Legendary Super Mario Manga Creator Kazuki Motoyama Passes Away at 69

Kazuki Motoyama, the artist behind the long-running Super Mario manga series, has passed away at the age of 69. His sister, Lisa Motoyama, shared the news on Facebook earlier this week. The cause of death has not been revealed.

Motoyama created the Super Mario manga, which ran from December 1988 to September 1998. The series appeared first in Kodansha’s anthology Comic BomBom and later continued in Deluxe BomBom, totaling 183 issues. The manga followed Mario’s adventures, including stories based on Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario 64.

Fans and critics praised Motoyama’s work not only for bringing the iconic Nintendo character to life in manga form but also for the clever humor and playful style he brought to the series. His work remains a significant part of gaming and manga history.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!