Kuribō (Super Mario Bros. 2)
The title of this article is official, but it comes from a Japanese source.
If an acceptable English name is found, then the article should be moved to the new title.
| Kuribō | |
|---|---|
| |
| Species | Goomba (later Paragoomba) |
| First appearance | Super Mario Bros. 2 manga (volume 1) (1986) |
| Latest appearance | Super Mario Bros. 3 Wanpakku Comic manga (chapter 2) (1989) |
Kuribō is a Goomba companion that aids Mario and Luigi in their quests in Yukio Sawada's early manga series: Super Mario Bros. 2 and Super Mario Bros. 3. He is a normal Goomba, but in the second manga he grows wings, whose only distinctive trait is speaking with a Kansai dialect.
History[edit]
Super Mario Bros. 2 (manga)[edit]
Kuribō is the very first obstacle met in Super Mario Bros. 2, based off Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. Mario attempts to squash him, but Kuribō dodges him, explaining that Bowser powered him up to prevail where other Goombas failed in Super Mario Bros. He proves capable of running, jumping, and breathing fire, but with the help of the Controller Nunchaku, Mario stops him. The Goomba grumbles in anger and explains why he betrayed the Mushroom King to join Bowser: he used to live in the Mushroom Kingdom in poverty, but one day, his mother got sick and refused to eat anything. To prevent his mother from starving, Kuribō joined Bowser's army under the promise of having as many mushroom he could feast upon. Feeling bad for him, Mario decides to give him all the coins he collected so far, telling him to return home and take care of his mother. After seeing this kind gesture and hearing Luigi vow to look after Bowser if he gets upset about the betrayal, Kuribō decides to change his ways.
Right after that, Mario finds a "rare mushroom" and is about to eat it. Kuribō jumps at him, telling him to stop, as that is a Poison Mushroom, ending up swallowing it himself. He then pleads to the brothers to run away, but it is too late and Kuribō transforms into a ferocious Mega Goomba. Through a hologram, Bowser explains to the brothers that this is what happens when his minions eats a Poison Mushroom, leaving them to fend for themselves. Not wanting to hurt their friend, Mario asks Luigi for a solution. Reading the guide, Luigi discovers that a Poison Mushroom should kill them if they eat one. While Luigi jokes that his brother should eat one, Mario throws a Poison Mushroom at him, and it bounces off into Kuribō's mouth. Rather than growing him further, the Poison Mushroom effectively removes the poison from Kuribō, bringing him back to normal. Mario happily hugs him and Kuribō returns home to his mother.
However, Kuribō returns later in the story to help the brothers. In one instance, Kuribō reveals the location of Bowser's Castle by askign Mario to throw him to the sky, revealing it behind a fake cloud.
Super Mario Bros. 3 (Wanpakku Comic manga)[edit]
In the short-lived Super Mario Bros. 3 manga, Kuribō joins Mario and Luigi in their adventure to the Mushroom World. While the trio is proceeding towards the Grass Land, Bowser uses his magic to take control over his betraying minions, including Kuribō and one of the Hammer Bros Kyōdai (a pair of Hammer Brothers that, like Kuribō joined Mario's side in Super Mario Bros. 2). Kuribō turns evil and grows a pair of wings, even dropping Micro-Goombas. After dealing with the Hammer Brother, Raccoon Mario manages to free Kuribō from the brainwashing spell, but still maintains his new wings, and their journey proceeds. But the manga comes to an abrupt stop after just two chapters due to the cancellation by its publishing label.
Other appeareances[edit]
While Kuribō does not reappear in the following manga, Super Mario-kun, it is worth noting that Goombas with the Kansai dialect appear a couple of times in the manga.
In stage 4 of volume 3, Bowser sends his Super Mario Bros. 3 minions to stop Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi by pulling them out from a block of ice he kept in the freezer. When Boom Boom and the others have gone, Bowser notices a puddle on the ground, which is revealed to be a Goomba that was "melted too much" from the ice.
In stage 6 of volume 7, while exploring Turtle Zone, Mario finds a group of Goombas with various objects stuck in their heads. After Mario removes them, the grateful Goombas state that they will return the favor. In fact, they come back with diving helmets to save Mario from octopus's trap and help him defeat the boss. The leader of the group is the only one who speaks in a Kansai dialect.
Gallery[edit]
Character list
Kuribō's backstory
Kuribō stops Mario from eating a Poison Mushroom
Kuribō turns into a Mega Goomba
Kuribō is saved and returns home
Kuribō breaks the sky to reveal Bowser's castle
Mario, Luigi, Peach, Kuribō, and Super Kumo-san at the end of Super Mario Bros. 2
(Para-)Kuribō freed from Bowser's spell in Super Mario Bros. 3
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | クリボー[1] Kuribō |
Goomba |
References[edit]
- ^ "クリボーはキノコ
王国 にもどりましたても マリオとルイージの冒険 は今 始 まったばかりてす" ("Goomba has returned to the Mushroom Kingdom, but Mario and Luigi's adventures have only just begun.") – Yukio Sawada (December 30, 1986). Super Mario Bros. 2 Volume 1. jp. Page 32.
