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.

Fans of the Super Mario Bros. games learned of a disturbing theory this week involving 1-Up Mushrooms. According to a Super Mario manga from decades ago, it’s been suggested that 1-Up Mushrooms ...

As noted by the Twitter account Super Mario Broth, a page from the Super Mario 64 manga all the way back in 1996 suggested that Mario was trapped in a grim cycle of eco-friendly life and death.

Mario’s corpse. The same Mario you let fall off a ledge or miss a tough jump with. He’s dead now, but in his death comes new life, apparently. Fans reacted with mock horror and disgust.