And Bob-omb Back-up Stories

[dave]

I thought this image was brilliant and hysterical:



And it got me thinking: How could one adapt the Mario Universe (i.e. the Mushroom Kingdom and all) to read as a serious comic? Could it be done? Who could do it? What would it take?

I feel like "serious" is asking for something like "two plumbers (who're hinted to have mob connections) are sucked through a drainpipe into a surreal fungal feudal kingdom, where they stomp every mushroom motherfrigger standing between them and the princess who can get them home".

Which is not a million miles away from the movie, minus the dinosaur angle. So, I'm not sure it's possible to Pluto-ize Super Mario Bros.

That said...

Is it possible to do a Super Mario comic with sincerity, as an adventure story? Sure; honestly, all you'd need to do as a writer is keep the jolly adventure of the games, but underlay it with the fact that it's a love story (look at what this unassuming plumber is willing to dare for the girl he loves) or the theme of on-the-spot altruism (the Bros. get sucked into this frankly goddamn weird world, and without hesitation become heroes for a people who're not even remotely like them, because it's the right thing to do).

Put another way: Super Mario Bros. played straight is really just Adam Strange with plumbers and mushrooms.

[dave]

Is it possible to do a Super Mario comic with sincerity, as an adventure story? Sure; honestly, all you'd need to do as a writer is keep the jolly adventure of the games...

What about turning it gritty and grotesque?
(From http://comixed.com/2009/11/20/comics-comic-strip-yonkoma-there-will-be-brawl-irl/)


Now that's a spicy meatball!