The Fish That Should've Gotten Away

Mario, being chased by a large swarm of various monsters.

The Fish That Should've Gotten Away is the first issue ever created in Valiant Comics's Nintendo Comics System imprint.

Plot Synopsis

Mario, while leaping over a lake from a pier, begins to bemoan the fact that he is being chased by a large hoard of monsters, from Clawgrips to Hammer Brothers to Trouters; but looks on the bright side of things, believing that nothing else could go wrong for him today.

Suddenly, after he stomps on a Clawgrip and avoids a Piranha Plant, Mario is surprised to see a talking fish, who introduces himself Stanley the Talking Fish, following him. Oblivious to Mario's predicament with the dozens of nearby monsters, Stanley begins to pester Mario about his girlfriend, Barbara the Bush, asking for advice about his relationship with her; as some Trouters begin to tell Mario to ignore the talkative Stanley, while trying to eat him.

Managing to reach some nearby land, Mario, still being talked to by Stanley, begins trying to get him to go away while avoiding various creatures, with Stanley still wanting dating advice. Seeing a nearby Warp Pipe, Mario jumps into it as Stanley still tries to talk to him.

Inside the Warp Pipe, Mario finds himself in a darkened area filled with speaking trees and bushes, who, at the very mention of Stanley the Talking Fish, begin to swoon. Asking Mario if he knows Stanley, Mario tells the nearby bushes that of course he knows Stanley, he taught him everything he knows.

Trivia

• The name "The Fish That Should've Gotten Away" is a parody of the term "the one that got away", which is used in fishing to describe the loss of a catch.
• The monsters chasing Mario are Clawgrips, Hammer Brothers, Koopa Troopas, Trouters, Fryguys, Shyguys, Piranha Plants, Beezos, Venus Fire Traps, Spinys and, oddly, what resembles a green-colored Gunion (making this the only Super Mario Bros. comic story to include any Super Mario Land enemies, outside of the Game Boy comics).
• At the start of the issue, Mario says that he is being chased by several Sparks. Despite Mario saying this, no Sparks actually appear in the comic.