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{{FA}}
{{character infobox
{{spmenemybox
|image=[[File:CountBleck2 SPM.png|200px]]<br>Artwork from ''Super Paper Mario''
|image=[[Image:Normal bleck2.jpg|200px]]
|full_name=Lord Blumiere
|hp=150
|first_appearance=''[[Super Paper Mario]]'' ([[List of games by date#2007|2007]])
|atk=8
|latest_appearance=''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'' ([[Trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|trophy]] cameo) ([[List of games by date#2014|2014]])
|def=0
|location=[[Castle Bleck]]
|card type=Rare
|tattle=This top-hatted villain is bent on ending the world! Fun fact: he was once known as Lord Blumiere.
|tippi=That's Count Bleck... This dark figure wants to destroy the universe. He was  once Blumiere, a man that I loved... Max HP is 150, Attack is 8. He will use all the powers the Chaos Heart grants him. But you can beat him if you give it your all... And beat him you must... For the sake of all worlds... And to save the Blumiere I loved...
|before=[[Bonechill|187]]
|#=188
|after=[[Nastasia|189]]
}}
}}
{{quote|Bleh heh heh heh heh heh... The man known as Blumiere died long ago. Now there is only Bleck! The [[Dark Prognosticus]]' choice to fulfill the prophecy. Nothing more!|Count Bleck|Super Paper Mario}}
{{quote|Bleh heh heh heh heh heh... The man known as Blumiere died long ago. Now there is only Bleck! The [[Dark Prognosticus]]'s choice to fulfill the prophecy. Nothing more!|Count Bleck|Super Paper Mario}}
'''Count Bleck''', also known by his real name, '''Lord Blumiere''', is an evil count and the central antagonist of ''[[Super Paper Mario]]''. During the game, he summons the [[Chaos Heart]] by arranging a forced marriage between [[Princess Peach]] and [[Bowser]] for the main purpose of opening [[The Void]], which has the power to destroy all dimensions. He also leads a troop of minions, with its primary members being [[Nastasia]], [[O'Chunks]], [[Mimi]], [[Mr. L]], and [[Dimentio]].


'''Count Bleck''' (real name '''Lord Blumiere''') is an evil count and is seemingly the antagonist of ''[[Super Paper Mario]]''. Count Bleck is responsible for bringing forth the [[Chaos Heart]] by forcedly marrying [[Princess Peach]] to [[Bowser]], so he can use the Heart to open [[The Void]], which will ultimately engulf all dimensions. He leads a [[Count Bleck's Army|troop of minions]] to help move along his plans, including [[Nastasia]], the assistant that has powers to force people under her control, [[O'Chunks]] the strong, dim-witted follower, [[Mimi]] the shapeshifter, and [[Dimentio]] the evil jester (and to a lesser degree, [[Mr. L]], a  brainwashed [[Luigi]]). In the end, however, he changes his ways and redeems himself by helping Mario save the world.
His name, "Bleck", is normally used as onomatopoeia for disgust, but can also be interpreted as a corruption of "Black", referring to darkness (his Japanese name is a play on the French word for "black", ''noir''.) His real name is likely a portmanteau of ''blue'', referring to his color, and ''lumière'', the French term for light and a reference to his status as a member of the [[Tribe of Darkness]].


==History==
==History==
===Background===
===Background===
[[Image:Count Bleck's Army.jpg|thumb|left|Count Bleck and his minions and secretary.]]
Prior to the events of the game, Count Bleck went by the name Blumiere and was a member of the [[Tribe of Darkness]], a group that broke off from the [[Tribe of Ancients]] after stealing the [[Dark Prognosticus]] in a misguided attempt to prevent its powers from being abused. One day, Blumiere was found injured at the base of a cliff by a human girl known as Timpani and was nursed back to health by her. Despite [[Blumiere's father|his father's]] warnings to stay away from humans, Blumiere became captured by her kindness, and he frequently snuck out of his castle to meet with her, and they eventually fell in love.  
Count Bleck was once a member of the [[Tribe of Darkness]], whose ancestors stole the [[Dark Prognosticus]] from the Ancients shortly after the Pixl Rebellion, to ensure that it will not be used for evil. It is unknown what world or dimension Bleck comes from, but it is mentioned that the tribe lives in a castle located in the middle of a dark forest. It is slowly revealed in vague flashbacks that Count Bleck, when he is known as Blumiere, originally has a human girlfriend, Lady Timpani, whom he cherishes and loves. Apparently, Blumiere accidentally falls off a mountain, is knocked into unconsciousness, and is found on the brink of death at the cliff's base by Timpani, who nurses him back to health at her home. When Blumiere awakes, he is shocked to find that a human saved him as he is from the Tribe of Darkness. Timpani dismisses the thought and says that anyone with a heart will save an injured one.  


The pair soon falls in love, and Blumiere attempts to escape from his castle home to see her again. His abusive father, who scolds him for making such an attempt, catches him. He is able to sneak away nonetheless and becomes more and more interested in Timpani, who returns his feelings. Eventually, Blumiere's father finds out what is happening and threatens Timpani, telling her to stay away from the tribe. Timpani is scared for her life and tells Blumiere that they can no longer see each other.
He later learned that his father threatened Timpani. Blumiere learned that they could not be in love here, so he proposed to her. Though before they could be married, his father abducted and banished Timpani from their dimension, wiped her memory, and cursed her to wander through worlds until the day she died. Upon learning of Timpani's disappearance, Blumiere traveled through dimensions to search for her, unaware that she had been found barely alive by [[Merlon]], and was turned into a [[Pixl]] known as [[Tippi]] in order to save her. It is implied by one of [[Carson]]'s stories that he met [[Nastasia]] at some point during his search.  
Blumiere cannot accept this and tells Timpani that they must go somewhere where their love will be accepted and where they can get married. Timpani agrees, and the pair makes plans to leave. However, before these plans can be put into effect, Blumiere's father abducts Timpani and uses his dark magic to curse her to wander dimensions until her game ends. Blumiere is filled with shock and horror when she suddenly goes missing and demands to know where she was. His father reveals what he had done to her and tells Blumiere that it is for the best.  


[[Image:Castle Bleck.PNG|thumb|right|Castle Bleck, the Count's new home and base of operations.]]
Blumiere eventually returned home after thinking that Timpani was gone forever. He believed that life and existence are meaningless without her, so he stole the Dark Prognosticus and used its power to destroy his dimension, and he decided to do the same to every world. Blumiere took the alias of Count Bleck, and along with his new assistant Nastasia, he moved to a new castle in a world of darkness and is eventually joined by [[Mimi]], [[O'Chunks]], and [[Dimentio]]. He also intends to create a new perfect world once the original is destroyed, but Dimentio claimed that he never actually intended to keep his promise.
Overcome by rage and grief, Blumiere goes insane and decides to exact revenge. He steals the Dark Prognosticus, which the tribe has kept since its ancestors stole it, and uses to it to gain ancient knowledge of powerful magic. Blumiere's spirit and personality soon fade away as he is corrupted and changes into Count Bleck, a villain motivated by grief and regret. Using his new powers, Count Bleck murders his father and destroys his entire tribe out of thirst for revenge. After killing his own people, Bleck either constructs or finds a fortress and calls it [[Castle Bleck]] to serve as a base of operations and as a home, which is located in a realm composed entirely of [[The Void|darkness]].  


However, Bleck still has a small lingering hope that Timpani might still be alive. He goes from world to world, searching for the woman he loved. He never finds her though, no matter how much he searches. One of [[Carson]]'s stories tells of a man who comes across a bat held captive in a trap (assumed to be Bleck). The man lets the creature go and then camps out for the night. When he wakes up he sees that the bat has transformed into a woman who pledges her life to the man out of love. This woman is inferred to be Nastasia.
===''Super Paper Mario''===
[[File:Wedding4.png|thumb|left|Count Bleck forcing Princess Peach to marry Bowser to create the Chaos Heart]]
Count Bleck eventually decides to target the [[Mushroom Kingdom]]. He learned from the prophecy that the wedding of a princess and a monster will call forth the [[Chaos Heart]]. Due to this, he abducts [[Princess Peach]], [[Bowser]], [[Luigi]], and the entire [[Bowser's Minions|Koopa Troop]], and forcibly weds the former two, forming the Chaos Heart. Count Bleck then uses the Chaos Heart to rip open [[the Void]]. Due to a disturbance during the wedding ceremony, Luigi, Bowser, the Koopa Troop, and Peach are scattered across the castle. To confront this problem, Bleck sends Nastasia to brainwash members of the Koopa Troop into joining him. He also sends his other minions to various dimensions in an attempt to prevent [[Mario]] from collecting the [[Pure Heart]]s.


The Count and his new assistant returns to his castle where Bleck realizes that the woman he loved is gone forever. In reality, Timpani is still alive as she is found barely clinging to life by [[Merlon]] in [[Flipside]]. Using the powers of the ancients, [[Merlon]] transforms Timpani into a [[Pixl]], but she has no memory of her past life and is christened [[Tippi]] by Merlon. All that is left for Count Bleck is to avenge her supposed death by destroying everything that takes her away from him, existence itself. Bleck decides to fulfill the last prophecy written in the Dark Prognosticus, which ends the existence of all worlds and dimensions.
[[File:SPM Dark Prognosticus Man in Green.png|thumb|The foretold events about [[Mr. L]]]]
After his minions are defeated and Mario reunites with Peach and Bowser, Count Bleck stops treating Mario as a "mere annoyance". Bleck turns to the Dark Prognosticus and learns that a "man in green" is the main factor of determining whether the prophecy of destruction will pass. He orders Nastasia to brainwash Luigi into [[Mr. L]] and attempts to stop Mario with him. However, Mr. L is defeated like his other minions. Bleck becomes angered after his attempts to stop Mario failed, and he confronts them in person in [[Sammer's Kingdom]]. He argues with Tippi over his motives and the value of all worlds, and begins to suspect that Tippi may be Timpani.  


Bleck gathered [[Count Bleck's Army|more followers]], who carry out his plan. He has [[O'Chunks]], [[Mimi]] and [[Dimentio]] on his side. When [[Nastasia]] finds [[Luigi]] in [[Castle Bleck]], Nastasia brainwashes him and turns him into [[Mr. L]]. The 4 of them attacks Mario, Bowser, Peach and Luigi several times, though they all fail. Dimentio is shown to be more sinister and evil than Count Bleck and even plans to betray him (this betrayal is hinted at throughout the game).
[[File:SPM Dimentio Thief.png|thumb|left|Dimentio stealing the Chaos Heart from Count Bleck]]  
After Mario and his team obtained the final Pure Heart from [[the Overthere]], Bleck orders his minions to try and defeat them when they arrive at his castle. Dimentio later reveals to Bleck that Tippi mentioned the name "Blumiere", which confirms she is Timpani. Nastasia begins to urge Bleck to call off the void, but due to him being too far along in his plans to stop the Chaos Heart's destruction, he ignores her urges. However, Bleck secretly hopes that Mario and his team will be capable of defeating him and saving all worlds, feeling that he has come too far to back down.


===''Super Paper Mario===
When Mario and Tippi reached the inner sanctum of [[Castle Bleck]], Bleck and Tippi once again argue before he sends Nastasia away and engages Mario in a battle. Bleck is initially immune to all attacks due to the Chaos Heart, but Bowser, Peach, and Luigi grant the Pure Hearts the power to negate the barrier. After Bleck is defeated, he insists that Mario [[Game Over|end his game]] before the Void destroys all worlds, against Tippi's wishes.
[[Image:Wedding4.png|thumb|left|Count Bleck forces the marriage upon Peach and Bowser to create the Chaos Heart.]]
{{spoiler}}
Eventually, Count Bleck puts his plans into action and targets the [[Mushroom Kingdom]]. He attacks the kingdom, raids the castle, and abducts Princess Peach who is essential to his plans. He next attacks Bowser's Castle, where Bowser is having a confrontation with [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]], who think that Bowser is the one who kidnapped Peach. Count Bleck appears and opens up a humongous portal that sucks Bowser, his entire [[Koopa Troop|army]], and Luigi into it, leaving Mario out cold. Bleck forces Peach and Bowser to be married in a chapel of his own creation, in order to create a rift of negative energy from such a horrible event occurring. The negative energy cultivates itself into a vessel called the Chaos Heart. Bleck uses this newly formed heart to open an inter-dimensional rift known as [[the Void]], which eventually grows wide enough to consume the entire universe.


After the ceremony, Bleck has Bowser and a portion of his army locked up in his castle and orders Nastasia to put the rest of Bowser's army under mind control so that he can extend his army. In the meantime, Bleck sends his army and minions to different worlds and dimensions to cause havoc and chaos. One such minion is Mimi, who Bleck sends to occupy Merlee's mansion in order to secure the Pure Heart that is located there. Mimi did so, locking up the fortune teller's pets and chasing her down to the basements. Mimi takes complete control of the mansion and converts it into a base of operations for [[Count Bleck's Army]]. She then places a curse upon the building that causes all visitors to be locked within the mansion until they pay off their debts with Rubees. They are all forced into slave labor while Mimi collects their Rubees and locks them away in a safe at the top of the mansion.  
Though before Mario and his allies ended his game, Dimentio appears and attacks the count, but the blow is taken by Nastasia, who is seemingly {{wp|Mortal wound|mortally wounded}}. Dimentio then takes control of the Chaos Heart, and plans to use it to create a new world in his own image once the old worlds are gone. He banishes Bleck, Tippi, and Nastasia to [[Dimension D]], intending to deal with them later, and merges with Mr. L and the Chaos Heart to form a giant body called [[Super Dimentio]]. At Dimension D, Count Bleck is reunited with O'Chunks and Mimi, whose love for Bleck manages to restore the Pure Hearts to weaken Super Dimentio and allows Mario and his allies to defeat him. Before his death, Dimentio manages to leave behind a "shadow" of his power, which will ensure all worlds will end as revenge for his death. As he is aware of the urgency of the situation, Count Bleck returns everyone to the chapel where the Chaos Heart was born, and he and Tippi exchange vows and wed each other. The true love between them supercharges the Pure Hearts, uniting them into the [[Purity Heart]] that destroys the Chaos Heart and reverses the prophecy of destruction.


As Bleck continues with his plans, he lies to his henchmen by telling them that he will create a new world when the others are destroyed. In actuality, he is planning on leaving them all in ruin and killing himself since he has nothing left to live for even though he cares deeply about his minions. When the hero of prophecy, Mario, appears, Bleck sends his minions out to defeat him and gives some of them powers to help obliterate Mario. No matter what minion Bleck sends though, O'Chucnks, Mimi, and Dimentio, all meets with failure and defeat. Now seeing Mario more than just a mere annoyance, Bleck turns to the Dark Prognosticus and learns that a "man in green" shall serve as the perfect host for the Chaos Heart and is the determining factor in whether the prophecy of destruction is true or not.  
[[File:SPMendinghigh.PNG|thumb|The ending of ''Super Paper Mario'', depicting Blumiere and Timpani in human form standing in a meadow]]
Bleck claims that using his and Tippi's love to stop the Void would cause both of them to "cease to exist", but both Merlon and Nastasia believe that he is living happily together with Timpani. Because Bleck is now gone, his minions decide to create the perfect world that he promised them. In a post-credits scene, the count's silhouette is standing near that of a woman in a meadow, which is implied to be Timpani (the latter having regained her human form), implying they survived.


Luigi fits this description perfectly and Count Bleck wants to use him for his plans and purposes as a result. The caped villain then orders Nastasia to use her mind control abilities on Luigi who assumes a new persona under this control known as "[[Mr. L]]". Bleck hopes to use Luigi to ensure his success and sends him to destroy Mario and his companions. Mr. L fails as well though, but Bleck is not worried as long as the void continues to grow and the prophecy remained on schedule. Mario eventually arrives at [[Sammer's Kingdom]], which is only seconds away from destruction at the time. Here Bleck meets the heroes face to face and reveals that this is the first world to feel the full effects of the void. Tippi questions Bleck's motives for doing such a sick and evil thing, but Bleck merely scoffs at her and says that all worlds are meaningless. It is here that Bleck realizes that Tippi may be in fact Timpani, but leaves nonetheless as the world comes to a violent end.
===''Super Mario-kun''===
[[File:Super Mario Kun Volume 37 Count Bleck.png|thumb|left|Count Bleck's appearance in ''Super Mario-kun'']]
Count Bleck appears in volume 37 and volume 38 of ''[[Super Mario-kun]]'', during the story arc based on ''Super Paper Mario''. His role in ''Super Mario-kun'' mirrors his role in the game.


When Bleck returns to his castle, he feels remorse for the first time for what he is doing. Seeing Tippi makes him question his actions and makes him realize just how evil he has become. However, Count Bleck cannot close The Void for he is still in control of the Chaos Heart, which he believes will be destroyed only if its owner perishes. Since there is no way to stop the prophecy, Bleck ultimately concludes that his remorse is pointless and continues his plans. Much of those plans are faltering though as Mr. L joins the ranks of the heroes, after being attacked by Dimentio and released from his mind control as a result, and the heroes continue to destroy his forces.
===''Dr. Mario-kun''===
Count Bleck appears in Episode 57, Episode 58, and Episode 59 of the ''[[Dr. Mario-kun]]'' manga. In the final story arc of the manga, Count Bleck creates the Dimensional Virus, which messes with alternate realities.
{{br}}


As the heroes gather the seventh [[Pure Heart]], Count Bleck desperately makes another attempt to stop them. He releases [[Bonechill]] from the [[Underwhere]] along with his entire army so that they can do his bidding. Bleck consolidates a portion of the army with his own, who are instructed to stand guard at Castle Bleck, while the rest attacks the [[Overthere]] to obtain the last Pure Heart before the heroes did. This last attempt is in vain as the heroes defeat Bonechill and his army, restore the Overthere and Underwhere to peace and order, and obtain the last Pure Heart.
==General information==
===Personality and traits===
[[File:CountBleck.png|thumb|left|100px|Count Bleck's sprite in ''Super Paper Mario'']]
{{quote|BLECK! Your princess has been taken...by Count Bleck! By me...Count Bleck! The chosen executor of the Dark Prognosticus...is Count Bleck! The fine fellow prophesied to come to this dimension...is also Count Bleck!|Count Bleck|Super Paper Mario}}


Amazed that the heroes has come so far, Bleck makes preparations for their arrival. Before he can however, Dimentio tells Bleck that Tippi has uttered the name, "Blumiere". This fully proves to Bleck that Timpani, the woman he loved, is truly alive after all. Bleck feels extreme sadness and begins to regret his actions, but ultimately decides to go through with his plans, believing that he has gone too far to stop. He orders his entire army to take their posts around the castle, preparing himself for the final showdown. Little does Count Bleck know that Dimentio has been plotting against him for quite some time and made his own plans to overthrow Bleck and control the Chaos Heart to destroy and remake the universe.
Count Bleck is motivated in his destruction of worlds primarily by a sense of life and existence in general as cruel and meaningless in the wake of the loss of Timpani. He also holds a belief that it is impossible to avoid one's fate, with his own being outlined in the Dark Prognosticus as its executor and the destroyer of all worlds. As he is introduced, Count Bleck takes the persona of a remorseless villain who takes joy in destruction. However, as the story progresses, the context and motivations behind his actions are further explored, as are some of his more sympathetic traits.


[[Image: Dimentio thief.JPG|thumb|Right|Count Bleck's true image as a tragic figure is revealed just as Dimentio steals the Chaos Heart.]]
Prior to becoming Count Bleck, Blumiere was described as a kind person, cherishing life and the universe itself. He was likely influenced by the xenophobic attitudes of the Tribe of Darkness, initially disgusted at being saved from death by a human and failing to understand why Timpani would do so, but grew beyond this mindset as he spent more time with Timpani. In time, he fell in love with her, so deeply that he ceased to care about the expectations on him as a member of the Tribe of Darkness or the taboo on relationships outside of the tribe. He became eager to run away with Timpani to a place where their love would not be forbidden and they could marry, for which Timpani chided him as stubborn and foolish, though she agreed to do so.
The heroes make their way throughout the castle, with Bowser, Peach, and Luigi all gone missing after each one fights and wins a battle against one of Bleck's minions. When Mario and Tippi confront Count Bleck, the count attempts to destroy them using his magic. At this point, Bleck is actually hoping to lose so that Tippi can live on in a world that also lives. He cannot show this, however, as only his destruction can end the void, which can not be done if he doesn't fight. He is first shown to be invincible as the Chaos Heart protects him with a barrier, discouraging Mario. However, the power of the Chaos Heart is negated using the power of the Pure Hearts, allowing him to be defeated by the four reunited heroes and is left weak, frail, and hopeless. Wanting to die because of all his evil deeds and to stop the void, he asks Mario, Peach, Bowser, Luigi, and Tippi to finish him off.


Before anything else can happen though, Dimentio appears and attempts to finish Count Bleck off by blasting him with a magic beam, but Nastasia jumps in front of him and takes the blast instead, seemingly dying in the process. Even though Count Bleck is still alive, Dimentio still takes control of the Chaos Heart and reveals his plans to use the Void and the Chaos Heart to create an entirely new universe in his image. Dimentio then imprisons Tippi, Count Bleck, and Nastasia in [[Dimension D]], brainwashes Luigi into becoming [[Mr. L]] once again and then fuses himself, the Chaos Heart, and Luigi into [[Super Dimentio]]. Tippi and Count Bleck reestablishes their love, and with the help of O'Chunks and Mimi, the Pure Hearts are restored and Dimentio is defeated. In order to banish the Chaos Heart and close The Void, Count Bleck and Tippi demonstrates the true love they possess and marry.
When Blumiere's father cursed Timpani to wander dimensions until death, Blumiere searched through many worlds to find her. When he could not find her, he returned home and sought the Dark Prognosticus. Upon opening and reading the book, Blumiere undergoes a stark change in identity and personality, proclaiming himself Count Bleck, committing himself to the completion of its prophecies, and destroying the Tribe of Darkness. Unable to see meaning in a life and a world in which Timpani no longer existed, and guided by the word of the Dark Prognosticus, Count Bleck set out to destroy all worlds, renouncing his value of love and resigning himself to his role in the prophecy of destruction.


[[Image:SPMendinghigh.PNG|thumb|left|The silhouettes of Blumiere and Timpani.]]
Although he insists that Blumiere was dead and only Bleck remained, Count Bleck demonstrates much of the same warmth and kindness he once possessed, even as he is poised to end all worlds. Chiefly, he shows a deep respect and care for his minions, and they show the same for him. His minions happily accept their missions to stop Mario and his allies, and in the prologue, Mimi states that being with the Count is her idea of a perfect world. Count Bleck replies that he will make his minions' dreams come true. Though this appears to be false, and his intention had in fact been to leave all worlds in ruin, his minions believe after his disappearance that he truly did wish in his heart for a better world. He also allows his minions to leave his side at any time, even with his blessing, as shown with Nastasia in the post-Chapter 3 intermission.  
What exactly happens to Lord Blumiere and Lady Timpani afterward is a mystery, although it is said that they are both alive and happy somewhere unknown. Indeed, the very final scene of ''Super Paper Mario'' (appearing even [[Wikipedia: Post-credits scene|after the staff credits]]) depicts two figures standing on a green hill in the midst of a bright meadow.  


It is heavily implied that these two figures (who appear to be a man and a woman) are Lord Blumiere and Lady Timpani living out their lives in the unknown place. In a manner similar to how Tippi becomes [[human]] when she reverts to Lady Timpani, the Lord Blumiere form of Count Bleck seen in this picture also appears to be slightly different. Blumiere looks almost identical to Count Bleck except that he is taller and his hat is noticeably larger.
Carson's stories show that his minions serve him wholly of their own volition. Nastasia and O' Chunks in particular serve him because he had saved their lives in the past. Notably, in the Japanese script, O' Chunks is described as having forced Count Bleck to make him one of his minions,<ref>{{cite|url=https://youtu.be/EqtiX1ll6q8?t=123|title=Super Paper Mario: All Carson's Stories (Retranslated)|author=SomeUselessTranslations|date=March 7, 2023|accessdate=August 11, 2024|timestamp=2:03}}</ref> with the English version instead claiming that Count Bleck manipulated him into joining. Despite claiming to view life as worthless, Count Bleck retains a compassion for those who are suffering that leads him to save the lives of others with no clear expectation of benefit or reward. He never appears truly upset with his minions when they fail him, and leaves what disciplining they do face to Nastasia, whose punishments are essentially harmless. He is horrified when Nastasia takes a blast from Dimentio meant for him, and is moved when his minions' show of love for him aids in restoring the Pure Hearts.  
<br clear=all>
{{endspoiler}}


==Personality==
Count Bleck consistently refers to himself in third person, except when alone and after being defeated. This habit may be meant to evoke the narration of a story, much like how he follows the guidance of the Dark Prognosticus (though it is unlikely he is quoting it directly).
[[Image:CountBleck2_SPM.jpg|thumb|'''Count Bleck''' himself, with his cape remaining closed.]]
Count Bleck is a more unique figure among Mario's rogues gallery, as he is the only villain so far who is motivated by sadness and regret, and not by a lust for power or control. He is a tragic villain, whose actions are born from the purest of emotions: love. Regardless, Bleck has demonstrated a lust for destruction and disregard for all life, except those close to him. He, at first, seems to be a stereotypical villain with no feelings, but it is soon revealed that Bleck is an emotionally tortured person, who is not as evil as he first appears.


Prior to his meeting with [[Tippi|Timpani]], Bleck was known to be extremely kind and cherished all life and the universe itself. When he met Timpani, he fell in love, and was shown to be an extremely caring and devoted man to the woman he loves. This came to a tragic end, however, when his father sent Timpani away on an endless walk through other dimensions to die. The loss of Timpani made Bleck vengeful towards the world. Bleck wanted to destroy the universe, because he thought that life was meaningless without Timpani.
===Appearance===
Count Bleck wears a white top hat and coat, and is usually shrouded in a cape with a gradient of white at its top fading to blue at the bottom. The inside of the cape is dark blue and starry, and when he opens his cape during the cutscene in Bowser's Castle, a unique design is shown. This design is from ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'', and depicts the pattern used atop the pedestal in the room with [[The Thousand-Year Door]] when Mario presents a [[Crystal Star]]. He also wears a large red brooch, white gloves, and wields a brown scepter topped with a blue jewel. On his left eye is a monocle, and his eyes and mouth are both red and glowing. However, both his eyes and mouth become light blue when he is defeated, and remains like that until the [[Pure Heart]]s are restored.


This turned Bleck into an evil and sadistic villain, who sought the destruction of all worlds. Bleck showed how evil he had become immediately after his transformation into a villain by murdering his own father, in an act of revenge, and wiping out his own dimension. Bleck sought to kill all that is, was, and would be, and had an overwhelming amount of hatred at all worlds, as he saw them as the things that took his love from him. Even though Count Bleck was evil, he was still capable of doing kind acts, such as freeing a bat from a trap, who went on to become [[Nastasia]], his closest minion. Bleck was also shown to be very polite and not openly sadistic, but still harbored much hatred and anger.
===Powers and abilities===
[[File:SPM Bleck Battle.png|thumb|Left|Mario fighting Count Bleck]]
In addition to being able to use the Dark Prognosticus, Count Bleck has many other magical powers granted by the Chaos Heart that can aid him. He can freely float without any hindrance to gravity, which is particularly important due to his lack of visible legs. He has the ability to teleport at will by "flipping", along with the Dark Prognosticus which always teleports at his side. He can also use the Chaos Heart's power to shield him from any harm.  


Bleck also cared very deeply about his minions (with the possible exception of [[Dimentio]], who had a more sinister agenda of his own). Bleck treated [[O'Chunks]], [[Mimi]], and Nastasia as if they were family and felt very close with all of them. He was very forgiving towards them and never punished them with any type of physical or mental torture or abuse. However, in the event such a thing was needed, the form of punishment was writing papers or singing songs, which Bleck didn't even issue. Nastasia, instead, issued those forms of punishment. The Count was also shown to be very upbeat (despite his tragic origin), and was always smiling (though that may have only been a cover to mask his true feelings). Bleck also seemed to be very likable, as all his henchmen had a strong bond with him with (the only exception, again, being Dimentio).  
In combat, Count Bleck uses his scepter to conjure globs of dark magic and hurls them at his foes. These globs cannot be blocked by anything, including Peach's parasol and [[Barry]]. The only way to avoid them is to use [[Slim (Pixl)|Slim]], who causes the player to become invisible and intangible. He can also summon a huge vortex of dark energy that sucks up his enemies. Count Bleck can temporarily slow the flow of time as well, similar to the [[Slow]] status effect. Finally, he can speed himself up similar to the effect gained when using a [[Speed Flower]] and ram into his opponent, which damages them. His shadow blast attack does 3 damage, his Void attack does 8 damage and the player takes 2 damage when walking into the Count. Although he is incapable of flipping in 3D, his globs are in 3D and can still damage Mario even if he is in the third dimension.


The story started with Bleck wanting nothing more than the destruction of the entire universe, but gradually showed him to be more humane and remorseful of what he's become. By the end of the story, Bleck was shown to be a very caring and loving person, who only did his evil deeds out of his love for Tippi by avenging her (apparent) death. In the end, it was Timpani who made him realize the error of his ways, and they both saved the universe together. His love for Tippi is what made him evil, but it is also what redeemed him. In the end, Bleck is not only a tragic villain, but a tragic hero, who sacrificed his life to stop what he had started.
Beyond his magical talents, Count Bleck demonstrates a high intelligence, a compelling physical and conversational presence and a quality of character that can earn loyalty from his followers and friends. Bleck is charismatic and can sway individuals into his service, as seen with Bowser at the beginning of the game, while his assistant Nastasia's mind control powers can help him cover all other cases.


==Powers and Abilities==
==Profiles and statistics==
In addition to being able to use the Dark Prognosticus, Count Bleck has many other magical powers granted by the Chaos Heart that aids him in and out of combat. His most obvious and frequently used power is his ability to freely float without any hindrance to gravity. This power is particularly important due to his lack of visible legs. He also often shows his ability to teleport at will by "flipping", along with the Dark Prognosticus which always teleports at his side. Also, he can use the Chaos Heart's power to shield him from any harm.
===''Super Paper Mario''===
{{:Super Paper Mario bestiary|transcludesection=Count Bleck|align=horizontal}}
===''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''===
{{SSBB sticker
|name=Count Bleck
|image=[[File:Count_Bleck_Sticker.png]]
|game=''Super Paper Mario''
|effect=[Flame] - Resistance +5
}}


In combat, Count Bleck uses his scepter to conjure globs of dark energy and hurl them at Mario and other foes. These globs are unique amongst projectile attacks in that nothing can block them; not even Peach's parasol or [[Barry]]. He can also summon a huge vortex of dark energy that sucks up his enemies, however, this skill is simply thwarted by running away from it. Bleck can temporarily slow the flow of time as well, throwing his enemies off. Finally, he can speed himself in a way similar to using a speed flower of red energy and simply ram into his opponent, damaging them, although this can leave him vulnerable to Barry's spiky barrier, which, if activated quickly, will damage him and protect the player.
===''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U''===
 
{{SSB4 trophy
Count Bleck is also shown to be quite clever and intelligent. He also is very charismatic, as his followers are loyal to the end, and he is capable of easily persuading others to join his cause (and having both of his female minions develop crushes on him, a very slight one in Mimi's case). However, it's much more effective for him to rely on Nastasia's mind controlling powers to gather more minions.
|name=Count Bleck
|image=[[File:Count Bleck Trophy - Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.png|100px]]
|category=Series Related
|appears_in='''Wii''' ''Super Paper Mario'' (04/2007)
|trophy_box=13: Paper Mario
|unlock=Random
|desc=Peach has been kidnapped by Bowser so many times, it seemed like a good idea to mix things up—instead she gets kidnapped by this guy, Count Bleck! He then obtains the Chaos Heart by forcing Peach and Bowser to marry. All of this was predicted by the Dark Prognosticus, which Count Bleck carries with him.
|desc2=It's always nice to have a fresh face on the Peach-kidnapping scene, and that's where Count Bleck comes in. In order to obtain the Chaos Heart, he actually tries to marry Peach to Bowser! Apparently, the path to dimensional destruction is all foretold in the Dark Prognosticus – he's just following the instructions.
}}


==[[Catch Card]]==
==Quotes==
[[Image:188. Count Bleck Card.JPG|frame|County Bleck's Catch Card]]
{{main|List of Super Paper Mario quotes by character (A–J)#Count Bleck}}
'''Card Type:''' Rare
*"''BLEH HEH HEH HEH! BLECK!''"
*"''[[Princess Peach|Your princess]] has been taken... by Count Bleck!''"
*"''By me... Count Bleck! The chosen executer of the Dark Prognosticus... is Count Bleck! The fine fellow prophesied to come to this dimension... is also Count Bleck!''"
*"''Of all things, you defend the heart?! Nothing could be more worthless...''"
*"''Aside from Timpani, no treasure mattered in the least to me...''"
*"''But you are far too late to stop the Dark Prognosticus, and me... Count Bleck! All worlds will soon end. Come into grips for that now, for you cannot stop it. I suggest you make yourselves comfortable and enjoy this one, final spectacle!''"
*"''Count Bleck is the deleter of worlds! My fate is written in the Dark Prognosticus!''"
*"''ALL NOW ENDS!''"


'''Card Description:''' Max HP: 150, Attack: 8. This top-hatted villain is bent on ending the world! Fun fact: he was once known as Count Blumiere.
==Gallery==
<gallery>
SPM Count Bleck Catch Card.png|[[Catch Card]]
Bleck's TTYD pedestal.gif|Count Bleck's pedestal
Bleck SPM art.jpg|Artwork of Count Bleck with his cape open
Count Bleck Cape Open sprite.png|Sprite of Count Bleck with his cape open
BlumiereTimpaniSMK.jpg|Lady Timpani and Lord Blumiere's silhouettes from ''[[Super Mario-kun]]''
</gallery>


==Names in Other Languages==
==Names in other languages==
===Count Bleck===
===Count Bleck===
{{Foreignname
{{foreign names
|Jap=ノワール伯爵
|Jap=ノワール{{hover|伯爵|はくしゃく}}
|JapR=Nowāru-Hakushaku
|JapR=Nowāru-Hakushaku
|JapM=Count Noir ("noir" is French for "black")
|JapM=Count Noir ("noir" is French for "black")
|Fra=Comte Niark
|SpaA=Conde Bleck
|FraM="Comte" means "Count", "Niark" is a evil laugh.
|SpaAM=Count Bleck
|SpaE=Conde Cenizo
|SpaEM="Conde" (count) + "cenizo" (ashen). "Cenizo" can also mean "jinx" or "killjoy"
|Fre=Comte Niark
|FreM="Comte" (count) + "niark" (onomatopoeia of an evil laughter)
|Ger=Graf Knickwitz
|Ger=Graf Knickwitz
|GerM="Knick" means "Kink" (in paper), "witz" is a suffix and means "joke"; "Graf" means "count"
|GerM="Graf" (count) + "knick" (kink) + "-witz" (a German name ending and also meaning "joke")
|Spa=Conde Cenizo
|SpaM="Cenizo" means "Ashen"; "Conde" means "Count"
|Ita=Conte Cenere
|Ita=Conte Cenere
|ItaM="Cenere" means "Ash" or "Ashen"; "Conte" means "Count"}}
|ItaM="Conte" (count) + "cenere" (ashen)
|Rus=Граф Блэк
|RusR=Graf Blek
|RusM="Граф" (count) + "Блэк" (a transcription of "Bleck")
|Kor=느와르 백작
|KorR=Neuwareu Baekjak
|KorM=From the Japanese name
}}


===Lord Blumiere===
===Lord Blumiere===
{{Foreignname
{{foreign names
|Jap=ルミエール
|Jap=ルミエール
|JapR=Rumiēru
|JapR=Rumiēru
|JapM=Lumière (French for "light")
|JapM=From "lumière" (a French word meaning "light"); may also be a pun on「スペール」(''Supēru'', [[Shaman]]) like other Ancient-descended characters
|Spa=Sir Blumière
|Spa=Lord Blumière
|SpaM=Sir Blumiere
|SpaM=French modification of "blanco" (means white) with his Japanese name, Lumière.
|Ger=Fürst Blumiere
|Ger=Fürst Blumiere
|GerM="Fürst" means "Prince" or "Ruler"
|GerM="Fürst" means "prince" or "ruler"
|Fra=Seigneur Nikolaï
|Ita=Lord Blumiere
|FraM=Lord Nikolaï}}
|Ita2=Conte Blumiere
|Ita2N=Capture Card only
|Ita2M=Count Blumiere
|Fre=Seigneur Nikolaï
|FreM=Lord Nikolaï
|Rus=Лорд Бльюмьер
|RusR=Lord Bl'yum'er
|RusM="Бльюмьер" is a transcription of "Blumiere" and "лорд" means "lord"
|Kor=르미에르
|KorR=Reumiereu
|KorM=From French word "lumière" (which is, if read in Korean, pronounced as 뤼미에르, ''Rwimiereu''), meaning "light"
}}


==Trivia==
==References==
*The texture used for the shadowy inside of his cape is the exact same texture used for the background in [[Outer Space]].
<references/>
*While "Bleck" is normally used as an onomatopoeia for disgust, it could be interpreted as a corruption of the word "Black" (as in darkness).
*Count Bleck appears as a [[sticker]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''. He is also mentioned in ''Paper Mario''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s trophy.
*Interestingly, Count Bleck uses a shield supposed to be created by the Chaos Heart, but he also uses this shield before the creation of the Chaos Heart.
*Count Bleck's monocle turns blue and his cape and hat become tattered after being defeated by [[Mario]] and his partners. They return to normal after the [[Pure Heart]]s were revived again to weaken [[Super Dimentio]] during the final battle. It is also interesting to note that once Count Bleck is defeated by Mario, Luigi, Peach and Bowser his mouth color changes from orange to blue.
*When Count Bleck transports everybody away at [[Bowser's Castle]], the same blue pattern used on [[The Thousand-Year Door]] pedestal when [[Mario]] holds a [[Crystal Star]] can be slightly seen inside his cape.
<br clear=all>
{{SPM}}
{{SPM}}
[[Category:Bosses]]
[[Category:Magicians]]
[[Category:Married]]
[[Category:Married characters]]
[[Category:Royalty]]
[[Category:Royalty]]
[[Category:Villains]]
[[Category:Super Paper Mario bosses]]
[[Category:One time villains]]
[[Category:Super Paper Mario trading cards]]
[[Category:Magicians]]
[[Category:Super Mario-kun characters]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. Brawl stickers]]
[[Category:RPG Bosses]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. for Wii U trophies]]
[[Category:RPG Characters]]
[[de:Graf Knickwitz]]
[[Category:Count Bleck's Army]]
[[it:Conte Cenere]]
[[Category:Super Paper Mario Characters]]
[[Category:Paper Mario Series Characters]]
[[Category:Paper Mario Series Bosses]]
[[Category:Super Paper Mario]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. Stickers]]
[[Category:Super Paper Mario Bosses]]
[[Category:Heroes]]
[[Category:Characters who break the Fourth Wall]]

Latest revision as of 07:06, December 24, 2024

Count Bleck
Concept artwork of Count Bleck with his cape remaining closed, from Super Paper Mario
Artwork from Super Paper Mario
Full name Lord Blumiere
First appearance Super Paper Mario (2007)
Latest appearance Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (trophy cameo) (2014)
“Bleh heh heh heh heh heh... The man known as Blumiere died long ago. Now there is only Bleck! The Dark Prognosticus's choice to fulfill the prophecy. Nothing more!”
—Count Bleck, Super Paper Mario

Count Bleck, also known by his real name, Lord Blumiere, is an evil count and the central antagonist of Super Paper Mario. During the game, he summons the Chaos Heart by arranging a forced marriage between Princess Peach and Bowser for the main purpose of opening The Void, which has the power to destroy all dimensions. He also leads a troop of minions, with its primary members being Nastasia, O'Chunks, Mimi, Mr. L, and Dimentio.

His name, "Bleck", is normally used as onomatopoeia for disgust, but can also be interpreted as a corruption of "Black", referring to darkness (his Japanese name is a play on the French word for "black", noir.) His real name is likely a portmanteau of blue, referring to his color, and lumière, the French term for light and a reference to his status as a member of the Tribe of Darkness.

History[edit]

Background[edit]

Prior to the events of the game, Count Bleck went by the name Blumiere and was a member of the Tribe of Darkness, a group that broke off from the Tribe of Ancients after stealing the Dark Prognosticus in a misguided attempt to prevent its powers from being abused. One day, Blumiere was found injured at the base of a cliff by a human girl known as Timpani and was nursed back to health by her. Despite his father's warnings to stay away from humans, Blumiere became captured by her kindness, and he frequently snuck out of his castle to meet with her, and they eventually fell in love.

He later learned that his father threatened Timpani. Blumiere learned that they could not be in love here, so he proposed to her. Though before they could be married, his father abducted and banished Timpani from their dimension, wiped her memory, and cursed her to wander through worlds until the day she died. Upon learning of Timpani's disappearance, Blumiere traveled through dimensions to search for her, unaware that she had been found barely alive by Merlon, and was turned into a Pixl known as Tippi in order to save her. It is implied by one of Carson's stories that he met Nastasia at some point during his search.

Blumiere eventually returned home after thinking that Timpani was gone forever. He believed that life and existence are meaningless without her, so he stole the Dark Prognosticus and used its power to destroy his dimension, and he decided to do the same to every world. Blumiere took the alias of Count Bleck, and along with his new assistant Nastasia, he moved to a new castle in a world of darkness and is eventually joined by Mimi, O'Chunks, and Dimentio. He also intends to create a new perfect world once the original is destroyed, but Dimentio claimed that he never actually intended to keep his promise.

Super Paper Mario[edit]

Count Bleck forcing Princess Peach to marry Bowser to create the Chaos Heart

Count Bleck eventually decides to target the Mushroom Kingdom. He learned from the prophecy that the wedding of a princess and a monster will call forth the Chaos Heart. Due to this, he abducts Princess Peach, Bowser, Luigi, and the entire Koopa Troop, and forcibly weds the former two, forming the Chaos Heart. Count Bleck then uses the Chaos Heart to rip open the Void. Due to a disturbance during the wedding ceremony, Luigi, Bowser, the Koopa Troop, and Peach are scattered across the castle. To confront this problem, Bleck sends Nastasia to brainwash members of the Koopa Troop into joining him. He also sends his other minions to various dimensions in an attempt to prevent Mario from collecting the Pure Hearts.

Something in the Dark Prognosticus about Luigi taking on Mr. L; his alter-ego.
The foretold events about Mr. L

After his minions are defeated and Mario reunites with Peach and Bowser, Count Bleck stops treating Mario as a "mere annoyance". Bleck turns to the Dark Prognosticus and learns that a "man in green" is the main factor of determining whether the prophecy of destruction will pass. He orders Nastasia to brainwash Luigi into Mr. L and attempts to stop Mario with him. However, Mr. L is defeated like his other minions. Bleck becomes angered after his attempts to stop Mario failed, and he confronts them in person in Sammer's Kingdom. He argues with Tippi over his motives and the value of all worlds, and begins to suspect that Tippi may be Timpani.

Dimentio stealing the Chaos Heart from Count Bleck

After Mario and his team obtained the final Pure Heart from the Overthere, Bleck orders his minions to try and defeat them when they arrive at his castle. Dimentio later reveals to Bleck that Tippi mentioned the name "Blumiere", which confirms she is Timpani. Nastasia begins to urge Bleck to call off the void, but due to him being too far along in his plans to stop the Chaos Heart's destruction, he ignores her urges. However, Bleck secretly hopes that Mario and his team will be capable of defeating him and saving all worlds, feeling that he has come too far to back down.

When Mario and Tippi reached the inner sanctum of Castle Bleck, Bleck and Tippi once again argue before he sends Nastasia away and engages Mario in a battle. Bleck is initially immune to all attacks due to the Chaos Heart, but Bowser, Peach, and Luigi grant the Pure Hearts the power to negate the barrier. After Bleck is defeated, he insists that Mario end his game before the Void destroys all worlds, against Tippi's wishes.

Though before Mario and his allies ended his game, Dimentio appears and attacks the count, but the blow is taken by Nastasia, who is seemingly mortally wounded. Dimentio then takes control of the Chaos Heart, and plans to use it to create a new world in his own image once the old worlds are gone. He banishes Bleck, Tippi, and Nastasia to Dimension D, intending to deal with them later, and merges with Mr. L and the Chaos Heart to form a giant body called Super Dimentio. At Dimension D, Count Bleck is reunited with O'Chunks and Mimi, whose love for Bleck manages to restore the Pure Hearts to weaken Super Dimentio and allows Mario and his allies to defeat him. Before his death, Dimentio manages to leave behind a "shadow" of his power, which will ensure all worlds will end as revenge for his death. As he is aware of the urgency of the situation, Count Bleck returns everyone to the chapel where the Chaos Heart was born, and he and Tippi exchange vows and wed each other. The true love between them supercharges the Pure Hearts, uniting them into the Purity Heart that destroys the Chaos Heart and reverses the prophecy of destruction.

The ending of Super Paper Mario, depicting Blumiere and Timpani in human form standing in a meadow

Bleck claims that using his and Tippi's love to stop the Void would cause both of them to "cease to exist", but both Merlon and Nastasia believe that he is living happily together with Timpani. Because Bleck is now gone, his minions decide to create the perfect world that he promised them. In a post-credits scene, the count's silhouette is standing near that of a woman in a meadow, which is implied to be Timpani (the latter having regained her human form), implying they survived.

Super Mario-kun[edit]

Count Bleck's appearance in the Super Paper Mario arc from volume 37 of the Super Mario-kun
Count Bleck's appearance in Super Mario-kun

Count Bleck appears in volume 37 and volume 38 of Super Mario-kun, during the story arc based on Super Paper Mario. His role in Super Mario-kun mirrors his role in the game.

Dr. Mario-kun[edit]

Count Bleck appears in Episode 57, Episode 58, and Episode 59 of the Dr. Mario-kun manga. In the final story arc of the manga, Count Bleck creates the Dimensional Virus, which messes with alternate realities.

General information[edit]

Personality and traits[edit]

Sprite of Count Bleck found in Super Paper Mario.
Count Bleck's sprite in Super Paper Mario
“BLECK! Your princess has been taken...by Count Bleck! By me...Count Bleck! The chosen executor of the Dark Prognosticus...is Count Bleck! The fine fellow prophesied to come to this dimension...is also Count Bleck!”
—Count Bleck, Super Paper Mario

Count Bleck is motivated in his destruction of worlds primarily by a sense of life and existence in general as cruel and meaningless in the wake of the loss of Timpani. He also holds a belief that it is impossible to avoid one's fate, with his own being outlined in the Dark Prognosticus as its executor and the destroyer of all worlds. As he is introduced, Count Bleck takes the persona of a remorseless villain who takes joy in destruction. However, as the story progresses, the context and motivations behind his actions are further explored, as are some of his more sympathetic traits.

Prior to becoming Count Bleck, Blumiere was described as a kind person, cherishing life and the universe itself. He was likely influenced by the xenophobic attitudes of the Tribe of Darkness, initially disgusted at being saved from death by a human and failing to understand why Timpani would do so, but grew beyond this mindset as he spent more time with Timpani. In time, he fell in love with her, so deeply that he ceased to care about the expectations on him as a member of the Tribe of Darkness or the taboo on relationships outside of the tribe. He became eager to run away with Timpani to a place where their love would not be forbidden and they could marry, for which Timpani chided him as stubborn and foolish, though she agreed to do so.

When Blumiere's father cursed Timpani to wander dimensions until death, Blumiere searched through many worlds to find her. When he could not find her, he returned home and sought the Dark Prognosticus. Upon opening and reading the book, Blumiere undergoes a stark change in identity and personality, proclaiming himself Count Bleck, committing himself to the completion of its prophecies, and destroying the Tribe of Darkness. Unable to see meaning in a life and a world in which Timpani no longer existed, and guided by the word of the Dark Prognosticus, Count Bleck set out to destroy all worlds, renouncing his value of love and resigning himself to his role in the prophecy of destruction.

Although he insists that Blumiere was dead and only Bleck remained, Count Bleck demonstrates much of the same warmth and kindness he once possessed, even as he is poised to end all worlds. Chiefly, he shows a deep respect and care for his minions, and they show the same for him. His minions happily accept their missions to stop Mario and his allies, and in the prologue, Mimi states that being with the Count is her idea of a perfect world. Count Bleck replies that he will make his minions' dreams come true. Though this appears to be false, and his intention had in fact been to leave all worlds in ruin, his minions believe after his disappearance that he truly did wish in his heart for a better world. He also allows his minions to leave his side at any time, even with his blessing, as shown with Nastasia in the post-Chapter 3 intermission.

Carson's stories show that his minions serve him wholly of their own volition. Nastasia and O' Chunks in particular serve him because he had saved their lives in the past. Notably, in the Japanese script, O' Chunks is described as having forced Count Bleck to make him one of his minions,[1] with the English version instead claiming that Count Bleck manipulated him into joining. Despite claiming to view life as worthless, Count Bleck retains a compassion for those who are suffering that leads him to save the lives of others with no clear expectation of benefit or reward. He never appears truly upset with his minions when they fail him, and leaves what disciplining they do face to Nastasia, whose punishments are essentially harmless. He is horrified when Nastasia takes a blast from Dimentio meant for him, and is moved when his minions' show of love for him aids in restoring the Pure Hearts.

Count Bleck consistently refers to himself in third person, except when alone and after being defeated. This habit may be meant to evoke the narration of a story, much like how he follows the guidance of the Dark Prognosticus (though it is unlikely he is quoting it directly).

Appearance[edit]

Count Bleck wears a white top hat and coat, and is usually shrouded in a cape with a gradient of white at its top fading to blue at the bottom. The inside of the cape is dark blue and starry, and when he opens his cape during the cutscene in Bowser's Castle, a unique design is shown. This design is from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, and depicts the pattern used atop the pedestal in the room with The Thousand-Year Door when Mario presents a Crystal Star. He also wears a large red brooch, white gloves, and wields a brown scepter topped with a blue jewel. On his left eye is a monocle, and his eyes and mouth are both red and glowing. However, both his eyes and mouth become light blue when he is defeated, and remains like that until the Pure Hearts are restored.

Powers and abilities[edit]

Count Bleck fighting Mario.
Mario fighting Count Bleck

In addition to being able to use the Dark Prognosticus, Count Bleck has many other magical powers granted by the Chaos Heart that can aid him. He can freely float without any hindrance to gravity, which is particularly important due to his lack of visible legs. He has the ability to teleport at will by "flipping", along with the Dark Prognosticus which always teleports at his side. He can also use the Chaos Heart's power to shield him from any harm.

In combat, Count Bleck uses his scepter to conjure globs of dark magic and hurls them at his foes. These globs cannot be blocked by anything, including Peach's parasol and Barry. The only way to avoid them is to use Slim, who causes the player to become invisible and intangible. He can also summon a huge vortex of dark energy that sucks up his enemies. Count Bleck can temporarily slow the flow of time as well, similar to the Slow status effect. Finally, he can speed himself up similar to the effect gained when using a Speed Flower and ram into his opponent, which damages them. His shadow blast attack does 3 damage, his Void attack does 8 damage and the player takes 2 damage when walking into the Count. Although he is incapable of flipping in 3D, his globs are in 3D and can still damage Mario even if he is in the third dimension.

Beyond his magical talents, Count Bleck demonstrates a high intelligence, a compelling physical and conversational presence and a quality of character that can earn loyalty from his followers and friends. Bleck is charismatic and can sway individuals into his service, as seen with Bowser at the beginning of the game, while his assistant Nastasia's mind control powers can help him cover all other cases.

Profiles and statistics[edit]

Super Paper Mario[edit]

Super Paper Mario enemy
Count Bleck
Count Bleck Max HP 150 Role Boss Location(s) Castle Bleck Inner Sanctum (8-4)
Attack 8 Card type Rare
Defense 0 Items Card location(s) Card Shop; Map 48
Score 8000
Card description This top-hatted villain is bent on ending the world! Fun fact: he was once known as Count Blumiere.
  List of Catch Cards  
  187      188      189   		Tattle That's Count Bleck... This dark figure wants to destroy the universe. He was once Blumiere, a man that I loved... Max HP is 150, Attack is 8. He will use all the powers the Chaos Heart grants him. But you can beat him if you give it your all... And beat him you must... For the sake of all worlds... And to save the Blumiere I loved...

Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]

Sticker
Count Bleck
Count Bleck Sticker
Artwork from: Super Paper Mario
Effects in The Subspace Emissary: [Flame] - Resistance +5
Usable by: Anyone

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[edit]

Trophy
Count Bleck
Count Bleck trophy from Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Category: Series Related
(Applies only to the Wii U version) Appears in:
Wii Super Paper Mario (04/2007)
(Applies only to the Wii U version) Trophy Box: 13: Paper Mario
How to unlock:
Random
Peach has been kidnapped by Bowser so many times, it seemed like a good idea to mix things up—instead she gets kidnapped by this guy, Count Bleck! He then obtains the Chaos Heart by forcing Peach and Bowser to marry. All of this was predicted by the Dark Prognosticus, which Count Bleck carries with him. (American English)
It's always nice to have a fresh face on the Peach-kidnapping scene, and that's where Count Bleck comes in. In order to obtain the Chaos Heart, he actually tries to marry Peach to Bowser! Apparently, the path to dimensional destruction is all foretold in the Dark Prognosticus – he's just following the instructions. (British English)

Quotes[edit]

Main article: List of Super Paper Mario quotes by character (A–J) § Count Bleck
  • "BLEH HEH HEH HEH! BLECK!"
  • "Your princess has been taken... by Count Bleck!"
  • "By me... Count Bleck! The chosen executer of the Dark Prognosticus... is Count Bleck! The fine fellow prophesied to come to this dimension... is also Count Bleck!"
  • "Of all things, you defend the heart?! Nothing could be more worthless..."
  • "Aside from Timpani, no treasure mattered in the least to me..."
  • "But you are far too late to stop the Dark Prognosticus, and me... Count Bleck! All worlds will soon end. Come into grips for that now, for you cannot stop it. I suggest you make yourselves comfortable and enjoy this one, final spectacle!"
  • "Count Bleck is the deleter of worlds! My fate is written in the Dark Prognosticus!"
  • "ALL NOW ENDS!"

Gallery[edit]

  • Count Bleck's pedestal

    Count Bleck's pedestal

  • Artwork of Count Bleck with his cape open

    Artwork of Count Bleck with his cape open

  • Sprite of Count Bleck with his cape open

    Sprite of Count Bleck with his cape open

  • Lady Timpani and Lord Blumiere's silhouettes from Super Mario-kun

    Lady Timpani and Lord Blumiere's silhouettes from Super Mario-kun

Names in other languages[edit]

Count Bleck[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese ノワール伯爵[?]
Nowāru-Hakushaku 		Count Noir ("noir" is French for "black")
French Comte Niark[?] "Comte" (count) + "niark" (onomatopoeia of an evil laughter)
German Graf Knickwitz[?] "Graf" (count) + "knick" (kink) + "-witz" (a German name ending and also meaning "joke")
Italian Conte Cenere[?] "Conte" (count) + "cenere" (ashen)
Korean 느와르 백작[?]
Neuwareu Baekjak 		From the Japanese name
Russian Граф Блэк[?]
Graf Blek 		"Граф" (count) + "Блэк" (a transcription of "Bleck")
Spanish (NOA) Conde Bleck[?] Count Bleck
Spanish (NOE) Conde Cenizo[?] "Conde" (count) + "cenizo" (ashen). "Cenizo" can also mean "jinx" or "killjoy"

Lord Blumiere[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese ルミエール[?]
Rumiēru 		From "lumière" (a French word meaning "light"); may also be a pun on「スペール」(Supēru, Shaman) like other Ancient-descended characters
French Seigneur Nikolaï[?] Lord Nikolaï
German Fürst Blumiere[?] "Fürst" means "prince" or "ruler"
Italian Lord Blumiere[?] -
Conte Blumiere[?] Count Blumiere Capture Card only
Korean 르미에르[?]
Reumiereu 		From French word "lumière" (which is, if read in Korean, pronounced as 뤼미에르, Rwimiereu), meaning "light"
Russian Лорд Бльюмьер[?]
Lord Bl'yum'er 		"Бльюмьер" is a transcription of "Blumiere" and "лорд" means "lord"
Spanish Lord Blumière[?] French modification of "blanco" (means white) with his Japanese name, Lumière.

References[edit]

  1. ^ SomeUselessTranslations (March 7, 2023). Super Paper Mario: All Carson's Stories (Retranslated) (2:03). Retrieved August 11, 2024.
[Edit]
Super Paper Mario
Main characters Mario • Luigi • Peach • Bowser • Pixls (Tippi · Tiptron · Thoreau · Boomer · Slim · Thudley · Carrie · Fleep · Cudge · Dottie · Barry · Dashell · Piccolo)
Minor characters Ackpow • Babs • Bestovius • Betsy • Bizzy • Blappy • Blarfle • Bleu • Blollop • Blubi • Blumiere's father • Boodin • Bozzo • Buffy • Cade • Cap • Captain Gills • Carson • Chap (blue) • Chap (green) • Charold • Chaz • Cherie • Chert • Chet • Chip • Conn • Cott • Cragnon • Cyrrus • Ditto • D-Man • Dorguy the First • Dorguy the Second • Dorguy the Third • Dupp • Dyllis • Ellie • Fallbi • Flamm • Flimm • Flint Cragley • Flora Kingdom royalty • Fret • Fribi • Gabbro • Garamond • Garson • Gary • Gertrude • Gladys • Gnaw • Goomba • Grambi • Green • Hammer Bro captain • Harold • Hatch • Helvetica • Heronicus • Hoodin • Hornfels • Hort • Howzit • Inga • The InterChet • The InterNed • Janbi • Jasperoid • Johnson • Juppi • Karla • Kerrie • King Sammer • Ledger • Lily • Lock • Lucy • Luvbi • Marbald • Marbi • Maybi • Merlee • Merlon • Merlumina • Merluvlee • Minnie • Mitsy • Monbi • Monzo • Mort • Muffy (1F) • Muffy (2F) • Nastasia • Nimbi • Nolrem • Nora • Norite • Notso • Novbi • Old Man Watchitt • Otto • Patch • Patta • Pearl • Pete • Pitta • Pook • Private Koopa • Puck • Queen Jaydes • Rainbi • Rebbi • Red • Ruby • Sacre • Saffron • Saturbi • Sipsi • Skarn • Skeet • Slim • Sprinbi • Squirpina XIV • Squirps • Stock • Sumbi • Sunbi • Three hags • Thurbi • Tib • Tinga • Toad • Tribe of Ancients • Tribe of Darkness • Tuff (citizen) • Tuff (guard) • Vic • Walter • Websterite • Welderberg • Wenbi • Whacka • Whibbi • Winbi • Winnie • Yebbi
Chapters Chapter 1 • Chapter 2 • Chapter 3 • Chapter 4 • Chapter 5 • Chapter 6 • Chapter 7 • Chapter 8
Bosses Fracktail • Mimi • Francis • Mr. L • Brobot • King Croacus IV • Brobot L-type • Bonechill • Count Bleck • Super Dimentio • O'Chunks • Bowser • Big Blooper • Dimentio • Underchomp • End Boss • Wracktail • Shadoo
Locations Mario Bros.' House • Flipside (Flipside Arcade · Flipside Pit of 100 Trials) • Flopside (Flopside Pit of 100 Trials) • Lineland (Lineland Road · Mount Lineland · Yold Town · Yold Desert · Yold Ruins) • Gloam Valley (Merlee's Mansion · Rubee Savings and Loan · Merlee's Basement) • The Bitlands (The Tile Pool · The Dotwood Tree · Fort Francis) • Outer Space (Planet Blobule · Outer Limits · Whoa Zone) • Land of the Cragnons (Downtown of Crag · Gap of Crag · Floro Caverns) • Sammer's Kingdom (Early Duels · Proving Grounds · Endgame) • The Underwhere (Underwhere Road) • The Overthere (Overthere Stair) • Castle Bleck (Entry · Foyer · Interior · Inner Sanctum) • Itty Bits • World of Nothing • Dimension D
Enemies Barribad (Dark · Sobarribad) • Bill Blaster • Bittacuda • Blooper • Boo (Atomic · Dark (Dark)) • Boomboxer (Dark · Beep · Blast) • Bullet Bill • Buzzy Beetle (Para (Spiky) · Spike Top (Dark) · Stone (Dark)) • Chain Chomp (Dark · Red) • Cheep Cheep • Cherbil (Dark · Ice · Poison) • Choppa (Dark · Copta) • Cleft (Bald · Moon · Dark) • Clubba (Dark) • Crazee Dayzee (Amazy · Dark) • Cursya (Dark · Back · Heavy (Dark) · Reversya (Dark) · Tech (Dark)) • Dimentio (copy) • Dry Bones (Dull (Dark)) • Eeligon (Dark · Hooligon) • Floro Cragnien • Floro Sapien • Foton • Frackle (Wrackle) • Fuzzy (Dark · Pink) • Goomba (Gloomba · Dark · Headbonk (Dark) · Para (Dark) · Spiked (Dark)) • Growmeba (Dark · Blomeba · Chromeba) • Hammer Bro (Dark • Boomerang (Dark) · Fire (Dark)) • Hedron • Jawbus (Dark · Gawbus · Rawbus) • Jellien • Koopa Troopa (Dark · Koopatrol (Dark) · Mega · Para (Dark) · Striker (Dark · Soopa · Toopa)) • Lakitu • Lava Bubble • Longator (Dark · Longadile) • Magiblot (Dark · Blue · Red · Yellow) • Magikoopa (Dark) • Megabite (Dark · Gigabite) • Meowmaid (AirMeow · BigMeow · PatrolMeow · Meowbomb · SecuriMeow · SurpriseMeow) • Mister I (Red) • Muth (Mega · Dark) • Ninjoe (Dark · Ninjohn · Ninjerry) • Pigarithm (Dark Pigarithm · Hogarithm) • Piranha Plant (Frost · Putrid) • Pokey (Dark · Poison) • Ruff Puff (Dark) • Sammer Guy (Big · Small) • Shlurp (Dark · Shlorp) • Skellobit (Dark · Spiky (Dark) · Bomber · Skellobait (Spiky) • Spania (Dark) • Spiny (Dark) • Sproing-Oing (Dark · Boing · Zoing) • Squiglet (Dark · Squig · Squog · Squoinker) • Swooper • Thwomp (Spiky Tromp · Spiny Tromp) • Tileoid (B · Dark · G · R · Y) • Underhand • Warpid • Zombie Shroom (Ghoul)
Minigames Forget Me Not • Hammer Whacker • Mansion Patrol • Tilt Island
Other Bestiary • Block locations (Hidden blocks) • Flint Cragley, Cragtrotter • Gallery • Media • Quotes (By character: A–J · K–N · O–Z) • Shops • Sound test • Staff • Story predictions • Tattles • "That's My Merlee!" show • Trading cards • Treasure Chest locations • Super Paper Mario Memory Match • Swoon.exe • Unnamed NPCs
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