Long before he took on the Super Show or battled Dennis Hopper, Mario was the star of a 1983 Marvel comic one-off inspired by the construction site antics of the arcade game Donkey Kong. With today being Mario Day, I thought it might be fun to take a look back at Mario's very first appearance in comic form. We're going to dive into the history, the importance and, of course, the actual story, which gives us a glimpse into the world of Donkey Kong at a time before most of Mario's lore was written. I sure hope you brought a hardhat, because you're going to need one when we uncover the unexpected tenderness of Mario's first comic book.


Before we can talk about Mario and Donkey Kong, we first need to discuss Blip magazine, the short-lived hybrid that attempted to mix video game coverage with a random assortment of comic strips. Although it was published by Marvel Comics and even had Stan Lee's name attached, not even the Amazing Spider-Man could save this gaming mag from bad timing. You see, Blip was first published in February of 1983, the year when the American video game market crashed, thanks in large part to unchecked quality control issues and some infuriating business decisions made by supposedly smart people. With game sales at an all-time low and the mainstream media calling the industry a fad, it's easy to understand why Blip was shuttered after only seven issues.

The magazine itself is short and kind of sad, but this Donkey Kong comic is fascinating, if for no other reason than it marks the first time Mario showed up in a comic. But hang on, because that's not the only reason this comic is worth looking at, because it's actually drawn by famous cartoonist Bob Camp, who not only worked on everything from The Real Ghostbusters to SpongeBob SquarePants, but also co-founded Spumco and had a big hand in creating The Ren & Stimpy Show.

Although it only consists of 36 panels, this is a fun and inventive way to tackle the material, and it gives us an insight into how people viewed Mario, Donkey Kong and the damsels in distress back before much of the official lore was written. With all the context out of the way, let's go ahead and dive into the Donkey Kong comic found in the pages of Blip magazine.


Our story picks up with Vic Video, a news reporter who is promising a hard-hitting interview with Mario the Carpenter on the set of Donkey Kong. “Tell me, Mario (may I call you Mario? – How does it feel to be the world's leading tower climber and damsel rescuer? Or is there a different sort of man behind that powerful public façade? Which is the REAL Mario the Carpenter?”

Before Mario can even respond, the two men hear an “EEK!” from high above them. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, Donkey Kong has once again captured a fair damsel and is in the process of climbing to the top of the construction site. You would think that this action shot would actually be more interesting than a lame interview with Mario, but Vic sends us to commercial, where Mario smashes and bases household items with the new Tuff-As-Nails Brand hammer.

We now join our feature rescue already in progress. While Mario dodges barrels and climbs ladders, Vic is pressing him on the origin of Donkey Kong's name. “But where's the DONKEY? What are you trying to hide here?” Mario explains that it's because he's not very bright. Also, you might want to move before somebody gets hurt. “So, tell me, Mario, what's in this for you? Is it the danger? The thrill of the hunt? The girl?”

“I don't even know the girl,” Mario explains, while a member of Vic's crew is crushed under a couple of barrels. Y'know, just like Mario said would happen. “Donkey Kong has certainly proved himself to be no friend of the press.”


Now that Mario has made it to the top and the damsel in distress is within arm's reach, Vic asks: “The girl means NOTHING to you? Then why do you risk your life and limb for her? Why has Donkey Kong got her in the first place?” But Mario isn't interested in the interview, because he's too busy making out with the blonde-haired damsel he just rescued. She's doesn't even get a name in this comic.

It's while conducting the interview when Donkey Kong swoops down and nabs Vic Video, giving him “a rare opportunity to speak to an enigmatic figure.” He asks about Donkey Kong's intelligence while getting plopped onto platform where the damsel in distress normally goes. “Do you feel that mistaking me for the damsel reinforces your reputation for stupidity?”

Wisely, DK just tosses him off the building, which is probably the smartest thing he could possibly do. But before Vic Video, ahem, “signs off,” Mario swoops in to save the day. “In an effort to save me, Mario the Carpenter has hurled himself off a high beam to certain doom! A brave but futile gesture!”

This heroism somehow works, saving the annoying reporter, who wonders how that was even possible. Channeling his inner Parappa the Rapper, Mario calmly explains that “you just have to believe in yourself, that's all.” “Just believe in yourself!” Simple wisdom from an uncomplicated man. No wonder he is such a great American!”


But wait! Donkey has once again captured the nameless woman, which leads Vic to narrate that “the brutal gorilla has lost two battles, but he's still trying to win the war.” Considering how me merc'd the lighting guy, I would argue that DK already has at least one point on the board.

It's while getting kicked by the cameraman when Vic finally asks a good question: “Where did you get your experience fighting apes at construction sites?”

This sets up Donkey Kong's lore, with Mario explaining that they met in Japan, where they had experimented on a breed of gorilla in an attempt to turn them into more efficient construction workers. Somewhat naively, Vic asks what you would pay a 400-pound gorilla, but Mario is once again smooching with the unnamed blonde woman he has rescued for the second time.

However, this is once again short-lived, as Donkey Kong grabs her for the third time. Why does this keep happening? Mario explains that it's because these girls “remind him of the mother he never knew.” “Donkey Kong! Big? Yes! Baby? Maybe! More ... right after this message.”


Yet again, the news could be bringing us amazing footage of a giant gorilla kidnapping a woman, but no, we get one more commercial for Tuff-As-Nails hammers, which beats the tar out of cement.

We pick up with Vic and Mario being chased by what can best be described as a fireball. Vic wonders why, after all this time, Mario is finally talking about his part on this conspiracy. “I feel the story finally needs to be told, Vic. I feel sorry for the big guy.” Vic is shocked. “I see myself as the only man with training to know how to handle the situation.”

“Is that your message?” Vic asks, happy to still be on that conveyer belt. “You strive against all odds in a battle that never seems to end – simply because you must?”

Mario, who is once again just inches away from saving the nameless damsel in distress for a third time, reveals that, “actually, the message I'd really like to get across is this ... SCRATCH HIM BEHIND THE EARS! That's all he really wants.”


Now hang on, why did it take him three abductions to throw out that protip? He could have mentioned that while shoving his tongue down the damsel's throat, but no, he didn't think of it until it was almost too late. “Amazing! Intelligence! Sympathy! A superb competitor and gorilla fighter. I have only one other question, Mario ... How do we get down from here?”

Instead of answering, Mario and the nameless woman fall asleep in the arms of Donkey Kong. It's a genuinely tender moment, as well as a reminder that sometimes all your abductor really wants is a simple belly rub or ear scratch. With the story over, this leaves Vic Video free to get to the bottom of the next hot topic – the mysterious parentage of Donkey Kong Jr. News at eleven.