Die unglaubliche Erfindung
The title of this article is official, but it comes from a German source.
If an acceptable English name is found, then the article should be moved to the new title.
"Die unglaubliche Erfindung" is a story from the Super Mario Bros. Video-Comic-Magazin Nr. 3 edition of the Super Mario Bros. series of comics. This comic told as an entry from the Plumber's Log, with it having a log number of 489. The first page features artwork from the cover of "Duh Stoopid Bomb!"
Plot synopsisEdit
Luigi enters Mario Bros. Plumbing, asking Mario if he took his work home again and fell asleep on it. He then tells him that he has something interesting, with a small little man behind him, who is now nodding his head vigorously, exclaiming, "Sensational news, Mr. Mario, please, get out of the bathtub quick!"
Mario blinks sleepily, then, rubbing his hand through his hair, squints with one eye and yawns, and suddenly he is awake. Mario is surprised that he fell asleep, and, slightly confused, looks around the bathtub standing in the middle of the plumbing business, and in which he fell asleep in. He then grins, mentioning that the bathtub is from Mrs. Miller's apartment and that the drain was clogged. As he could not unclog it, he told Mrs. Miller that he would take it to his and Luigi's plumbing business.
Luigi sighs, telling Mario that he cannot take the entire bathtub from a customer' and bring it to the business, explaining that it is completely fine. As he adds that he should have taken care of the drain, Mario slaps his forehead with his head, causing water to splash onto him. He then laughs, explaining how much of a fool he is, but adds that today was not his day as he was completely confused. He then begins by saying that it all started when he made himself the breakfast macaroni.
The little man urges Mario and Luigi, with Mario also now seeing the man. The man has a little white hair, which nervously shifts from one leg to another, and wears a tattered coat and pants that are several centimeters too short. Mario, astonished, asks Luigi who he brought with him, to which he replies that he is Professor Brainström, who has made an invention which will revolutionize the plumbing trade, adding that they will be the first ones to test it. Mario, looking at the clock, acknowledges Luigi's statement, but adds that it is dinnertime, and that they should a few plates of tortellini with cream. However, Luigi insists that it should be later, and they are leaving now. A short time later, the Mario Bros. find themselves in an old, vacant factory building.
Brainström leads them through a hall buzzing with technial equipment and devices, the meaning and purpose completely incomprehensible to the Mario Bros. At the center of hall, in the center of a junction with several directed lamps and spotlights, is a miniature submarine. Mario marvels at the submarine, with Luigi explaining that, with it, unclogging pipes will become much easier for them. Mario is confused by Luigi's statement, to which Brainström explains that he can shrink the submarine down to the size of a penny. Mario thinks that he is in a movie theater, and adds that they will no longer be able to go inside one, which the professor announces that this will be true while they are inside the submarine. Luigi tells Mario that, with the submarine, they will be able to inspect all pipes very thoroughly from the inside, which Brainström adds that it will allow them to spot issues such as corrosion, wear, deposits, and clogs. Mario is still speechless, but Luigi encourages him to enter the submarine. Mario asks if they will be done before dinner, but his curiosity eventually wins out, saying that he will accompany Luigi on this pipe adventure.
Mario and Luigi take their seats in the miniature submarine. The submarine is slightly cramped, and Luigi grumbles that he should not make himself so fat. Mario counters, asking who is fat in here. He then tries to suck in his stomach, but Brainström then closes the glass dome. Mario and Luigi can still communicate to him via radio. He then announces that he will activate his invention, explaining that, after he shrinks them, he will drop them into the drain of his sink, where they can then take a dive and inspect everything. He then adds that, when they resurface, he will receive them and enlarge them again. He then asks if they are alright with this, with the Mario Bros., now somewhat uncertain, worried, and very tense, nodding in agreement. Suddenly, the lights go out, and everything around them turns black.
Brainström leaves his laboratory workshop, with the miniature submarine in his hand. In a dark alley, someone is waiting for him in a dark alley, asking the professor if he succeeded in shrinking Mario and Luigi and has them in the submarine. Brainström nods and swallows, disliking the malicious voice, which is sly and full of hatred, and fearing the person it belongs to. King Koopa extends his claw, demanding that the professor hand the shrunken submarine to him. Examining the tiny thing, he chuckles, "Farewell, Mario and Luigi! The call for help from Videoland will never reach you!", explaining that they will not stand in the way of his plans to become ruler of all digital worlds.
Brainström reminds King Koopa of the agreement they made, which the latter acknowledges, who has turned away to look for the nearest sewer to dispose the miniature submarine with the two unfortunate plumbers. He then comes back, explaining that, though it is not typical of him to stick to agreements, he acknowledges that he is a capable scientist and mentions that he might need his help again sometime. With these words, he hands Brainström several thick bundles of cash. The professor then tells Mario and Luigi to take care as King Koopa drops the submarine into the sewer, telling them that they should have the rats eat them as the lights come back on.
Mario and Luigi are still sitting inside the submarine, squinting their eyes as the light dazzles around them. Looking around, they realize that nothing has changed around them. Mario shouts that the submarine is not working, explaining that they are still in the laboratory. Brainström, with a sad look on his face, agrees with Mario, adding that he apologizes to him and Luigi a thousand times. Luigi shouts through the intercom to get them out of the submarine, explaining that he is beginning to feel claustrophobic inside it, with the glass dome then lifting.
Although the professor tries to make a guilty and contrite face, he cannot completely hide his inner joy; he had earned as much money today as he had never had in his life. He thinks that it is time to realize his true scientific dream, "the journey into the inside of the human body." Reducing a submarine to the size of a pinhead, it could be comfortably injected into the bloodsteam. There, doctors could explore the organism, examine the organs, and discover and heal hidden diseases, which is much more meaningful than inspecting drainage pipes. However, how King Koopa found out that he, Professor Brainström, was engaged in such research was not entirely clear to him. However, what was more mysterious was his wish to shrink two simple plumbers.
It is revealed that he had not actually shrunk the Mario Bros., but instead gave King Koopa a tiny coin-sized replica. He thinks that it was not entirely fair to claim to King Koopa that his invention is operational, but the large sum of money, which he urgently needed for his research, was tempting, and in the end, had he actually shrunk the Mario Bros. and handed them over to him, they would now be drowning in the sewer. Mario and Luigi say goodbye to the professor, with Luigi adding that they are not angry at him, explaining that setbacks happen in life. He then adds that, when the invention is perfect and ready for plumbing, they will be the first to test it. Brainström nods in agreement, before asking them if they know a certain King Koopa. The Mario Bros. shake their heads, saying "Alice Cooper... Gary Cooper... but King Koopa? Never heard of him!", asking him why he asked that question. The professor responds that it was merely a question, but does not want to keep them any longer. He wishes them of their continued success with their work, with Mario joking that they should wish them a good appetite for their meal, adding that it is what they will do first. He then begins listing several foods that he wants to have when they return back to Mario Bros. Plumbing for dinner.
CharactersEdit
Names in other languagesEdit
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| German | Die unglaubliche Erfindung[1] | The incredible invention |
NotesEdit
- In this story, King Koopa is referred to by his English name instead of König Koopa ("King Koopa"), the name used in the German dubs of the Super Mario cartoons.