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[[Image: Tatanga.GIF|frame|right|'''Tatanga''' in his war vessel [[Pagosu]].]]
{{character infobox
|image=[[File:Tatanga in Pagosu.png|180px]]<br>Artwork from ''Super Mario Land''
|caption=Tatanga in [[Pagosu]]
|full_name=Tatanga the Mysterious Spaceman<ref name=ENG>{{cite|publisher=Nintendo of America|title=''Super Mario Land'' instruction booklet|page=17|date=1989|language=en-us}}</ref>
|species=Alien
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario Land]]'' ([[List of games by date#1989|1989]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Super Mario-kun Special Selection]]'' (2023)
}}
{{quote|I am not interested in what Mario would do! Tatanga does as he pleases!|Tatanga|In the Palm of Your Hand...}}
'''Tatanga''' (also known as '''Tatanga the Mysterious Spaceman'''<ref name=ENG/>) is an alien invader from an unknown planet. Although feared as an invader, outside of his spacecraft he is only a meek violet alien. During the events of ''[[Super Mario Land]]'', Tatanga captures [[Princess Daisy|Daisy]], the princess of [[Sarasaland]], and orders his armies to guard the land's four kingdoms. Tatanga is also the first extraterrestrial main villain to appear in the [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]].


While Tatanga's homeworld and the name of his species are not revealed, what may be another member of his race appears as a boss in the [[Wario's Woods (Super Nintendo Entertainment System)|SNES version of ''Wario's Woods'']], named [[Katsini]].


'''Tatanga''' (also known as '''Tatanga the Mysterious Space Man''') is an alien invader who conquered [[Sarasaland]]. During the events of ''[[Super Mario Land]]'', Tatanga captured [[Daisy]], the princess of Sarasaland, and ordered his armies to occupy the land's four kingdoms - [[Birabuto Kingdom | Birabuto]], [[Muda Kingdom | Muda]], [[Easton Kingdom | Easton]], and [[Chai Kingdom | Chai]]. The hero of the [[Mushroom Kingdom]], [[Mario]], ventured to this new land and liberated the occupied kingdoms. In the end, he confronted the evil Tatanga in an epic showdown in the sky.
==History==
===''Super Mario'' series===
====''Super Mario Land''====
[[File:Tatanga-SML.png|frame|right]]
Tatanga makes his debut appearance in ''Super Mario Land'', as the main antagonist. Appearing out of a large black cloud, he invades Sarasaland and captures Princess Daisy while hypnotizing the inhabitants of Sarasaland. With them under his control, he has the most powerful of his new minions guard the four kingdoms of Sarasaland - the [[Birabuto Kingdom]], [[Muda Kingdom]], [[Easton Kingdom]], and [[Chai Kingdom]]. When [[Mario]] defeats the hypnotized creatures and liberates all four kingdoms, Tatanga engages with him in air combat in a last-ditch effort. During the climactic battle, Tatanga fights in his war robot, [[Pagosu]], while Mario fights in his airplane, the [[Sky Pop]]. Mario has to fire his missiles at Pagosu while dodging its big projectiles, which immediately split into three small projectiles upon being fired. After twenty-five hits, Pagosu is destroyed, and the player gains 5000 points. Immediately afterward, Mario rescues Princess Daisy and peace is returned to Sarasaland.


During the climatic battle, Tatanga fought in his spaceship, the [[Pagosu]], while Mario fought in his airplane, the [[Sky Pop]]. Mario had to fire his missiles at Tatanga's spaceship while dodging the war vessel's scattering rockets. After forty hits, the Pagosu was destroyed (and Mario gained 5000 [[point]]s); however, the alien invader escaped. In the end, the heroic plumber rescued Princess Daisy and peace is returned to Sarasaland.
Tatanga also appears in the board game adaptation, ''[[Das Super Mario Spiel]]'', where he reprises his role as the game's final boss. However, his artwork on the game board depicts him with a teal coloration, rather than purple.


However, all is not as it seems. As it turns out, Tatanga was hired by [[Wario]] to invade the peaceful Sarasaland and kidnap Princess Daisy, just so Wario could conquer [[Mario's Castle]]. While Mario was distracted with Tatanga, Wario took over [[Mario Land]] and occupied Mario's Castle. After Mario defeated the alien invader, Tatanga fled to Wario's new castle. The spaceman was given one of the six golden coins needed to access Wario's Castle, and he set up base in the Space Zone.
One of Tatanga's most notable minions is the [[Honen]], who, according to the game's instruction manual, is the skeleton of a [[Torion]] after being eaten by Tatanga.<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario Land'' instruction booklet|page=15|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=1989|language=en-us}}</ref>


[[Image: Tatanga3.GIF|frame|right|'''Tatanga''' in a considerably weaker spaceship.]]
====''Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins''====
[[File:Tatanga1.PNG|thumb|Tatanga piloting a smaller spaceship in ''Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins'']]
[[File:Tatanga-SML2.png|frame|left]]
Tatanga, known only as the "'''Alien'''" in preview material,<ref>{{cite|title=''Nintendo Magazine System'' (AU) Issue #5|page=55|date=August 1993}}</ref> reappears as a boss in ''[[Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins]]''. Although his role in this game is not as significant, he does play a part. While Mario is distracted fighting Tatanga in ''Super Mario Land'', [[Wario]] takes over [[Mario Land (Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins)|Mario Land]] and occupies [[Mario's castle]]. After Tatanga's initial defeat, he is given one of the 6 [[Golden Coin]]s by Wario, and then sets up a base in the [[Space Zone]].


During the events of ''[[Super Mario Land 2]]'', Mario tracks down Tatanga and the two fight for a second time. However, in this battle, Tatanga does not fight in his war vessel Pagosu. This time Tatanga fights with a smaller space craft, capable of shooting energy weapons and dive bombing Mario. While descending in his dive bomb attack, Mario jumped on top of the space invader. After three hits, Tatanga was defeated and Mario recovered the golden coin of [[Space Zone]]. Ultimately, Mario uses the six golden coins to open the doors to his castle and kick Wario out.
During ''Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins'', Mario tracks down Tatanga, and the two fight for a second time. However, in this battle, Tatanga fights with a different, smaller spacecraft, capable of shooting energy weapons and dive-bombing Mario. When he descends for his dive-bomb attack, Mario must jump on top of the vessel to land a hit. After three hits, or six [[fireball]]s, Mario defeats Tatanga and recovers the Golden Coin of Space Zone. Like all other bosses except Wario, Tatanga falls off the screen upon defeat, though his spaceship simply disappears before he falls. While falling, his full body is shown, being notably shorter than [[Super Mario (form)|Super Mario]].


Tatanga, the Mysterious Spaceman, has not been seen since. However, Tatanga was mentioned in Princess Daisy's bio in the game ''[[Mario Superstar Baseball]]''. Strangely, the alien did not appear as a trophy in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' (even [[Stanley the Bugman]] has a trophy). However, Tatanga was mentioned in [[Daisy]]'s trophy.
The ''[[Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten]]'' indicates Tatanga became Wario's henchman to get revenge on Mario for ruining his scheme to marry Daisy.<ref>{{cite|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|language=Japanese|title=''Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten''|page=[https://imgur.com/a/UvABP#16 32]|date=1994|quote=「オイラは{{ruby|宇宙怪人|うちゅうかいじん}}タタンガ。マリオランドでサラサ・ランドを{{ruby|乗|の}}っ{{ruby|取|と}}り、デイジー{{ruby|姫|ひめ}}を{{ruby|妃|きさき}}にしようとしたらマリオに{{ruby|邪魔|じゃま}}されちまった。{{ruby|今度|こんど}}はオイラが{{ruby|邪魔|じゃま}}をしてやる!」 ("''I'm the Mysterious Spaceman Tatanga. In Mario Land, I took over Sarasa Land and tried to take Princess Daisy as my queen, but Mario got in my way. This time I'll get in his way!''")}}</ref>


Tatanga also resembles [[Katsini]] a [[boss]] from ''[[Wario's Woods]]''.  
A mini-guide of the game included in the Kodansha adaptation suggests that the alien may not be the same character as Tatanga,<ref name=KC>{{cite|author=Kazuki, Motoyama|title=[[Super Mario (Kodansha manga)|KC Deluxe]] vol. 20 - ''Super Mario Land 2: 6-tsu no Kinka 2''|page=4|quote=「スペースゾーンのラストには、あのタタンガににた{{ruby|宇宙人|うちゅうじん}}があらわれる。」 (''At the end of the Space Zone, a space alien that looks like Tatanga appears.'')}}</ref> despite the manga itself and other sources indicating otherwise.


== Other Media ==
Unlike the other bosses featured in ''Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins'', Tatanga does not appear in [[Nintendo Power]]'s ''[[Mario vs. Wario]]'' comic, despite being perhaps the most major boss next to Wario, given his status as ''Super Mario Land''{{'}}s antagonist.
[[Image: TatangaComic.GIF|frame|left|'''Tatanga''', as he appears in the comics.]]
Tatanga appeared as a villain in the [[Game Boy]] comic books created by the company Valiant. In the comics, Tatanga lives in an alternate dimension that exists within a Game Boy. However, the evil alien hypnotizes [[Herman Smirch]], a [[human]] from New Jersey, causing the man to release Tatanga from the Game Boy. Upon arriving on [[Earth]], Tatanga hopes to conquer the planet and rule it with an iron fist. Each time Tatanga was released, he always tried to take over an Earth monument, such as Disney World or the World Trade Center. One time, Tatanga and his minions conquered the Great Wall of China. However, Mario is always released from the Game Boy, and the hero inevitable brings the evil alien back to the Game Boy dimension. As it turns out, Herman Smirch was merely hallucinating all these events. However, the comic series was canceled before this plot point was revealed.


===''Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up''===
Tatanga makes a cameo in ''[[Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up]]'', piloting Pagosu in the Astronaut coloring page.


{{start box}}
===''Game Boy''===
{{succession box |
Tatanga appears as the villain in the ''Game Boy'' comic books spun off from the [[Nintendo Comics System]], produced by the company [[Valiant]]. In the comics, Tatanga lives in an alternate dimension that exists within a Game Boy. He hypnotizes [[Herman Smirch]], a human from New Jersey, while playing ''Super Mario Land'', causing the man to release Tatanga from the Game Boy. Upon arriving on [[Earth]], Tatanga hopes to conquer the planet and rule it with an iron fist. He is released several times, each time attempting to conquer an Earth monument, such as {{wp|Walt Disney World}}, the {{wp|World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center}}, or the [[Great Wall of China]]. However, Mario is always released from the Game Boy as well to thwart his schemes and bring him back to the Game Boy dimension.
  | title = Leader of [[Sarasaland]]
  | game = ''[[Super Mario Land]]''
  | before = [[Princess Daisy]]
  | after = [[Princess Daisy]]
|}}
{{end box}}


In the miniseries, Tatanga's relationship with Daisy is similar to the one between [[Princess Peach]] and [[Bowser]], in that he appears to genuinely love the princess, with several of his attempted conquests being done solely in an attempt to impress her. Additionally, in this series he is considerably bigger and more muscular than in the games, has more pronounced fangs and claws, and wears a black uniform. His Pagosu is also able to assume a more humanoid form, making it resemble battle armor.


{{Mario villains}}
===''Super Mario'' (Kodansha manga)===
[[File:Tatanga KC Deluxe.png|thumb|left|Tatanga introducing himself]]
Tatanga appears in the [[Super Mario (Kodansha manga)|''Super Mario'' gag manga by Kodansha]], as a recurring character.


[[Category: Characters]]
In ''[[Super Mario Land (manga)|Super Mario Land]]'' he plays the role of main antagonist. He is seen doing many of the things described in that game's instruction booklet, such as abducting Daisy, having hypnotic powers, eating Torions and creating Honens, and trying to force Daisy to marry him.
[[Category: Enemies]]
 
[[Category: Villains]]
Tatanga later appears in ''[[Super Mario Land 3 (manga)|Super Mario Land 3]]'' during a tennis tournament as [[Bowser]]'s tennis partner, and makes a cameo next to Daisy on the sidelines in the ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'' arc.
[[Category: Bosses]]
 
During ''[[Super Mario Land 2 - 6 Tsu no Kinka 2]]'', Wario convinces Tatanga to get revenge on Mario, offering a new spaceship to replace the destroyed [[Pagosu]]. When Wario manipulates Daisy into becoming [[Warudaisy]], she hitches a ride on Tatanga's spaceship to his home planet. Tatanga announces his marriage to the now evil Daisy, but she seizes the opportunity to use a brainwashing technique on his people to serve Wario, and she proceeds to convert [[Luigi]] and [[Princess Peach|Peach]] as well. However, Mario breaks the spell by kissing Daisy on the cheek, stunning Tatanga as he drops the wedding ring he was about to give to Daisy. He attacks Mario with his spaceship, dropping gas bombs which prompt Luigi, Peach, and Mario to put on suits, but the nearby aliens are caught in the gas; when Mario wonders why Tatanga would risk harming his own people, Wario's hologram shows up and reveals that it is because Tatanga is under his mind control. With the help of the [[Hippo]]'s [[bubble|soap bubble]]s, Daisy and the aliens float to safety. Mario catches a wide space cutter and tosses it back at Tatanga's ship, cutting it in half and causing an explosion that leaves behind a letter to Daisy, saying that he enjoyed his time with her, making her teary-eyed. Later, Tatanga is revealed to have survived and arrives to help in his spaceship with Daisy, who takes her flowery earrings off and throws them to Mario and Luigi, turning them to [[Fire Mario|Fire Mario and Fire Luigi]] as all three blast Wario together.
While an overall villainous figure, Tatanga is also depicted as comical, particularly in his genuine crush on Daisy. A recurring gag is for characters to be disappointed by Tatanga's short height. In the manga, he is given a more detailed design as opposed to the game. He now has a frilled black uniform, a cape, batlike ears, a belt with the letter T on it, and an entire mouth full of fangs.
 
===''Super Mario-kun''===
[[File:SML_enemies_SMKun.png|thumb|right|Tatanga and his minions working with Bowser in ''Super Mario-kun'' volume 3]]
In ''[[Super Mario-kun]]'', Tatanga is mentioned in [[Super Mario-kun Volume 2|volume 2]], when Mario recalls the ending of ''Super Mario Land'', right when he rescued Daisy.
 
Tatanga appears in the last chapter of the [[Super Mario-kun Volume 3|next volume]], where he rents his minions to Bowser. A newspaper clip read by [[Bowser's Minions]] reveals the negotiations between the two villains, with Tatanga wanting to ask for ¥5,000 in total and Bowser offering ¥50.
 
Tatanga last appearance in the manga is in the [[Super Mario-kun Volume 9|ninth volume]], where he appears in the Space Zone, steals Mario's collected Golden Coins, and flees, prompting Mario, [[Carrot]], [[Yokkī]], and Hippo to follow him. During the battle, Tatanga seems to have the upper hand until his projectiles are used against him, but he then shoots a spherical projectile that Yokkī eats, later revealed to be fireworks, which send the heroes back to Earth. While Tatanga rejoices, someone surprises him from behind. Back on Earth, a [[Santa Claus]]-like character appears and gifts Mario the six Golden Coins, who is later revealed to be Bowser, who wanted to do something good for his "best enemy" during the Christmas season. The chapter ends with a shot of a bruised Tatanga, muttering something about a horned Santa.
 
===''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''===
Tatanga makes an appearance in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' as an Advanced-class Shield-type primary [[Spirit (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)|spirit]] with two support slots. It simply raises the user's power without granting any special effects. The spirit's puppet fighter is [[Morton]], who starts the battle with a [[Super Scope]], on the [[smashwiki:Battlefield form|Battlefield form]] of the [[Mario Galaxy (stage)|Mario Galaxy]] stage. Tatanga is also mentioned in the Palutena's Guidance for Daisy, where Pit and Palutena discuss Daisy's history; Pit ends up dismissing Tatanga as little more than a cheap substitute for Bowser to kidnap a princess and kick off the plot.
 
===Other appearances===
Tatanga is mentioned in Princess Daisy's bio in the game ''[[Mario Superstar Baseball]]'' and her trophies in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''. He is later mentioned in ''[[Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games]]''.{{ref needed}}
{{br}}
 
==Profiles and statistics==
===''Super Mario Land''===
*'''Instruction booklet:'''
{{Multilang profile
|EngA=This unknown space monster appeared suddenly from deep space. He drives the war robot Pagosu, and attacks with scattered meandering rockets.
|FreE=Monstre, dont la nature même reste une énigme, apparu soudain d'au delà du cosmos. A bord du robot combattant Pagosu, il attaque dans toutes les directions à l'aide de roquettes<ref name=FRIB/>
}}
 
{{Multilang profile
|type=vc_3ds
|EngA=This unknown monster appeared suddenly from deep space. He pilots the robot Pagosu and attacks with scattered rockets.
|EngE=This unknown space monster suddenly appeared from outer space. He drives the war robot Pagosu and attacks with scattered, meandering rockets.
|Dut=Dit mysterieuze ruimtemonster dook plotseling op vanuit de ruimte. Hij bestuurt de oorlogsrobot Pagosu en valt aan met een breed spervuur van onvoorspelbare projectielen.
|FreE=Ce monstre venu de l'espace et inconnu de tous est apparu un jour sans crier gare. Il est aux commandes de Pagosu, son robot de guerre, et tire des roquettes dans tous les sens.
|Ger=Das Ungeheuer, das eines Tages aus den Tiefen des Alls erschien. Er steuert den Kampfroboter Pagosu, der mit unberechenbaren Geschossen bewaffnet ist.
|Ita=Questo misterioso mostro spaziale è apparso all'improvviso dallo spazio più profondo. Guida un robot da guerra chiamato Pagosu e attacca con razzi dalla traiettoria impazzita.
|SpaE=Este misterioso set llegó de repente de los remotos confines de la galaxia. Pilota un engendro robótico de guerra al que llama Pagosu. Sus ondas nucleares de choque pueden llegar a resultar devastadoras...
}}
 
===''[[Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten]]''===
{{PBMCD profile
|name=タタンガ (JP) / Tatanga (EN)
|artwork=
|shusshin=不明
|seikaku=小心者
|tojo_gemu=ランド1、 ランド2
|desc='''<big>今やワリオの手下？</big><br>
「オイラは{{ruby|宇宙怪人|うちゅうかいじん}}タタンガ。マリオランドでサラサ・ランドを{{ruby|乗|の}}っ{{ruby|取|と}}り、デイジー{{ruby|姫|ひめ}}を{{ruby|妃|きさき}}にしようとしたらマリオに{{ruby|邪魔|じゃま}}されちまった。{{ruby|今度|こんど}}はオイラが{{ruby|邪魔|じゃま}}をしてやる!」
|origin=Unknown
|disposition=Timid person
|game_appearances=Land 1, Land 2
|eng_desc='''''<big>Now Wario's lackey?</big><br>
''“I'm the Mysterious Spaceman Tatanga. In Mario Land, I took over Sarasa Land and tried to take Princess Daisy as my queen, but Mario got in my way. This time I'll get in his way!”''
}}
 
===''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''===
{{Spirit
|no=57
|name=Tatanga
|image=[[File:Tatanga in Pagosu.png|100px]]
|series=''[[Super Mario (series)|Super Mario]]'' Series
|type=Primary
|slots=2
|class=Advanced
|effects='''{{color|deepskyblue|Shield}}'''
|obtain=[[smashwiki:Spirit Board|Spirit Board]]
|opponents=[[Morton]]
|conditions=The enemy starts the battle with a [[Super Scope]]
|stage=[[Mario Galaxy (stage)|Mario Galaxy]] ([[smashwiki:Battlefield form|Battlefield]])
|song=Underground Theme - Super Mario Land
}}
 
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Tatanga Das Super Mario Spiel.png|Tatanga in ''Das Super Mario Spiel''
Kellogg's Nintendo Collector sticker 02.jpg|A [[Kellogg's]] sticker based on ''Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins''
Astronaut.png|Tatanga's cameo in ''Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up''
Tatanga in the Game Boy comics.png|Tatanga in the ''Game Boy'' comics
In the Palm of Your Hand.jpg|''[[In the Palm of Your Hand...]]''
Nintendo Comics System Vol 1 1.jpg|''In the Palm of Your Hand...''
</gallery>
 
==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=宇宙怪人タタンガ<ref>{{cite|title=スーパーマリオランド (''Sūpā Mario Rando'') instruction booklet|page=21|date=1989|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref>
|JapR=Uchū kaijin Tatanga
|JapM=Mysterious Spaceman Tatanga
|Jap2={{ruby|宇宙人|うちゅうじん}}<ref name=KC/>
|Jap2R=Uchūjin
|Jap2M=Space Alien
|Dut=De Mysterieuze Ruimteman Tatanga<ref>{{cite|title=''Club Nintendo'' (Netherlands) ''Classic''|page=9}}</ref>
|DutM=The Mysterious Spaceman Tatanga
|Fre=Tatanga
|Fre2=Tatanga, monstre mystérieux de l'espace<ref name=FRIB>{{cite|title=''Super Mario Land'' French instruction booklet|page=[https://i.imgur.com/dw3iXFN.jpg 17]}}</ref>
|Fre3=Tatanga, le monstre de l'espace<ref>''Super Mario Land'' Virtual Console electronic manual (European French). Tab 14.</ref>
|Fre2M=Tatanga, mysterious monster from space
|Fre3M=Tatanga, mysterious monster from space
|Ger=Tatanga, der rätselhafte Raumfahrer<ref>''Super Mario Land'' Virtual Console electronic manual (German). Tab 14.</ref>
|GerM=Tatanga, the enigmatic spaceman
|Ger2=Tatanga<ref>{{cite|author=Moyse, Claude M., Andreas G. Kämmerer, and Marcus Menold, editors|title=''Der Offizielle Nintendo Game Boy-Spieleberater 2''|language=de|location=Großostheim|publisher=[[Nintendo|Nintendo of Europe GmbH]]|date=1994|page=20}}</ref>
|Ita=Tatanga
|Ita2=Tatanga, il Misterioso Personaggio Spaziale<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Super Mario Land]]'' Italian manual|page=17|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|language=it}}</ref>
|Ita3=Alieno<ref>{{cite|title=''Club Nintendo'' (Italy) Numero 1|date=1993|page=24}}</ref>
|Ita4=Tatanga, il mostro dello spazio<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia]]''|page=46}}</ref>
|Ita2M=Tatanga, the Mysterious Space Character
|Ita3M=Alien
|Ita4M=Tatanga, the space monster
|Rus=Татанга
|RusR=Tatanga
|RusM=Tatanga
|Spa=Tatanga
|Spa2=Tatanga, el ser del espacio<ref>''Super Mario Land'' Virtual Console electronic manual (European Spanish). Tab 14.</ref>
|Spa2M=Tatanga, the Being from Space
}}
 
==References==
<references/>
 
{{SML}}
{{SML2}}
[[Category:Aliens]]
[[Category:Final bosses]]
[[Category:Super Mario Land bosses]]
[[Category:Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins bosses]]
[[Category:Super Mario-kun characters]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. Ultimate spirits]]
[[de:Tatanga]]
[[it:Tatanga]]

Latest revision as of 08:35, November 14, 2024

Tatanga
Tatanga in Pagosu, Super Mario Land
Artwork from Super Mario Land
Full name Tatanga the Mysterious Spaceman[1]
Species Alien
First appearance Super Mario Land (1989)
Latest appearance Super Mario-kun Special Selection (2023)
“I am not interested in what Mario would do! Tatanga does as he pleases!”
—Tatanga, In the Palm of Your Hand...

Tatanga (also known as Tatanga the Mysterious Spaceman[1]) is an alien invader from an unknown planet. Although feared as an invader, outside of his spacecraft he is only a meek violet alien. During the events of Super Mario Land, Tatanga captures Daisy, the princess of Sarasaland, and orders his armies to guard the land's four kingdoms. Tatanga is also the first extraterrestrial main villain to appear in the Super Mario franchise.

While Tatanga's homeworld and the name of his species are not revealed, what may be another member of his race appears as a boss in the SNES version of Wario's Woods, named Katsini.

History[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario Land[edit]

Tatanga in Pagosu, from Super Mario Land.

Tatanga makes his debut appearance in Super Mario Land, as the main antagonist. Appearing out of a large black cloud, he invades Sarasaland and captures Princess Daisy while hypnotizing the inhabitants of Sarasaland. With them under his control, he has the most powerful of his new minions guard the four kingdoms of Sarasaland - the Birabuto Kingdom, Muda Kingdom, Easton Kingdom, and Chai Kingdom. When Mario defeats the hypnotized creatures and liberates all four kingdoms, Tatanga engages with him in air combat in a last-ditch effort. During the climactic battle, Tatanga fights in his war robot, Pagosu, while Mario fights in his airplane, the Sky Pop. Mario has to fire his missiles at Pagosu while dodging its big projectiles, which immediately split into three small projectiles upon being fired. After twenty-five hits, Pagosu is destroyed, and the player gains 5000 points. Immediately afterward, Mario rescues Princess Daisy and peace is returned to Sarasaland.

Tatanga also appears in the board game adaptation, Das Super Mario Spiel, where he reprises his role as the game's final boss. However, his artwork on the game board depicts him with a teal coloration, rather than purple.

One of Tatanga's most notable minions is the Honen, who, according to the game's instruction manual, is the skeleton of a Torion after being eaten by Tatanga.[2]

Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins[edit]

Artwork of Tatanga, from Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins.
Tatanga piloting a smaller spaceship in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Tatanga, from Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins.

Tatanga, known only as the "Alien" in preview material,[3] reappears as a boss in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. Although his role in this game is not as significant, he does play a part. While Mario is distracted fighting Tatanga in Super Mario Land, Wario takes over Mario Land and occupies Mario's castle. After Tatanga's initial defeat, he is given one of the 6 Golden Coins by Wario, and then sets up a base in the Space Zone.

During Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, Mario tracks down Tatanga, and the two fight for a second time. However, in this battle, Tatanga fights with a different, smaller spacecraft, capable of shooting energy weapons and dive-bombing Mario. When he descends for his dive-bomb attack, Mario must jump on top of the vessel to land a hit. After three hits, or six fireballs, Mario defeats Tatanga and recovers the Golden Coin of Space Zone. Like all other bosses except Wario, Tatanga falls off the screen upon defeat, though his spaceship simply disappears before he falls. While falling, his full body is shown, being notably shorter than Super Mario.

The Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten indicates Tatanga became Wario's henchman to get revenge on Mario for ruining his scheme to marry Daisy.[4]

A mini-guide of the game included in the Kodansha adaptation suggests that the alien may not be the same character as Tatanga,[5] despite the manga itself and other sources indicating otherwise.

Unlike the other bosses featured in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, Tatanga does not appear in Nintendo Power's Mario vs. Wario comic, despite being perhaps the most major boss next to Wario, given his status as Super Mario Land's antagonist.

Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up[edit]

Tatanga makes a cameo in Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up, piloting Pagosu in the Astronaut coloring page.

Game Boy[edit]

Tatanga appears as the villain in the Game Boy comic books spun off from the Nintendo Comics System, produced by the company Valiant. In the comics, Tatanga lives in an alternate dimension that exists within a Game Boy. He hypnotizes Herman Smirch, a human from New Jersey, while playing Super Mario Land, causing the man to release Tatanga from the Game Boy. Upon arriving on Earth, Tatanga hopes to conquer the planet and rule it with an iron fist. He is released several times, each time attempting to conquer an Earth monument, such as Walt Disney World, the World Trade Center, or the Great Wall of China. However, Mario is always released from the Game Boy as well to thwart his schemes and bring him back to the Game Boy dimension.

In the miniseries, Tatanga's relationship with Daisy is similar to the one between Princess Peach and Bowser, in that he appears to genuinely love the princess, with several of his attempted conquests being done solely in an attempt to impress her. Additionally, in this series he is considerably bigger and more muscular than in the games, has more pronounced fangs and claws, and wears a black uniform. His Pagosu is also able to assume a more humanoid form, making it resemble battle armor.

Super Mario (Kodansha manga)[edit]

Artwork of Tatanga from the KC Deluxe manga.
Tatanga introducing himself

Tatanga appears in the Super Mario gag manga by Kodansha, as a recurring character.

In Super Mario Land he plays the role of main antagonist. He is seen doing many of the things described in that game's instruction booklet, such as abducting Daisy, having hypnotic powers, eating Torions and creating Honens, and trying to force Daisy to marry him.

Tatanga later appears in Super Mario Land 3 during a tennis tournament as Bowser's tennis partner, and makes a cameo next to Daisy on the sidelines in the Super Mario Kart arc.

During Super Mario Land 2 - 6 Tsu no Kinka 2, Wario convinces Tatanga to get revenge on Mario, offering a new spaceship to replace the destroyed Pagosu. When Wario manipulates Daisy into becoming Warudaisy, she hitches a ride on Tatanga's spaceship to his home planet. Tatanga announces his marriage to the now evil Daisy, but she seizes the opportunity to use a brainwashing technique on his people to serve Wario, and she proceeds to convert Luigi and Peach as well. However, Mario breaks the spell by kissing Daisy on the cheek, stunning Tatanga as he drops the wedding ring he was about to give to Daisy. He attacks Mario with his spaceship, dropping gas bombs which prompt Luigi, Peach, and Mario to put on suits, but the nearby aliens are caught in the gas; when Mario wonders why Tatanga would risk harming his own people, Wario's hologram shows up and reveals that it is because Tatanga is under his mind control. With the help of the Hippo's soap bubbles, Daisy and the aliens float to safety. Mario catches a wide space cutter and tosses it back at Tatanga's ship, cutting it in half and causing an explosion that leaves behind a letter to Daisy, saying that he enjoyed his time with her, making her teary-eyed. Later, Tatanga is revealed to have survived and arrives to help in his spaceship with Daisy, who takes her flowery earrings off and throws them to Mario and Luigi, turning them to Fire Mario and Fire Luigi as all three blast Wario together.

While an overall villainous figure, Tatanga is also depicted as comical, particularly in his genuine crush on Daisy. A recurring gag is for characters to be disappointed by Tatanga's short height. In the manga, he is given a more detailed design as opposed to the game. He now has a frilled black uniform, a cape, batlike ears, a belt with the letter T on it, and an entire mouth full of fangs.

Super Mario-kun[edit]

Bowser explaining how he rented out Tatanga's minions
Tatanga and his minions working with Bowser in Super Mario-kun volume 3

In Super Mario-kun, Tatanga is mentioned in volume 2, when Mario recalls the ending of Super Mario Land, right when he rescued Daisy.

Tatanga appears in the last chapter of the next volume, where he rents his minions to Bowser. A newspaper clip read by Bowser's Minions reveals the negotiations between the two villains, with Tatanga wanting to ask for ¥5,000 in total and Bowser offering ¥50.

Tatanga last appearance in the manga is in the ninth volume, where he appears in the Space Zone, steals Mario's collected Golden Coins, and flees, prompting Mario, Carrot, Yokkī, and Hippo to follow him. During the battle, Tatanga seems to have the upper hand until his projectiles are used against him, but he then shoots a spherical projectile that Yokkī eats, later revealed to be fireworks, which send the heroes back to Earth. While Tatanga rejoices, someone surprises him from behind. Back on Earth, a Santa Claus-like character appears and gifts Mario the six Golden Coins, who is later revealed to be Bowser, who wanted to do something good for his "best enemy" during the Christmas season. The chapter ends with a shot of a bruised Tatanga, muttering something about a horned Santa.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

Tatanga makes an appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as an Advanced-class Shield-type primary spirit with two support slots. It simply raises the user's power without granting any special effects. The spirit's puppet fighter is Morton, who starts the battle with a Super Scope, on the Battlefield form of the Mario Galaxy stage. Tatanga is also mentioned in the Palutena's Guidance for Daisy, where Pit and Palutena discuss Daisy's history; Pit ends up dismissing Tatanga as little more than a cheap substitute for Bowser to kidnap a princess and kick off the plot.

Other appearances[edit]

Tatanga is mentioned in Princess Daisy's bio in the game Mario Superstar Baseball and her trophies in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. He is later mentioned in Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games.[citation needed]

Profiles and statistics[edit]

Super Mario Land[edit]

  • Instruction booklet:
  • English (American):
    This unknown space monster appeared suddenly from deep space. He drives the war robot Pagosu, and attacks with scattered meandering rockets.
  • French (Europe):
    Monstre, dont la nature même reste une énigme, apparu soudain d'au delà du cosmos. A bord du robot combattant Pagosu, il attaque dans toutes les directions à l'aide de roquettes[6]


  • Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console manual description:
    • English (American):
      This unknown monster appeared suddenly from deep space. He pilots the robot Pagosu and attacks with scattered rockets.
    • English (British):
      This unknown space monster suddenly appeared from outer space. He drives the war robot Pagosu and attacks with scattered, meandering rockets.
    • Dutch:
      Dit mysterieuze ruimtemonster dook plotseling op vanuit de ruimte. Hij bestuurt de oorlogsrobot Pagosu en valt aan met een breed spervuur van onvoorspelbare projectielen.
    • French (Europe):
      Ce monstre venu de l'espace et inconnu de tous est apparu un jour sans crier gare. Il est aux commandes de Pagosu, son robot de guerre, et tire des roquettes dans tous les sens.
    • German:
      Das Ungeheuer, das eines Tages aus den Tiefen des Alls erschien. Er steuert den Kampfroboter Pagosu, der mit unberechenbaren Geschossen bewaffnet ist.
    • Italian:
      Questo misterioso mostro spaziale è apparso all'improvviso dallo spazio più profondo. Guida un robot da guerra chiamato Pagosu e attacca con razzi dalla traiettoria impazzita.
    • Spanish (Europe):
      Este misterioso set llegó de repente de los remotos confines de la galaxia. Pilota un engendro robótico de guerra al que llama Pagosu. Sus ondas nucleares de choque pueden llegar a resultar devastadoras...

Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten[edit]

タタンガ (JP) / Tatanga (EN)
Original text (Japanese) Translation
出身しゅっしん 不明 Place of origin Unknown
性格せいかく 小心者 Disposition Timid person
登場とうじょうゲーム ランド1、 ランド2 Game appearances Land 1, Land 2
今やワリオの手下？

「オイラは宇宙怪人うちゅうかいじんタタンガ。マリオランドでサラサ・ランドを乗のっ取とり、デイジー姫ひめを妃きさきにしようとしたらマリオに邪魔じゃまされちまった。今度こんどはオイラが邪魔じゃまをしてやる!」

Now Wario's lackey?

“I'm the Mysterious Spaceman Tatanga. In Mario Land, I took over Sarasa Land and tried to take Princess Daisy as my queen, but Mario got in my way. This time I'll get in his way!”

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

Spirit
#57 Tatanga
Tatanga in Pagosu, Super Mario Land Series/game Super Mario Series
Type Primary
Slots 2
Class Advanced
Strength / effect(s) Shield
How to obtain Spirit Board
Spirit battle Opponent(s) Morton
Conditions

The enemy starts the battle with a Super Scope

Stage Mario Galaxy (Battlefield)
Song Underground Theme - Super Mario Land

Gallery[edit]

  • Tatanga in Das Super Mario Spiel

    Tatanga in Das Super Mario Spiel

  • A Kellogg's sticker based on Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

    A Kellogg's sticker based on Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

  • Tatanga's cameo in Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up

    Tatanga's cameo in Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up

  • Tatanga in the Game Boy comics

    Tatanga in the Game Boy comics

  • In the Palm of Your Hand...

    In the Palm of Your Hand...

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese 宇宙怪人タタンガ[7]
Uchū kaijin Tatanga 		Mysterious Spaceman Tatanga
宇宙人うちゅうじん[5]
Uchūjin 		Space Alien
Dutch De Mysterieuze Ruimteman Tatanga[8] The Mysterious Spaceman Tatanga
French Tatanga[?] -
Tatanga, monstre mystérieux de l'espace[6] Tatanga, mysterious monster from space
Tatanga, le monstre de l'espace[9]
German Tatanga, der rätselhafte Raumfahrer[10] Tatanga, the enigmatic spaceman
Tatanga[11] -
Italian Tatanga[?] -
Tatanga, il Misterioso Personaggio Spaziale[12] Tatanga, the Mysterious Space Character
Alieno[13] Alien
Tatanga, il mostro dello spazio[14] Tatanga, the space monster
Russian Татанга[?]
Tatanga 		Tatanga
Spanish Tatanga[?] -
Tatanga, el ser del espacio[15] Tatanga, the Being from Space

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b 1989. Super Mario Land instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 17.
  2. ^ 1989. Super Mario Land instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 15.
  3. ^ August 1993. Nintendo Magazine System (AU) Issue #5. Page 55.
  4. ^ 「オイラは宇宙怪人うちゅうかいじんタタンガ。マリオランドでサラサ・ランドを乗のっ取とり、デイジー姫ひめを妃きさきにしようとしたらマリオに邪魔じゃまされちまった。今度こんどはオイラが邪魔じゃまをしてやる!」 ("I'm the Mysterious Spaceman Tatanga. In Mario Land, I took over Sarasa Land and tried to take Princess Daisy as my queen, but Mario got in my way. This time I'll get in his way!") – 1994. Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten. Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 32.
  5. ^ a b 「スペースゾーンのラストには、あのタタンガににた宇宙人うちゅうじんがあらわれる。」 (At the end of the Space Zone, a space alien that looks like Tatanga appears.) – Kazuki, Motoyama. KC Deluxe vol. 20 - Super Mario Land 2: 6-tsu no Kinka 2. Page 4.
  6. ^ a b Super Mario Land French instruction booklet. Page 17.
  7. ^ 1989. スーパーマリオランド (Sūpā Mario Rando) instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 21.
  8. ^ Club Nintendo (Netherlands) Classic. Page 9.
  9. ^ Super Mario Land Virtual Console electronic manual (European French). Tab 14.
  10. ^ Super Mario Land Virtual Console electronic manual (German). Tab 14.
  11. ^ Moyse, Claude M., Andreas G. Kämmerer, and Marcus Menold, editors (1994). Der Offizielle Nintendo Game Boy-Spieleberater 2. Großostheim: Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German). Page 20.
  12. ^ Super Mario Land Italian manual. Nintendo of Europe (Italian). Page 17.
  13. ^ 1993. Club Nintendo (Italy) Numero 1. Page 24.
  14. ^ Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia. Page 46.
  15. ^ Super Mario Land Virtual Console electronic manual (European Spanish). Tab 14.
[Edit]
Super Mario Land
Protagonists Mario • Princess Daisy
Bosses King Totomesu • Dragonzamasu (Tamao) • Hiyoihoi • Biokinton (Chicken) • Tatanga (Pagosu)
Locations Sarasaland (Birabuto Kingdom • Muda Kingdom • Easton Kingdom • Chai Kingdom)
Levels World 1-1 • World 1-2 • World 1-3 • World 2-1 • World 2-2 • World 2-3 • World 3-1 • World 3-2 • World 3-3 • World 4-1 • World 4-2 • World 4-3 • Expert Level
Items & vehicles Super Mushroom • Superball Flower • Star • 1UP heart • Coin • Marine Pop • Sky Pop • Switch • Lift Block
Enemies & obstacles Batadon • Bombshell Koopa • Bullet Biff • Bunbun • Chikako • Dropping lift • Falling block • Falling spike • Fly • Ganchan • Gao • Gunion • Goombo • Honen • Kumo • Mekabon • Nyololin • Pionpi • Pipe Fist • Piranha Plant • Pompon Flower • Roketon • Roto Disc • Suu • Tokotoko • Torion • Yurarin • Yurarin Boo
Other Brick • Bonus game • Das Super Mario Spiel • Gallery • Glitches • Goal • Media • Mystery Block • Sub-area • Soundtrack
[Edit]
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Protagonist Mario • Heavy Zed • Hippo
Forms Small Mario • Super Mario • Fire Mario • Bunny Mario • Space Mario • Aqua Mario • Invincible Mario • Bomb Mario
Bosses Big Bird • Tatanga • Sewer rat • Witch • Three Little Pigs • Octopus • Wario
Items 1-Up Heart • 3-Up Heart • Carrot • Coin • Fire Flower • Golden Coin • Moneybag • Mushroom • Star
Objects ? Block • Ball on chains • Beach Ball • Bell • Bone Lift • Brick • Cloud • Empty Block • Fiery block • Gear • Goal • Invisible/flashing block • Skull Platform • Soap bubble • Tree sap
Enemies Ant • Aqua Goomba • Battle Beetle • Bear • Bee Fly • Beebee • Bero • Bigbee • Birdfish • Blurp • Bomubomu • Boo • Bopping Toady • Bullet Bill • Cheep-Cheep • Chikunto • Collector • Dokanto • Dondon • Fireball Boy • Floating Face • Ghost Goomba • Goomba • Goronto • Grubby • Honebon • Jack-in-the-Box • Karakara • Kiddokatto • Koopa Troopa • Kyororo • Kyotonbo • Kurokyura • Masked Ghoul • Minikyura • Moofish • No.48 • Noko Bombette • Para-Goomba • Pikku • Piranha Plant • Poro • Ragumo • Rerere • Screw • Shark • Skeleton Bee • Spikey • Spiny Cheep-Cheep • Star • Tamara • Tosenbo • Unera • Unibo • Venus Fire Trap
Obstacles Boulder • Cannonball • Crystal ball • Falling spike • Furizo • Karamenbo • Lance • Lava • Mechanical fist • Piranha Plant (statue) • Satellite • Spiked ball • Spiked ball (Pumpkin Zone) • Tatenoko • Turtle Cannon • Wakiri • Yashichi
Levels Overworld Mushroom Zone • Hippo • Scenic Course • Mario's castle • Casino
Tree Zone Invincibility! • In the Trees • The Exit • Honeybees • Final Boss: The Big Bird • Secret Course 1
Space Zone Moon stage • Star stage • Secret Course 2
Macro Zone The Ant Monsters • In the Syrup Sea • Fiery Mario–Special Agent • Final Boss: One Mighty Mouse! • Secret Course 3
Pumpkin Zone Bat Course • Pumpkin Zone Level 2 • Pumpkin Zone Level 3 • Witch's Mansion Course • Secret Course 4 • Secret Course 5
Mario Zone Fiery Blocks • Mario the Circus Star! • Beware: Jagged Spikes • Final Bosses: Three Mean Pigs!
Turtle Zone Cheep Cheep Course • Turtle Zone • Whale Course • Secret Course 6
Other Gallery • Glitches • Staff
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