Super Mario Bros.: Trapped in the Perilous Pit

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Cover art of Super Mario Bros.: Trapped in the Perilous Pit
The cover of Super Mario Bros.: Trapped in the Perilous Pit

Super Mario Bros.: Trapped in the Perilous Pit is a Golden Look-Look Book written by Jack C. Harris. The 24-page book was illustrated by Art and Kim Ellis and published by Western Publishing in July 1989.[1][2][3] (However, some sources say it was published in 1990, like the other two Golden Books.)[4][5][6] It is aimed at very young readers.

A book-and-cassette version was also made. The audio cassette was narrated by William Woodson, and it featured Lou Albano, Danny Wells, and Jeannie Elias (the respective voice actors for Mario, Luigi, and Princess Toadstool on The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!) reading their characters' lines, while John Stocker, the voice actor for Toad in the same series, replaced Harvey Atkin (the original voice actor for King Koopa in the DIC cartoons of the Super Mario franchise) while reading Koopa's lines.

Plot synopsis[edit]

Mario and Luigi are cleaning a clogged sewer underneath a fortune-teller's store in Brooklyn when they are accidentally sucked into a Warp Zone and taken to the Mushroom Kingdom. They have no choice but to work for Princess Toadstool until they can find a way back home.

Later, the Mario Brothers are seen repairing the palace's pipes while King Koopa travels down the corridor, intending to kidnap Toadstool. Mario, who is out of mushrooms for his "mushroom-and-jelly sandwiches," travels farther along the passageway, but after finding fresh ones growing in the area, he witnesses Koopa. Mario decides to take action and swallows a mushroom, knowing it is a Red Mushroom. He chases Koopa and his underlings off in his giant form, but Koopa uses magic to shrink him and tangle him in pipes. Luigi, who is searching for Mario as he picks flowers, notices the Koopa Troopas harassing Mario and saves him from Koopa by using a Fire Flower to fend him and his minions off. After Luigi untangles Mario from the pipes, the brothers try to flee from the Koopa Troop in hope of warning Toadstool about the oncoming minions, but the brothers instead fall into a deep pit beneath the floor. Meanwhile, Koopa and another squadron of Koopa Troopas invade the princess's throne room, ambush her and her royal guards, and throw her into the pit with the Mario Brothers.

After Koopa locks the exit, the Mario Brothers ponder what to do to escape, since their power-ups are useless. However, when Toadstool suggests they cooperate to escape the pit, Mario grows larger by polishing off his final Red Mushroom, allowing him to reach the top of the pit. Luigi, while standing on Mario's palm, sprays the remaining fire in his Fire Flower to burn down the locked door. After the Mario Brothers and Toadstool escape, Luigi drives off Koopa and his underlings by opening a water pipe. Mario, Luigi, and Toadstool then return to the castle to celebrate their victory. The book ends with Mario complaining that he has no mushrooms left for his "mushroom-and-jelly-sandwiches" and Luigi quipping, "I'd face a hundred other dark and perilous pits, but I'd hate to see what's down in the pit of Mario's stomach!"

Illustration errors[edit]

  • While the cover shows Luigi trying to break through a standard wooden door, the illustrations in the book show the trapdoor on the ceiling, much like an actual pit.
  • There are several illustration errors in the book. Some noticeable ones are Mario without his hat when he is tangled up in the pipes and a Koopa Troopa without his shell or arms when Luigi is washing Koopa and his troops away.

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Finnish Kuilun vankeina[7] Prisoners of the pit
French Super Mario Bros. : Piège au fond du puits[?] Super Mario Bros.: Trap at the bottom of the pit

Trivia[edit]

  • At the June 2013 Vancouver Retro Gaming Expo, Charles Martinet, the former voice actor for Mario and Luigi, narrated the contents of the book in Mario's and Luigi's voices.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Barnes&Noble.com with the July 1989 publication date. (Note that Western Publishing was eventually acquired by Random House, which is why that is listed as the publisher.) Retrieved December 2, 2010
  2. ^ Super Mario Bros.: Trapped in the Perilous Pit on Internet Archive, with a 1989 publication date. Retrieved December 2, 2010
  3. ^ SMBHQ.com uses the 1989 publication date. Retrieved December 2, 2010
  4. ^ Amazon.com with a February 1990 publication date. Retrieved December 2, 2010
  5. ^ Amazon.com with an August 1990 publication date. Retrieved December 2, 2010
  6. ^ A picture of a cassette tape of Super Mario Bros.: Trapped in the Perilous Pit copyright 1990 Nintendo of America. Retrieved December 2 2010
  7. ^ Super Mario Bros. - Kuilun Vankeina
  8. ^ Broken CRT Productions. (Feb 19, 2014). Mario Reads a Story. YouTube. Retrieved September 23, 2020.

See also[edit]

[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's 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 Nathaniel's Fun Factory (1999) • New Super Mario Bros. Wii: Simplified Piano Solos (2010)
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