Manga Publications

Rare Promotional One-Shot Comics

During the marketing period leading up to the release of Super Smash Bros. (Nintendo 64) in Japan, several short promotional manga adaptations were published across children’s manga magazines in early 1999. These manga were released as one-shot features rather than serialized works and were designed to introduce the game’s concept and characters to younger audiences.

These publications represent some of the earliest print media adaptations of the Super Smash Bros. franchise and are considered highly desirable among collectors due to their limited print context and lack of reprints.

Important collector note:
None of the Smash Bros. manga from this era have ever been compiled into tankōbon (standalone book) format. Their only official appearance remains within the original magazine issues.

CoroCoro Comic (February 1999 Issue)

• Artist: Hirokazu Hikawa

• Known for: Kirby of the Stars: Dedede’s Pupupu Life

• Format: Single-chapter promotional manga

• Target audience: Elementary students (core CoroCoro demographic)

• Significance:
  This is the earliest known Smash Bros. manga adaptation, released shortly before the game’s Japanese launch on January 21, 1999.

Hikawa’s involvement connected Smash Bros. to the already highly popular Kirby manga readership, helping to establish brand familiarity among young Nintendo fans.

Collector importance:

• First Smash Bros. manga appearance

• Published during peak N64 promotional cycle

• CoroCoro issues have historically strong preservation challenges

• High desirability for Nintendo print collectors

Shogaku Sannensei (April 1999 Issue)

• Artists (Collaborative Work):

  • Takahiro Yamashita (Pokémon 4-Koma Encyclopedia)

  • Yukio Sawada (Super Mario-kun)

  • Ryoko Sakuma (Kirby of the Stars)

• Format: One-shot collaborative manga

• Target audience: Third-grade readers

This adaptation emphasized crossover appeal by combining artists associated with Nintendo’s most recognizable franchises. The collaborative nature reflects Shogakukan’s strategy of leveraging multi-franchise familiarity to promote new IP concepts.

Collector importance:

• Unique multi-artist Smash adaptation

• Represents early cross-franchise marketing synergy

• Rare due to lower long-term retention of educational-grade magazines

Shogaku Ninensei (April 1999 Issue)

• Artists (Collaborative Work):

  • Hiroshi Takase (Super Mario-kun)

  • Ryoko Sakuma (Kirby of the Stars)

  • Miho Asada (Pokémon Getto da ze!)

• Format: One-shot manga with integrated puzzle/quiz content

• Target audience: Second-grade readers

This version blended storytelling with interactive elements, reflecting Nintendo’s strategy of positioning Smash Bros. as both an action and character-recognition experience for younger players.

Collector importance:

• Includes unique puzzle content exclusive to this issue

• Distinct tone compared to other Smash manga

• Lower survival rate due to intended disposable educational format