Marx Artwork ofMarx fromKirby Air Riders. Details First appearance Kirby Super Star (1996) Latest appearance Kirby Air Riders (2025) Other appearance(s) Kirby Super Star Ultra Kirby Mass Attack (Kirby Brawlball) Kirby Star Allies Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Cameo appearance(s) Kirby: Squeak Squad Kirby's Return to Dream Land Kirby: Triple Deluxe Kirby: Planet Robobot Super Kirby Clash Kirby's Dream Buffet Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe Copy Abilities Cutter (Shooter Cutters),Ice (Ice Ball),Freeze (Ice Ball inKirby Air Riders) Related Marx Soul Similar Magolor

Theme music https://wikirby.com/wiki/File:Vs_Marx_SS_Version.mp3 "Vs. Marx" Clip of Marx's boss battle theme fromKirby Super Star

"Marx" on otherNIWA wikis: SmashWiki Super Mario Wiki

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Marx is a mischievous, small, round, jester-like creature fromPopstar who serves as the finalboss and main antagonist ofMilky Way Wishes fromKirby Super Star and its remake,Kirby Super Star Ultra. In this role, he feigns to beKirby's ally and instructs him to summonGalactic Nova to stop the Sun and Moon from fighting, but then steals Kirby's wish at just the right moment to demand total control over Planet Popstar. Revealing his true intentions, Marx intends to take over the world so that he can cause all the mischief he wants, but Kirby uses theStarship to chase him down; he defeats both him and Galactic Nova, sending Marx careening into the clockwork star's burst-open hull to blow it to smithereens. InThe True Arena, Marx is subsequently reincarnated intoMarx Soul by absorbing pieces of the destroyed Nova, forcing Kirby to battle him again. Whether or not this battle officially happens in the samecontinuity of Milky Way Wishes is not confirmed.

Since this initial set of appearances, Marx has frequently appeared in subsequent games, though usually as little more than a cameo or reference. He would become playable for the first time as aDream Friend inKirby Star Allies, where his moveset mainly revolves around using his ball as a projectile and using his attacks as a boss inKirby Super Star. Many of those latter attacks would be referenced and reused by subsequent final bosses in theKirby series, with the most commonly-referenced attacks includingBlack Hole, "Marx Cannon", andShooter Cutter. His character arc (and several of his attacks) would also be directly referenced byMagolor, and the two would subsequently become associated in various external media for the franchise. Marx has also made appearances outside of theKirby series, with the most notable being his inclusion as a boss inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. His name is likely based on the Marx Brothers, as they were famous comedians.

Characteristics[edit]

In his default form, Marx is lavender and round with large purple eyes, no arms, a red bow tie, brown shoes, and a jester hat which has a style and color scheme similar toMirror Kirby's hat in older games, being blue with white circles on the left and red with white triangles on the right. He typically has an open smile on his face, with two small fangs showing if he smiles wide enough. These fangs are more prominent when Marx shows his true form. Marx is often seen balancing and rolling around on an inflatable ball like a clown, and can punt this ball at his enemies to attack them inKirby Star Allies.

Marx's true form has a large pair of wings made of glowing floating hexagonal crystals which shift in color and are supported by two golden arm-like appendages with claws on them and red heart-shaped jewels embeded on the alulas. This form of Marx has a longer bow tie and much more menacing eyes. He also becomes somewhat larger in stature, at least when fought as a boss inKirby Super Star. InKirby Star Allies, Marx can assume this form at will in order to fly around and access his more potent moves. He only assumes his thinner, more wicked expression when performing these boss attacks, and is otherwise capable of retaining his cuter countenance while flying. InSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, his "wings" are depicted with a more wooden texture, and are capable of turning into pulsating red veins, as well as falling off of his body entirely when he is defeated.

Game appearances[edit]

Kirby Super Star /Kirby Super Star Ultra[edit]

Final boss fight against Marx inKirby Super Star (left) andKirby Super Star Ultra (right)

Marx makes his debut and most defining appearance inKirby Super Star and its remakeKirby Super Star Ultra as a character inMilky Way Wishes. Here, he appears before Kirby to inform him that the only way to stop the Sun and Moon from fighting is to gather the stars from each planet surrounding Popstar and use their power to summon the greatcomet Nova, who can grant the wishes of whoever summons it. While seeming innocent at first, when Kirby carries out this task and calls forth the Nova, Marx boots the pink puffball aside and steals his wish, making it known to Nova his desire to rule over Popstar. From here, Marx assumes his menacing true form and gloats to Kirby about having orchestrated the whole scenario to grab this opportunity at power, then leaves Kirby to float aimlessly in space. However, Kirby is able to rally the stars he collected and chase after Nova and Marx using theStarship.

After the Galactic Nova stage is cleared, Kirby is automatically thrown onto an unknown planet where he must do battle with Marx in his powered-up state. In this fight, Marx uses a variety of outlandish attacks, including dropping seeds that rapidly sprout as spiky vines, shooting lasers from his mouth, and splitting himself in half to create a black hole. Despite these horrific powers, Kirby is able to overcome the traitorous jester and defeat him, sending him careening into the deactivated Nova to obliterate them both and restore peace to the Milky Way.

In addition to his role in Milky Way Wishes, Marx is also fought as the last boss inThe Arena. InKirby Super Star Ultra, Marx has a role at the end ofThe True Arena mode. Here, it is revealed that, after his defeat at the ending of Milky Way Wishes, Marx's inert body began to absorb errant pieces from Nova as flashes of energy. With this new power, Marx is reincarnated asMarx Soul, the final boss of this mode. Marx also appears on a card inKirby Card Swipe.

Attacks[edit]

Marx uses a variety of moves in battle. His main ability is teleporting, but he has many other attacks, as detailed below.

Marx has 350 HP.

Click "Expand" on the right to see Marx's attack order.

Kirby: Squeak Squad[edit]

InKirby: Squeak Squad, artwork of Marx's true form fromKirby Super Star appears in aGraphic featuring various final bosses from theKirby series.

Kirby Mass Attack[edit]

InKirby Mass Attack, Marx appears in the sub-gameKirby Brawlball as the fourth and final boss. He is much bigger than in his previous appearances. His Shooter Cutter and Arrow Arrow attacks serve as objects that can push Kirby down. His Marx Cannon can freeze Kirby for a few seconds if he's caught in it. With his Black Hole attack, he will suck up random enemies, then shoot them out of his mouth. These enemies can't touch Kirby, but he can be sucked by the attack as well, which may cause the player to lose sight of him. His Seed Attack vines appear as obstacles in the field. Copies of his original form, known as theMinimarx,^{[from internal data]} also appear in the field. Kirby can defeat him for 100,000 points and two extra Kirby balls, though this can only be done up to five times.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land /Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe[edit]

InKirby's Return to Dream Land, Marx makes two cameo appearances. One ofStone Kirby's transformations is of Marx on his ball. Marx proper can also be seen among the audience in theKirby Master video.

InKirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, Marx has two dedicatedDress-Up Masks - his regular form andSoul form. These masks replace the player character's voice with the corresponding laughs from either form. InMerry Magoland, a gold statue of him appears after completing 50missions, based on his pose in his official artwork fromKirby Star Allies.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe[edit]

InKirby: Triple Deluxe, Marx again appears as aStone sculpture, still riding his ball, but this time paired up withMagolor. He also appears among the audience in theKirby Master video. Both Marx andMarx Soul appear asKeychains.

Kirby Fighters Deluxe &Kirby Fighters 2[edit]

The "Marx's Hat" costume forBeam Kirby fromKirby Fighters 2

InKirby Fighters Deluxe, theBeamAbility'sRare Outfit is made in Marx's likeness. When being worn, Kirby will wear Marx's Hat and a staff with a purple orb. This outfit returns inKirby Fighters 2.

Kirby: Planet Robobot[edit]

InKirby: Planet Robobot, Marx appears as asticker. TheStone sculpture featuring him and Magolor together also returns fromKirby: Triple Deluxe, although it is now gray instead of gold.

Kirby Star Allies[edit]

Marx appears as aDream Friend inKirby Star Allies, added with Version 2.0.0 of the game on March 28th, 2018. His appearance here marks the first time he is playable in theKirby series.

Marx's attack style revolves around his ability to kick jester balls at his opponents and, while flying, use several attacks from hisboss form. He is able to receiveelemental powers from other allies, which can further boost his arsenal.

Moveset[edit]

When given a certain element, many of Marx's attacks take on additional effects which are reminiscent of some of hisboss moves inKirby Super Star and its remake:

• Using Jester Ball Spit-Drop with Blizzard causes ice shockwaves to spread out after the ball is dropped, resembling 'Ice Ball'.
• Using Jester Ball Spit-Drop with Bluster causes him to shoot out 4 cutters all around himself, resembling 'Shooter Cutter'.
• Using Jester Ball Spit-Drop with Splash causes spiky vines to shoot out of the ground, resembling 'Seed Attack'.
• Using Rush with Zap causes him to shoot numerous lightning arrows forward, resembling 'Arrow Arrow'.

In addition, when Marx performs theTeam Attack with his allies, he has a unique firing pose which resembles the strange expression with which he fires 'Marx Cannon', complete with a unique sound effect.

Marx also appears as a surprise bonus boss in the Happy Ending credits ofHeroes in Another Dimension, where he utilizes all of his moves from the original boss fight. He uses his laugh fromKirby Super Star Ultra, despite the playable Marx using hisKirby Super Star laugh. If he is not defeated by the time the credits come to a close, he flees. He attacks in a fixed order on loop as follows:

1. Shooter Cutter
2. Seed Attack
3. Shadow Uppercut
4. Arrow Arrow
5. Ice Ball
6. Marx Cannon
7. Black Hole

The teleports between each attack are random.

Cameos[edit]

• Since Version 2.0.0, theStone ability can transform into Marx's true form splitting in half.
• Since Version 2.0.0, a hidden stone plate of Marx's true form can be found after activating the PullSwitch at the end ofExtra Planet β.
• Marx appears in threeCelebration Pictures: "Super Ultra Battle", "Crazy Mischief in the Stars", and "Bad Boss Brothers".

Super Kirby Clash[edit]

InSuper Kirby Clash, Marx has twogear in his likeness. These items are a weapon named "Marx's Staff" and an armor called "Marx's Hat". When paired together, these items are an almost exact match for the Marx's Hat costume from theKirby Fighters games.

Marx also has twostickers, one on his regular form with the caption "Hey heyyy!", and another on hissoul form with the caption "Ha-HAAA!".

Kirby's Dream Buffet[edit]

InKirby's Dream Buffet, a Marx costume and color palette can be chosen for Kirby once they are unlocked. Additionally, Marx appears as aCharacter Treat, depicting his artwork fromKirby Super Star.

Kirby Air Riders[edit]

Marx is both a playable rider and boss inKirby Air Riders. His appearance, especially his eyes, is directly based on his depiction inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. To unlock Marx, the player must either complete a lap in Free Run inAir Ride without dropping below 30 km/h (19 mph), or spend 300,000 totalRoad Miles inRoad Trip. Marx'sSpecial is True-Form Marx, which sees him temporarily leaving his machine and taking flight. It is very similar toMeta Knight's Special. If aQuick Spin is performed, Marx will rush forward. If Marx hits an opponent, they will be ensnared by dark brambles and will need to flick the Control Stick in various directions to release themselves.

As a boss, Marx can be fought at theVS. BossStadium, or at certain points in Road Trip, includingJourney's End alongside the other bosses. He takes on his true form, and is much larger than Marx as a rider. His Shooter Cutter and Ice Ball attacks can give the Cutter orFreeze abilities respectively when inhaled or captured. Under certain conditions, Marx can be stunned, and will sit dazed on the floor for riders to damage him. His arena and animation upon defeat are very similar to his battle inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Marx's alternate coloration gives him a monochromatic, black-and-white hat. In a Road Trip cinematic, he uses theBull Tank, plowing the earth as threeBroom Hatters flee. He is also seen with the Bull Tank on the Road TripChecklist image.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

SmashWiki has more information about this subjecthere.

InSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, Marx retains his role as a boss and his moveset fromKirby Super Star (except the arrow attack), with three new attacks which can greatly weaken the fighter'sshield.

Marx's attacks as a boss inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate
Attack	Description	Notes
Teleport[conjectural title]	Marx quickly teleports to another part of the screen. Typically does this between attacks. Sometimes teleports multiple times in quick succession.	Marx is invulnerable while teleporting.
４方向カッター攻撃 4-Way Cutter Attack	Marx appears to teleport, but instead shoots out fourcutter boomerangs. After losing enough health, he shoots them out twice in a row à laMarx Soul.	The cutter boomerangs can be inhaled or reflected.
魔界植物 Makai Plant	Marx flies off the screen, dropping five to seven damaging seeds in random places in the arena. About a second later, thorny vines spring up from where the seeds landed.	Unlike inKirby Super Star andKirby Super Star Ultra, the seeds cannot be prematurely destroyed before they hit the ground.
地面飛び出し Jump Out of the Ground	Marx appears as a flashing circle on the ground that follows a fighter. After a few seconds, he springs up in an attempt to ram into them.
氷爆弾 Ice Bomb	Marx puffs his cheeks, then drops a bomb out of his mouth. After reaching a fighter's height, the bomb explodes into two icy shockwaves that can freeze affected fighters in the air or on the ground.	Both the bomb and shockwaves can be inhaled and reflected, while the shockwaves can also be absorbed.
極太レーザー Extra-Thick Laser	Marx puffs his cheeks, then fires an enormous, damaging beam out of his mouth, dealing darkness damage.	Cannot beshielded, but can be dodged by crouching.
ブラックホール Black Hole	Marx splits in half, creating a black hole. If a fighter doesn't run away from the suction fast enough, they are transported to an alternate dimension in which they take massive unavoidable damage.	Cannot be guarded. Unlike inKirby Super Star andKirby Super Star Ultra, Marx can be damaged as he splits to open the black hole.
追尾する目 Tracking Eye	Marx's eyes turn dark and black bouncy balls appear from them, which bounce across the stage, dealingdarkness damage to any player they hit. Marx can summon as few as two to as many as six.
毛細血管展開 Capillary Expansion	Marx teleports to the center of the arena, retracts his wings, and causes pink veins to come out and spread across the arena, which dealfire damage.	Marx can perform one of two variations, one where the blind spots are at the corners of the stage and the other where the blind spots are directly underneath him.
複眼レーザー Compound Eye Laser	Marx's eyes grow and his pupils multiply, causing him to shoot out multiple purple lasers out of his eyes, which dealelectric damage. The laser beams are evenly spaced from the others though rotate in a random direction. More lasers are fired when Marx is low on health.
Attack names are taken from the JapaneseSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate Official Guide, unless otherwise stated.

After beating Marx, he bounces on the stage sporadically while screaming before he lands on the floor with his wings separated.

InClassic Mode, the only characters to fight Marx areKirby,Rosalina & Luma,Inkling, andSephiroth.

InAdventure Mode: World of Light, Marx is one of the three bosses ofDharkon's army inThe Dark Realm, first fought at the end of theMysterious Dimension. Defeating him in the Mysterious Dimension rewards thePrimary Spirit ofMarx in his small form (★★ Advanced, Grab-type, 3 slots; Skill: none, attack: 1,001 base, 4,004 max, defense: 587 base, 2,351 max), which can be enhanced intoMarx (True Form) (★★★★ Legend, Grab-type, 3 slots; Skill: Magic Attack ↑, attack: 2,533 base, 6,333 max, defense: 1,654 base, 4,153 max). Later, Marx and the other five bosses ofGaleem's and Dharkon's armies are fought again in a boss rush during the final battle.

Additionally, a hat based on the one Marx wears can be worn byMii Fighters.

According toMasahiro Sakurai during his "Mr. Sakurai Presents 'Sephiroth'" video forSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, Marx was initially much creepier than in his final appearance, to the point where he "wasn't suitable for all audiences", so changes had to be made to tone him down.^[1] It is unclear whether this is referring to his originalKirby Super Star appearance or hisSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate appearance.

Music[edit]

Main article:Vs. Marx

Marx's theme song is his boss battle theme fromKirby Super Star andits remake,"Vs. Marx" (also titled"Meddlesome Marx"), and is known for its frequently changing odd time signatures. It has been referenced and remixed many times inKirby media, as well as in theSuper Smash Bros. series.

Flavor text[edit]

Image	Game	Flavor text
	Kirby Super Star Ultra	Marx has shown histrue form! Fly in andprotect Pop Star! Do it,Kirby, ourSuper Star!
	Kirby Star Allies	As a Dream Friend: The famous jester from Kirby Super Star has finally arrived to get in on the action! Sure, he's had a diabolical past as a final boss, but he'll be your buddy if you keep him well-fed. It's a dream come true! Guest Star Marx: "Got a plan? Glad to help!" The cosmic jester from Kirby Super Star sensed danger from afar and is ready to roll across galaxies on his ball! This final boss is here to help!
	Kirby Air Riders	A friendly face hiding dark and twisted schemes. Has impressive stats but can't take a hit.

Trivia[edit]

• The Japanese manual ofKirby Super Star describes Marx as a magician (魔法使い).^[2] InSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, theSpirit of Marx (True Form) has the Magic Attack ↑ skill, which possibly references him being a magician.
• The planet Marx is fought on is referred to as???, which is the same name as that of the secret planet (which is whereKirby gets theCopy Essence Deluxe ofCopy).
• Marx has no hands, so he uses his hat to grab things like PullSwitches inKirby Star Allies. However, he does have hands in theKirby of the Stars! Moretsu Pupupu Hour! manga series.
• Some unused data in Marx's boss battle in The Happiest Curtain Call inKirby Star Allies includes a health bar and unique music (which is the same music that plays when fightingMorpho Knight as Marx). This may indicate that Marx was planned as a boss elsewhere in the game at one point.^[3]

Gallery[edit]

Main article:Marx/gallery

• 
  Artwork fromKirby Super Star
• 
  Artwork of Marx's true form inKirby Super Star
• 
  Artwork of Marx's true form inKirby Super Star Ultra
• 
  "Crazy Mischief in the Stars"Celebration Picture fromKirby Star Allies, featuring Marx
• 
  Icon fromKirby Star Allies
• 
  Artwork of Marx fromSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate
• 
  Doodle of Marx drawn by Kirby fromKirby Art & Style Collection
• 
  Artwork for theKirby 30th Anniversary Music Festival
• 
  Marx plushie, manufactured by San-ei

Videos[edit]

Quotes[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

References

• Featured pages
• Characters
• Playable characters
• Dream Friends
• Final bosses
• Bosses in Kirby Super Star
• Bosses in Kirby Super Star Ultra
• Bosses in Kirby Brawlball
• Riders in Kirby Air Riders
• Antagonists
• Creatures that yield Ice from projectiles
• Creatures that yield Cutter from projectiles
• Creatures that yield Freeze from projectiles

• Pages using Tabber parser tag
• Articles which list Japanese names
• Articles which list Chinese names
• Articles which list Dutch names
• Articles which list French names
• Articles which list German names
• Articles which list Italian names
• Articles which list Korean names
• Articles which list Portuguese names
• Articles which list Russian names
• Articles which list Spanish names
• Articles which list Thai names