Super Mario (comic)

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Prototype cover for an Archie Super Mario comic that was never greenlighted.
Tentative cover art for the pitch

At an unspecified time,[1] comic publisher Archie Comics pitched a Super Mario comic adaptation to Nintendo, written by Ian Flynn and featuring art by Tracy Yardley and Ben Bates. The pitch first became known to the public when concept art for it was published on website Comics Art Fan in 2015 (since deleted).[2] Author Ian Flynn would revisit the Super Mario comic in 2019, giving more details on Twitter about its fate (stating that he heard the comic was well-received by Nintendo of America but was rejected by Nintendo's Japanese office) and the planned storyline for it.[3]

According to Ian Flynn, it was planned to begin with a 4-issues mini series with plans to turn the comic into an ongoing series had it been successful.[4] The comic would have taken an approach similar to Flynn's work on Archie's Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man comics, featuring "narrative-driven adaptations of the games with stories bridging the canon". Reflecting back on the pitch, Flynn stated, "It's not how I'd approach a Mario project today - too much drama, not enough whimsy. Still, I thought some of y'all might get a kick out of it."[5]

Archie Comics (particularly Paul Kaminski, who was an editor at that time) later intended to include Super Mario characters in Worlds at War, a planned third crossover between their Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man comic books. Compared to Marvel Comics' Secret Wars storyline, the story would have been set on a "battle planet" within the multiverse's nexus, with the Mario cast's unfamiliarity with the other heroes being used to help explain the crossovers to new readers. This too would not come to fruition, however, as Kaminski would leave Archie before the idea could be pitched to Nintendo.[6]

Storyline summary[edit]

It started off with Mario & Luigi being summoned to Peach's castle for a plumbing job. Luigi was excited for the career-defining contract, Mario less enthused - a job's a job & he's bored of their career. They arrive just after Bowser has ransacked the Mushroom Kingdom. With literally no one left to save the princess, Mario jumps at the call to adventure. Luigi less so. They stock up on what power-ups are left after the invasion and embark on a journey through Worlds 1-8, burning through their provisions since they're novice heroes.

They reach Bowser's Castle in W8-4 and Luigi calls it quits. This is suicide. They're PLUMBERS, not heroes. Mario refuses to give up - too many are counting on them. They part ways, Mario storming the castle. Mario makes his way past the traps and firebars to his first showdown with Bowser. The King of Koopas wants to know who's been causing so much trouble for his troops and it's...this pudgy guy? Oh well. Anyone who challenges him meets the same fate.

It's a knock-down, drag-out fight on the bridge over a magma moat. Mario is too nimble for Bowser to land a solid hit, but Bowser is too tough for Mario to actually hurt. They're at a stalemate when a scream is heard, building from deep in the hall.. It's Luigi, screaming in blind terror, running thru the castle as fast as he can. Over the bridge. Past the baffled combatants. Into a wall. Which knocks loose the decorative axe. Which cuts the bridge.

Mario bounces off the falling Bowser to safety. Mario and Luigi reconcile - yeah, Mario may have gotten in over his head, but Luigi could never abandon his brother. Together they rescue Peach who shares a bashful love-at-first-sight moment with Mario. The trio returns to the Mushroom Kingdom and begin to rebuild. Peach names Mario & Luigi royal plumbers. Luigi is overjoyed - they're set for life now! No more adventures! Cut to the stinger ending of Bowser crawling out of the magma moat.[7]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ When asked, Ian Flynn replied that he did not recall the exact timeframe but that he thought it might have been "post-Mega Man launch and pre-Worlds Collide, which would put it between May 2011 and April 2013.
  2. ^ Lamoreux, Ben. (November 2, 2015) Archie Comics Pitched a Super Mario Comic, But Nintendo Rejected It. Gamenesia. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  3. ^ https://twitter.com/IanFlynnBKC/status/1166822538242117633
  4. ^ https://twitter.com/IanFlynnBKC/status/1166822541538844673
  5. ^ https://twitter.com/IanFlynnBKC/status/1166822559565996034
  6. ^ BumbleKing Videos (December 5, 2022). WHOLESOME: Black Doom calls to check on his son | BumbleKast for Dec. 5th, 2022 - Ian Flynn Q&A. YouTube. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  7. ^ https://twitter.com/IanFlynnBKC/status/1166822543925358593
[Edit]
Unreleased media
Canceled games Super Mario games Mario Artist: Sound Studio • Mario Takes America • Super Mario 64 2 • Super Mario RPG 2 • Super Mario's Wacky Worlds • VB Mario Land • Super Mario Spikers
Donkey Kong games Return of Donkey Kong • Donkey Kong no Ongaku Asobi • Donkey Kong Coconut Crackers • Diddy Kong Pilot (2001/2003) • Donkey Kong Racing • Diddy Kong Racing Adventure
Tech demo Super Mario games Super Mario 128 • Mario Demo • NDDEMO • Mario Kart XXL • Mario's Face • Chase Mii • New Super Mario Bros. Mii
Yoshi games Yoshi Demo • Balloon Trip
Miscellaneous Super Mario (comic)
[Edit]
Publications
Magazines Famitsu (1986–present) • Nintendo Power (1988–2012) • Club Nintendo (1989–2002) • Club Nintendo Classic (1990) • Nintendo DREAM (1996–present) • Nintendo Power Advance (2001)
Chapter books Super Mario Bros.: Trapped in the Perilous Pit (1989) • Super Mario Bros. 3: Happy Birthday, Princess Toadstool (1990) • Super Mario Bros. 3: The Secret Bridge (1990) • Nintendo Adventure Books (1991) • Donkey Kong Country (1994) • Donkey Kong Country: Rumble in the Jungle (1995) • Donkey Kong Country: Rescue on Crocodile Isle (1997) • Game Boy Advance (2001) • Mario and the Incredible Rescue (2006) • Super Mario Little Golden Book (2021)
Nintendo Adventure Books Double Trouble (1991) • Leaping Lizards (1991) • Monster Mix-Up (1991) • Koopa Capers (1991) • Pipe Down! (1991) • Doors to Doom (1991) • Dinosaur Dilemma (1991) • Flown the Koopa (1991) • Unjust Desserts (1992) • Brain Drain (1992)
Activity books Donkey Kong (1982–1983) • Super Mario Bros. (1989–1993) • Super Mario Bros. Paint 'n' Marker Book (1989/1993) • Super Mario Ehon (1994–1999) • My Very First Nintendo Game Boy (Donkey Kong Country · Super Mario Adventures) (1997) • Play Nintendo Activity Book (2015) • Nintendo Holiday Activity & Gift Guide (2022)
Guidebooks How to win at Super Mario Bros. (1985) • Hisshō Technique Kan Peki-ban (1986) • Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook Super Mario World (1991) • Mario Mania (1991) • Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten (1994) • Super Donkey Kong 2 Guide Book (1996) • How to Draw Donkey Kong & Friends (1997) • How to Draw Nintendo Heroes and Villains (2004) • How to Draw Nintendo Greatest Heroes & Villains (2007) • Super Mario History 1985-2010 (2010) • Super Mario Memorial Book (2015) • Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia (2015) • Super Mario Odyssey: Kingdom Adventures (2017) • The Art of Super Mario Odyssey (2018)
Comics and manga Super Mario Bros. (1986) • Famicom Manga (1986) • Famicom How-To Manga (1986) • Super Mario Game Land (1986) • Ganbare Mario (1986–2000) • Super Mario Bros. 2 (1986–1988) • Super Mario-kun (Shogaku Ninensei) (1986–1987) • Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988–1989) • Super Mario (1988–1998) • Nintendo Comics System (1990–1991) • Super Mario-kun (1990–present) • Tobidase! Mario (1991–2006) • Super Mario 4koma Manga Theater (1991–1997) • 4koma Manga Ōkoku (1991–2002) • Yoyoino Yoshi-kun (1991–1997) • Super Mario Adventures (1992) • Otenba Peach-hime (1992–1994) • Doki Doki Dai Action Yomimono Super Mario Monogatari (1992–1993) • Super Mario: Makai Teikoku no Megami (1993) • Mario vs. Wario (1993) • Mario vs. Wario: The Birthday Bash (1994) • Uho'uho Donkey-kun (1995–1997) • Super Mario Gaiden: Hige to Boin to Hige (1995) • Super Donkey Kong (1995) • Donkey Kong Jungle Action Special (1995) • 4koma Gag Battle (1995–2004) • Mario & Donkey Daibōken (1995–1998) • Mario no Bōken Land (1999) • Bumm-Badabumm im Urwald (2000) • Donkey Kong in When the Banana Splits (2000) • Uho'uho Daishizen Gag: Donkey Kong (2000–2001) • Hichako no Game Taiken-ki (2002) • Dr. Mario-kun (2003-2007) • "Wario to Saikyō Tag da Fii!" (Densetsu no Starfy) (2003) • Mario Dàmàoxiǎn (2004) • Super Mario-kun (Pikkapika Comics) (2004–2006) • Himemaru no Game Tenkomori! (2005–2006) • Made in Wario (2005) • Stuck? Mizumario's Got Answers! (2005) • Go!! Go!! Mario Kart (2006) • Peach no Daibōken!? (2006–2007) • Waiwai! Wario (2006) • Ore Dayo! Wario Dayo!! (2007–2012) • GO Ketsu Wario (2008–2011) • Oshiete! Kinopio (2008) • Skylanders: Unexpected Allies (2015) • Super Mario Manga Mania (2017) • Super Mario-kun Special Selection (2023) • Super Mario (comic) (canceled)
Miscellaneous New Super Mario Bros. Wii: Simplified Piano Solos (2010)
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