The ruler of the underworld, Dark Nebula.
Dark Nebula is a major antagonist and plot device in Kirby: Squeak Squad. It is a creature composed of Dark Matter, capable of utilizing three different Copy Abilities (Spark, Fire, and Ice), and ruler of the underworld, Dark Nebula is a foe to be reckoned with.
Appearance[]
Dark Nebula first appears when Kirby defeats Dark Daroach (Daroach while possessed by Dark Nebula). The Dark Matter bounces out of Daroach, as an object resembling an Ability Star (though the colors are inverted), even bouncing around in the way an Ability Star does before flying off into the reaches of Gamble Galaxy. Once Kirby and Dark Nebula reach the boss arena, many black-and-purple stars gather around it, and Dark Nebula takes on it's true form (which looks different in-game than in its artwork, shown above). This form is a black star with a purple outline with a red eye in the center, reminiscent of Zero's eye
In canon[]
In ancient times, Dark Nebula was sealed away in a chest and eventually forgotten about as time progressed. King Dedede somehow got ahold of the chest, until Kirby, in search of his missing strawberry shortcake, seized the chest from the greedy king. A gang of mice-like beings known as the Squeaks, however, thought ultimate power was sealed in the chest, and stole it from Kirby as he was about to open it. Kirby pursued the Squeaks across many regions on Pop Star, and eventually got ahold of the chest once more. But, just as Kirby was going to open it again, Meta Knight, who knew what the contents of the chest contained, swiftly grabbed the chest, and flew off. Kirby then chased him to his battleship, defeated Meta Knight, but Daroach obtained the chest once more. He opened it as soon as he could, and Dark Nebula was released, much to Daroach's surprise, possessing him. The Squeaks flee to Gamble Galaxy, where Kirby eventually encounters and successfully defeats Dark Daroach, releasing him from Dark Nebula's control. The exposed Dark Matter flies off, and Kirby chases it through the last stretch of the game. Eventually, the two meet up in an arena, and Dark Nebula takes on its larger, "true" form. It then attempts to destroy Kirby by using its own variations of the copy abilities Fire, Spark, and Ice abilities. It is eventually destroyed, ending the potential threat of Dark Matter.
In fanon[]
Kirby: Legend of the Stars[]
Zero resurrects Dark Nebula. Despite being a faithful Dark Matter-based being, Zero eventually absorbs Dark Nebula, and takes form once again as Overlord Zero.
Kirby And The Crimson Palace[]
In Kirby And The Crimson Palace, it reveals he has a cousin called Guro Matter. This is mentioned in one of Guro Matter's Quotes.
Kirby Star Allies 3[]
In Kirby Star Allies 3, Dark Nebula works with Zero Two and his Dark Matter army to help restore Void Termina. However, the Jamba Heart shatters and Zero Two sends Dark Nebula and his Dark Matter army to retrieve the Jamba Hearts. Dark Nebula lands on Popstar, and possesses Daroach, turning him into Dark Daroach once again. When Dark Daroach is defeated, Dark Nebula hops out of his body and continues looking for Jamba Hearts. He is later fought as a boss when he tries to stop Kirby and the Star Allies, but Kirby beats him and he explodes.
Kirby Star Allies 5[]
Dark Nebula appears as an attack by Dark Hyness Soul in his Heroes in Another Dimension Returns battle.
He later appears in Heroes of Astral Crisis as a boss.
Knightmare of a Galactic Crisis[]
Dark Nebula is seen as a cameo during Professor Halikay’s explanation of how Void works. This also implies that it is Voidspawn.
Trivia[]
- Dark Nebula’s English pause screen describes it as the ruler of the underworld. However, its Japanese pause screen described it as the ruler of darkness. This implies that it may have been the leader of the Dark Matter species at some point, before it was sealed and Zero took over.