Wooster

WOOSTER

One comic featuring the Mushroom King saw him throwing a temper tantrum over his food being wrong and firing his faithful butler.

This is Wooster, yet another character who helps rein in the king’s childish nature. Even when fired, he puts his services to good use by getting himself employed by King Koopa and actively sabotaging the villain. He would recur in most comics that the king himself appeared.

As a fighter, he will be an echo of the TV version of Toad as they both serve the same role for the king and princess respectively and exist in the same continuity.

Likelihood rating: Non-game.

Character Sheet: Wooster

WOOSTER

So, I just wanted to give a third chance real quick to the character of Wooster, the Mushroom King's steward from the Nintendo Comics System. I guess I never made the connection before, but he and TV Toad do seem to exist in the same continuity, and both serve the same basic role for the princess and king respectively, so I realized there wasn't really any good reason why they couldn't be echoes, especially as TV Toad has no currently existing echo. So here it is:

Standard B: Fire Flower

Once again, having the growth effect.

Side B: Toad Warrior

Using more of a royal carriage this time.

Up B: Parachute Hat

The same.

Down B: Snowboard

Using a serving tray instead.

Final Smash: Cloud Nine

Here we will differ, instead giving him a move based on a trap that the King fell into in one comic by laying on a mattress made of clouds and falling straight to sleep while being carried into the sky.

Entrance: Presenting a meal on a platter.

Taunts: Up, he will hold up a platter and reveal food. Side, he will look a little exasperated by the king's nonsense. Down, he will bow graciously.

Kirby Hat: His mushroom top.

Kart: Based on the king's royal carriage.

Special Move: He will toss out what seems to be a helpful item, only for it to be a fake.

Spirit Battle: On Pasta Land, with the Mushroom King.

Victory Screen: He will look pleased with himself and say "all according to plan."

Losing Screen: He will come flying out of a room, while the voice of the king throws a temper tantrum inside of it.

Color Swaps: Wooster, and then seven other character models for the comic version of the Mushroom People.

Thanks for reading! Next up, a few character cards are now in order.

Nintendo Comics System

NINTENDO COMICS SYSTEM

Much like Mario and Zelda, Metroid too had an entry in the Nintendo comics system, albeit with only two issues. The first tells a bit of Samus's background at the Federation academy, while the second features her going up against a rival bounty hunter named Big Time Brannigan who has been hired by Mother Brain to take her out. Big Time doesn't do too much, really only shooting at her with his big leg blaster at different points. It's still a fun read anyway. Samus and the trio of baddies from the first Metroid game would go on to appear in the Captain N comics.

And that's pretty much it! Here's what we've got so far:

Characters:

Samus

Commander Nemo

Big Time Brannigan: arm cannon

Next up, a sort of precursor to the fantastic Magazine Z comic!

Second Chance: Wooster/The Nintendo Comics System Toads

WOOSTER

Well, I had to check anyway. But there's really nothing here. Wooster appears in the Nintendo Comics System as the Mushroom King's advisor (basically babysitter), whose one notable appearance happens when he is fired, "defects" to King Koopa, and handicaps them from the inside by feeding them so much food that they become fat. While the food steadily slowing down an opponent makes for a good move on its own, it's really just that.

On the other hand, I also wanted to use this space to go over what the Nintendo Comics System calls Toads, where instead of humanoid bodies, their bodies are basically stems, with faces and limbs. It has proven weirdly difficult to search for them properly, but even when I managed it, there wasn't much. They just populate group shots basically. Might make for a good Toad echo, if Toad, Captain Toad, Toadette, and Toadsworth weren't already a convoluted echo system. But, I guess we could add one of the Toads as a color swap (I think we were short a good one anyway), and Wooster could be a named color swap for Toadsworth.

I'm satisfied with that. So, my answer is . . . 

NO

Thanks for reading! Next up, a king who learns some humility.

Dirk Drain-Head

Within this comic run, Mario also had a different plumbing idol to look up to, because he apparently lives in a world where plumbers are gods. This comes in the form of a comic book character within our pre-existing comic book, who Mario often dreams of emulating and even cosplays as.

This is Dirk Drain-Head, the heroic plumbing superhero. He fights crime using plumbers’ tools and implements, accompanied by his faithful sidekick Snakey and fighting villains such as Pipe Ooze and Muck.

In game, Dirk Drain-Head would be fast and strong, like many superheroes, and would have his trusty plunger and other plumbers’ tools at his side. His moves will pull from the various moves Mario re-enacts, incorporating Snakey, Pipe Ooze, and Muck as well.

Likelihood rating: Non-game

Mushroom King

A different continuity of comics put out under the Nintendo Comics System label seemed to be set within the same universe as the Super Mario Bros. Super Show! with a few distinctions. First and foremost, Princess Toadstool’s father was a major and constant player in the story, one of his few true appearances.

This is the Mushroom King, who is portrayed as egregiously incompetent and stupid, prone to fits of irrational rage. It is often all the princess can do to keep him in line and run the kingdom herself to defend it from King Koopa. Although well-meaning most of the time, most of his contributions tend to be accidental at best.

In the game, Mushroom King will have some similar attributes as his daughter, probably passed on to her, but he will be heavier and slower, with less power behind his punches. His moveset will pull from across the series of comics, sometimes his general stumbling around, sometimes from various artifacts held by the royal family.

Likelihood rating: Non-game

Tatanga

Having made your way through a short but fun handheld adventure, you reach the end of the Chai Kingdom, flying a small biplane through a cloudy skyscape, coming face to face with your final boss, the alien Tatanga.

Tatanga is an alien invader who conquered the Mushroom Kingdom’s neighboring nation of Sarasa-Land and took its princess Daisy hostage. He would appear once more in game as a boss working under Wario in Super Mario Land 2, but would not see any further life outside of appearances in comics produced around that time.

In game, he will be perpetually flying in his spaceship, probably based upon his smaller craft from Super Mario Land 2, making him floaty but powerful. His moves will pull from both of his boss battles across the Super Mario Land series, with some elements pulled from his comic book appearances as well.

Likelihood rating: Could happen

Pionpi

Their first three games a success, and the NES firmly establishing Nintendo as the current kings of games, they soon branch out into the newly developing technology of handheld gaming, releasing the brand-new Game Boy system players could take on the road. With it came Super Mario Land, a Mario game but in the palm of your hand. Rather than rescuing Bowser from Peach however, this time you were tasked with saving a new princess from an evil alien invader. You fought your way across four different worlds, each based heavily on an ancient civilization, each with enemies fitting of the theme. As you reached the fourth world, a world heavily based on ancient China, you found it populated by strange purple zombies dressed in stereotypical Chinese tunics.

These were Pionpi, the most prominent minions of the alien Tatanga and invaders of the Chai Kingdom. Though they will not see much life past Super Mario Land, they do enjoy a significant presence in the comics released around the time, most of which followed the game’s story in order to advertise for it. Most significantly, Pionpi played the role of Tatanga’s lead enforcer and right hand man in the Herman Smirch trilogy of comics.

In game, Pionpi will be moderately slow and a bit on the medium side in terms of weight, but with solid jumping and aerial abilities. Their movesets will pull from their appearance in the game, the comics they starred in, and the other enemies that appeared around them and followed their commands.

Likelihood rating: Never gonna happen

Nintendo Adventure Books

NINTENDO ADVENTURE BOOKS

Today, let's go over a series of twelve Choose Your Own Adventure books that were published from 1991 to 1992. Two of these were Legend of Zelda, so we won't worry about them, but the rest were Mario-based. They starred various characters from the Nintendo Comics System, including the Mushroom King and his butler Wooster. They're about average as far as Choose Your Own Adventures go, following various stock Mario adventures with multiple optional paths to follow.

Here's what we've got so far:

Characters:

Mario

Luigi

Peach

Toad

Bowser

Donkey Kong

Diddy Kong

Dixie Kong

Cranky Kong

King K. Rool

Mushroom King

Wooster

Toadofski

Stages:

Kero Sewers

Tadpole Pond

Kongo Jungle

Kremling Isle

Thanks for reading! Next up, basically all the strategy guides!

Character Sheet: Dirk Drain-Head

DIRK DRAIN-HEAD

Now that we're finished with the western comics of the Mario series, let's go through and cover our assorted newcomers. We have four this time, one appearing in the regular Mario roster, the other three in the multimedia roster. They are:

1. Pionpi

2. Mushroom King

3. Herman Smirch

4. Dirk Drain-Head

Because apparently in the Mario world, plumbers are worshipped by the public, Mario has not one, not two, but three idols he looks up to, the first being the greatest plumber ever known, Salvador Drainado; the second being an Indiana Jones-style TV action hero, Mighty Plumber; and the third being the comic book superhero, Dirk Drain-Head. Weird.

Across the comics he appears in, we learn that Dirk fights with both a wrench and a plunger and can fly with his cape. He also has a sidekick, Snakey, and three known adversaries: Pipe Ooze, Muck, and Dark Dirk.

Here's the moveset I came up with:

Standard B: Plunger

He will lunge out with his plunger, sticking an opponent with it before pumping it and sending the enemy flying with the strength of the hit.

Side B: Snakey

Dirk's faithful sidekick Snakey will appear by his side, lashing out with his plumber's snake and grabbing an opponent, pulling them in so that Dirk can combo them from there.

Up B: Bedsheet Cape

He will flair his cape and fly upward, drifting back down gently.

Down B: Pipe Ooze

He will hold up a pipe and his nemesis Pipe Ooze will lunge out, crawling across the stage and leaving a trail of slime behind, kinda like that blob of gunk from the TMNT stage over in Nick All-Star Brawl.

Final Smash: Dream Warrior

This one's mostly based on the issue where Mario sleepwalks and dreams that he is Dirk Drain-Head, effectively bodying every single opponent King Koopa sent his while while being blissfully unaware. Dirk will likewise fall asleep and deliver a volley of attacks on the nearest opponent before launching them.

Entrance: He will emerge from a comic book.

Taunts: Up, he will hold his plunger in the air and strike a pose. Side, he will pretend to parry a blow with his plunger. Down, he will work on a clog with his plunger.

Thanks for reading! Now, we update our two changed rosters.

Character Sheet: Mushroom King

MUSHROOM KING

Now that we're finished with the western comics of the Mario series, let's go through and cover our assorted newcomers. We have four this time, one appearing in the regular Mario roster, the other three in the multimedia roster. They are:

1. Pionpi

2. Mushroom King

3. Herman Smirch

4. Dirk Drain-Head

Finally, at long last, we get a look at Princess Peach's father, the Mushroom King, who appears frequently throughout the Nintendo Comics System published by Valiant Comics. He quickly proves why Peach seems to do all the ruling, despite only being the princess, being portrayed as stupid and incompetent and prone to seriously damaging commands based on his emotions than what's happening around him {insert whichever politician you don't like here}.

Across the series of comics, we see him drive a go-kart, wield a magic wand, toss a large "sacred cylinder of cheese, cast a shield with his green gecko gem, plant a garden of giant plants, sleep on a mattress of clouds, and push around his faithful butler Wooster. He also has a portable throne, and gets himself turned into a dog and a chameleon at different points in time.

Here's the moveset I came up with:

Standard B: Wooster

Taking after his daughter, Wooster will pull out and hide behind his butler to take a hit. Rather than simply letting his protector release spores however, he will retaliate by then throwing Wooster at the opponent.

Side B: Sacred Cylinder of Cheese

He will roll the cylinder across the ground in front of him. If it collides with anything, it will spill, spreading a sticky cheese mess everywhere.

Up B: Cloud Nine Mattress

He will fall asleep on top of a large mattress, which will lift him up into the sky on top of a cloud, releasing rain and lightning beneath it as it flies.

Down B: Green Gecko Gem

He will activate the gem, casting a shield around himself and protecting himself from harm.

Final Smash: Green Thumb

He will happily pull out a watering can and sprinkle it on his garden. The stage floor will then shake before a forest of giant plants bursts from it, launching everyone above them.

Entrance: He will crash in a go-kart.

Taunts: Up, he will rub his chin and tilt his head in confusion. Side, he will shout something at Wooster for a second. Down, he will pull out his inflatable throne and sit on it for a second.

Thanks for reading! Next up, the disgruntled video game store employee, Herman Smirch!

Nintendo Comics System

NINTENDO COMICS SYSTEM

Today, let's go over the series of comics published by Valiant comics under the Nintendo Comics System name. These comics ran from 1990 to 1991 and mostly seemed to be based within the same world as the Super Mario Bros. Super Show! with Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, and King Koopa all mostly having the same designs as the show, and many of the enemy characters being Super Mario Bros. 2 enemies.

The most notable feature of the series is a set of original recurring characters. First off, we may have one of the only actually prominent appearances of Peach's father, the Mushroom King. Apparently, he is an idiot so incompetent, Peach has to do all the running of the kingdom herself. Across the line of comics, we see him drive a go-kart, inflate a portable throne, use a magic wand, get turned into a dog and a chameleon, wield a "Sacred Cylinder of Cheese," use a Green Gecko Gem to project a force field, plant a garden full of sizeable plants, and fall asleep of a mattress of clouds that then generates a thunderstorm from his snores. He also has a faithful butler named Wooster and a living alarm clock named Stopwatch.

Another important character is Dirk Drain-Head, Mario's favorite comic book superhero, who is also a plumber. Don't ask me if he's ever had a crossover with Mighty Plumber. They never said. Dirk uses a plunger and wrench to fight his battles, like the other plumbing heroes of this world, and likewise uses a bedsheet as a cape and has a teenage sidekick named Snakey. He also has a nemesis in Pipe Ooze and his henchman Muck. Finally, we have Stanley the Talking Fish, who mostly just talks a lot as far as I can tell.

Anyway, here's what we've got so far:

Characters:

Mario

Luigi

Princess Peach

Toad

Yoshi

Bowser

Koopalings

Mushroom King: go-kart, portable throne, magic wand, dog, chameleon, "Sacred Cylinder of Cheese," Green Gecko Gem, garden, mattress of clouds, Wooster, Stopwatch

Dirk Drain-Head: wrench, plunger, cape, Snakey, Pipe Ooze, Muck

Stanley the Talking Fish

Friendly Floyd: salesman, items

Stages:

Super Mario World locations

Thanks for reading! Next up, the Club Nintendo comics!