A strange theory has been uncovered in a 1990s Super Mario manga that reveals a possible origin for the 1-Up Mushrooms seen in the series. While the Super Mario series is full of interesting characters and can even sometimes introduce some darker elements, this strange idea for where the extra life power-ups come from takes things to another level of weirdness. The Super Mario series has seen its red-capped protagonist use many power-ups and items since the start of the franchise. From classics like the Super Mushroom and Fire Flower to relatively newer additions such as the Super Bell and Bee Mushroom, there is no shortage of items to mix up the gameplay in most Super Mario games. While many of these power-ups impact the way Mario plays, 1-Up Mushrooms stand out since they provide the player with extra lives instead of new abilities. Recently, Supper Mario Broth, a Twitter account dedicated to highlighting obscure Mario-related content, discovered an interesting, albeit disturbing, concept about 1-Up Mushrooms. Specifically, this theory originated in a 1996 Super Mario 64 manga and pertained to how the extra-life items were created in the Super Mario universe. The idea for the creation of 1-Up Mushrooms was vividly conveyed in an illustration from the manga. In the picture, a deceased Mario was seen buried underground. From this lifeless body, a root extended to the surface where a mushroom could be seen. This suggested a repeating pattern where dead Marios create extra lives, "perpetuating the cycle of life and death," according to Supper Mario Broth.
It is worth pointing out that this concept regarding 1-Up Mushrooms is not officially endorsed by Nintendo and likely would not be considering its disturbing nature. In fact, Supper Mario Broth noted that this manga contained numerous jokes and “eccentric theories.” To illustrate this, they shared another collection of images that showed Mario opening coins filled with air to breathe underwater.
Unsurprisingly, this unique idea for the origins of 1-Up Mushrooms in the Super Mario universe piqued the interest of numerous Nintendo fans on the internet. In fact, the tweet from Supper Mario Broth has already gained more than 83.1K likes on Twitter, with many commenting on the weird theory. "I wish I could unsee this horror," one user responded.
While this strange concept is doubtlessly intriguing, it is not the only news regarding the iconic Super Mario item to surface recently. In addition, a speedrunner found a way to nab the “Impossible 1-Up” from Super Mario 64 without dying. Given the popularity of the Super Mario series, highlighted by the upcoming movie, it will be interesting to see what other news surrounding the various items from the games appear on the internet in the months ahead.
Source: Gamespot