Nintendo Comics System

In the early 90s, a company called Valiant (owned by Voyager Communications) published the first and only American comic series based on the Nintendo license. Nintendo Comics System contained stories featuring popular Nintendo characters and games: Super Mario Bros, Legend of Zelda, Captain N: The Game Master, Game Boy, Metroid, and Punch-Out. Many of the stories were semi-serious, with the exception of the Mario comics (which were generally meant to be funny). Many of these comics contain a "Letters" section in the middle where readers wrote to the editors with story suggestions and upcoming game rumors (mostly about "Super Mario Bros. 4", AKA Super Mario World).

Valiant went under years ago, and the best place you can hunt these down is Ebay (try searching for "Nintendo Comics System", "Nintendo Comics", or "Captain N". You can check comic shops too, but keep in mind that these are fairly obscure - the comics had a short run and there aren't many stories. Below you will find information about the comics I have - click each story title to view details and scans. These comics were reprinted in several different formats, which are listed below. Scanning is time-consuming, so it will take a while to get all the stories up.

When you click a thumbnail of a scan, the full-sized version will open in a new window. If you would like to use any of my scans on your own site, I ask two things: provide a link back to this page, and don't remove the "Scanned by" line on the images.

Story Key:
(SMB) - Super Mario Bros.
(CN) - Captain N: The Game Master
(LOZ) - Legend of Zelda
(MT) - Metroid
(PO) - Punch-Out!!
(GB) - Game Boy
(V) - Valiant Comics Asides & Advertisements, includes the "Start" and "Continue" sections, as well as adverts for Nintendo comics

Heavy-stock Covers (1990)
These are grouped by series and don't contain any other stories - for example, the Captain N books don't contain any Mario or Zelda stories. There are no months on the front covers, just issue numbers. I don't know how many issues were made, but I don't own any issues past #4 (which contain previews for #5) I have occasionally seen Super Mario Bros. No. 5 on Ebay, but nothing after that. I have heard rumors that Captain N No. 5 contains a preview page for No. 6, which was never printed. The following series appear on the "subscribe" form: Super Mario Bros, Legend of Zelda, Captain N, Game Boy, and Nintendo Comics System.

Super Mario Bros. Special Edition No. 1
According to Mario Mania, there were only 50,000 of these printed in a one-time run in 1990. These stories do not appear in any other editions.
- START (Comics for Nintendo players!) (V)
- THE LEGEND (SMB)
- MUTINY ON THE FUNGI (SMB)
- Dear Princess Toadstool (Luigi, Bowser, King) (SMB)
- KOOPA'S Health & Beauty Tips (SMB)
- A MOUSER IN THE HOUSER (SMB)
- Ads: Subscribe (Koopon)

Super Mario Bros. No. 1

- THE LEGEND (SMB)
- "PIRANHA-ROUND SUE" (SMB)
- Dear Princess Toadstool (Koopa, Phanto, Luigi) (SMB)
- KOOPA'S Believe It or Else! (SMB)
- CLOUD NINE (SMB)
- CONTINUE (What if you could climb into the screen...) (V)
- Ads: Subscribe (Koopon)

Super Mario Bros. No. 2

- Magic Carpet Madness (SMB)
- Dear Princess Toadstool (Flurry, Tryclyde, Bob-Omb) (SMB)
- MARIO BROS. MUSEUM OF PLUMBING (first leak) (SMB)
- THE KINGDOM ENQUIRER (SMB)
- KOOPA'S HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK (SMB)
- Ads: Subscribe (Koopon)

Super Mario Bros. No. 3

- BEDTIME FOR DRAIN-HEAD (SMB)
- FRYGUY HIGH YEARBOOK -- ACTIVITY PAGE! (SMB)
- MARIO BROS. MUSEUM OF PLUMBING (souvenirs) (SMB)
- LOVE FLOUNDERS (SMB)
- FAMILY ALBUM "THE EARLY YEARS" (SMB)
- Ads: Subscribe (Koopon)

Super Mario Bros. No. 4

- Beauty and the Beach (SMB)
- Koopa-Kola (SMB)
- In the Swim! Fun and Sun Fashions (SMB)
- GET KOOP-ED UP WITH THE NICEST PEOPLE! (SMB)
- FINS AND ROSES (SMB)
- KOOPATONE (SMB)
- Ads: Subscribe (Koopon)

Captain N: The Game Master No. 1

- WELCOME TO VIDEOLAND (CN)
- THE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE WAR (CN)
- Every Dog Has Its Day (CN)
- MONEY CHANGES EVERYTHING (CN)
- CONTINUE (There is another universe...) (V)
- Ads: Subscribe (Koopon)

Captain N: The Game Master No. 2

- THE HAPPY ZONE (CN)
- VILLAINS' DO'S AND DON'TS (CN)
- PAUSE (Let's say you're dragged into your TV...) (V)
- THE ITEM (CN)
- JUST A DOG (CN)
- Ads: Subscribe (Koopon)

Captain N: The Game Master No. 3

- NERVOUS MELTDOWN (CN)
- THE FABULOUS POWERS OF CAPTAIN N (CN)
- VIDEO-TOWN (CN)
- A DOG'S LIFE (CN)
- Ads: Subscribe (Koopon)

Captain N: The Game Master No. 4

- "THE REAL GAME MASTER" (CN)
- SECRETS OF THE WARP ZONES (CN)
- VIDEOLAND GUIDEBOOK: PRISONWORLD (CN)
- BREAKOUT (CN)
- Ads: Nintendo Comics Mean Player-Pleasing Action!

Game Boy No. 1

- IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND... (GB)
- IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND... PART II (GB)
- CONTINUE ("You're just little bytes of data from a chip!") (V)
- Ads: Subscribe (Koopon)

Game Boy No. 2

- IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL (GB)
- IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL PART II (GB)
- INTERNATIONAL ENQUISITOR (GB)
- Ads: Subscribe (Koopon)

Nintendo Comics System No. 1

- START (Comics for Nintendo players!) (V)
- THE LEGEND (SMB)
- JUST DESERTS (SMB)
- WELCOME TO VIDEOLAND (CN)
- ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS SWELL (CN)
- THE FIRST FIGHT (PO)
- "OUTSIDERS" (PO)
- INFO (V)
- THE FISH THAT SHOULD'VE GOTTEN AWAY (SMB)
- PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (SMB)
- THE MARIO BROS. GUIDE TO GROOMING YOUR MOUSTACHE (SMB)
- THE LEGEND OF ZELDA (LOZ)
- ASSAULT (LOZ)
- CHOICES (LOZ)
- 'THE ADVENTURES OF DIRK DRAIN-HEAD' (SMB)
- YOU AGAIN? (SMB)
- Ads: Subscribe (Koopon)

Nintendo Comics System No. 2

Interestingly, this book doesn't have a preview of the next issue, although all of the other heavy-stock comics do. I have never seen No. 3 of this series - does it even exist? I've learned that this comic also has an alternate cover (image at right) featuring only Mario - I don't know if the alternate cover version has any other differences or where it came from.
- 'this issue' (V)
- THE LEGEND (SMB)
- BETRAYAL MOST PROPER (SMB)
- WELCOME TO VIDEOLAND (CN)
- THE MASTER MACHINE (CN)
- THE LEGEND OF ZELDA (LOZ)
- QUEEN OF HEARTS (LOZ)
- THE FIRST FIGHT (PO)
- FOX AND HOUNDS (PO)
- THE COMING OF A HERO (MT)
- METROID (MT)
- Deceit Du Jour (MT)
- Ads: Comics for Nintendo Fans

Soft-cover Comics (1991)
Many of these comics contain a mix of stories - they aren't totally separated by series as the heavy-stock comics are. I don't know how many issues were made, but I don't own any issues past #9. "Subscribe" ads late in the series (issue #7 and onward) only have options for Nintendo Comics System and Adventures of the Super Mario Bros, so it can be assumed that the Super Mario Bros. and Legend of Zelda comics (which appear on earlier subscribe forms) had been dropped by that time. I wonder what happened to the subscribers after their series went away - were they switched to a different title? Many of the stories also appear in the heavy-stock comics, but some are unique to this series.

Super Mario Bros. Feb No. 1

- THE LEGEND (SMB)
- "PIRANHA-ROUND SUE" (SMB)
- Dear Princess Toadstool (Flurry, Tryclyde, Bob-Omb) (SMB)
- KITCHEN KRAZINESS (SMB)
- CLOUD BURST (SMB)
- Ads: Pick a Box and Subscribe (Mario & Bertha)

Super Mario Bros. May No. 4

- LOVE FLOUNDERS (SMB)
- VILLAINS' DO'S AND DON'TS (CN)
- THE MASTER MACHINE (CN)
- Ads: Pick a Box and Course Clear! (1) and Subscribe (Don't Miss an Issue!) (1)

Legend of Zelda May No. 4

- THIEF IN THE NIGHT (LOZ)
- The Adventurer LINK (LOZ)
- IMPA'S INFO (LOZ)
- QUEEN OF HEARTS (LOZ)
- Ads: Pick a Box and Course Clear! (1) and Subscribe (Don't Miss an Issue!) (1)

Adventures of the Super Mario Bros. Feb No. 1

- 'IT'S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER' (SMB)
- FAMILY ALBUM "THE EARLY YEARS" (SMB)
- CONTINUE (What if you could climb into the screen...) (V)
- WELCOME TO VIDEOLAND (CN)
- NERVOUS MELTDOWN (CN)
- Ads: Subscribe (Mario & Bertha)

Adventures of the Super Mario Bros. May No. 4

- BEDTIME FOR DRAIN-HEAD (SMB)
- Koopa-Kola (SMB)
- VIDEOLAND GUIDEBOOK: GARBAGEWORLD (CN)
- A KING OF SHREDS AND PATCHES (CN)
- Ads: Pick a Box and Course Clear! (1) and Subscribe (Don't Miss an Issue!) (1)

Adventures of the Super Mario Bros. Jun No. 5

- BETRAYAL MOST PROPER (SMB)
- 'WEIGHT UP' (SMB)
- VIDEOLAND GUIDEBOOK: THE LOCKER (CN)
- WHEN FRIENDS FALL OUT (CN)
- Ads: Pick a Box and Course Clear! (1) and Subscribe (Don't Miss an Issue!) (1)

Adventures of the Super Mario Bros. Aug No. 7

- THE REVENGE of PIPE OOZE! (SMB)
- THRONE OUT (SMB)
- Dear Princess Toadstool (Koopa, Phanto, Luigi) (SMB)
- ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS SWELL (CN)
- Ads: Course Clear! (2) and Subscribe (Don't Miss an Issue!) (2)

Adventures of the Super Mario Bros. Sep No. 8

- THE BUDDY SYSTEM (SMB)
- THE ITEM (CN)
- THE HAPPY ZONE (CN)
- Ads: Course Clear! (2) and Subscribe (Don't Miss an Issue!) (2)

Adventures of the Super Mario Bros. Oct No. 9
- BOWSER KNOWS BEST (SMB)
- SECRETS OF THE WARP ZONES (CN)
- JUST A DOG (CN)
- Ads: Course Clear! (2) and Subscribe (Don't Miss an Issue!) (2)

Nintendo Comics System featuring Super Mario Bros. Jul No. 6

- THE KINGDOM ENQUIRER (SMB)
- THE COMING OF A HERO (MT)
- Deceit Du Jour (MT)
- Ads: Pick a Box and Course Clear! (1)

Nintendo Comics System featuring Super Mario Bros. Sep No. 8
- MINOR DEFECTS (SMB)
- FROM THE WORLD OF METROID - SAMUS ARAN'S STARSHIP - HUNTER IV (MT)
- BREAKOUT (CN)
- Ads: Course Clear! (2) and Subscribe (Don't Miss an Issue!) (2)

Nintendo Comics System featuring Super Mario Bros. Oct. No. 9
- "THE DOCTOR IS IN... OVER HIS HEAD" (SMB)
- KOOPA'S Believe It or Else! (SMB)
- MARIO BROS. MUSEUM OF PLUMBING (souvenirs) (SMB)
- "OUTSIDERS" (PO)
- Ads: Course Clear! (2) and Subscribe (Don't Miss an Issue!) (2)

Comic Book w/ Cassette Tape (1991)
The comic book contains several stories from the series, but it's not a specific issue (the cover is unique - a variation of the "Bedtime for Drain-head" cover artwork). The book also includes a maze and trading cards of the main characters. The cassette features actors reading the comic accompanied by background music of someone playing Super Mario Bros. 3. Some things are unexpected, like Piranha Sue's heavy Russian accent and Princess Toadstool's "cursing" in Magic Carpet Madness.

Super Mario Bros. Comic & Cassette

- THE LEGEND (SMB)
- Magic Carpet Madness (SMB)
- "PIRANHA-ROUND SUE" (SMB)
- BEDTIME FOR DRAIN-HEAD (SMB)
- Maze (Scan)
- Trading Cards (Front) (Back)

The Best of... Hardcover Books
Contain some of the "best" stories, as well as the one-page extras. There are two versions: Super Mario Bros. and Nintendo Comics System (which contains everything except Mario).

The Best of the Super Mario Bros.
- START (SMB Trivia) (V)
- THE LEGEND (SMB)
- JUST DESERTS (SMB)
- "PIRANHA-ROUND SUE" (SMB)
- KOOPA'S Believe It or Else! (SMB)
- Dear Princess Toadstool (Koopa, Phanto, Luigi) (SMB)
- Magic Carpet Madness (SMB)
- 'THE ADVENTURES OF DIRK DRAIN-HEAD' (SMB)
- THRONE OUT (SMB)
- MARIO BROS. MUSEUM OF PLUMBING (first leak) (SMB)
- THE KINGDOM ENQUIRER (SMB)
- THE FISH THAT SHOULD'VE GOTTEN AWAY (SMB)
- CLOUD BURST (SMB)
- LOVE FLOUNDERS (SMB)
- FRYGUY HIGH YEARBOOK -- ACTIVITY PAGE! (SMB)
- FAMILY ALBUM - SUMMER CAMP (SMB)
- Duh Stoopid Bomb! (SMB)
- YOU AGAIN? (SMB)
- KITCHEN KRAZINESS (SMB)
- PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (SMB)
- Beauty and the Beach (SMB)
- Koopa-Kola (SMB)
- GET KOOP-ED UP WITH THE NICEST PEOPLE! (SMB)
- FINS AND ROSES (SMB)
- In the Swim! Fun and Sun Fashions (SMB)
- KOOPATONE (SMB)
- BEDTIME FOR DRAIN-HEAD (SMB)
- Dear Princess Toadstool (Flurry, Tryclyde, Bob-Omb) (SMB)
- KOOPA'S HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK (SMB)
- CLOUD NINE (SMB)
- BETRAYAL MOST PROPER (SMB)
- THE MARIO BROS. GUIDE TO GROOMING YOUR MOUSTACHE (SMB)
- MARIO BROS. MUSEUM OF PLUMBING (souvenirs) (SMB)
- THE BUDDY SYSTEM (SMB)
- 'IT'S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER' (SMB)
- 'WEIGHT UP' (SMB)
- FAMILY ALBUM "THE EARLY YEARS" (SMB)

Graphic Novel Format
These were found at a Dollar Store once - this series contains four total volumes of Mario, as well as four books of WWF comics.

Super Mario Bros. - MARIO'S SPECIAL POWERS
- THE LEGEND (SMB)
- 'IT'S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER' (SMB)
- LOVE FLOUNDERS (SMB)
- FAMILY ALBUM "THE EARLY YEARS" (SMB)
- FAMILY ALBUM - SUMMER CAMP (SMB)
- BEDTIME FOR DRAIN-HEAD (SMB)
- TANOOKI SUITS ME (SMB)

Super Mario - TATANGA INVADES EARTH
- IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND... (GB)
- IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND... PART II (GB)
- IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL (GB)
- IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL PART II (GB)
- INTERNATIONAL ENQUISITOR (GB)

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