List of references in publications
- This article is about publication references on Super Mario games. For books based on the Super Mario games, see List of publications.
This is an alphabetical list of Super Mario-related sightings and references in novels, comic books, comic strips, magazines, and other print publications.
Book references[edit]
33 Minutes[edit]
The main character, Sam Lewis, discusses vegetables in a salad bar, and says that "Mushrooms are only acceptable as an extra life in video games."
A to Z Mysteries[edit]
In "The Jaguar's Jewel", one chapter mentions a "tall man with a green outfit", and the image shows a man that resembles Luigi in a bellhop outfit.
Alex Rider series[edit]
In the novel Skeleton Key, when Alex Rider is playing on his Nintendo DS, the book quotes, "At least, he'd got to level five of Super Mario and so far it hadn't exploded in his hands."
Bad Girls[edit]
On page 162, the following text occurs:
'Can I see what you've written, Arthur?' I said. 'Here, I bet those two haven't even heard of King Arthur and all the knights of the round table. They're still way down at the Super Mario and Sonic stage.'
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again[edit]
When Jem is talking to Nanny on the Chateau Bateau, they have the following conversation.
Jem: It's just . . . a house like this - I thought he'd have Playstations and a Wii. I thought he'd want to play 'Mario Kart.
Nanny: Mario Kart? What's 'Mario Kart?
Jem: It's a game - a racing-car game. We each have a steering wheel and you choose a car from all kinds of different designs . . .
Danganronpa Visual Fanbook[edit]
In an interview with the execution art designer for Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, Dai Nakajima, execution concepts were proposed for characters that did not have one. This includes Chihiro Fujisaki with an execution titled "Super Fujisaki Bros.", in reference to Super Mario Bros.
Diary of a Wimpy Vampire[edit]
At the very end of the book, Nigel states that he is tough to beat on Mario Kart.
Drawing Basics and Video Game Art: Classic to Cutting-Edge Art Techniques for Winning Video Game Design[edit]
The book exemplifies the application of certain artistic principles in video game art using artwork and screenshots pertaining to various video games, including Super Mario franchise games. For instance, to illustrate the emotional language of basic geometric shapes and their use in character design, page 181 contrasts Mario's round, friendly physical features with the more triangular, "aggressive" features of Wario and a Goomba; at page 205, the book recalls this contrast, stating that Super Mario games can be conceptually seen as a task where players have to "[restore] harmony by ridding [Mario's] circular world of aggressive triangular characters".
EB City 2004[edit]
The book has information regarding upcoming GameCube games at the time, including Super Mario games. Some of the games came out without any changes, some came out on different platforms, and others never came out at all.[1]
Geek-Art: An Anthology: Art, Design, Illustration & Pop Culture[edit]
The front cover of this book features fan art of Mario (in his Paper Mario appearance) on the front, and several pieces of Super Mario fan art inside as well.
Goosebumps: The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb[edit]
Page 146 reads: "She thought she was really hot stuff because she could get to the last level of Super Mario Land."
Halloween: The Mad House[edit]
While in an arcade, a character named Brandon spots "the new Mario Brothers game".
Josh Baxter Levels Up[edit]
This section needs publication improvement. Specifically:
- Actually include the references
Numerous references to Super Mario are made during the book. One of the chapters is called "Your Princess is in Another Classroom".
Koji Kondo's Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack[edit]
Koji Kondo's Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack, written by Andrew Schartmann for the "33 1/3 series", discusses the soundtrack of the original Super Mario Bros. as composed by Koji Kondo. It details Kondo's experience and various works, as well as the limitations of the NES console and how it was used to great effect. As the author says, "[i]t is my job, over the next ~100 pages, to convince you that Kondo's Super Mario Bros. soundtrack is just as important - and just as culturally and musically rich - as any great album of the twentieth century."
MIRTHFUL KOMBAT: Jokes with BYTE![edit]
The video game-themed joke book MIRTHFUL KOMBAT: Jokes with BYTE! by John Byrnes, also known as Mirthful Kombat, contains several jokes referencing the Super Mario franchise, such as
"What eats pasta, wears overalls, and sits around the house all day?"
- "The Sofa Mario Brothers."
"What did Mario say to his mustache?"
- "You're starting to get up my nose."
"What eats pasta, wears overalls, and never turns up to parties?"
- "The Pooper Mario Brothers."[2]
Mockingbird[edit]
In Chapter 5, Caitlin says "I still feel like a Fake Item Box that Mario is going to run over any minute now."
The Edumacation of Jay Baker[edit]
When Jay is referring to his lack of athleticism, he states, "I caught Luigi on my Mario Kart, not balls."
The Loser List[edit]
In Chapter 6, Danny Steve nearly trips over a beanbag chair next to an old-fashioned Super Mario machine, which may refer to the NES. The beanbag chair appears in the image, but the Super Mario machine is not shown.
Mac B, Kid Spy[edit]
Mario is directly mentioned in a book titled The Tale of Mario. Also, Spy Master plays like a Super Mario game and is produced by Nintendo.
Monogatari[edit]
In the first story of the Monogatari series, Bakemonogatari, The Mayoi Snail arc has Mayoi Hachikuji attack Koyomi Araragi by attempting to bite him. He then has inner monologue, stating:
"I recalled there being an enemy in some old video game like her (it looked like an iron ball with a chain) as I soothed her."
Midnight Arcade[edit]
The Midnight Arcade book series features interactive stories involving the reader being transported inside the worlds of parodies of video games. The second book in the series features the game "Excellent Ernesto Cousins 3", an obvious parody of Super Mario Bros. 3.
N.E.R.D.S.: Attack of the B.U.L.L.I.E.S[edit]
In chapter 19, Matilda played Donkey Kong at Marty Mozzerella's.
The Tales of a Sixth Grade Muppet: The Good, the Bad and the Fuzzy.[edit]
In chapter 6, when Mr. Piffle asks Danvers what the names of Columbus's three ships were, 2 of Danvers' responses were "The Mario and the Luigi."
Reboot Adventure Game[edit]
Virtual Life: In a book based on the CGI television show, after narrowly winning a game, Enzo complains about how awful it was, and Bob replies, "At least there weren't any Italian plumbers!"
Ripley's Believe It or Not! 2013: DOWNLOAD THE WEIRD[edit]
Page 168 contains an entry about a man named Mitsugu Kikai, who set the record for the largest collection of Super Mario memorabilia. The entry states that he was born in 1985, the same year that Nintendo released the first Super Mario Bros. game, and has more than 5,400 items of Super Mario memorabilia.
Ripley's Believe It or Not! 2014: DARE TO LOOK![edit]
- On page 188, there is an entry which says;
"In New Berlin, Wisconsin, in 2011, 425 people dressed as characters from video games including Angry Birds, Super Mario Bros., Halo 3 and Pac-Man."
Runnerland[edit]
A minor character named Mike Magee, the owner of an arcade parlor, was rumored to have crazy-glued all the doors and windows of his high school because he wanted to figure out how Super Mario could get through a locked-door maze.
There Are Dads Way Worse Than You[edit]
In the book There Are Dads Way Worse Than You, written by Glenn Boozan and illustrated by Priscilla Witte, Bowser is cited as an example of a bad fictional father, with the narration denouncing his tendency of kidnapping Princess Peach and leaving Bowser Jr. alone. The narration references the Mushroom Retainers' "another castle" line from Super Mario Bros.. The illustrations also contain several references to Nintendo and the Super Mario franchise - a scene of Bowser Jr. and a Toad are shown in a scene parodying Super Mario Bros.' end-of-castle Mushroom Retainer messages that is on a television connected to a Nintendo Entertainment System. The depiction of Bowser Jr. appears to be traced from his appearance in the Super Mario Bros. 3 game style of Super Mario Maker. There are minor errors in the depictions of the characters, such as the Toad having white spots on a red cap and Bowser Jr. having a red head, green eyebrows, and green eyes.
They Both Die At The End[edit]
On page 46, Mateo finds his junior year photo of him wearing a Luigi hat after winning a Mario Kart contest online. The hat is mentioned a few times throughout the story.
Later, on page 78, Rufus tells Mateo, "We can get a handshake going when we meet, but until then I promise to be the Mario to your Luigi, except I won't hog the spotlight."
TimeRiders[edit]
Throughout the series, Liam frequently plays Mario Kart.
Timmy Failure: Now Look What You've Done[edit]
The start of Chapter 16 reads:
- I march down to Principal Scrimshaw's office as a man at the peak of his tactical power. Like *Napoleon in Austerlitz.
- (Picture of Napoleon)
- Grant in Vicksburg.
- (Picture of Grant)
- Mario in the Mushroom Kingdom.
- (Picture of Mario)
- Only to find no mushrooms.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow[edit]
When Sadie Green and her friend Sam Masur were children, they bonded by playing Super Mario Bros.
The House of Hades[edit]
At one point during the battle with Hygea, Leo and Jason mention Mario Party 6.
What If? series[edit]
- In one of the hypothetical scenarios from the first book, it is mentioned that falling from Canada's Mount Thor takes long enough that it would be possible to complete the entirety of World 1-1 from Super Mario Bros., although it misnames the game as Super Mario World.
- One of the questions in the short-answers section of What If? 2 asks how many calories Mario burns in a day. The conclusion was that Mario would have starved to death as there is not enough food in the games to sustain human life.
Zac Power[edit]
In the book Zac Power: Blockbuster, it is mentioned that riding in a golf cart from a robot security guard is harder than Mario Karts.
Comic book references[edit]
Adventure Time[edit]
The D cover to issue 2 of the Fionna & Cake special has several references to the American box art of Super Mario Bros. 3.
- Cake envelops Fionna and uses her flying ability, parodying Raccoon Mario.
- The "&" in the title is drawn as an epsilon (Ɛ), which looks like a backwards 3.
- There is a "Land of Ooo Approved!" seal on the cover, parodying the Nintendo Seal of Quality on Super Mario Bros. 3's box art.
Archie Comics[edit]
Archie & Friends Double Digest #2[edit]
During the first story, which is the second of Cyber Adventures, Archie is in a virtual game, and enters a castle to save Betty. Inside, he has to go through a few enemies, which resemble enemies from the Super Mario franchise - specifically Goombas, Hammer Bros., Bullet Bills, Spinies, and Piranha Plants. After fighting off the enemies, he goes into a room with an enormous amount of Fire Bars. After getting past that room, he comes across a bridge, where he has to fight a Bowser look-alike. Archie defeats him by using an ax to cut a chain, which causes the bridge to collapse. Finally, he comes across Betty, who's wearing a pink dress and crown that closely resembles Princess Peach's outfit.
Sonic & Mega Man: Worlds Collide (part 10)[edit]
A Goomba makes a cameo on board the Wily Egg along with a group of Buzz Bombers, Metools, and Moto Bugs in Mega Man issue 27.
Sonic the Hedgehog[edit]
In issue 160, Bean the Dynamite exclaims "Shine Get!" upon showing Fiona Fox's keys to Shadow the Hedgehog, referencing Super Mario Sunshine.
In issue 221, there is a background character that resembles Mario. Besides the resemblance and similar clothing, the character itself appears to be a raccoon, similar to how Mario can transform into Raccoon Mario when collecting a Super Leaf.
In issue 263's back-up story "Consequences", one of Dr. Eggman's monitors is on a site titled "Mustacio Afficionado" (spelled with an extra "f"). The site shows a glimpse of both Mario and Luigi's mustaches, along with Dr. Light and Dr. Wily.
The Beano[edit]
On page 38 in the November 10th, 2008 issue, the introduction to Dodge of the Week is:
Uh-Oh! I've forgotten to do my homework. Well, I say 'forgotten', but what I really mean is 'spent my evening playing Mario Kart on Wii multiplayer online'. Be warned fellow dodgers, no matter how good you think you are, there's someone in Japan who's better.
On page 8 in the issue released on the 13th August 2013, a maze with Les Pretend as a plumber where he is trapped in the sewer appears. One of the possible paths to take shows Les dressed as Mario holding a plunger and jumping towards some small 1-up Mushrooms.
Cable & Deadpool[edit]
In Issue #35 (Past Indiscretions), Deadpool passes a videogame store with what appears to be Mario wearing a baseball uniform.[3] In another issue, when Deadpool is underground, he says "Sewer pipes. The Super Mario Strategy. Always works for him, So why shouldn't it work for me?"
The Dandy[edit]
From Issues #3571 (February 11, 2012) to #3576 (March 24, 2012), there is a mini-strip called "Stupid Barrio Bros", which satirizes many elements from the Super Mario series.[4]
Darkwing Duck[edit]
In Issue #8 (Crisis on Infinite Darkwings), one of the alternate universe Darkwings is based off of Mario.
Futurama Comics[edit]
Issue #38: Rumble in the Jungle
- At the beginning, instead of Fry doing what Leela asked him to do, he played on his handheld video game, stating, "Come on, you dumb hedgehog, get those rings, or you can't survive the lava pit! I don't want to lose you the same way I did Crash, Lara and Mario!".
Issue #44: The Fry and the Furious
- When Fry is in court with the chicken lawyer, Mario is in the jury.
Annual #1: Bendocchio!
- When Professor Farnsworth is entering his house, Mario and Princess Peach are walking hand-in-hand down the street behind him.
Invincible[edit]
In Volume 9: Out of This World, a man is depicted wearing a shirt with Francis and his catchphrase "hi-technicaaal" on it.[5]
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic[edit]
Friends Forever Issue #4
- There are several scenes in this issue that have two stallions that look like Mario and Luigi. Both stallions are light-blue color Crystal Ponies with black mustaches and wearing respective red and green caps. Their cutie marks are a red mushroom and an "L" shape pipe respectively.
Old Master Q[edit]
The 89th book of the series has material that references various Super Mario games, with the cover being based off of Super Mario World, the title page referencing Super Mario Bros. and the maze activity being based off of Super Mario Bros. 3.
Simpsons Comics[edit]
Issue #110: Bad News Bearer
- Near the beginning, Bart is seen playing a Donkey Kong-like game, while Milhouse tells him what to do:
Milhouse: Come on, Bart, jump over those cement-filled barrels and make it to the top of the Gorilla Mafia ladder!
Bart: I know Milhouse! I know!
Bart: Aaaah! He got me!
- While on screen the characters speak:
DK (in a blue tux): I'm a legitimate business monkey!
Mario: You-a-Italian stereo-types demean us all! Mama mia!
- Near the end, Ned Flanders, after coming home from the hospital after becoming unconscious because he played too many video games, says he will make a mushroom pizza. In the next panel, a Toad-like being appears by Ned. In the next full page panel, Ned is Luigi, chasing him. The Simpsons are also computer Game characters. Homer is DK, Bart is Mario, Marge is Lara Croft, and Lisa is Sonic the Hedgehog.
Marge: Get him, Homer!
Homer: I'm on it!
Bart: Mama Mia!
Issue #130: Marge the Sellout
- Marge gets into the habit of auctioning off all of the family's possessions online. She soon auctions off Bart's old video games to the chef character Luigi Risotto. After Luigi wins the auction, the next panel reveals that he has a brother; a plumber who is dressed up like Mario. The "Mario" character asks Luigi to help him fix a leaky pipe, to which Luigi responds "Hold your mushrooms! I'm-a coming!".
Issue #161: Mighty MMORPG Player Rangers
- The cover is a reference to Donkey Kong. Homer and Bart assume the roles of Donkey Kong and Mario respectively, with Homer tossing barrels of toxic waste. Lisa appears to be standing in for Pauline, but seems more interested in reading a book.
Simpsons Super Spectacular[edit]
Issue #11
- During the Comic, Fat Tony wants Mario's Moustache. Mario asks him to take an eyebrow instead but this version of Mario has no eyebrows.
Sonic The Comic[edit]
Sonic The Comic #18
- A trio of villains known as the Marxio Bros. (a parody and fusion of the Marx Brothers and the Mario Bros.) appear as antagonistic electricians. Their names - Harpio, Grouchio, and Chicio - also parody Mario and the Marx Brothers. They are also said to originate from "Super Marxio World", a parody of Super Mario World. In an apparent insult to the Mario games, Dr. Robotnik threatens to send them back to Super Marxio World if they fail to stop Sonic from shutting down his Casino Night Zone, with the brothers' horrified reactions implying that Super Marxio World is a horrible place to live. Chicio also says "Mamma mia!" once, in a reference to Mario's Italian vocabulary. The Marxio Bros. as a group are referred to with inconsistent spellings, such as "Marxio Brothers", "Marxio Bros.", and "Marxio Bro's".
Sonic the Comic #26
- The story "The Sonic Terminator, Part 3" has Sonic playing a Marxio Brothers video game. Three stick figures representing the Marxio Brothers can be seen on the screen, as well as a Warp Pipe and a Bomber Bill, parodying the latest Super Mario game at the time, Super Mario World. Sonic further insults the Mario franchise by ridiculing the Marxio Brothers video game, despite Tails enjoying it.
Turma da Mônica (Monica and Friends)[edit]
Mônica (Abril series) Issue #172
- The opening story "A Incrível Aventura Eletrônica" revolves around Monica's transportation into an arcade machine built by Franklin, playing a part in several video games. The first game she visits is Donkey Kong, where she takes Mario's place, wearing an outfit similar to his, and climbs 25m to save a girl from an ape, standing in for Pauline and Donkey Kong, respectively.
Mônica (Panini first series) Issue #68
- The opening story "Cada Um na Sua História" heavily references Super Mario games, mainly Super Mario World. Jimmy Five uses Marina's magic pencil to make the neighborhood similar to Yoshi's Island from that game. Throughout the story, enemies such as Koopa Troopas, Bullet Bills, Rexes, Thwomps, Goombas, and Bowser can be seen.
Cascão (Panini second series) Issue #2
- The last page strip is a reference to Mario games, with Smudge being imagined as Mario.
Clássicos do Cinema Issue #52
- This issue features an issue-long story called "Gamebusters", a parody of the 1984 Ghostbusters movie, in which the ghosts are represented by retro video game characters. In the Sedgewick Hotel sequence, the ghost haunting the hotel is instead a chef-themed parody of Mario called "Mariano". He grows to giant size after Smudge comments on what would happen if he ate a red mushroom, but is soon trapped in a proton pack.
Turma da Mônica Jovem (Monica Adventures)[edit]
Issue 31: Meninos x Meninas
In this comic, Smith (teen Smudge) is playing a Nintendo DS with some friends. He eventually says: "Pula seu encanador bigodudo! Pula!" (Jump, you mustachioed plumber! Jump!). The boys also comment about playing "Dario Party", a reference to Mario Party.
In another comic, the gang is at a costume party. Toddy is dressed as "Superdário", another reference to Mario. The comic also introduces an overweight woman in a princess costume known as "Princesa Píti" ("Píti" being pronounced similarly to "peach"). Her title is princess of the Caramel Kingdom (Reino dos Caramelos, an allusion to Reino dos Cogumelos, Mushroom Kingdom translated to Portuguese).
Comic strip references[edit]
Adam@home[edit]
- 2010-11-14 - Super Mario Galaxy 2 is mentioned as part of Clayton's Christmas gift list.
- 2012-09-06 - Clayton tells his friend that he "really want[s] the new Wii", and when his friend comments on how "console gaming [is] dead", Clayton replies with "be careful... I hear Mario and Luigi hold a grudge".
14 November, 2010
6 September, 2012
Alley Oop[edit]
- 2019-01-22 - After Dr. Wonmug brought Oop and Ooona to the future, he brought Oop to an arcade place to play Donkey Kong. Oop thought that the titular Donkey Kong is him, adding a quip that he hated plumbers.
22 January, 2019
The Argyle Sweater[edit]
- 2010-10-19 - One of the featured people with "Majestic Mustaches" is Mario.
- 2012-08-15 - It is alluded that Mario is the one who dealt with a giant ape with a Hammer, in reference to Donkey Kong.
- 2014-01-07 - Mario was interrogated by the police because of his possession of Mushrooms.
- 2015-07-31 - Mario raises his hand as one of the students when answering the question about a crescent moon.
- 2017-11-29 - A huge pixel Mario is shown blocking the basketball shots, while a Mushroom is being held by an umpire, who believed that the team Mario is on used Performance Enhancing Drugs (PED).
- 2018-03-05 - Mario is shown to be in terminal condition due to flatlining, while one of the nurses rushed to the doctor with a 1-Up Mushroom.
- 2024-05-06 - Mario is sitting in an armchair reading a newspaper. On the wall behind him are the mounted heads of a Goomba, a Piranha Plant, a Cheep Cheep, Bowser, a Koopa Troopa, and Donkey Kong.
19 October, 2010
15 August, 2012
7 January, 2014
31 July, 2015
