Takekuma & Nozawa's 'Super Mario Adventures' Returns To Print

I have more affection for the Mario Brothers than I do for most members of my own family, and that goes beyond just spending most of my childhood playing those games. There's something formative that made me love those mustachioed plumbers: The Super Mario Adventures comics from Kentaro Takekuma and Charlie Nozawa that ran in the pages of Nintendo Power from 1992 to 1993, fleshing out the story behind Super Mario World with one of the most entertaining takes on the characters... well, ever.

And now, they're coming back into print. Next month, Viz is releasing a collection of Super Mario Adventures --- and celebrating by giving you the chance to meet Mario and Luigi in New York, something that I've wanted for my entire life.

The release of Super Mario Adventures follows in the footsteps of Viz's reprint last year of Nintendo Power's Legend of Zelda comics, from legendary manga creator Shotaro Ishonomori. Here's the official press release:

SUPER MARIO ADVENTURES Returns In New Edition For The First Time In Over 20 Years This Fall; Nintendo NY Celebrates Release With Launch Party In New York City
San Francisco, CA, September 13, 2016 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, proudly announces the return of SUPER MARIO ADVENTURES as the long out-of-print graphic novel receives an October 11th release.
Fans in New York can join in the celebration by attending the Launch Party at Nintendo NY, located in Rockefeller Center on Friday, October 7th from 6PM - 8PM. The festivities will kick off with themed cupcakes for attendees, a photo-op with MarioTM and LuigiTM, an autograph and Q & A session with VIP guests from VIZ Media and more! Attendees who purchase a copy of SUPER MARIO ADVENTURES at the event will receive an exclusive poster as a gift with purchase, while supplies last. Visit: www.Nintendonyc.com and @NintendoNYC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for details.
Presented in full color and inspired by the bestselling Nintendo® video game franchise, SUPER MARIO ADVENTURES is a riotous and wacky tale featuring beloved characters Mario and Luigi (and YoshiTM!), with a story by Kentaro Takekuma and artwork by Charlie Nozawa. The comics originally ran in Nintendo PowerTM magazine in 1992-93.
SUPER MARIO ADVENTURES collects the full series into a single-volume edition that will receive a remastered full-color print release with an MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $17.99 CAN.
In the story, the peril-plagued Princess Toadstool is kidnapped by the diabolical deadbeat BowserTM but super plumbers Mario and Luigi hatch a plan with their new friend Yoshi to rescue her. Are the Super Mario Bros.’TM plans a pipe dream? Can they stop the Koopa King before he forces the Princess to be his bride?!
“This fantastic new edition will delight legions of video game, pop culture and comic fans with imaginative adventures inspired by Mario and Luigi from the classic Super Mario Bros. games,” says Beth Kawasaki, Senior Editorial Director for VIZ Media. “Join the fun as gaming’s most legendary pair of brothers attempt to rescue Princess Peach from the clutches of the Koopa King!”
Created by Nintendo, the Mario character first appeared in 1981 in Nintendo’s original Donkey KongTM arcade game. The red-capped, mustachioed character has become one of the most popular among fans and video games featuring Super Mario™ have sold more than 310 million units globally. Nintendo marked the official 30th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. in 2015 and the Mario character continues to be featured on a wide array of new consumer products each year.
SUPER MARIO ADVENTURES story writer Kentaro Kawamoto is best-known for co-authoring Even a Monkey Can Draw Manga and his most well known manga work published in English is Super Mario Adventures, which originally ran in Nintendo Power magazine and was collected in 1993 into a graphic novel edition of the same name.
SUPER MARIO ADVENTURES artist Charlie Nozawa published manga under the pen name Tamakichi Sakura. His most notable works include Shiawase No Katachi (Shapes of Happiness) and Oyaji No Wakuse (Dad’s Planet).
For additional information on SUPER MARIO ADVENTURES and other manga titles distributed and published by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.
If you happen to be in New York for the event, please tell Mario that I am sorry I missed his cupcake party and also that I hope he will be my second-best friend.

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