squeak Squad! Oddly, this is not because Dark Matter Blade appeared in the game itself, rather because it appeared in a graphic depicting itself and other final bosses of the series. Strangely, Dark Matter Blade is the only one of these bosses to have received new art for the unlockable graphic.

Regardless of the reason for this art’s existence, the design of Dark Matter Blade here is roughly the same as Dream Land 2, barring some slight differences in color and shape.

Their hair is less smooth, rather being sharp and angular. The neck piece has sharper angles, making it clearer that it is meant to be armor here. In terms of color, their cloak has more of a purple hue than the previous red, their shoulder pads are a much deeper violet, and the pupil is black as opposed to the previous grey.

Given that this appearance was mostly meant to give them new artwork to reflect the newer style of the series, it makes sense that they underwent very few changes for this iteration.

Kirby Mass Attack

This is quite a big one. In the Kirby Quest sub game in Kirby Mass Attack, Dark Matter Blade undergoes a drastic redesign for their appearance as the final boss of the mode, differing greatly in terms of shapes, color, and even receiving new elements to go along with it.

To start with the new elements, the bottom edges of their cloak have received a lighter trim, and it has received new jewelry in the form of a necklace starting from their shoulder pads, featuring green and blue gems.

In terms of shape, their hair is now more curved and flowing again, their mask has received rounded edges, and their neckpiece has been retextured to be a scarf to accompany its new red coloring.

Speaking of colors, most notable is their eye, which has received a vibrant cyan sclera, making it feel less realistic and more in line with the series typical aesthetics. The way it flashes makes it come across as a manifestation of energy more than an eyeball too! Their cloak is now darker, with its hue being more blue-green, their shoulder pads are a lighter blue, their hair and body have been given a slight purple tint, and as mentioned before, their scarf is now red.

This is a redesign I must say I am quite fond of, though one could argue it is somewhat cluttered, the added jewelry helps add more of an ancient, royal vibe. The neckpiece being a red scarf is lovely in helping add a break in color along with reusing the other reds in the palette. I personally love the eye of energy and having colored sclera, though I do wonder if it being blue adds a bit too much to the palette as a whole. Overall, a lovely makeover for a lovely little appearance.

Kirby Planet Robobot

Returning in the form of the Dark Matter Clone fought in the side mode Meta Knightmare Returns, this is Dark Matter Blade’s big return to the series, as it had not appeared in a central mode since Dream Land 2!

This new appearance is, for the most part, a return to form for Dark Matter Blade, mostly mimicking its original design from Dream Land 2 barring some specific exceptions.

Their neckpiece has been given more definition, jutting out in the front and sporting the same texture as the shoulder pads. Yes, its now clear that it is a piece of armor! Alongside this, the cloak is now a slightly lighter white, no longer having a warm grey tint, and their shoulder pads are now a much more vibrant purple.

However, what stands out most about this appearance is their eye. It’s orange! Both the pupil and sclera are orange, in fact, turning red once the boss enters its second phase. It is unclear why this change was made, as no previous art or appearance depicts blade with an orange eye. Perhaps it was meant to invoke the look of the more energy-based eye from Mass Attack? It is unclear.

What is even more unclear is whether or not this is meant to be taken as a retcon to the eyes design entirely, or if it is meant to be a clone specific trait (and no, future appearances don’t clear this up.) But regardless, Robobot was a refreshing and simple appearance for the dark sword.

Team Kirby Clash Deluxe/Super Kirby Clash

Expanding on the subgame featured in Planet Robobot, Dark Matter Blade’s likeness appears in this game as a piece of armor equipped by Kirby. How cute!

Though simple and seemingly matching its appearance from Robobot, there are a few notable changes present:

The eye has returned to its previous white sclera, with the pupil being given a new violet tint.

The neckpiece is now depicted as a scarf, despite keeping the same purple coloring.

Those two changes together are incredibly confusing! If its meant to signify that only the real Dark Matter Blade has white sclera, why is the neckpiece a scarf instead? This adorable armor set is a pile of contradictions!

Kirby Star Allies

In this title, Dark Matter Blade makes a cameo in the “Big Boss Brothers” puzzle, appearing alongside other final bosses of the series. Despite being such a small appearance, the design still technically features changes!

Specifically, the neckpiece is back to being a piece of armor (even more obvious now due to its shine) and the eye, which is now a burning red! It technically has no visible pupil, but I assume that’s only due to the size of the art.

What makes the appearance of the eye such a head scratcher is that this is the first time the original Dark Matter Blade has appeared with a red eye, a trait that was previously only locked to its clone (we know the Blade depicted in this piece is the original, as only final bosses appear in the artwork). Is this meant to mean that the original has been retconned to have an orange/red eye? If so, why did Clash feature the original white sclera? So many questions… at least they look stunning in this iteration, the red eye fits them very well.

Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe

Rounding out this post is the most recent depiction of Dark Matter Blade, appearing as a dress up mask sold in the remake exclusive Merry Magoland. Ah, it seems to have taken its appearance from Planet Robobot. Does that mean we’ve established the new canon design..?

…wait, Clone? Yes, the Mask in Dreamland Deluxe is, bizarrely enough, made of the Dark Matter clone. This is especially odd because there is no non-clone mask present, and order wise the mask is put with the other Dream Land 2 masks in the shop. No other character is treated like this, there is no “Sectonia Clone” or “Dedede Clone” mask or what have you. If Magolor could make a mask of Zero and so many other villains, why not go the extra mile and make the mask of the original? Perhaps this is purely done to keep it ambiguous what the true design is meant to be?

Regardless, this final appearance is a (slightly confusing) fine place to end this journey. Dark Matter Blade has remained one of my favorite Kirby villains, especially design wise. Out of all of these, I’m torn between Star Allies and Mass Attack in terms of a favorite. I have no doubt that, if this dark sword makes another cameo one way or another, it’s design will have changed one way or another as it always has.

#dark matter blade #dark matter swordsman #dark matter #dark matter kirby #dark matter clone #kirby #kirby series #rtdldx spoilers #i was going to make this and the orb one post but it became a lot longer than i expected so i’m splitting them up #that and i hit the image cap lol #shoutouts to weirdmarioenemies their writing style inspired how i handled some of this

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