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[[File:Bedtimefordhead.jpg|thumb|300px|The cover to a reprint collection by Random House that came with an audio cassette. This artwork is based on the cover art for ''Super Mario Bros.'' #3.]] | [[File:Bedtimefordhead.jpg|thumb|300px|The cover to a reprint collection by Random House that came with an audio cassette. This artwork is based on the cover art for ''Super Mario Bros.'' #3.]] | ||
{{quote| '''Comics for Nintendo players!'''<br> Now there's an idea! They'd have to be fast-paced. Intelligent. Sophisticated. Literate. Intriguing. Involving. Funny. <br> Why? <br> Because Nintendo players are smart, discerning, tasteful people with a sense of humor.<br> Lots of companies would have loved to have published comics for Nintendo players. But the nice people at Nintendo picked us-VALIANT. They thought we'd do the best job. We will.|Introduction to ''Nintendo Comics System #1''}} | {{quote| '''Comics for Nintendo players!'''<br> Now there's an idea! They'd have to be fast-paced. Intelligent. Sophisticated. Literate. Intriguing. Involving. Funny. <br> Why? <br> Because Nintendo players are smart, discerning, tasteful people with a sense of humor.<br> Lots of companies would have loved to have published comics for Nintendo players. But the nice people at Nintendo picked us-VALIANT. They thought we'd do the best job. We will.|Introduction to ''Nintendo Comics System #1''}} | ||
The '''''Nintendo Comics System''''' is the umbrella brand for [[Valiant Comics]]'s line of licensed comics based on [[Nintendo]] properties | The '''''Nintendo Comics System''''' is the umbrella brand for [[Valiant Comics]]'s line of licensed comics based on [[Nintendo]] properties. Running from 1990 to 1991, the comics include stories based on ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'', ''[[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda|The Legend of Zelda]]'' (with some inspirations from [[The Legend of Zelda (television series)|the cartoon]]), {{wp|Punch-Out!!|''Punch-Out!!''}}, ''[[metroidwiki:Metroid (series)|Metroid]]'' (one story), and ''[[Captain N: The Game Master|Captain N]]''. Issues could feature comics based on multiple properties or focus on a single one. Of the properties featured, ''Super Mario'' was the most prolific and longest-running. | ||
Distinct from the regular ''Super Mario'' stories is the 4-issues ''[[Game Boy (comic)|Game Boy]]'' miniseries, focusing exclusively on ''[[Super Mario Land]]''. | Distinct from the regular ''Super Mario'' stories is the 4-issues ''[[Game Boy (comic)|Game Boy]]'' miniseries, focusing exclusively on ''[[Super Mario Land]]''. | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
The premise of the ''Super Mario Bros.'' comics, set up by the introductory story "[[The Legend]]", follows the basic plot of ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'': the peaceful [[Mushroom Kingdom]] is invaded by the evil forces of [[Bowser]]. Hearing the inhabitant's cries for help, two plumbers named [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]] set out to adventure, defeating Bowser and restoring the kidnapped [[Mushroom King]] and [[Princess Peach|Princess Toadstool]] to the throne. Hailed as heroes by the Mushroom Kingdom's denizens, Mario and Luigi decide to stay behind as its protectors, knowing Bowser | |||
The premise of the ''Super Mario Bros.'' comics, set up by the introductory story "[[The Legend]]", follows the basic plot of ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'': the peaceful [[Mushroom Kingdom]] is invaded by the evil forces of [[Bowser]]. Hearing the inhabitant's cries for help, two plumbers named [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]] set out to adventure, defeating Bowser and restoring the kidnapped [[Mushroom King]] and [[Princess Peach|Princess Toadstool]] to the throne. Hailed as heroes by the Mushroom Kingdom's denizens, Mario and Luigi decide to stay behind as its protectors, knowing Bowser won't take his defeat lying down. | |||
From that point on, the comics had no overarching storyline. The stories featured Mario, Luigi, Toadstool and [[Toad]] foiling plots by Bowser and other villains to conquer the kingdom (often involving kidnapping the scatterbrained and moronic Mushroom King or the Princess), and sometimes getting into hijinks during their downtime. Stories were comedic and absurd in natures, with plots such as Bowser developing a bomb that makes all those who inhaled its fumes lethally stupid, or Toadstool participating in a bowling ball tournament played with oversized meatballs. Primarily drawing on the settings and characters of the platformers up to ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', the comic's cast was rounded by a number of original characters including the Mushroom King's beleaguered advisor [[Wooster]], the neurotic lovestruck [[Stanley the Talking Fish]], and Mario's superhero idol [[Dirk Drain-Head]]. | From that point on, the comics had no overarching storyline. The stories featured Mario, Luigi, Toadstool and [[Toad]] foiling plots by Bowser and other villains to conquer the kingdom (often involving kidnapping the scatterbrained and moronic Mushroom King or the Princess), and sometimes getting into hijinks during their downtime. Stories were comedic and absurd in natures, with plots such as Bowser developing a bomb that makes all those who inhaled its fumes lethally stupid, or Toadstool participating in a bowling ball tournament played with oversized meatballs. Primarily drawing on the settings and characters of the platformers up to ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', the comic's cast was rounded by a number of original characters including the Mushroom King's beleaguered advisor [[Wooster]], the neurotic lovestruck [[Stanley the Talking Fish]], and Mario's superhero idol [[Dirk Drain-Head]]. | ||
A trademark of the ''Nintendo Comics Systems'' line was breaking up the stories with one-off pages. These often featured visual | A trademark of the ''Nintendo Comics Systems'' line was breaking up the stories with one-off pages. These often featured visual humour and insight about the comic's characters. | ||
==Creative team== | ==Creative team== | ||
The ''Nintendo Comics System'' had a highly variable stable of writers and artists, leading to a somewhat inconsistent visual style. Some of the recurring writers and artists included Janet Jackson, Ken Lopez, Mark McClellan, Art Nichols, {{wp|Bill Valely}}, John Walker, and P. Zorito. | The ''Nintendo Comics System'' had a highly variable stable of writers and artists, leading to a somewhat inconsistent visual style. Some of the recurring writers and artists included Janet Jackson, Ken Lopez, Mark McClellan, Art Nichols, {{wp|Bill Valely}}, John Walker, and P. Zorito. | ||
==Publication | ==Publication History== | ||
According to an info page in ''[[Nintendo Comics System 01]]'', Valiant's deal with Nintendo was announced at a January 1989 conference in New York. Artists drew the story "[[The Fish That Should've Gotten Away]]" live for the press, making it the first comic produced for the line. | According to an info page in ''[[Nintendo Comics System 01]]'', Valiant's deal with Nintendo was announced at a January 1989 conference in New York. Artists drew the story "[[The Fish That Should've Gotten Away]]" live for the press, making it the first comic produced for the line. | ||
