A place for those who "Trust the Fungus"

You're right on the money, jka12002: Donkey Kong was developed by Miyamoto with direct inspiration from the Popeye cartoons. Apparently, Nintendo wanted to license the show into a game, but couldn't secure the rights. Miyamoto substituted the characters with similar archetypes that would prove to have much stronger staying power.

I remember noticing the parallels between the two characters as a kid myself before finally discovering it to be intentional, so I'm sure we're not the first.

I always though this as well. Popeye and Mario was all I liked back growing up. I still like Popeye just don't care for the trashy shirts and merch they make now.

ultimateemail5000 wrote:I always though this as well. Popeye and Mario was all I liked back growing up. I still like Popeye just don't care for the trashy shirts and merch they make now.

You can find Popeye spinach, you know.

Prime Evil wrote:

ultimateemail5000 wrote:I always though this as well. Popeye and Mario was all I liked back growing up. I still like Popeye just don't care for the trashy shirts and merch they make now.

You can find Popeye spinach, you know.

That's been around for ages. When I say trashy merch I mean a shirt that has Popeye with gold chains playing cards, or a boxer shirt with some trash UFC type slogan on it. Like arms are pumped or something stupid. They make stupid shirts like that with Mario but just not as embarassing to the franchise.

I don't know, I think a lot of those shirts can be pretty crappy, too.

LBD_Nytetrayn wrote:I don't know, I think a lot of those shirts can be pretty crappy, too.

I like the good ones that aren't a Wal Mart. Like I heart Yoshi, Im the bomb, Lets play Dr. those are very trashy. But the good ones are just like say the Mario Bros Plumbing shirt, or the exclusive one that came out if you reserved SMAdvance. Even Hot Topic had a nice SMB3 shirt that I wouldn't mind owning.

I've got the Mario 3 shirt.

I thought the ones you described were usually at Hot Topic, though. The ones I've seen at Walmart, like that new group shot drawn in the old style (which I really want) are good.

LBD_Nytetrayn wrote:I've got the Mario 3 shirt.

I thought the ones you described were usually at Hot Topic, though. The ones I've seen at Walmart, like that new group shot drawn in the old style (which I really want) are good.

I have that but its to big, not to sound gross but I use it as a snot rag now. My girlfriend has one similar only faded yellow and Peach is on it. Id really like to get my hands on the SMB3 shirt.

I've seen a SMB box art shirt, and I've got 3 (though the print has already begun fading a bit-- not the best quality, sadly). I'd love to see an SMB2 box art shirt to round it out.

I was searching some SMB pics and came across one of Popeye dressed as Mario with a stache, crushing a ? Block and a mushroom coming out near his mouth. It looked really good I didn't save it though.

Here's a couple of cool images that blur the line between the characters quite well:

That's the Popeye pic I found. I really like the Mario one a lot better. Growing up for me it was all about Mario and Popeye. Popeye was the first character I ever drew at 3, then Mario came along, ah that getting lovely NES the next year is something I'll never forget.

I prefer the Mario-based one as well. It's just drawn better, for one, though the concept is also better executed.