Pom Pom: Bowser's Ninja
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Boom Boom's female counterpart — and one of the very few female bosses in the whole saga. A kunoichi in Bowser's army, Pom Pom fights with shurikens and lightning-quick dodges. This profile digs into her ninja style, the way she complements Boom Boom, whom she often escorts through the fortresses, and what her presence means in a boss roster that is overwhelmingly male.
Agile, cunning and deadly with a shuriken in hand: Pom Pom is the ninja minion of Bowser's army. Boom Boom's female counterpart, she is also one of the very few recurring female bosses in the saga. Portrait of a kunoichi who dreams of elegance… but flies off the handle over nothing.
Contents
- Who is Pom Pom?
- A boss with a ninja style
- Boom Boom's counterpart
- A rare female boss
- Profile card
- Frequently asked questions
Who is Pom Pom?
Pom Pom (プンプン / Punpun in Japan, an onomatopoeia that conveys sulking and anger) is a faithful minion of Bowser, one of the high-ranking Koopas in his army. Recognizable by her pink skin, her red polka-dot shell, her red eyes and her short blonde ponytail, she has a design that brings her close to Wendy O. Koopa. A small paradox of character: she would love to look refined and elegant… yet she loses her cool in record time.
A boss with a ninja style
What sets Pom Pom apart is her art of combat. In her very first appearance, in Super Mario 3D Land (2011), as the guardian of the airships, she fights in the manner of a Boomerang Bro: she throws two or three boomerangs, then leaps away to a new spot. But it is in Super Mario 3D World (2013) that she reveals her true face as a kunoichi: she vanishes into pink smoke and splits into a swarm of clones armed with giant shurikens. It is up to you to unmask the real one!
Boom Boom's counterpart
Pom Pom is officially presented as the female counterpart of Boom Boom, the guardian of Bowser's fortresses. The two are often seen side by side, and they make an efficient tandem in the service of the king of the Koopas. One caveat, though: contrary to what fans like to imagine, no official source calls them a "couple" — Nintendo simply speaks of a female partner. Like Boom Boom, Pom Pom never talks: she expresses herself through shouts and growls.
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A rare female boss
Pom Pom has one notable distinction: she is one of the only recurring female bosses in the series, along with Wendy O. Koopa of the Koopalings. She turns up as a placeable boss in Super Mario Maker 2 (with her ninjutsu style) and as a playable character in several spin-offs (Mario Sports Superstars, Super Mario Party…). On the other hand, contrary to a widespread belief, she does not appear in Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
Pom Pom's profile card
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Role | Minion and boss in Bowser's army |
| Names | Poum Poum (FR) · Pom Pom (EN) · Punpun (JP) |
| First appearance | Super Mario 3D Land (2011) |
| Style | Ninja / kunoichi (boomerangs, shurikens, clones) |
| Partner | Boom Boom's female counterpart |
| Distinction | Rare recurring female boss |
Frequently asked questions
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Who is Pom Pom?Pom Pom is a minion and a boss in Bowser's service, regarded as a high-ranking Koopa of his army. She is Boom Boom's female counterpart and appears for the first time in Super Mario 3D Land (2011).
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Are Pom Pom and Boom Boom a couple?It has never been officially confirmed. Nintendo presents her as Boom Boom's "female counterpart/partner"; the idea of a romantic couple is a fan interpretation.
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Is Pom Pom a ninja character?Yes, above all in Super Mario 3D World: she uses ninjutsu, vanishes into pink smoke and splits into a horde of clones armed with giant shurikens.
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What are her attacks?Boomerang throwing (in Super Mario 3D Land), shuriken throwing and clone creation (in Super Mario 3D World), plus spinning inside her shell and jumping to change position.
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Does Pom Pom appear in Super Mario Bros. Wonder?No. She is nowhere to be found in it: the only "minion" bosses in Wonder are Bowser Jr. and Bowser.
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How can you tell the real Pom Pom from her clones?In Super Mario 3D World, the real Pom Pom wears a bow in her hair and carries a pink shuriken trimmed with a ribbon — details her clones do not have.
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A lively, short-tempered kunoichi, mistress of shurikens and clones, Pom Pom has carved out a place of her own in Bowser's army. A rare recurring female boss and a worthy counterpart to Boom Boom, she proves the Mushroom Kingdom has its ninjas too — and that it is better not to push her over the edge.