Shocking Revelation in Super Mario Manga: 1-Up Mushrooms Are Harvested from the Bodies of Fallen Marios
A 1996 Super Mario 64 manga suggests that 1-Up Mushrooms grow from the bodies of dead Marios, perpetuating the cycle of life and death. pic.twitter.com/KjGsnig3hB
— Supper Mario Broth (@MarioBrothBlog) March 23, 2023
A staple of every Mario game, the 1-Up mushroom is a lifesaver in fungal form that gives players an extra chance to complete a level. These green power-ups are synonymous with resurrection in the Mario Bros. universe, but what if there’s more to them than meets the eye?
According to a page from the Super Mario 64 manga, which dates back to 1996, Mario is caught in a cycle of eco-friendly life and death. The manga suggests that every time Mario dies in the Mushroom Kingdom, his body feeds the soil and produces 1-Up mushrooms that the next Mario can consume. This idea is intriguing but may seem like a joke or eccentric theory from the manga authors, as pointed out by the Twitter account Super Mario Broth. They clarify that it’s just an interesting thought experiment, and not something that would be endorsed by Nintendo.
As Mario prepares to make his big-screen debut in his first animated feature film, April is shaping up to be a significant month for the franchise. Super Mario Bros., set for release on April 5, is expected to gross between $85 million-$90 million at the US box office over the Easter weekend. The star-studded cast includes Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, and Jack Black as Bowser.
