Editing Paper Bowser

{{rewrite-expand|include a greater amount of information on his role in the story|September 24th, 2017}}
{{about|the character in ''Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam''|Bowser as seen in the ''Paper Mario'' series|[[History of Bowser#Paper Mario series|Bowser § Paper Mario series]]}}
{{character infobox
|title=Paper Bowser
|image=[[File:Paper Bowser MLJP.png|170px]]
|species=[[Koopa (Bowser's species)|Koopa]]
|first_appearance=''[[Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam]]'' ([[List of games by date#2015|2015]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' ([[Spirit (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)|spirit]] cameo) ([[List of games by date#2018|2018]])
}}
{{quote|Why should I care about a [[Paper Mario book|stupid garbage book]]? Don't answer that, [[Paper Bowser Jr.|Son]]. Just relax while Daddy roasts Mario to a crisp.|Paper Bowser|Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam}}

'''Paper Bowser''' is the paper counterpart of [[Bowser]] that makes his debut in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam]]'' as one of the main antagonists,  also marking his first appearance as a wholly distinct character from Bowser. Alongside various other paper characters, Paper Bowser came out of [[Paper Mario book|a book]] containing the whole paper world.

==History==
===''Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam''===
[[File:Bowser meets Paper Bowser M&LPJ.png|thumb|195px|left|Paper Bowser first meets Bowser.]]
Paper Bowser first appears at [[Bowser's Castle]], confronting the "real" Bowser and getting into a fight with him. Eventually, however, they decide to join forces and kidnap [[Princess Peach|Peach]] and [[Paper Peach]], subsequently returning to the castle and summoning [[Petey Piranha]] to slow [[Mario]], [[Luigi]], and [[Paper Mario (character)|Paper Mario]] down.

Eventually, the two Bowsers plot to betray the other and imprison them in the book, though not before they trap the Mario Bros. in the book and destroy it. The two merge together into Shiny RoboBowser, only to be defeated. Paper Bowser makes one last attempt to grab the book, but Paper Mario reaches it first, and the trio trap him back inside.

====Battle====
During their boss battle, the Bowser duo only has two attacks, both of which can deal considerable damage. Their first attack involves spitting fireballs at the ground, creating fiery waves for the trio to jump over. After three waves, they will combine their [[Fire Breath]] and create a massive fire blast that Paper Mario must jump over, or risk taking a large amount of critical damage. Their other attack is to have [[Shy Guy]]s stack iron balls onto their hands. They will then toss the iron balls onto the field. The iron balls that target the trio varies depending on which Bowser tosses them last. The Bowsers will alternate between both attacks. Additionally, the Bowsers have a defensive ability: Whenever an Excellent hit is scored on one of them, they will curl up into their shells, forcing the other to be attacked. Due to this trait, only one Bowser can use the ability at a time. If attacked while in their shells, the Bowser will take no damage. Additionally, depending on the attack the trio used, that party member may also take damage. 

The two Bowsers appear to share a health pool, unlike previous pairs of bosses. However, it is impossible to bring their health down to zero. After enough turns of battling, the Bowsers decide to stop holding back, and with the assistance of hundreds (if not thousands) of Shiny paper enemies, they fuse together into [[Shiny RoboBowser]], the game's real final boss.
{{br}}

===''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''===
He appears as two [[Spirit (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)|spirits]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', one using his ''Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam'' artwork and another using his ''[[Paper Mario: Sticker Star]]'' artwork. The ''Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam'' Paper Bowser spirit can be enhanced to the ''Paper Mario: Sticker Star'' Paper Bowser spirit once it reaches level 99. Its class rises from Ace to Legend once done. 

==Stats==
{{:Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam bestiary|transcludesection=Paper Bowser|align=horizontal}}
{{:Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam bestiary|transcludesection=Shiny RoboBowser|align=horizontal}}
{{:Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam bestiary|transcludesection=Shiny RoboBowser (armor)|align=horizontal}}
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==Gallery==
<gallery>
Bowser and Paper Bowser MLPJ artwork.png|''Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam'' artwork
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=ペーパークッパ
|JapR=Pēpā Kuppa
|JapM=Paper Bowser
|ChiT=紙片庫巴<ref>[https://www.nintendo.com.hk/switch/mario/history/index.html Official Chinese website for the ''Super Mario Bros.'' 35th Anniversary]. Retrieved February 7, 2021.</ref>
|ChiTR=Zhǐpiàn Kùbā
|ChiTM=Paper Bowser
|SpaA=Bowser de papel
|SpaAM=Paper Bowser
|SpaE=Bowser de Papel
|SpaEM=Paper Bowser
}}

==Trivia==
*Although Paper Bowser's appearance in-game is based on Bowser's appearance from ''[[Paper Mario: Sticker Star]]'', his official artwork more closely resembles Bowser's appearance in ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'' and ''[[Super Paper Mario]]'', lacking the red rings around his spikes.

==References==
<references/>

{{Koopas}}
{{Bowser's family}}
{{M&LPJ}}
[[Category:Paper counterparts|Bowser]]
[[Category:Bowser lookalikes]]
[[Category:Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam bosses]]
[[Category:Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam characters]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. Ultimate spirits]]