20 Gaming Facts That Will RUIN Your Favourite Franchise

Whether it's Mario, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, or Link, Nintendo characters are known for being family-friendly. Another of the studio's wholesome icons is Kirby, the adorable pink protagonist from Dream Land.

Since debuting in 1992's Kirby's Dream Land, the titular character has maintained his innocent persona throughout each of his games. However, there's a seedier side to Kirby that players may not know about.

This edgier portrayal comes from German magazine Club Nintendo, which published two comics featuring a more mature version of the cute puffball. The first was Kirby and the Mystery of the Slime from 1992, followed by Kirby's Biggest Case in 1996. While both outings were radically different interpretations of the lovable alien, it's the latter that's become more notorious.

Drawing inspiration from film noir, the plot reimagines Kirby as a private investigator, hired to find a missing scientist. Throughout the course of the comic, Kirby is depicted smoking, drinking alcohol, and swearing. At one point, he's even seen reading an adult magazine called "Playball."

Although these comics were only ever published in German, dedicated fans have translated them into English. All we need now is a hard-boiled Kirby detective game.