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{{italic title}}
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[[File:BestofSMB.jpg|thumb|400x400px|The cover of ''The Best of the Super Mario Bros.'' hardcover collection.]]
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{{move|Super Mario Bros. (Valiant Comics)}}
[[File:BestofSMB.jpg|thumb|300px|The cover of the hardcover collection of ''The Best of the Super Mario Bros.'']]
[[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''}}
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.


The '''''Nintendo Comics System''''' series, published by [[Valiant Comics]], made comic books of many Nintendo characters from different series, including ''[[Mario (series)|Mario]]'', ''[[The Legend of Zelda (cartoon)|The Legend of Zelda]]'' and ''[[Captain N: The Game Master|Captain N]]''. They featured special little pages like "Ask Princess Toadstool" and fake advertisements, like one for [[Koopa-Kola]]. Below is a comprehensive list of ''Mario''-related titles, including the ''Captain N'' comics that include [[Donkey Kong]] (an occasional antagonist in the series).
Distinct from the regular ''Super Mario'' stories is the 4-issues ''[[Game Boy (comic)|Game Boy]]'' miniseries, focusing exclusively on ''[[Super Mario Land]]''.


==Heavy Stock==
==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 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]].
 
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==
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 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.
 
In January 1990, an 8-pages Sneak Preview featuring various pages from the upcoming comics and ultimately unused art was published. This was the first comic issue published by Valiant, predating the company's wrestling and self-owned superhero titles.
 
Below is a comprehensive list of ''Super Mario''-related titles, including the ''Captain N'' comics that include [[Donkey Kong]] (an occasional antagonist in the series).
 
===Heavy stock===
Released in 1990.
Released in 1990.


===''Super Mario Bros.===
====''Nintendo Comics System''====
====''Super Mario Bros. Special Edition #1====
These books contain comics from various systems.
 
=====''Nintendo Comics System'' No. 1=====
*[[The Legend]]
*[[Just Deserts]]
*Welcome to Videoland (''Captain N'' comic with Donkey Kong cameo)
*All's Well That Ends Swell (''Captain N'' comic with Donkey Kong cameo)
*[[The Fish That Should've Gotten Away]]
*[[Public Service Announcement]]
*[[The Mario Bros. Guide to Grooming Your Moustache]]
*Outsiders (''Punch-Out!!'' comic with Mario cameo)
*[[The Adventures of Dirk Drain-Head]]
*[[You Again?]]
 
=====''Nintendo Comics System'' No. 2=====
*[[The Legend]]
*[[Betrayal Most Proper]]
*Welcome to Videoland
 
====''Super Mario Bros.''====
=====''Super Mario Bros. Special Edition'' #1=====
*[[The Legend]]
*[[The Legend]]
*[[Mutiny on the Fungi]]
*[[Mutiny on the Fungi]]
Line 15: Line 58:
*[[A Mouser in the Houser]]
*[[A Mouser in the Houser]]


====''Super Mario Bros.'' #1====
=====''Super Mario Bros.'' #1=====
*[[The Legend]]
*[[The Legend]]
*[[Piranha-Round Sue]]  
*[[Piranha-Round Sue]]  
Line 21: Line 64:
*[[Koopa's Believe It or Else!]]
*[[Koopa's Believe It or Else!]]
*[[Cloud Nine (comic)|Cloud Nine]]
*[[Cloud Nine (comic)|Cloud Nine]]
*[[Continue]]


====''Super Mario Bros.'' #2====
=====''Super Mario Bros.'' #2=====
*[[Magic Carpet Madness]]
*[[Magic Carpet Madness]]
*[[Dear Princess Toadstool]]
*[[Dear Princess Toadstool]]
Line 30: Line 72:
*[[Koopa's High School Yearbook]]
*[[Koopa's High School Yearbook]]


====''Super Mario Bros.'' #3====
=====''Super Mario Bros.'' #3=====
*[[Bedtime for Drain-Head]]
*[[Bedtime for Drain-Head]]
*[[Fryguy High Yearbook -- Activity Page!]]
*[[Fryguy High Yearbook -- Activity Page!]]
Line 37: Line 79:
*[[Family Album "The Early Years"]]
*[[Family Album "The Early Years"]]


====''Super Mario Bros.'' #4====
=====''Super Mario Bros.'' #4=====
*[[Beauty and the Beach]]
*[[Beauty and the Beach]]
*[[Koopa-Kola]]
*[[Koopa-Kola]]
Line 45: Line 87:
*[[Koopatone]]
*[[Koopatone]]


===''Captain N: The Game Master===
====''Captain N: The Game Master''====
====''Captain N: The Game Master'' No. 1====
=====''Captain N: The Game Master'' No. 1=====
*Welcome to Videoland
*Welcome to Videoland
====''Captain N: The Game Master'' No. 3====
=====''Captain N: The Game Master'' No. 3=====
*Video-Town
*Video-Town
====''Captain N: The Game Master'' No. 4====
=====''Captain N: The Game Master'' No. 4=====
*Secrets of the Warp Zones
*Secrets of the Warp Zones


===''Game Boy===
====''Game Boy''====
*Game Boy #1: [[In the Palm of Your Hand...]], Parts I and II
*''[[Game Boy (comic)|Game Boy]]'' #1: [[In the Palm of Your Hand...]], Parts I and II
*Game Boy #2: [[It's a Small World After All]], Parts I and II
*''Game Boy'' #2: [[It's a Small World After All]], Parts I and II
 
*''Game Boy'' #3: [[Team Play]], Parts I and II
===''Nintendo Comics System===
*''Game Boy'' #4: [[Pipes is Pipes]]
These books contain comics from various systems.
 
====''Nintendo Comics System No. 1====
*[[The Legend]]
*[[Just Deserts]]
*Welcome to Videoland
*[[The Fish That Should've Gotten Away]]
*[[Public Service Announcement]]
*[[The Mario Bros. Guide to Grooming Your Moustache]]
*[[The Adventures of Dirk Drain-Head]]
*[[You Again?]]
 
====''Nintendo Comics System'' No. 2====
*[[The Legend]]
*[[Betrayal Most Proper]]
*Welcome to Videoland


==Soft Cover==
===Soft cover===
Released in 1991.
Released in 1991.


===''Super Mario Bros.===
====''Super Mario Bros.''====
====''Super Mario Bros.'' Feb No. 1====
=====''Super Mario Bros.'' Feb No. 1=====
*[[The Legend]]
*[[The Legend]]
*[[Piranha-Round Sue]]  
*[[Piranha-Round Sue]]  
Line 86: Line 112:
*[[Cloud Burst]]
*[[Cloud Burst]]


====''Super Mario Bros.'' May No. 4====
=====''Super Mario Bros.'' May No. 4=====
*[[Love Flounders]]
*[[Love Flounders]]


===''Adventures of Super Mario Bros.===
====''Adventures of Super Mario Bros.''====
====''Adventures of the Super Mario Bros.'' Feb. No. 1====
=====''Adventures of the Super Mario Bros.'' Feb. No. 1=====
*[[It's Always Fair Weather]]
*[[It's Always Fair Weather]]
*[[Family Album "The Early Years"]]
*[[Family Album "The Early Years"]]
*Welcome to Videoland
*Welcome to Videoland


====''Adventures of the Super Mario Bros.'' May No. 4====
=====''Adventures of the Super Mario Bros.'' May No. 4=====
*[[Bedtime for Drain-Head]]
*[[Bedtime for Drain-Head]]
*[[Koopa-Kola]]
*[[Koopa-Kola]]


====''Adventures of the Super Mario Bros.'' Jun No. 5====
=====''Adventures of the Super Mario Bros.'' Jun No. 5=====
*[[Betrayal Most Proper]]
*[[Betrayal Most Proper]]
*[[Weight Up]]
*[[Weight Up]]


====''Adventures of the Super Mario Bros.'' Aug No. 7====
=====''Adventures of the Super Mario Bros.'' Jul No. 6=====
*[[Elect Mario for Man of the Year]]
 
=====''Adventures of the Super Mario Bros.'' Aug No. 7=====
*[[The Revenge of Pipe Ooze!]]
*[[The Revenge of Pipe Ooze!]]
*[[Throne Out]]
*[[Throne Out]]
*[[Dear Princess Toadstool]]
*[[Dear Princess Toadstool]]


====''Adventures of the Super Mario Bros.'' Sep No. 8====
=====''Adventures of the Super Mario Bros.'' Sep No. 8=====
*[[The Buddy System]]
*[[The Buddy System]]


====''Adventures of the Super Mario Bros.'' Oct No. 9====
=====''Adventures of the Super Mario Bros.'' Oct No. 9=====
*[[Bowser Knows Best]]
*[[Bowser Knows Best]]
*Secrets of the Warp Zones
*Secrets of the Warp Zones


===''Nintendo Comics System Featuring...===
====''Nintendo Comics System Featuring...''====
====''Nintendo Comics System featuring Super Mario Bros.'' Jul No. 6====
=====''Nintendo Comics System featuring Super Mario Bros.'' Jul No. 6=====
*[[The Kingdom Enquirer]]
*[[The Kingdom Enquirer]]


====''Nintendo Comics System featuring Super Mario Bros.'' Sep No. 8====
=====''Nintendo Comics System featuring Super Mario Bros.'' Sep No. 8=====
*[[Minor Defects]]
*[[Minor Defects]]


====''Nintendo Comics System featuring Super Mario Bros.'' Oct. No. 9====
=====''Nintendo Comics System featuring Super Mario Bros.'' Oct. No. 9=====
*[[The Doctor Is In... Over His Head]]
*[[The Doctor Is In... Over His Head]]
*[[Koopa's Believe It or Else!]]
*[[Koopa's Believe It or Else!]]
*[[Mario Bros. Museum of Plumbing]]
*[[Mario Bros. Museum of Plumbing]]


==''The Best of Super Mario Bros.''==
===Hardcover collections===
 
====''The Best of the Nintendo Comics System''====
*[[In the Palm of Your Hand...]]
*[[It's a Small World After All]]
*Welcome to Videoland
*All's Well That Ends Swell
*Video-Town
*Outsiders
 
====''The Best of Super Mario Bros.''====
*[[The Legend]]
*[[The Legend]]
*[[Just Deserts]]
*[[Just Deserts]]
Line 154: Line 193:
*[[Bedtime for Drain-Head]]
*[[Bedtime for Drain-Head]]
*[[Koopa's High School Yearbook]]
*[[Koopa's High School Yearbook]]
*[[Cloud Nine]]
*[[Cloud Nine (comic)|Cloud Nine]]
*[[Betrayal Most Proper]]
*[[Betrayal Most Proper]]
*[[The Mario Bros. Guide to Grooming Your Moustache]]
*[[The Mario Bros. Guide to Grooming Your Moustache]]
Line 162: Line 201:
*[[Family Album "The Early Years"]]
*[[Family Album "The Early Years"]]


=="Graphic Novel Format"==
====''Valiant Illustrated Action Books''====
===''Super Mario Bros.: Mario's Special Powers''===
=====''The Super Mario Bros. Meet the Koopa Kids''=====
* [[Bowser Knows Best]]
* [[The Buddy System]]
* [[Kitchen Kraziness]]
* [[Throne Out]]
* [[Fins and Roses]]
* [[Get Koop-ed Up With the Nicest People]]
* [[Weight Up]]
* [[The Revenge of Pipe Ooze!]]
* [[The Mario Bros. Museum of Plumbing]]
 
=====''The Super Mario Bros. Battle Against Bowser''=====
* [[Magic Carpet Madness]]
* [[Koopa's High School Yearbook]]
* [[Koopa's Believe It or Else!]]
* [[Beauty and the Beach]]
* [[Koopa-Kola]]
* [[Koopatone]]
* [[Cloud Burst]]
* [[Duh Stoopid Bomb!]]
* [[The Mario Bros. Museum of Plumbing]]
 
=====''The Super Mario Bros. in: "Mario's Special Powers"''=====
*[[The Legend]]
*[[The Legend]]
*[[It's Always Fair Weather]]
*[[It's Always Fair Weather]]
Line 172: Line 233:
*[[Tanooki Suits Me]] (new, exclusive)
*[[Tanooki Suits Me]] (new, exclusive)


===''Super Mario: Tatanga Invades Earth''===
=====''Super Mario in: "Tatanga Invades Earth"''=====
*[[In the Palm of Your Hand...]], Parts I and II
*[[In the Palm of Your Hand...]], Parts I and II
*[[It's a Small World After All]], Parts I and II
*[[It's a Small World After All]], Parts I and II


==Elect Mario for Man of the Year==
==Gallery==
The book that this comic was printed in is unknown at this time.
<gallery>
*[[Elect Mario for Man of the Year]]
ValiantComics-Mario.JPG|[[Mario]]
ValiantComics-Luigi.JPG|[[Luigi]]
ValiantComics-Toadstool.JPG|[[Princess Peach|Princess Toadstool]]
ValiantComics-Toad.jpg|[[Toad]]
ValiantComics-KingToadstool.JPG|[[Mushroom King|King Toadstool]]
ValiantComics-Bowser.JPG|[[Bowser|King Koopa]]
</gallery>
 
==External links==
* ''[http://catfish.it.cx/trsrockin/trsrockin.com/ncs.html Nintendo Comics System]'' at TRS Rockin
* [https://valiant.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Nintendo Nintendo category at the Valiant Comics Wiki]


{{Publications}}
[[Category:Comics]]
[[Category:Comics]]
[[Category:Merchandise]]
[[Category:Lists]]
[[Category:Lists]]
[[Category:Nintendo Comics System|*]]
[[it:Nintendo Comics System]]

Latest revision as of 07:05, December 12, 2024

This article is under construction. Therefore, please excuse its informal appearance while it is being worked on. We hope to have it completed as soon as possible.

It has been suggested that this page be moved to Super Mario Bros. (Valiant Comics). (discuss)

The cover of the hardcover collection of The Best of the Super Mario Bros.
The cover for "Bedtime for Drain-Head", part of the Nintendo Comics System
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.
Comics for Nintendo players!
Now there's an idea! They'd have to be fast-paced. Intelligent. Sophisticated. Literate. Intriguing. Involving. Funny.
Why?
Because Nintendo players are smart, discerning, tasteful people with a sense of humor.
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. Running from 1990 to 1991, the comics include stories based on Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda (with some inspirations from the cartoon), Punch-Out!!, Metroid (one story), and 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 miniseries, focusing exclusively on Super Mario Land.

Overview[edit]

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 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.

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[edit]

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, Bill Valely, John Walker, and P. Zorito.

Publication history[edit]

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.

In January 1990, an 8-pages Sneak Preview featuring various pages from the upcoming comics and ultimately unused art was published. This was the first comic issue published by Valiant, predating the company's wrestling and self-owned superhero titles.

Below is a comprehensive list of Super Mario-related titles, including the Captain N comics that include Donkey Kong (an occasional antagonist in the series).

Heavy stock[edit]

Released in 1990.

Nintendo Comics System[edit]

These books contain comics from various systems.

Nintendo Comics System No. 1[edit]
Nintendo Comics System No. 2[edit]

Super Mario Bros.[edit]

Super Mario Bros. Special Edition #1[edit]
Super Mario Bros. #1[edit]
Super Mario Bros. #2[edit]
Super Mario Bros. #3[edit]
Super Mario Bros. #4[edit]

Captain N: The Game Master[edit]

Captain N: The Game Master No. 1[edit]
  • Welcome to Videoland
Captain N: The Game Master No. 3[edit]
  • Video-Town
Captain N: The Game Master No. 4[edit]
  • Secrets of the Warp Zones

Game Boy[edit]

Soft cover[edit]

Released in 1991.

Super Mario Bros.[edit]

Super Mario Bros. Feb No. 1[edit]
Super Mario Bros. May No. 4[edit]

Adventures of Super Mario Bros.[edit]

Adventures of the Super Mario Bros. Feb. No. 1[edit]
Adventures of the Super Mario Bros. May No. 4[edit]
Adventures of the Super Mario Bros. Jun No. 5[edit]
Adventures of the Super Mario Bros. Jul No. 6[edit]
Adventures of the Super Mario Bros. Aug No. 7[edit]
Adventures of the Super Mario Bros. Sep No. 8[edit]
Adventures of the Super Mario Bros. Oct No. 9[edit]

Nintendo Comics System Featuring...[edit]

Nintendo Comics System featuring Super Mario Bros. Jul No. 6[edit]
Nintendo Comics System featuring Super Mario Bros. Sep No. 8[edit]
Nintendo Comics System featuring Super Mario Bros. Oct. No. 9[edit]

Hardcover collections[edit]

The Best of the Nintendo Comics System[edit]

The Best of Super Mario Bros.[edit]

Valiant Illustrated Action Books[edit]

The Super Mario Bros. Meet the Koopa Kids[edit]
The Super Mario Bros. Battle Against Bowser[edit]
The Super Mario Bros. in: "Mario's Special Powers"[edit]
Super Mario in: "Tatanga Invades Earth"[edit]

Gallery[edit]

External links[edit]