In the realm of video game adaptations, there has never been anything quite like 1993’s live-action filmSuper Mario Bros.Capitalizing on Nintendo’s sibling stars seemed like a no-brainer at the time, but the resulting project would challenge audience expectations. The film relied on respected actors and a bleak setting that is far from the Mushroom Kingdom.
The movie madea lot of questionable decisions. Despite the star-studded cast that included Bob Hoskins, John Leguizamo and Dennis Hopper in a memorable performance as Bowser, the movie flopped. Disappointing box office figures along with critical scorn meant this unique creation was bound for a single cinematic chapter. But one set of fans was determined the story wouldn’t end there.
Time has been surprisingly kind to this film, helping it find a following and establish itself as a cult classic. That appeal helped two fans, editors on a website dedicated toSuper Mario Bros. The Movie(as it’s also called), come up with a way to establish something more than a traditional film sequel. Their efforts led to a creative comic series whose beginnings were just as fascinating as its mysterious conclusion.
Plotting A Return to Dinohattan
1993’sSuper Mario Bros.ended with Mario and Luigi making a new life for themselves far from the dark world of Dinohattan — that is until Daisy shows up again, armed to the teeth and asking them for help. The ending, with itsvain hope of a film sequel, proved to be a great starting point for fansSteven ApplebaumandRyan Hoss, who found themselves immersed in everything related to the film.
Their vision for a sequel didn’t pursue the usual crowdfunding for a fan film route, instead taking inspiration from comics. The medium presented a way for the duo to send characters in a host of directions while maintaining a substantially lower budget. This determined pair of artists found themselves scripting a return to Dinohattan that would include a video game villain.
King Wart takes center stage as the villain — in a not-so-subtle nod to 1988’s video gameSuper Mario Bros 2.The popular console game sees the baddie, named after toad warts, use dreams to conquer his enemies. Readers can only imagine whichcomedian would have played the roleif the story had hit the big screen. This project also delves into a romance between Luigi and Daisy. Their relationship is one aspect in which the film and video games align closely, as the pairing is canon in both.
Related:10 Things the Original Super Mario Bros. Movie Actually Got Right
The men behind this comic sequel were insistent on what could never appear in their work — characters and storylines created from the 2000s onward. According to the creators, there’s a very important reason behind that decision.
A member ofthe creative team statedthat they would only be working with the game’s source material before 1996, the time they envisioned a proposed trilogy would have happened. It’s not just speculation on their part: Applebaum and Hoss found a connection to the original film — one ofSuper Mario Bros.‘screenwriters.
A Screenwriter Opens The Door
Applebaum and Hoss found inspiration from one of the 1993 film’s screenwriters,Parker Bennett. While he didn’t write the comic, his viewpoint provided a valuable connection to where the story might have gone. Bennett relayed much of what he brought to the original film’s creation, outlining what he envisioned at the time. He also provided in-depth knowledge about the settings created for the cinematic adaptation.
The screenwriter’s contribution to this comic adaptation doesn’t go unnoticed. Not only did the team write a paragraph about his involvement in their FAQs, but they additionallygave him the first wordsin their online adventure. In it, Bennett acknowledges his role in writing the 1993Super Mario Bros.film. But more interestingly, he notes that one of his only lines of dialogue has a surprising influence —Back to the Future.
Daisy’s return inSuper Mario Bros.‘sfinal moments as a hint at a sequel is not unlikeBack to the Future’s ending, which promised viewers a continuation of Marty and Doc Brown’s story. For Bennett, it was a case of being “hopelessly optimistic.” While theSuper Mario Bros.movie sequel didn’t happen, the screenwriter’s support for the comics lent an added touch of authenticity to the project.
An Abrupt Exit
TheSuper Mario Bros.movie came and went upon release. While some loved the film,others were less than thrilledon their first viewing. It was a fate that comic creators Applebaum and Hoss knew all too well as they started their project. With renewed interest and two decades passing since the 1993 film’s release, there were strong hopes for what the comic could become, after the film earned its cult status.
The original plan promised 10 chapters with roughly 10 pages in each one. Creators even speculated the beginning and end of the comic would double their usual page counts. A page a week was an ambitious strategy for the fan-made project, but it worked for two years — readers experienced three complete chapters from 2013 until 2015. The final chapter is where readers got a shock, as the story abruptly ended.
There seems to be no answer about why the comic stopped. The mystery gets even stranger considering those behind this unique project are still actively involved with theSuper Mario Bros.fan community. Applebaum and Hoss are credited asSuper Mario Bros.archivists ona special edition rereleasefrom Umbrella Home Entertainment.
The company’s comprehensive set of special features includes commentary by the pair. In another connection to the comic, Parker Bennett also adds a commentary track for the film. Be that as it may, there still remains a lingering question of what happened to this intriguing fan project.
In 2022, theSuper Mario Bros.Movie Archive tweeted that a sequel comic was in development. A copyright 2023 website features a reboot of the comic, complete with the first full chapter. The site once again promises new chapters, but none have been added as of late 2023. Whatever their plans, the project’s previous incarnations prove that there may yet be more to explore in Dinohattan.
Here is where you can read the Super Mario Bros. comic online.
