http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/KirbyDots.jpg
[[caption-width:250:The background of this cover shows an early example of KirbyDots.]]

-->''Right, the war. We've been at war with [[{{Mordor}} Apokolips]] since forever and then some. It's had its ups and downs, frankly. (...) Although, I have to admit it... that time also introduced those strange, glowing black dots upon which our society is built. Would'' you ''want to live upon a dotless [[CrystalSpiresAndTogas New Genesis]]? Right, I didn't think you did...''
-->--'''Highfather''', in Mightygodking's RemixComic of ''Death Of The New Gods'' issue #1.

Kirby dots are a method of showing a crackle of energy such as a lightning bolt or a BattleAura. They've been widely used in US superhero comics ever since they were first developed, by influential artist [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kirby Jack Kirby]] in the 1960s. Sometimes referred to as 'Kirby Krackle'.

The technique consists of drawing a series of overlapping dots along the edge of the energy effect in question, forming a fractal-like edge. It is used primarily in print comics, but is sometimes replicated in animation by particularly slavish adaptations.

There now exists a [[http://www.theycamefromhollywood.com/octopusmotor/kirbydots/ CGI tool]] for automatically creating Kirby Dots, and even animating them. Interestingly, an analogous technique called 'particle emission' is used in VideoGame graphics for rendering fire, smoke, clouds and, not surprisingly, energy fields.
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Examples:

*Marvel Comics' Sunspot becomes solid black and is surrounded by Kirby Dots when he powers up (originally. Lately, it's dark blue and mostly dotless.) ''{{X-Men Evolution}}'', despite not being a particularly slavish adaptation, ''especially'' visually, rendered the dot effect perfectly, much better than you'd think it'd work onscreen.
** According to the Official Handbook, the dots are allegedly his powers affecting the dust around him and turning them black. But yeah, the dots are basically there to offset his otherwise monochromatic and boring design.
* {{Ben10}} has a bunch of KirbyDots against a green background during most of Ben's transformations. Also, the 0 in Ben10 has a bunch of dots in the middle. This makes sense, as the series was influenced by comics.
* An episode of ''SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' had Supes attacked by an Apokolips war machine with animated Kirby dots on its front panel.
* ''ThePain'' has used this [[http://www.thepaincomics.com/weekly070214a.htm to represent evil radiation]].
* One issue of {{Grant Morrison}}'s ''[[JusticeLeagueOfAmerica JLA]]'' shows a container marked ''Kirby Dots'' in the League's trophy room.
* As with [[AffectionateParody every comics trope ever]], the ''FreedomForce'' games feature this, most notably for the [[ImportedAlienPhlebotinum Energy-X]] that [[MetaOrigin gave the characters their powers]].
* Shego's energy powers exert this effect in KimPossible
* In [[http://www.evil-comic.com/archive/20090414.html this strip]] of the webcomic ''EvilInc'', Kirby Dots are not only displayed, they're used as a measure of a monster's super-powers! Gadzooks!
* BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold, being heavily inspired by the SilverAge, features KirbyDots in several background instances, including BlueBeetle's power-up sequence. It's also very noticeable in the highly Kirby-inspired episode "The Last Bat On Earth!", as well as in Omac's transformation sequence.
* The [[EverythingIsBetterWithMonkeys Marvel Apes]] version of the watcher gets loaded off a beverage that includes Kirby Dots as an ingredient.

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