Despite the popularity ofSuper Mario, the Nintendo icon has not had very many comic adventures. There have been two officially licensed publications and several fan comics, but none in recent years. This is particularly disheartening considering the success of other beloved video game franchises in comics published in both North America and Japan.
IDW in particular has proven successful with theSonic the Hedgehogline of comics, taking over from Archie Comics. Other gaming franchises that have been turned into comics have includedThe Witcher,Assassin’s Creed,Cyberpunk,HALO, Kirby, andThe Legend of Zelda. Kirby andThe Legend of Zeldaare both manga, making Mario’s failure to gain a foothold within the Japanese medium increasingly surprising. This is especially true since there are so many aspects of lore worth exploring further outside of Nintendo’s hit games.
10Expanding Upon Super Mario Odyssey with Captain Toad
Super Mariogames tend to have a plethora of worlds to explore, with all kinds of citizens, enemies, and obstacles. Seeing some of the worlds on a more personal level could add to the lore of hit Mario games likeSuper Mario Odyssey. Captain Toad is encountered several times throughout the game, exploring ruins and other locations. Because fans typically follow Mario, giving other characters the spotlight would add more adventures to experience.Captain Toad doesn’t have the same power-up abilities that Mario does, making him experience the locales ofSuper Mario Odysseyvery differently by comparison.Changing the primary perspective would open up a vast area of storytelling for Nintendo that hasn’t really been explored outside of gaming. Captain Toad mentions small things about his travels, but getting to experience them in aNintendo comicwould be unique and exciting.
9Super Mario Power-Up Backstories
Mushrooms, Power Moons, Power Stars, and More!
ThroughoutSuper Marioworlds, there are numerous treasures to hunt and collect. Some are more fleshed out than others, such as star pieces inSuper Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, compared to Power Moons fromSuper Mario Odyssey. During gameplay, it isn’t necessary to know where these power-ups come from, but comics could show more about where the items come from or how they’re found. For example, are Super Mushrooms grown and harvested? Is the Mushroom Kingdom growing them or harvesting them as seen inThe Super Mario Bros. Movie?Considering Mario-inspired comicsare often very short, it wouldn’t be strange to see a two to four-page story centered on Mushroom Kingdom farmers in an anthology format.This has the potential to humorously remark on Mario’s regular power-up use and their supply, adding to the lore of the game in a lighthearted, fun way.
8Taking a Leaf From Luigi’s Mansion
Luigi Has The Chance to Be So Much More
While not centered by Nintendo as readily as his brother Mario, Luigi has his fair share of heroism. He was the hero ofLuigi’s Mansion, which was successful enough to garner two sequels.He’s proven that he’s capable of saving the day despite his nervous nature; Luigi would be great in his own comic series.This could readily be supported by the games and serve as an add-on. InPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Mario reads about his brother’s adventures to save Princess Éclair, who rules the Waffle Kingdom. This provides an entire backstory that could thrive in comics while delivering a clear slate for a creative team to explore. New enemies and new locations could be created to fit the Waffle Kingdom, and it would only expand on an already fantastic and well-received adventure.
Somehow, Nintendo Began Secretly Publishing a Comic Over a Year Without Anyone Noticing
Nintendo might be known for its video games, but it also produces other media, including one comic series I can’t believe I’ve never heard of before!
7Animal Crossing’s Slice of Life Nature Could Fit Within Mario’s World
Mario Has Plenty of Opportunities to Take Things Slow
There are several locations and inhabitants scattered throughout the world of the Super Mario franchise. From the ruins of Tostarena to Yoshi’s Island, there is no shortage of fun places to find additional stories.Revisiting iconic locations from a slice-of-life post-villain perspective would be a fun way to treat fans to childhood memories in a lighthearted way.TheAnimal Crossing: New Horizons – Deserted Island Diaryis very much a slice-of-life story mirroringAnimal Crossingtasks and gameplay. A similar method would work well in a vibrant and imaginative world like the ones found inSuper Mario SunshineandSuper Mario World. Princess Peach could return to Isle Delfino for a legitimate vacation or Yoshi could highlight a day in the life on Yoshi’s Island. Every adventure doesn’t need to be action-packed to be worth having.
6Princess Peach & Princess Daisy Team-Up
Super Mario Could Use a Princess Takeover
Super Princess PeachandPrincess Peach: Showtime!have proven that the titular princess can also take the spotlight. While she’s usually the damsel in distress, she has the ability to hold her own in certain circumstances.A Nintendo comic seriesfocused on her could provide independent adventures that expand her independence and highlight her in positive ways. This could also be done for Princess Daisy, making them a formidable duo to rival the Super Mario Bros. They’ve long been fan-favorites inMario Kartgames and have had tracks inspired by them.Giving these princesses a chance to interact with one another and have their own adventures would be fresh for Nintendo without sacrificing any canon aspects of the classic games.Comics would be an excellent way to give Peach’s fans new stories or even expand on her recent stage spotlight inPrincess Peach: Showtime!
5Bowser’s Castle Life
King Koopa’s Rule Deserves More Attention
Bowser is one of the most intriguing characters in theSuper Mario Bros.world. His schemes are always foiled, but his henchmen and family continually assist him in carrying out new plans. He also shone brilliantly inThe Super Mario Bros. Movie. Giving him the chance to star in his own comic would open up a venue to see his daily villain life, interactions with his henchmen, as well as potentially provide more details about his children.Bowser’s history is also not very well-outlined, so there could be opportunities to show his rise to the throne and show how he became King Koopa. His minions also frequently have independent missions of their own and castles to guard, so their appointments and struggles at those locations could also be shown in greater detail than fans have ever seen before.
4Donkey Kong & Super Mario Rivalry
A Classic Competition Reinvigorated in a New Medium
Mario and Donkey Kong have long had a history of altercations and rivalry with one another. From Donkey Kong’s role in the original eponymous game, to the revitalization of their rivalry inThe Super Mario Bros. Movieand the recent game,Mario vs. Donkey Kong, there’s no shortage of conflict between the two Nintendo icons.These crossovers could continue within a comic format, showing further battles, miscommunication, and push to reach their goals when the other may hinder them.They are very different characters in terms of ability and adventures, but they’ve both earned the Nintendo spotlight and been mainstays over several decades. Exploring their dynamic further might result in some whacky hijinks and more reasons for fans to love seeing them interact more frequently. The format could also be flexible, using arcs over several issues or an anthology format of mini-stories combined into issues.
Daisy’s Wario Variant is Still Mario’s Darkest Evil Counterpart
Mario and Luigi have evil rivals in Wario and Waluigi, but Daisy never received her own dark counterpart in Nintendo lore until Wario brainwashed her!
3Mario Kart Crossover Comic
Fun Nintendo Crossovers Would Thrive in Comics
While a comic couldn’t keep up with the speed and rush of a Mario Kart race, it could show some of the behind-the-scenes aspects of racing.The Super Mario Brothers Movieshowed how kart customization could occur in a garage, making the idea of following kart crew’s a possibility that has potential. Getting to see how they adjust karts or their reactions to various racers and racer preferences could open a wide range of storytelling potential. It could also spotlight some of Nintendo’s less common racers who make crossover appearances, such as showing Isabel fromAnimal Crossingreceiving an invitation to the races or her reaction to racing. With new characters being added to each new entry in the franchise, there are plenty to choose from. Track design and details could also be explored since so many creative tracks have been developed.
Bowser’s history is also not very well-outlined, so there could be opportunities to show his rise to the throne and show how he became King Koopa.
2Cappy Deserves a Return to the Spotlight
Dive Deeper Into Super Mario Odyssey
Cappy, the anthropomorphic hat inSuper Mario Odyssey,provided the titular hero with a unique power-up and range of capabilities. The game heavily relied on Cappy and his love to convey its story while presenting many of the mechanics specific to it. Bringing the hat back and showing other things he could take over would provide a slew of new adventures and ways of exploringaSuper Marioworld.From a Tyrannosaurus Rex to Goombas, Cappy’s captures were a big highlight that could have a humorous return. There are so many objects and enemies that Cappy could capture that comics have the potential to explore. Contrarily, what if Bowser found a way to possess Cappy and use the hat’s powers for himself and his schemes? It’d be an intriguing what-if scenario with a high potential for destruction and evil.
1Rosalina Could Stage a Triumphant Return
Galactic Adventures Readily Take Mario to New Heights
Following the release ofSuper Mario Galaxy, Rosalina has also become a fan-favorite character within the franchise, appearing in numerous Mario games, likeMario Kart.She has spent a significant amount of time in her Comet Observatory but traveled a lot before settling in her new home with the Lumas. Given she visits her home planet once every hundred years, there is a lot of time she could be adventuring and being part of new galactic stories. She has been featured once in theJapanese manga,Super Mario-Kun,which has never had a complete North American counterpart. It was published as a brief collection of assorted stories from it and shows how readily characters can return, even if just for a brief moment or story.Rosalina is part of a rather unique set of Mario worlds and storytelling that deserves to stage a comeback in comic form.
