''Super Mario Adventures'' is an
anthology
In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs, or related fiction/non-fiction excerpts by different authors. There are also thematic and g ...
of comics that ran in ''
Nintendo Power
''Nintendo Power'' was a video game news and strategy magazine from Nintendo of America, first published in July/August 1988 as Nintendo's official print magazine for North America. The magazine's publication was initially done monthly by Ninte ...
'' throughout 1992, featuring the characters from Nintendo's ''
Mario
Mario (; ) is a Character (arts), character created by the Japanese game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the star of the ''Mario (franchise), Mario'' franchise, a recurring character in the ''Donkey Kong'' franchise, and the mascot of the Ja ...
'' series and based loosely on ''
Super Mario World
''Super Mario World'', known in Japan as '' is a 1990 platform game developed by Nintendo EAD and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). The player controls Mario on his quest to save Princess Peach and Dino ...
''. In 1993, the series was also serialized in ''
CoroCoro Comic
is a Japanese children's manga magazine published by Shogakukan. It was established in 1977 and several of its properties, like ''Doraemon'' and the ''Pokémon'' series of games, have gone on to be cultural phenomena in Japan.
The name comes fr ...
'' in Japanese, under the title .
Charlie Nozawa, the artist who created the comics, is also known by the pen name Tamakichi Sakura.
[たまに読むならこんなゲーム漫画~桜玉吉のスーマリ編~]
. ''Mandarake
is a Japanese retail corporation that operates a chain of used good stores. Founded as a used bookstore specializing in manga in 1980, Mandarake incorporated in 1987 and currently operates 11 retail locations and one fulfillment center. The c ...
''. Retrieved on November 19, 2008. - "小学館「SUPER MARIO ADVENTURES マリオの大冒険」漫画・チャーリー野沢(桜玉吉)" Kentaro Takekuma was responsible for the story, which follows
Mario
Mario (; ) is a Character (arts), character created by the Japanese game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the star of the ''Mario (franchise), Mario'' franchise, a recurring character in the ''Donkey Kong'' franchise, and the mascot of the Ja ...
and
Luigi
Luigi (; ) is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Part of Nintendo's ''Mario'' franchise, he is a kind-hearted, cowardly Italian plumber, and the younger fraternal twin brother and sidekick of Mario. Like ...
as they attempt to rescue
Princess Toadstool
is a character in Nintendo's ''Mario'' franchise. She was created by Shigeru Miyamoto and introduced in the 1985 original ''Super Mario Bros.'' game as Princess Toadstool. She is the princess regnant and head of state of the Mushroom Kingd ...
after she is kidnapped by
Bowser
, also known as King Bowser or King Koopa, is a Character (arts), fictional character and the Antagonist, main antagonist of Nintendo's ''Mario (franchise), Mario'' franchise."The Top 100 Videogame Villains". IGN. Retrieved October 8, 2010. ...
with intent to marry her.
It marks the second time the Mario universe is developed into a livable place, as the comic was made after
Nintendo Comic Systems and before ''
Super Mario RPG
''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars'' is a 1996 role-playing video game developed by Square (video game company), Square and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It was the final ''Mario (franchise) ...
''. The only other pre-story Mario is within the animated and live action series relating to Donkey Kong. It is notable for its use of the many gameplay devices in the Mario series as elements of everyday life. For example, Mario plays a psychologist and treats the social anxiety of a Boo (a ghost enemy in the video game series that covers its face whenever the player is facing it).
When the comic originally ran, it ran alongside a just-as-long serial based on ''
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past''. Both serials were later reprinted in separate
trade paperbacks published at the time of the magazine's fiftieth issue.
In 2016, ''Super Mario Adventures'' as well as the said adaptation of ''The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past'' later got a reprint, handled by publisher
VIZ Media
Viz Media, LLC is an American entertainment company headquartered in San Francisco, California, focused on publishing manga, and distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series.
The company was founded in 1986 as Viz, ...
.
Synopsis
The story opens in the Mushroom Kingdom with
Mario
Mario (; ) is a Character (arts), character created by the Japanese game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the star of the ''Mario (franchise), Mario'' franchise, a recurring character in the ''Donkey Kong'' franchise, and the mascot of the Ja ...
and
Luigi
Luigi (; ) is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Part of Nintendo's ''Mario'' franchise, he is a kind-hearted, cowardly Italian plumber, and the younger fraternal twin brother and sidekick of Mario. Like ...
entering the Mushroom Castle basement, where Mario gets right to work, singing as he does so. Just then, gigantic pipes start popping up in the basement and in the courtyard. Various enemies from ''Super Mario World'' pop out of the pipes and attack the guards, but the Mario Bros. fight back.
Bowser
, also known as King Bowser or King Koopa, is a Character (arts), fictional character and the Antagonist, main antagonist of Nintendo's ''Mario (franchise), Mario'' franchise."The Top 100 Videogame Villains". IGN. Retrieved October 8, 2010. ...
comes out of the largest of the pipes in his Koopa Clown Car and proposes marriage to Princess Toadstool (known as
Princess Peach
is a character in Nintendo's Mario (franchise), ''Mario'' franchise. She was created by Shigeru Miyamoto and introduced in the 1985 original ''Super Mario Bros.'' game as Princess Toadstool. She is the Queen regnant, princess regnant and hea ...
in most modern English ''Mario'' media). He then leaves her one week to decide on his proposal, but she rallies her troops and takes off after him.
Mario and Luigi chase after the Princess and soon find a large egg, which cracks open to reveal a grateful
Yoshi
Yoshi is a fictional dinosaur who appears in video games published by Nintendo. Yoshi debuted in '' Super Mario World'' (1990) on the SNES as Mario and Luigi's sidekick. Throughout the mainline '' Super Mario'' series, Yoshi typically serves ...
. Mario and Luigi feel afraid, thinking that the Yoshi might eat them, until they find that he is a friendly
dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of reptiles of the clade Dinosauria. They first appeared during the Triassic Geological period, period, between 243 and 233.23 million years ago (mya), although the exact origin and timing of the #Evolutio ...
when they see him eat a Wiggler. Yoshi takes them to the nearby Yoshi Village, where they meet Friendly Floyd and discover Yoshi's backstory.
Toad
Toad (also known as a hoptoad) is a common name for certain frogs, especially of the family Bufonidae, that are characterized by dry, leathery skin, short legs, and large bumps covering the parotoid glands.
In popular culture (folk taxonomy ...
arrives to inform the pair that Toadstool has been captured.
In a nearby tower surrounded by a lake, the
Koopalings
The ''Mario'' franchise is a media franchise created by Nintendo. Nintendo is usually the developer and publisher of the franchise's games, but various games are developed by third-party companies such as Intelligent Systems and Nintendo Cu ...
are contacted by Bowser, who informs them of his decision to make the Princess their stepmother and then orders the Koopalings to make sure she doesn't escape. She soon does, using a cape she finds that gives her the ability to fly.
On the other side of the lake, the Mario Bros., Toad, and Yoshi are trying to figure out a way to get to the tower. Mario rescues Luigi from a
Bullet Bill which takes Mario across the lake. The Princess lands unconscious by Luigi, and Mario lands dazed in the clutches of the
Koopalings
The ''Mario'' franchise is a media franchise created by Nintendo. Nintendo is usually the developer and publisher of the franchise's games, but various games are developed by third-party companies such as Intelligent Systems and Nintendo Cu ...
.
Luigi poses as the Princess, using a mask, and is brought to Bowser. The real Princess wakes up, now dressed as Luigi, and is also determined to rescue Mario. Luigi offers to order the Koopalings a pizza, and then calls up Yoshi and Toad, who show up dressed as pizza delivery boys, but out of the boxes come the Princess and Floyd, bearing a pack of bombs that Floyd had with him. Luigi runs off to rescue his brother. Eventually, the Princess's bomb is accidentally lit from the Reznors, blowing up the tower and sending all the good guys flying back over to the other side of the moat.
Floyd parts ways with the heroes, who feel victorious due to Bowser's apparent defeat. Mario realises there's no way to reach the entry pipe in the sky. Toad takes the Princess's cape to fly up to the pipe and send for a rescue party. Shortly afterward, some odd-looking Mushroomites show up with a rope ladder. The leader cuts the portion of the ladder with the Mario Brothers, and it is revealed that Bowser and the Koopas have taken control of the Mushroom Kingdom and the Princess is once again kidnapped.
The Mario Bros. and Yoshi give chase after the Koopas' saucer, but Bowser responds by sending down Koopa Paratroopas to attack them. Mario fights back and Yoshi eats each Paratroopa until finally he swallows a Blue Koopa Shell and grows wings. The trio eventually crash-land in front of a Ghost House. Luigi dashes into the house, smelling cheese, and Mario follows when a metal door comes down, leaving Yoshi locked out.
Mario and Luigi are surrounded by
Boos, eventually meeting
Big Boo. They escape through a door, and when the Boos follow, they find Mario
dressed as a psychiatrist and Luigi as a nurse. Mario consults the Big Boo, who confesses that his fear of humans stems from bad childhood experiences. Now feeling better, the Big Boo and his buddies let Mario and Luigi out of the house and tell them how to get to Bowser's castle.
The Mario Bros. and Yoshi make it to the Koopa-conquered Mushroom Kingdom and find that practically every enemy character from the classic ''Mario'' games is gathering for Bowser's marriage. The trio use available pipes, and Mario gets separated from the other two.
Bowser uses
Magikoopa to hypnotize the Princess into loving him, but just as the ceremony begins, Mario comes out and attacks Bowser. He is astonished to hear Princess Toadstool declaring her apparent love for Bowser, but he refuses to let that stop him, and he attempts to carry her out while Bowser orders his men to seize him.
Down in the basement, Luigi and Yoshi come upon the captured Yoshis, who are now all trapped in eggs. They get to work setting the Yoshis free. Just when the ceremony gets underway again, Luigi and the Yoshis come stampeding in, trampling all of Bowser's minions. This breaks the spell on the Princess, who then proceeds to untie Mario. Bowser tries to hide in his wedding cake, which the Yoshis begin devouring. The Yoshis are freed, and peace returns to the Mushroom Kingdom.
Dialogue changes
When ''Super Mario Adventures'' was reprinted in graphic novel form half a year later, some minor changes were made to the dialogue so the dialogue would make a bit more sense in context. The following lines were changed:
* ''Part 2, page 8, panel 6:'' Luigi: "Tell my stomach that!" --> "Tell your stomach that!"
* ''Part 3, page 4, panel 8:'' Luigi: "Yahoo!" --> "Yikes! What a fight!"
* ''Part 6, page 8, panel 2:'' Toad: "Onto plan B!" --> "We have a delivery to make!"
* ''Part 8, page 8, panel 7:'' Mario: "Quit clowning around, Luigi! Look!" --> "Look! I wonder if anybody's home..."
* ''Part 9, page 1, panel 1:'' Mario: "Quit clowning around, Luigi! Look!" --> "I don't see any lights on..."
* ''Part 9, page 5, panel 8:'' Koopa Kids: "He's off the royal rocker!" --> "I hate it when he's right!"
* ''Part 11, page 4, panel 5:'' Mario: "Ow ow ow!" --> "Look out!"
* ''Mario Vs. Wario, page 5, panel 3:'' Wario: "Phew! That was close!" --> Wario: "Blast! He got away!"
* ''Mario Vs. Wario, page 8, panel 4:'' Mario: "Hello there... Wario! Are you home?" --> Mario: "Wario! Long time no see!".
''Mario vs. Wario''
Immediately following the end of ''Super Mario Adventures'', Nintendo Power concluded the epic with a ten-page story loosely based on ''
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins'', which ran in their January 1993 issue and was later reprinted in the graphic novel. This comic was last seen in the Greed School part of the official North American ''
Wario Land 4
''Wario Land 4'' is a 2001 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance. It is the fourth installment in the ''Wario Land'' subseries of the ''Wario'' series. It was released in Japan in August 2001 and November 2 ...
'' website. In this story, Mario receives a letter from his childhood playmate
Wario
is a character in Nintendo's Mario (franchise), ''Mario'' franchise that was designed as an Archenemy, archnemesis to Mario. Wario first appeared as the main antagonist and final Boss (video games), boss in the 1992 Game Boy game ''Super Mar ...
, who invites him over to his castle to "catch up on things". Wario is secretly plotting revenge for a series of indignities Mario unknowingly forced him to suffer in childhood. In the road between his house and Wario's castle, Mario encounters several of the bosses from the game, but does not suspect that have been sent to eliminate him. Eventually, he reaches the castle and finds a giant Wario waiting to pummel him. In the fight that ensues, Mario finds that Wario's new size is thanks to a plug on his overalls, which he then pulls off, deflating Wario to his normal size, apparently the same size as Mario. Wario tearfully fears Mario bullying him again, but Mario, realizing this, apologizes. The story ends on them playing cowboys again, with Wario once again vowing to get even.
A year later, immediately following a comic adaptation of ''
Star Fox
''Star Fox'' is a rail shooter, space flight simulator, and third person action-adventure video game series created by Shigeru Miyamoto and developed and published by Nintendo. The games follow the Star Fox combat team of anthropomorphic a ...
'', another ''Mario vs. Wario'' comic ran in the magazine, entitled ''Mario vs. Wario: The Birthday Bash''. The stand-alone sequel was published in the January 1994 issue of the magazine. Mario and Wario, the latter now retaining his size (slightly taller than Mario) and mean-spirited personality from the games, are invited to Princess Toadstool's birthday party, and they both recall of the Princess' infatuation with a
super deformed
''Chibi'', also known as ''super deformation'' (''SD''), is an art style originating in Japan, and common in anime and manga where characters are drawn in an exaggerated way, typically small and chubby with stubby limbs, oversized heads, and ...
doll in the likeness of
Samus Aran
is the protagonist of the video game series ''Metroid'' by Nintendo. She was created by the Japanese video game designer Makoto Kano (video game designer), Makoto Kano and introduced in the first ''Metroid (video game), Metroid'' (1986) for th ...
(perhaps foreshadowing the ''
Super Metroid
is a 1994 action-adventure game developed by Nintendo and Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third installment in the ''Metroid'' series, following the events of the Game Boy g ...
'' comic adaptation that started in the next issue). Wario enters the toy shop, only to find that a man with "a big black moustache" bought the last Samus doll in stock. Positive the customer was Mario, Wario buys a
jack-in-the-box
A jack-in-the-box is a children's toy that outwardly consists of a Music Box, music box with a Crankset, crank. When the crank is turned, a music box mechanism in the toy plays a melody. After the crank has been turned a sufficient number of ti ...
and has it wrapped in the same packaging. At the party, Wario attempts to create a diversion but ends up helping set up the party; he finally switches the gifts when Mario goes to greet some guests. However, when Wario presents Mario's gift to the Princess, she opens it up to find it's a jack-in-the-box, leaving her frightened. When Mario, who suspects Wario bought the Samus doll, presents Wario's gift, Wario insists it is his and that Mario bought the jack-in-the-box in identical packaging to deceive him, but it is also a jack-in-the-box. Mario and Wario break out in a fist fight until they realize neither of them ever had the doll. Luigi reveals he bought it for the Princess, leaving Wario brooding over his misunderstanding and Mario wondering how much his mustache looks like Luigi's. This second ''Mario vs. Wario'' comic is the only installment of ''Super Mario Adventures'' that has never been reprinted.
See also
*
Other Mario media
References
External links
*
Super Mario Adventures' -
VIZ Media
Viz Media, LLC is an American entertainment company headquartered in San Francisco, California, focused on publishing manga, and distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series.
The company was founded in 1986 as Viz, ...
*
{{Mario series
1992 comics debuts
Mario (franchise) comics