Editing Cubone (section)

==Critical reception==
Cubone has received generally positive reception, noted as a particularly sad and creepy Pokémon due to its backstory.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/10-unintentionally-creepy-characters-perfectly-normal-games/ |title=10 unintentionally creepy characters in perfectly normal games |work=[[GamesRadar+]] |last=Roberts |first=David |date=July 31, 2014 |accessdate=September 30, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/originals/447367-scariest-pokemon-nintendo |title=The Scariest Pokemon of All Time |work=Game Revolution |last=Lozada |first=David |date=October 22, 2018 |accessdate=September 30, 2024}}</ref> Despite finding its backstory and the concept behind its design sad, ''Comic Book Resources'' writer Katie Schutze found its design cute.<ref name="CBR"/> As part of ''[[IGN]]''{{'}}s Pokémon of the Day series, one of its writers discussed how much she loves it and how cute it is. She stated that, despite lacking in some ways mechanically, she cannot help but adore Cubone due in part to how sentimental its story is.<ref name=":4">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/07/11/pokemon-battle-e-pokemon-of-the-day-cubone-104-428328 |title=Pokemon of the Day: Cubone (#104) |work=[[IGN]] |date=July 11, 2003 |accessdate=September 30, 2024}}</ref> ''[[Destructoid]]'' writer Ben Davis remarked how Cubone was always a staple in his team, stating that it was his favorite. He found Marowak cool, but felt that it had less charm than Cubone, so he never evolved it. When he played ''Red'' and ''Blue'', he imagined that the Cubone he caught was the one whose mother haunted Pokémon Tower, wanting to be able to be there for it.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/experience-points-28-pokemon-red-blue-325884.phtml |title=Experience Points .28: Pokemon Red/Blue |work=[[Destructoid]] |last=Davis |first=Ben |date=December 12, 2015 |accessdate=September 18, 2024 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317105856/https://www.destructoid.com/experience-points-28-pokemon-red-blue-325884.phtml |archivedate=March 17, 2016}}</ref> According to ''[[Kong: Skull Island]]'' director Jordan Vogt-Roberts, Cubone was the inspiration for the "Skull Crawler" creature. He noted that they started from the design used in the original 1933 film ''[[King Kong]]'', ultimately creating a creature with a "bone-white face" and "black, scaly skin," realizing after the fact that Cubone had inspired the design. He exclaimed how much he loved Cubone, as well as remarking about how sad a story it had.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/jordan-vogt-roberts-interview-kong-skull-island-miyazaki-videogames/ |title=Jordan Vogt-Roberts interview – Kong: Skull Island, Miyazaki, videogames |work=Den of Geek |last=Lambie |first=Ryan |date=March 6, 2017 |accessdate=September 30, 2024}}</ref>

Cubone's relationship with its mother has been the subject of discussion by critics. ''Fanbyte'' writer George Yang discussed how Marowak reminded him of his upbringing as a Chinese-American, specifically in how the Marowak that gave its life protecting its child. He discussed his feelings that Asian immigrant families will do anything for their children, and that this resonated with him through Marowak's sacrifice.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fanbyte.com/legacy/pokemon-chinese-american |title=7 Pokemon That Remind Me of My Chinese-American Upbringing |work=Fanbyte |last=Yang |first=George |date=February 15, 2020 |accessdate=September 18, 2024}}</ref> ''TheGamer'' writer Stacey Henley felt that it was one of the "earliest, greatest narrative moments" in ''Pokémon'', arguing that this led to its story being featured in ''Pokémon Origins''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thegamer.com/pokemons-marowak-tragic-ghost-lavender-town/ |title=Marowak Is Still Pokemon's Most Tragic Story |work=TheGamer |last=Henley |first=Stacey |date=October 30, 2021 |accessdate=September 30, 2024}}</ref> In particular, the pair's appearance in ''Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!'' and ''Let's Go, Eevee!'' has received praise. ''NetEase'' staff complimented the depiction of the scene between Cubone and its mother in these games, discussing how sad the scene was for many children back in ''Red'' and ''Blue''. They felt it was the most touching scene in the game, adding that it made the depressing scene in the original games more loving.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://play.163.com/article/149053 |title=一次久别重逢的初次见面——《精灵宝可梦let's go！ 皮卡丘/伊布》评测 |work=NetEase |accessdate=September 30, 2024}}</ref> ''Pocket Tactics'' writer Nathan Ellingsworth stated that this scene made him cry, and that it was among his most memorable moments in the franchise.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pockettactics.com/pokemon-lavender-town |title=Lavender Town, lore, and why fans love the spooky side of Pokémon |work=Pocket Tactics |last=Ellingsworth |first=Nathan |year=2023 |accessdate=September 30, 2024}}</ref> ''Bloody Disgusting'' writer Cian Maher felt that the changes made to Cubone's story were enough to make a big difference, feeling that the staff gave Cubone's story "some real love" and described it as "touching and bittersweet in the most heartfelt way." He appreciated that they gave more focus to Cubone in the story.<ref name="BD"/> Author Matt Coward-Gibbs discussed the presentation of Marowak and how its departure is handled, noting how resolving the situation through helping the Marowak find peace through reuniting it with Cubone demonstrated how the games depict a ghost as a way to heal instead of simply being a violent ghost to fight. He felt that it was an "emotional highpoint" for the games, and would be at home in a game whose premise centered around death.<ref name=":3">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rnL2DwAAQBAJ |title=Death, Culture & Leisure: Playing Dead |last=Coward-Gibbs |first=Matt |date=August 20, 2020 |publisher=Emerald Group |isbn=978-1-83909-037-0 }}</ref> 

Due to Cubone's backstory, it has been the subject of multiple [[creepypasta]]s,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.levelup.com/en/news/695062/Pokemon-Scarlet-Violet-hint-at-a-nostalgic-reference-to-Lavender-Town |title=Pokémon Scarlet & Violet hint at a nostalgic reference to Lavender Town |work=Level Up |last=Araujo |first=Sara |date=August 23, 2022 |accessdate=September 30, 2024}}</ref> with the glitch Pokémon "M" connected to it, Marowak, and Kangaskhan by theorists and creepypasta authors.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/gbunfiltered/the-7-freakiest-pokemon-redblueyellow-glitches/ |title=The 7 Freakiest Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow Glitches |work=Venture Beat |last=December 7, 2011 |date=December 8, 2011 |accessdate=September 30, 2024}}</ref> A well-known fan theory exists that suggest that Kangaskhan is Cubone's dead mother, and the baby in Kangaskhan's pouch evolves into a Cubone, believing that the glitch Pokémon [[MissingNo.]] is connected to them.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/02/the-mythos-and-meaning-behind-pokemons-most-famous-glitch/2/ |title=The mythos and meaning behind Pokémon's most famous glitch |work=Ars Technica |last=Preskey |first=Natasha |date=February 18, 2019 |accessdate=September 30, 2024}}</ref> Theorists argue that they have visual similarities, justifying the theory.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/videogames/pokemon/a799743/12-biggest-pokemon-fan-theories/ |title=12 biggest Pokemon fan theories, from Mt Moon to Ditto |work=Digital Spy |last=Loveridge |first=Sam |date=July 2, 2016 |accessdate=September 30, 2024}}</ref> It is also theorized that Cubone eventually evolves into Kangaskhan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mashable.com/archive/pokemon-fan-theories |title=The 10 Most Bizarre Pokémon Fan Theories |work=Mashable |last=Roncero-Menendez |first=Sara |date=October 12, 2013 |accessdate=September 30, 2024}}</ref> ''GamesRadar+'' writer Ashley Reed argued that this theory was credible due in part to the similarities between Cubone and a baby Kangaskhan, as well as the fact that both Cubone and Kangaskhan have a "uniquely strong mother-child connection."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/top-7-weirdest-theories-about-pokemon-universe/ |title=The weirdest theories about the Pokemon universe |work=[[GamesRadar+]] |last=Reed |first=Ashley |date=October 13, 2017 |accessdate=September 30, 2024}}</ref> It is speculated that this idea was dropped due to being too dark.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/pokemon-theory-cubone-kangaskhan-mother-child-confirmed-evolution/ |title=How Pokémon Confirmed The Dark Cubone/Kangaskhan Theory |work=[[Screen Rant]] |last=Chetrafilov |first=Duncan |date=December 21, 2022 |accessdate=September 30, 2024}}</ref> Another theory suggests that Cubone was a baby Charmander whose parent died, with the argument being that Cubone's plush with a removable helmet bore a "suspiciously" similar design to Charmander.<ref name="BR"/><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gamepro.de/artikel/pokemon-tragosso-wirklichkeit-glumanda,3368174.html |title=Pokémon-Fans glauben, dass Tragosso in Wirklichkeit ein Glumanda ist |magazine=[[GamePro]] |last=Molke |first=David |date=March 22, 2021 |accessdate=September 30, 2024}}</ref> Part of the theory involved the idea that Alolan Marowak's Fire type may be due to this claimed connection.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gamerant.com/pokemon-charmander-cubone-kangaskhan-fan-theory/ |title=Fans are Divided on This Pokemon Theory About Charmander, Cubone and Kangaskhan |work=Game Rant |last=Haze |first=Roxxy |date=March 2, 2024 |accessdate=September 30, 2024}}</ref>