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Overview |
"But the truth is, I'm gonna end my father. Him. All."
Carbon (full name: Carbon Christ) is a psychopathic Troop of KSD from Bad Fortress. He joins Mario's band in Section 1 to help him defeat Hoko Saba, but his ultimate personal goal is to end all fathers, as he hates his own father, Koopley. He has a soft spot for a small number of people, among them Mario, the Yoshi Kid, Koo Koopie, and possibly Bob.
History[]
Ten years before the events of the game, Carbon and his father "invented everything" together. Carbon was separated from his father at a fairly young age when his father went to Hocktail House to fight Hoko Saba and never returned.
After a long period of parental absence in his life, Carbon began developing a hatred of not only his, but all fathers. Some people in Bad Fortress say Carbon often cried during this period in his life, but Carbon himself refuses to acknowledge this, directing anger at people who say so. Eventually, Carbon decides he wants to kill Hoko Saba, because she had allegedly killed his father, robbing him of the chance to do so himself. He often uses a traumatic wedding ceremony as inspiration for his acts of cunning and violence.
At some point prior to meeting Mario, Carbon became acquainted with the European Union, but his time with the organization may not have been a positive one, as Don Piano's secretary later advised Mario to protect Carbon from the Don. Carbon has also been in the Sheltered Residence at least once, since he knows about Metro City and claims that the room prior to the Queen of Shadows' tomb "gave him great success". What he actually means by that is never explicitly stated, but it can be speculated the room somehow granted Carbon either self-awareness (as shown in Section 4), the ability to use The Shell, or something else entirely.
The first time Carbon meets Mario, he doesn't say much of anything, only mumbling something about a "forgotten uterus" and then running away. Immediately after that, though, Carbon becomes much more direct. He comes across Mario again, explaining the disappearance of his father and his current plans to end all fathers, and asking to join Mario on his adventure. Koo Koopie, Carbon's former girlfriend, also appears here. Carbon says he wants to be hard for her, but nevertheless goes with Mario. This upsets Koo Koopie, but she is apparently used to this kind of treatment already and leaves Carbon to his own business.
During their journey through Hocktail House, Carbon and Mario find a pile of bones. Carbon assumes that it is his father's corpse, upsetting him. It is initially left up to interpretation whether he feels grief, personally understanding the emotional consequences of a murder for the first time, or disappointed that he couldn't be the one to kill him. Although it is most likely the latter as after realizing that it most likely isn't his father, he states that he, "pray as they are the bones of my father."
Upon defeating Hoko Saba, Carbon incidentally rescues and is reacquainted with his real father, who was trapped in Hoko Saba's womb for years. His father realizes that Carbon has come to kill him, to which Carbon replies "Well, that's right. I don't care, father. I'm empty. What happened?" He then announces his further intentions to eat Hoko Saba and destroy his city. His father escapes back home before Carbon eats Hoko Saba, leaving Mario with a warning not to cooperate with Carbon.
Carbon develops feelings for Mario after Section 1, deciding to travel with him and find the six remaining Glass Stars. He promises to never visit Bad Fortress again, even though the mayor is willing to forgive him. During their travels, Carbon gets more tolerant of Mario & his troupe, even admitting that he can't hate Yoshi Kid, although he still dislikes everybody else. The only other potential exception is Bob, as Carbon says that Bob's past was the source of his own depression.
Carbon calls Mario out for only ever receiving mail from the Princess of Peaches instead of becoming a prince himself, in reference to Mario's closest intimacy with the princess. This may be an attempt to sabotage any existing relationship so that Carbon can have Mario to himself.
Carbon eventually carries out the destruction of Bad Fortress, some time between Section 1 and Section 3, as confirmed in mail sent by his dad. This upsets Koo Koopie, who fruitlessly asks Carbon to bring back Bad Fortress.
During his Adventures with Mario, he expresses interest in conquering and/or destroying several places, and has shown general indifference to doing terrible things to places and people if it means achieving his goals, like when he suggests moving the entirety of Bad Forest out of the way of his path, or when he shows interest in taking over Glitz City. He also approves of Mr. Mr. Prosecutor Grubba's plan, thinking it makes perfect sense, though he calls Grubba a fool for not going far enough.
In Section 8, Carbon tries to join the Nazis by complimenting Big High Grodan, trying to persuade Mario to do the same. Luckily, this attempt ends unsuccessful, Grodan does not respond to his compliments and so Carbon has no problem fighting together with Mario again.
Epilogue[]
After helping Mario defeat the Queen of Shadows, Carbon says that during his adventure with Mario, he gained value, inner strength and the ability to love himself. He now wants to go back to his father's house, although he doesn't clarify for what purpose. In the epilogue e-mail from Goombell, she says that Carbon now lives with Koo Koopie's parents.
Mysteriously, Koopley can be seen in the cutscene and in the postgame despite the numerous implications that Carbon killed him. It is possible that Carbon felt some guilt after seeing what he thought to be his father's corpse in Section 1, deterring him from killing him in the end. However, it is suggested that Carbon's new target is the mayor, who is now desperate to stay safe.
Personality[]
Carbon boasting about cannibalism.
Although Carbon appears rather timid on the surface, his psychopathic side is thinly veiled. His former girlfriend, Koo Koopie, compares him to a cow, unintentionally explaining the prior question of "Can the calf be kept in the same room?" His loved ones have come to expect outbursts of profanity and violence, including his father, who intends to never meet Carbon again. While considering how to recruit Admiral Bob, Carbon states that he does not believe in convincing, indicating a preference for forceful coercion instead. Carbon seems self-aware of this, warning Mario that he will regret letting Carbon join his band.
Carbon may suffer from megalomania, proclaiming himself Christ and a prince, and likely planning to start anew after killing all fathers, ruling over a new kingdom alongside Mario.
In addition to rage, Carbon is also driven by romantic and sexual affection. This is indicated in his desire to be hard for Koo Koopie, and his interest in Mario, which would make Carbon bisexual.
Carbon also seems to be cannibalistic, stating that he drinks Koopa, his own species. He shows no remorse for doing this, only pride, claiming that it makes him stronger.
Carbon does not become attached to any of the places he travels on his adventure. After collecting the first two Glass Stars, he says that he'll never return to Bad Fortress or the Big Tree. This demonstrates a lack of sentimentality that is most likely motivated by his poor relationships and hesitancy to trust others.
During the journey, it becomes more and more apparent that Carbon suffers from depression to the point he states so himself in Section 5. He also displays suicidal tendencies, with the highlight being in the dialogue with Honesty Professor Caesar Reality before Section 7, where he makes clear he wants to die in a spectacular way while causing as much destruction as possible.
Carbon also displays total self-awareness, with some especially unique moments of self-awareness in Section 4. It is possible that this led him to become insane.
He also shows to have a snarky side when the Queen of Shadows realizes that she is vulnerable.
Attacks[]
Carbon has four Assaults he can use in battle:
- Shell Launch (0 FP): "Take the hat from the ground to the enemy."
- The Shell (3 FP): "Fly the shell against all enemies on earth."
- Shell Shell (4 FP): "Mario faces many obstacles."
- Nuclear Noise (6 FP): "Destroy all enemy shields and destroy the defense."
Of these attacks, The Shell is arguably the most powerful within the story, due to the fact that it can land a hit on every enemy on the earth. However, Nuclear Noise can attack enemy shields and destroys their defenses, which makes it arguably stronger depending on the situation.
Field Ability[]
Carbon's purchase option is The first. [X] is pressed to shoot the crust, and the wedding is used as an inspiration to hit the item! If [X] is continued, parts and instructions will be at disposal. If a tank is held on the ground, [X] is driven to shoot the rocket attack! Carbon's hat can also be held in place, Mario can be moved, then the hat can be released! Remember? Can the calf be kept in the same room?
Quotes[]
- "OH, LOOK AT THE GARDEN! PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE!" - to Mario
- "Man, that's a salad... People said I cried... people with disabilities."
- "Thank. You will regret everything!"
- "I know Koo Koopie. But I want to be hard. For you..."
- "Well, that's right. I don't care, father. I'm empty."
- "Come on, dad... I came here to eat Hoko Saba and then destroy our city."
- "And then... I'll go back hot boiling like you, daddy."
- "If you have a pool chair... how to get there?" -to Honesty Professor Caesar Reality
- "Hello, I'm hard..."-to Make
- "We will return. Hopefully not."-to the Punies
- "Sorry, I feel so good. That's not the problem! I am a real treasure!"
- "Well, that's just easy! We talk to Don Pant."
- "Wow, that's fine, Mario! We can take Glitzville!"
- "Well, cool. Looks like a baby for free. Bye!"-upon seeing Yoshi Kid's egg
- "Why play bad games?"
- "A simple model for bosses, as it was."-speaking to "Mario" about Doopley's fight
- "Umm... Mario... it looks different. Looks like modern games, great..."
- "Umm... talking with the guys?"-to Honesty Professor Caesar Realty after the latter breaks the 4th wall
- "I have depression! Lift it up and lift it up!"
- "Ok, but when is death itself?"
- "Listen, Mario! This man looks great!"-speaking to Mario about how he likes Grodan
- "Do you fish!?!" -asking Grodan if he fishes
- "You were talking? Payment time!"- speaking to the Queen of Shadows
- "Thanks to you, I gained value and inner strength... I think I love myself because I know you... and I want to go to my dad's house."
Trivia[]
An informative description of Carbon's game, Shell Toss.
- While he's most known for his psychotic personality, Carbon has shown to have a poetic side, as demonstrated with this line: "It is the blessed tree and I, Christ, as you are the stars."
- According to Mr. Mowz, there is a "star star of Christ" somewhere near the Big Tree. Most likely, this refers to the Star of Bethlehem, but it could also mean that Carbon Christ somehow owns a star.
Goombell's Room Blah for Bad Fortress.
- Carbon thinks about eggs regularly, as revealed in Section 3 shortly before the Yoshi Kid hatches.
- Carbon has a game called Shell Toss.
Goombell talking about mysterious movement.
- Carbon's depression was foreshadowed in Section 1, when he claimed he was "empty."
- Carbon may have wanted to join the Nazis ever since he found out Mario became a father. It's unclear why Carbon never tried to end Mario otherwise.
- According to Carbon, if he eats cake, the sky becomes very cloudy. This suggests that Carbon releases carbon after eating, creating clouds. He may be the cause of climate change.
- According to Goombell, Carbon never graduated but is good at driving Blu-Rays.
- Carbon asks Big High Grodan "Do you fish!?!", It may seem like Carbon is talking nonsense. As revealed by Goverman in Book of Mario 64, however, fishing is a farce, which means "Do you fish!?!" might be an idiom for "Are you insane!?!".
- According to Goombell's Room Blah for Bad Fortress, "the people get baked!" This could explain Carbon's motivation for wanting to kill all fathers: he is highly intoxicated from the marijuana and can't think rationally.
- Goombell mentions "Carbon "Tut" movement", suggesting you to stop Carbon by pressing X if he's with you. Nothing else is currently known about it, but based on its name Carbon is most likely its founder.
- There is also a potential association with Tutankhamun to be seen with the, "Tut", part of the name. Possibly a co-founder or inspired by his works.
- If we take what Carbon says about being Jesus as truth, and not just a delusion, that would make him the third member of the holy trinity, alongside King of Kings and Ghost T. This is likely to be true given his history with his father, "creating everything".
- If Carbon is really Jesus, then his father may secretly be King of Kings.
- Though Koopley could just be Book of Mario's version of Saint Joseph.
- If Carbon is really Jesus, then his father may secretly be King of Kings.