Koopa Bros.

The Koopa Bros. are a quartet of costumed ninja Koopa Troopas and followers of Bowser and the Koopa Troop. The Koopa Bros. consist of Green Ninjakoopa, Yellow Ninjakoopa, Black Ninjakoopa and the leader, Red Ninjakoopa; the Koopa Bros. are all egotistical and obsessed with being cool, though they have a great deal of respect for Bowser and each other.

It is mentioned by several characters throughout Paper Mario that the Koopa Bros. were originally inhabitants of Koopa Village, apparently living in it around the same time as Kent C. Koopa. Eventually, the Koopa Bros. grew tired of Koopa Village, finding its serene environment and lack of excitement boring. The Koopa Bros. eventually left Koopa Village and traveled to Koopa Bros. Fortress (which was apparently then in ruin), whose Bob-ombs they seemingly befriended.

The Koopa Bros. eventually became conceited and corrupted due to the influence of Bowser and Kammy Koopa, who had taken a liking to them. Enslaving the Bob-ombs inhabiting Koopa Bros. Fortress (which they seemingly then rebuilt), the Koopa Bros. worked them non-stop, and if they rebelled, they would be imprisoned. When Bowser stole the wish-granting Star Rod and imprisoned the Star Spirits, the Koopa King entrusted the elder Star Spirit, Eldstar, to the Koopa Bros.

The Koopa Bros. first appeared in Paper Mario in Princess Peach's Castle, where they appeared to reassure both Kammy Koopa and Bowser that they could stop Mario, and also showed them a technique, which impressed Bowser; the Koopa Bros. were later sent running from Princess Peach's Castle after informing Bowser that they hadn't actually posted someone to guard the captured Eldstar, a show of incompetence and lack of thought which infuriated Bowser.

At first, the Koopa Bros. simply attempted to stop Mario from reaching Pleasant Path and their fortress by disguising themselves as dark colored Toads and by blocking the path to those locations, saying that dangers lurked there. With help from Merlon, who saw through the Koopa Bros.' disguise, Mario was able to cause the Koopa Bros. to retreat. The Koopa Bros. attempted to impede Mario's progress in Pleasant Path as well, creating various obstacles and having various minions patrol the area.

When Black Ninjakoopa found that Mario and his allies had reached Koopa Bros. Fortress, he alerted his brothers and they proceeded to set about making various traps and obstacles in their home, all of which Mario passed. In a last chance to stop Mario, Red Ninjakoopa had his brothers set up three Bill Blasters on top of the fortress, which Mario managed to pass. Reaching the Koopa Bros. at last, Mario, before he could battle the Koopa Bros. had to battle their creation, a poorly constructed facsimile of Bowser (which Bowser apparently "loved", indicating that this may have been the unseen attack that impressed him previously at Peach's Castle). When their fake Bowser was destroyed, the Koopa Bros. would attack Mario using a whirling tower attack. Regardless, Mario still defeated the Koopa Bros., who were sent tumbling into the prison of their own fortress, incapable of escaping.

At Mario's Pad, a letter from the Koopa Bros. meant for Mario can be found; the letter is filled with threats uttered by the Koopa Bros. at Mario, with the Koopa Bros. swearing revenge on him. Also, for a short while after their defeat, the Koopa Bros. can be found in the prison of their fortress. Later, the Koopa Bros. evidently managed to escape this prison, as, if Mario visits it later, the Koopa Bros. will be gone.

The Koopa Bros. later appeared at Bowser's Castle, under the employ of the castle's third living door; the Koopa Bros., who claimed to have become stronger, prepared to fight Mario, when Jr. Troopa appeared and simply knocked them aside easily.

During the ending parade of Paper Mario, the Koopa Bros. appear riding a float constructed out of the remains of their old Bowser construct. As the Koopa Bros. strike a pose, several Bob-ombs appear and blow-up near them, covering them in soot.

Appearances in Other Media
Prior to their appearance in Paper Mario, the Koopa Bros. appeared in Super Mario-Kun, a Japan-exclusive manga. In their first appearance in Super Mario-Kun, the Koopa Bros. appeared to attack Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi in a platform-filled area, taking on various disguises and utilizing shell-like shurikens in combat. The Koopa Bros. later appeared in the Paper Mario adaptation of Super Mario-Kun.

Trivia

 * The Koopa Bros. are obvious spoofs of the famous Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, being turtles, wearing similar colored costumes and being ninjas (as well as having similar attitudes).


 * The Koopa Bros. are the only Mario characters originating outside of a video game to ever actually make an appearance in an official Mario game.