List of references in publications

This is an alphabetical list of Mario-related sightings and references in novels, comic books, comic strips, magazines, and other print publications.

A to Z Mysteries
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.

''Halloween: The Mad House
While in an arcade, a character named Brandon sights "the new Mario Brothers game".

The Loser List
In Chapter 6, Danny Steve nearly tripped over a beanbag chair next to an old-fashioned Super Mario machine, which may reference the NES. Interestingly, the beanbag chair appears in the image, but the Super Mario machine wasn't shown.

''Reboot Adventure Game
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!"

''Runnerland
A minor character named Mike Magee, the owner of an arcade parlour, had, according to rumour, 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.

Archie Comics
Archie & Friends Double Digest #2 During the first story, part 2 of Cyber Adventures, Archie, while in a virtual game, enters a castle to save Betty. Inside, he has to go through a few enemies, which resemble enemies from the Mario series, 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 Firebars. 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.

''Cable & Deadpool
Issue #35: Past Indiscretions On one page, Deadpool passes a videogame store with what appears to be a Mario wearing baseball uniform.

''Darkwing Duck
Issue #8: Crisis on Infinite Darkwings One of the alternate universe Darkwings is based off of Mario.

Futurama Comics
Issue #38: Yivo Loves You! 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!". This is an obvious reference to Mario, Sonic, Lara Croft and Crash Bandicoot.

Issue #44: Chicks Dig Guys Who Read... When Fry was in court with the old chicken, it said, "Your honor, this boy's as guilty as a star-fox in a space-henhouse!", a reference to Star Fox. Then, Fox McCloud spoke up from the jury, saying, "That's not fair! Those charges were dropped!". Peppy Hare and Slippy Toad were next to him, trying to calm him down. Strangely, Mario can also be seen in the jury.

Simpsons Comics
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 uncouncious because he played too many video games, says he'll 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's 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 spoof of 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.

Turma da Mônica Jovem
Issue 31: Meninos x Meninas During this comic, Smith (the teen name for Smudge) is playing in a Nintendo DS with some friends. Soon, he says: "Pula seu encanador bigodudo! Pula!" (Jump, you mustached plumber! Jump!), obviously Mario. The boys also comment in play Dario Party, a reference to Mario Party.

In other comic, the teen Monica's gang participate of a costume party. Toddy is dressed as "Superdário", an obvious reference to Super Mario. The comic also reveal a fat woman in a princess costume known as "Princesa Píti" (referencing Princess Peach. "Píti" is the brazilian pronunciation of peach). Princesa Píti rules the Reino dos Caramelos (Caramel Kingdom, an allusion to Reino dos Cogumelos, the portuguese name of the Mushroom Kingdom).

''Foxtrot

 * 10/14/1990 - The Sunday strip published on this date revolves around Jason playing Super Mario Bros., all the while Paige demands he turn the game off so she can watch Star Search. This strip is reprinted in the collection Eight Yards, Down and Out.
 * 1/14-19,21-26/1991 - A two-week storyline where Jason gets upset that his friend Marcus has beaten Super Mario Bros. first. Attempting to beat the game himself, Jason stays up all night playing it, so Andy takes it away for two weeks, despite his complaints. She eventually gives it back to him a week early because Roger wouldn't stop playing it himself. This storyline is reprinted in Eight Yards, Down and Out.
 * 9/??/91 - Jason begs Andy to buy him a Super Nintendo, one of his reasons being "it's got the latest Mario cartridge", and if she doesn't buy it, "I'll be stuck playing dumb ol' Mario 3 forever!" Reprinted in Bury My Heart at Fun Fun Mountain.
 * 7/??/92 - Andy unplugs Jason's NES while he's playing Mario Bros. in order to make him come to dinner. This leads to Jason becoming so furious that he kicks his NES and destroys it. Reprinted in Say Hello to Cactus Flats.
 * 12/17/93 - At the end of an unrelated storyline, Jason bothers Peter by holding up a game cartridge and saying, "Super Mario Universe 2 awaits..." Reprinted in Take Us to Your Mall.
 * 2/??/97 - Jason plays a game titled Super Earthworm Mario Country 3 and has trouble finding a Blue Star in a level called the Rainbow Sewer. Paige infuriates him by suggesting he triple-jump to a ledge with a secret door (she knows this from reading the strategy guide). Reprinted in Come Closer, Roger, There's a Mosquito on Your Nose.
 * 12/13/2005 - As part of a storyline where Jason attempts to do his own remake of King Kong, Peter wears a Donkey Kong mask and tie. Reprinted in Houston, You Have a Problem.
 * 04/01/2006 - How Come I'm Always Luigi? is released. The cover shows Jason and Marcus pretending to be Mario and Luigi (based on a week of strips where the boys imitate video game scenarios while playing in the snow).
 * ??/??/?? - A comic where Jason played all of his video games to put "Mom" as #1 for Mother's day. One of the games he had was called "Mario Vs. Predator".

''Howard & Nester

 * October 1988 - Howard gives a tip for Super Mario Bros. 2.
 * June 1990 - Howard and Nester debug Super Mario Bros. 3.

Both these strips can be seen at The Howard & Nester Comics Archive.

''Pearls Before Swine
In one strip, Larry, a crocodile, jumps on his son to prevent him from going to school. His son says "Most parents inspire their chidren to go to school, dad." In responce, his father says "Not me. Stay home. Play Wii." In the last panel, his wife is shown holding a hammer from Super Paper Mario and says "Look over here, Super Mario."

''Retail
3/14/09 - Lunker makes a box sculpture of the blocks from Super Mario Bros. and has Cooper punch the one with the Question Mark on it. Cooper is immediately buried beneath a presumably painful cascade of coins, and while he good-naturedly comments on the authenticity, Lunker admits it didn't work how he imagined it would.

''Sally Forth
10/27/06 - New storyline has Sally and Ted dressed as the Super Mario Bros. for a Halloween party. Unfortunately, no one has any idea who they are supposed to be, and the closest guess is "an affront to the Italian Defamation League?" Also, a Donkey Kong-like costume can be seen in the background of one of the strips. The strips can be seen here.

Club Nintendo México

 * In the first number, Cape Mario can be seen landing on Mexico City in the "Ángel de la Independencia" area.
 * Year 1 No. 2 - it features Super Mario World as the cover.
 * Year 2 No. 8 - it features Super Mario All-Stars as the cover.
 * Year 3 No. 5 - it features Donkey Kong (Game Boy) been playing on the SNES with the Super Game Boy
 * Year 3 No. 11 - Donkey Kong Country in the cover.
 * Year 4 No. 10 - Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island apears in the cover.
 * Year 4 No. 12 - Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong's Quest as the cover.
 * Year 5 No. 1 - Mario going to grabbing the Nintendo 64 as cover.
 * Year 5 No. 2 - Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars in the cover.
 * Year 5 No. 7 - solo artwork of Mario in a plain white background from Super Mario 64 as cover.
 * Year 6 No. 9 - Win a signed Nintendo 64 gold controller signed by Shigeru Miyamoto promo appeared.
 * The special publication in April 2007 was a tribute to the Mario games where the title was "El Arte de los juegos de Mario Bros." and where Charles Martinet sign an autograph that reads: "Para mis amigos de Club Nintendo ustedes son el número 1!!! Woo Hoo!!! - Charles Martinet."
 * Year 20 No. 1 - Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition on cover.

Edge

 * Edge Christmas 2007 – Ice Mario appears on the cover, debuting the Wii game Super Mario Galaxy.

EGM

 * EGM #16 – Super Mario World on the cover, formerly called Super Mario Bros. 4 during development.

EGM2

 * EGM2 #23, Ziff Davis Publications – Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars appears on the cover
 * EGM2 #26, Ziff Davis Publications – Super Mario 64 is the cover story
 * EGM2 #27, Ziff Davis Publications – Super Mario 64 appears on the cover
 * EGM2 #28, Ziff Davis Publications – Super Mario 64 appears on the cover
 * EGM2 #30, Ziff Davis Publications – Mario appears on the cover
 * EGM2 #32, Ziff Davis Publications – Mario Kart 64 appears on the cover
 * EGM2 #45, Ziff Davis Publications – Yoshi's Story is the cover story
 * EGM2 #6, Ziff Davis Publications – Donkey Kong Country 2 appears on the cover
 * EGM2 #31, Ziff Davis Publications – Donkey Kong Country 3 appears on the cover
 * EGM2 #32, Ziff Davis Publications – Donkey Kong Country 3 appears on the cover
 * EGM2 #41, Ziff Davis Publications – Diddy Kong Racing appears on the cover
 * EGM2 #43, Ziff Davis Publications – Diddy Kong Racing appears on the cover

Expert Gamer

 * Expert Gamer #58 – Mario Party is the cover story
 * Expert Gamer #59 – Super Smash Bros. Melee appears on the cover
 * Expert Gamer #69 – Mario Party 2 is the cover story
 * Expert Gamer #75 – Mario Tennis is the cover story
 * Expert Gamer #75 – Paper Mario is on the cover

GamePro

 * GamePro #213 – New Super Mario Bros. is on the cover.
 * GamePro #231 – Mario flying in space in the cover, debuting the Wii game Super Mario Galaxy.

Gamemaster

 * Gamemaster #37 - Mario is on the cover.

Nintendo Gamer/ NGamer

 * Nintendo Gamer Mario Party 8 appears on front cover.

NGamer (spanish version)

 * Nintendo Gamer #1 - Super Mario Galaxy appears on front cover.

NGamer (brazilian version)

 * Nintendo Gamer #3 - Mario Kart Wii appears on front cover.
 * Nintendo Gamer #6 - Super Mario Galaxy appears on front cover.
 * Nintendo Gamer #8 - Super Smash Bros. Brawl appears on front cover.
 * Nintendo Gamer #10 - Mario Kart Wii appears on front cover.

Nintendo World

 * Nintendo World #7 - A Mario game appears on the cover.
 * Nintendo World #18 - A Mario game appears on the cover.
 * Nintendo World #30 - A Mario game appears on the cover.
 * Nintendo World #37 - A Mario game appears on the cover.
 * Nintendo World #38 - A Mario game appears on the cover.
 * Nintendo World #43 - A Mario game appears on the cover.
 * Nintendo World #48 - A Mario game appears on the cover.
 * Nintendo World #58 - A Mario game appears on the cover.
 * Nintendo World #63 - A Mario game appears on the cover.
 * Nintendo World #70 - A Mario game appears on the cover.
 * Nintendo World #90 - A Mario game appears on the cover.
 * Nintendo World #91 - Mario Smash Football appears on the cover.
 * Nintendo World #94 - A Mario game appears on the cover.
 * Nintendo World #97 - Super Smash Bros. Brawl appears on the cover.
 * Nintendo World #98 - Super Paper Mario appears on the cover
 * Nintendo World #99 - A Mario game appears on the cover.
 * Nintendo World #104 - Mario Party 8 appears on the cover
 * Nintendo World #108 - 50 Mario's best power ups and special moves, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games and Super Mario Galaxy appears on the cover.
 * Nintendo World #109 - Mario Kart Wii appears on the cover.

n-Revolution

 * n-Revolution #6 – The cover depicts of a preview of Mario Strikers Charged.

Official Nintendo Magazine

 * ONM #12 – Among the group of characters in the cover, there is Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Peach, and Donkey Kong carrying Pauline.
 * ONM #34 – Wario Land: The Shake Dimension on the cover.
 * ONM #40 – Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games on the cover.
 * ONM #56 – There are five versions of this issue, all of them depicting the review of Super Mario Galaxy 2. The following versions include: The subscriber version with Mario riding on Green Yoshi, Cloud Mario form, Rock Mario form, Mario using the Spin Drill, Mario riding on Bulb Yoshi, and Mario riding on Blimp Yoshi.

Pocket Games

 * Pocket Games #4 – Wario Land 3 appears on the cover.
 * Pocket Games #6 – Mario standing on a Game Boy Advance. At the right is the logo of Super Mario Advance.
 * Pocket Games #7 – Mario leaning next to a Nintendo GameCube, and its controller.
 * Pocket Games #14 – Artwork of Mario and Luigi from Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga.
 * Pocket Games #16 – The debut of the Nintendo DS game, Super Mario 64 DS.

Super Play

 * Super Play #36 – Features Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island on the cover. It mentions a preview for Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.

Total 64

 * Total 64 #9 – Yoshi's Story appears on the cover

Scott Pilgrim
The band that Scott currently plays in is named "Sex Bob-omb". Also, in Chapter 4 of the first book, when Ramona is trying to explain about the subspace highway running through Scott's head and how she uses it to travel long distances in a short amount of time, he asks "Is it like in Super Mario 2?" After staring at him for a moment, she replies "Ummmmmm... No. It isn't really like that at all." However, the star-emblazoned doors Ramona uses to enter subspace were inspired by the design of the doors in Super Mario 64. In the final book of the series, Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour, Scott pictures himself wearing a Tanooki Suit when he tries to remember what his relationship with Envy was like.

Cracked Magazine

 * Cracked Summer Special #3 (1993) features a five-page comic featuring a satirical look behind the scenes of the Super Mario Bros. movie, where the real Mario and Luigi are working as creative consultants.
 * Cracked Collectors' Edition #109 (January 1997) features a four-page comic in which Mario is interviewed about the "Ninnytendo 64". According to this comic, Mario is Nintendo's mascot because he saved all the employees when their plumbing sprang a leak. The Super Mario Bros. movie parody comic is also reprinted here.
 * Cracked Collectors' Edition #115 (July 1998) features cover art of Lara Croft from Tomb Raider coming upon skeletons resembling Mario, Sonic, Pac-Man, and Goro.

''Disney Adventures

 * Disney Adventures Volume 9 Issue 6 (May 1999) - The "Secret Lives of Video Game Stars" feature includes a section titled "Mario's Secret Notebook" (written by Yolanda Crous), which features a satirical synopsis of Super Mario 64 from Mario's perspective.

''Mad

 * Mad #292 (Jan 1990) features cover art of Mario and Luigi (the latter one wearing the clothes as seen in Super Mario Bros. and having an M on his cap) attacking a TV hooked up to a Neumantendo System. On the screen is a pixelated picture of Alfred E. Neuman. Despite what the cover implies, the actual article does not lampoon any existing video games.
 * Mad #457 (Sep 2005) - The cover article is entitled "50 Worst Things About Video Games" and features various video game characters on the cover, including Mario. The Mario series is referenced three times throughout the list.
 * 2 - "Console manufacturers selling systems without basic essentials like memory cards or a second controller, so you have to shell out another 60 bucks before you can see so much as a hair on Luigi's mustache."
 * 20 - "Donkey Konga, which combines the '60s-era art of bongo drumming with none of the mind-bending hallucinogens that made it tolerable in the first place."
 * 25 - "Mario's ridiculous Italian accent, which comes in just behind Grand Theft Auto: Vice City's infamous "Kill all the Haitians" message as the worst ethnic offense in gaming."
 * Mad #510 (August 2011) - In "Green Lunkheads", Yoshi appears as one of the Green Lunkheads along with Frankenstein's Monster, Oscar the Grouch and other famous green people.
 * Mad September Special (2011) - In "Harry Plodder is Definitely Halted-Adieu!", Harry says that he has never seen something like the runaway mine car because he hasn't played Lego Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Donkey Kong Country, Tomb Raider, Sonic the Hedgehog, Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, Super Smash Brothers Brawl, Mario Kart Wii, Half-Life, Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap or Gears of War.

''Mad Kids

 * Mad Kids #10 (March 2008) - The cover depicts Mario, having tangled himself in a Wii Nunchuk cord with the headline "The Dumbest Wii Games Ever!" The actual article, entitled "The Least Popular Wii Games", showcases several ficticious Wii games, most of which center around various chores. The game entitled "The Wii Omelet Station" stars a blue character who resembles Princess Peach.

''Guinness World Records
Super Mario Bros. was the best-selling video game of all time for many years, until it was beaten out by Wii Sports, meaning the series received no mention in the 2011 and 2012 edition.

''Guinness World Records: Gamers Edition
In Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition, 2008, Mario has been referenced and mentioned throughout the entire book, as well as having a big reference in the Platformer Games page. But in the book, he even has his own two pages: Super Mario and Mario Kart.

In Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition, 2011, a certain page states that Super Mario Bros. was remade on the Nintendo 64, which is false.

''1001 Unbelievable Facts
One of the facts is "There are no donkeys in the game Donkey Kong."

365 Fun Facts, Weird Trivia and Amazing Lists on Nearly Everything You Need to Know!
In this Australian book published and released in 2006, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Mario Pinball Land are listed as two of the top ten most popular video games in Australia.

''Brain Quest
In the fourth grade edition in "page" 65, one of the questions is "Which game is the oldest: Super Mario Brothers, Monopoly or Game Boy?".

''Hot Dog

 * Hotdog #58, Scholastic – Mario's face is the cover.
 * Hotdog #74, Scholastic – Mario and Luigi are Fighting Bowser on the Back

Mirai Japanese Course Book Stage 2
On page 118 of this Japanese language education textbook, there is a picture of what looks like a screenshot from Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3.

''Nintendo Fun Club News

 * Nintendo Fun Club News #1, Nintendo – Big article about Super Mario Bros..

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria Second Edition
In this Australian mathematics textbook, the first part of a question on page 68 reads: "Mario, Luigi, Zoe and Daniella are playing on a playstation." The fact that both names were mentioned in one question and that it is about video games (despite Sony's PlayStation having no relation with Nintendo), it is very likely that the question was intended as a reference.