Looking at a list of Nintendo’s most frightful enemies, many of them have a specific ability in common: the ability to grab players and suck up their life. From the constricting grasp of the ReDeads to the Gloom Spawn’s life-leeching grip, these monstrosities are at least partially so scary because escape isn’t always easy. My favorite example of this kind of Nintendo nightmare comes from a similar era as Zelda, but from a different franchise: the Metroids. These little life-leechers don’t look all that dangerous, appearing more like a space jellyfish than anything else. It’s not until they rush at you, punching their mandibles through armor and skin before devouring your very life force that you realize how deceptive their appearance is. In their art titled “Hey Ganon!! Bring it!”, Danderfull shows us the Zelda from Echoes of Wisdom who has cracked the code on how to handily defeat her porcine nemesis, swarm him with Metroids.
Given how Zelda is usually portrayed as pretty, well, princess-like, I really enjoy the swagger and toughness that is conveyed by the art’s title. By having Zelda yell, “Hey Ganon!! Bring it!”, it conveys a shifting feeling of strength. Link and Zelda normally hide from the demon boar and bide their time while building up their power, but in this case, Zelda calls out the Gerudo king. She’s ready for a fight.
Other elements of the art also contribute to the feeling of a Zelda who feels a bit more aggressive than usual. Previous versions of the princess often wear a serene facial expression or perhaps one that radiates scientific curiosity. Not this princess though. She has a large, toothy smile to accompany her taunt to the Demon King. She’s ready. Heck, she doesn’t even seem scared. In fact, she has even summoned a box echo to jump up on. She’s determined that her shouts are heard. She’s done hiding.
When looking at the pint-sized princess, her arms are also flung open wide. She’s not in a defensive position. The Tri Rod isn’t held ready to strike. Why would it be? To even get close enough to hurt her, Ganon would need to get through her space jelly army.
Speaking of her army, there are multitudes of Metroids spread throughout the foreground and background of the piece. Some float, clear and crisp in the foreground to the left and right of the princess, their mandibles clicking with a desire for demon bacon. Others are blurred by distance in the background. While you would think that would provide some comfort, it shouldn’t. That only means that they’ll be ready for their nibble when their compatriots are dispatched. They’ll get their taste of porcine perfection soon enough.
Danderfull gives us a very different view of Princess Zelda than we’re used to in this piece of art. Instead of the pristine and poised princess we often see, this Zelda is ready to call you out and mess you up. Mother Brain may be artificially intelligent, but she’s got nothing on the Princess of Wisdom. She’s ready to put those smarts to good use, harnessing the power of the Metroids to save her kingdom.
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