Kazuki Motoyama, Creator of the Super Mario Manga, Dies at 69

Kazuki Motoyama, the creator behind the long-running Super Mario manga series, has died at the age of 69. His sister, Lisa Motoyama, confirmed the news in a post on Facebook earlier this week.

The cause of death has not yet been made public.

Motoyama’s Super Mario manga is considered an important part of video game history. The series ran from December 1988 until September 1998 and included a total of 183 issues.

It appeared first in the Kodansha anthology Comic BomBom and later in Deluxe BomBom. The manga followed Mario’s adventures, including adaptations of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario 64, and was praised for its humor and creative take on the Nintendo universe.

Fans remember Motoyama’s work for its blend of classic Mario action and witty, meta-humor. His contribution helped bring the iconic video game character to life in a new medium and left a lasting mark on both manga and gaming culture.

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