Spark

Sparks are orb-shaped creatures who continually emit pulses and flashes of electricity. They first appeared in Donkey Kong Jr.. Sparks were generated by Mario in order to destroy Donkey Kong Jr., preventing him from saving his father. They are usually seen clinging to walls, although some Sparks in Super Mario Bros. 2 could hover in the air.

In Donkey Kong on the Game Boy, Sparks always appear on ropes. If Mario touches a spark, he gets killed. Sparks may appear and disappear from a rope in certain time intervals. They can not be destroyed.

Sparks also appeared in Super Mario Bros. 2 as uncommon enemies, usually encountered underground or in buildings, circling platforms. Sparks are immune to virtually all attacks, but can be defeated by having a Mushroom Block thrown at them. Sparks can hurt the player's character by simply touching them.

Sparks changed slightly in Super Mario Advance. If the player hit one, they would be knocked back and the screen would flash.

A Spark made only one appearance on The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, in the episode "On Her Majesty's Sewer Service". Having been dumped into the Tunnel of Doom, Mario and Luigi, while running from a Goomba, encounter a Spark that is quickly approaching. Mario and Luigi manage to avoid this Spark and the Goomba by creating a grappling hook out of a super spy hose nozzle and mini plunger; apparently unable to stop moving, the Spark and Goomba subsequently crash into one another, causing an explosion. In this appearance, the Spark featured does not radiate any electricity at all.

Sparks are featured quite prominently in issues of Nintendo Comics System, appearing in such stories as "The Legend", "Bedtime for Drain-Head" and "A Mouser in the Houser". Unlike other versions of Sparks, the comic book versions of Sparks are shown to be fully capable of speaking.

Though absent from a game for some time, Sparks have recently made a comeback in the game Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, in levels taking place in the Magnet Mania area.