Bowser

Bowser in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga.
Bowser Koopa
Species	Koopa
Hair color	Red
Eye color	Black
Relatives	Koopalings, Bowser Jr. (Children)
Debut	Super Mario Bros.

The arch-rival of Mario and the definitive villain of the Mario series. Although preceded by Donkey Kong and followed by many more, he has remained a steady character in the series. He is the ruler of the koopas - but not all of them. His home tends to vary from game to game, but he is popularly placed in Dark Land or some variation thereof. It would not be unreasonable to assume he has a number of castles and fortresses dedicated to him all around the world. Not only that, but he sports a variety of weapons and devices. Notable mentions are his submarine, Koopa Cruiser, his many airships, tanks, and battleships, and his favorite - the Clown Copter. To top it off, he also has eight children - Ludwig, Roy, Morton Jr., Wendy, Iggy, Lemmy, Larry, and Bowser Jr..

Background

Childhood

Bowser was raised by Kamek to be the definitive Koopa King. In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Kamek had a vision predicting that the newly born Mario Brothers would one day defeat the new king. Though he had succeeded in kidnapping Luigi, Mario went with the yoshi clan to save the toddler's lost brother. After many failed attempts to defeat the yoshis, it at last came down to Baby Bowser's very own nursery. After being defeated soundly, Kamek enlarged the spoiled koopa prince. Once more Baby Bowser was defeated, so Kamek put the baby on his broom and flew away, vowing revenge.

In Yoshi's Island DS Baby Bowser was one of the babies kidnapped by the future versions of himself and Kamek. After starting a fight with his future self, Baby Bowser was knocked out of the castle. Baby Bowser joined Yoshi's group for the last four levels of the fourth world until Future Kamek retrieved him. His special ability was spitting fireballs. He later rejoined Yoshi's group to "guide" them through Bowser's castle.

Bowser as a baby.

However, he feared Yoshi's group wanted to steal his treasure so he attacked them. He was defeated and retrieved by Kamek, who later accidentally dropped him to Baby Wario's raft. The two started a fight, due to Baby Wario having looted the future Bowser's treasure. The ending revealed that Bowser was one of the seven "star children", born with one of the seven stars that had fallen from the heavens.

A slightly older Prince Bowser appears in Yoshi's Story and the past storyline of Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time. In these games he looks somewhat older and has improved speech, especially in the latter game. The first game had Bowser turning Yoshi's Island into a storybook and stealing the Super Happy Tree until he was defeated by a group of baby Yoshis. In the latter Bowser had started his hobby of kidnapping Princess Peach when she was still a baby, but the Baby Mario Bros. constantly opposed him. He also loved to steal Yoshi Cookies from Yoshi's Island. Prince Bowser appeared frequently throughout game and at one point even teamed up with his adult counterpart to battle Mario and Luigi at the Thwomp Volcano.

The NES/Super NES Years

In time Bowser grew into the familiar turtle monster we know and love. Bowser battled his old enemies again in Super Mario Bros. after he had successfully launched a campaign against the Mushroom Kingdom. He had captured a number of fortresses and captured the Princess Peach along with many of the mushroom retainers. Using his magic, he had turned most of the kingdom into blocks and other objects and turned some of his own minions into clones of himself to guard the retainers. He was, eventually, foiled and the princess was rescued, who was able to undo his magic.

He once more tried the same plot in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, but with the same outcome. In Super Mario Bros. 3 he put his great fleet to good use. With his children as his 'generals', he seized several different kingdoms around the Mushroom Kingdom. While the Mario brothers sought to foil his plans, he in secret kidnapped Peach. The duo traveled to Bowser's own home in the Dark Land to foil his evil plot. In all of the early games Bowser could be defeated with fireballs or hammers, but the easiest way to defeat him was simply by tricking him into falling into lava.

Not yet out, Bowser busied himself with other affairs. In Super Mario World, he once more brought his children so as to conquer Dinosaur Land and kidnap the yoshi's eggs (possibly as revenge on the yoshis for their opposition during his childhood). Opportunity presented itself when the Mario brothers and Peach came there to vacation. This only proved to be his undoing when the plumbers joined up with the yoshis to foil his plans. He then set his eyes on Jewelry Land in Yoshi's Safari, bringing his children along yet again. Mario and Yoshi teamed up and stopped the menace once again, marking the last of Bowser's attempts on other lands.

He once more returned to his princess-nabbing ways in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, but was foiled when Smithy's gang took over his castle. He and his koopa troop traveled around to try and reclaim his fortress, but their numbers dwindled quickly. When he arrived at Booster's Tower, where Peach had ended up, he reluctantly joined forces with Mario by initiating him and his friends into the 'Koopa Troop'. With his brawn, they eventually were able to stop Smithy, at which point Bowser went his own way to rebuild his fortress.

The N64/Gamecube Years

Bowser was back in full force in Super Mario 64, when he seized Princess Peach's Castle after she had invited Mario over for some cake. He took the castle's 150 Power Stars and hid them in the castle and lands connected by paintings. When Mario, Wario, and Luigi went in the castle, they were quickly captured. But he was, eventually, defeated, after Yoshi endeavored to free the three mustachioed heroes and save the princess. With his new magikoopa commander, Kammy Koopa, he next targeted Star Haven in Paper Mario and the stole the Star Rod. He raised up Peach's Castle with his flying fortress and kicked Mario out. But his nemesis was able to gather up the seven Star Spirits to nullify the Star Rod, so that Mario could defeat him. Sometime later, his son Bowser Jr. posed as Mario on Isle Delfino in Super Mario Sunshine. Bowser had told his son, Bowser Jr., that Princess Peach was his mother. Bowser helped his son fight Mario on Corona Mountain, but was ultimately defeated.

Surprisingly, Bowser was not responsible for Peach's lost voice in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. This did not prevent him from coming along with the brothers to stop the culprits. He took the Mario Brothers along on his Koopa Cruiser to Beanbean Kingdom, but they suffered a crash thanks to Fawful. Shortly after, he ended up suffering a blow to the head losing his memory. Popple, the thief, took the amnesiac Bowser under his wing, naming him 'Rookie'. After a few run-ins with the brothers, Bowser regained his memory... but not soon enough to stop Cackletta from possessing him. After Cackletta's spirit was defeated, he was brought back home in a box. He was once more overlooked in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, when the X-Nauts kidnapped Princess. He set off on his own quest to capture Peach himself (who only 'he is allowed to kidnap') and did prove instrumental in stopping Grodus, even though he fought and was defeated by Mario at the end.

The DS/Wii Years

The adult Bowser also showed up in Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time. When trying to capture Peach he wound up being tossed back in time and teaming up with his younger self to battle the brothers at Thwomp Volcano (but neither Bowser knew that they were actually the same person). At the end he accidentally swallowed the poison mushroom that once was the bigger Princess Shroom. He became even more powerful with it and barraged Mario and Luigi with nonstop attacks, never giving either a chance to fight back. However each attack the brothers dodged or deflected wound up hitting the Princess Shroom's ghost until she was destroyed, and Bowser was restored to normal (then promptly defeated).

Bowser's attempt to kidnap Peach at an amusement park failed when Mario defeated him in the form of a pinball in Mario Pinball Land. Bowser succeeded in kidnapping two of his greatest threats, Mario and Luigi, with the aid of the Vibe Wand in Super Princess Peach. However, this time Peach was able to hunt Bowser down in his stronghold on Vibe Island.

In Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, Bowser steals the Music Keys from Mario and Toad after they've collected them, then takes them back to his castle for a secret plan of his. Mario and Toad follow and steal the keys back, then engage him in a dancing duel. Despite whipping out some impressive breakdancing, Bowser is smashed through the ceiling. In the end, it turns out that he only wanted the Music Keys to cure his tone deafness. Mario takes pity on him and uses the Music Keys to put music in his soul.

In New Super Mario Bros., Bowser once again takes a backseat to Bowser Jr. who goes off to capture Peach himself. Bowser was the boss of the castle in World 1, where he was defeated in the old bridge trick that resulted him falling into lava and apparently dying, leaving behind only his skeleton. Later on in World 8, Bowser Jr. threw those the same skeleton into a pot to revive Bowser. Although the two teamed up against Mario, Bowser Jr. was defeated first, allowing Mario to slide under Bowser and remove the bridge. Bowser was seen afterwards being dragged back home.

In Yoshi's Island DS, Kamek brought Bowser back in time to find the seven star children whom had been born with the seven stars, presumably it would grant Bowser great power (ironic, considering that Bowser was actually one of the star children). Bowser was the game's final boss, fighting the Yoshis in anger after they defeated his past self. Kamek then grew him to giant size, but he was still defeated.

Count Bleck captured both Bowser and Peach in Super Paper Mario and forced them to marry in order to fulfill the prophecy of the Dark Prognosticus, and open a Void that would consume all worlds. Bowser enjoyed the marriage, but was accidentally teleported to the Bitlands after Luigi intervened. Bowser remained there and occupied an empty castle with his troops until Mario arrived and destroyed it in Chapter 3-1. Mario was able to defeat Bowser in one-on-one battle. Afterwards Peach talked him into joining their party. Thus Bowser became one of the four legendary heroes who would destined to undo Bleck's prophecies.

Bowser was seperated from the others after they were all sent to the Underwhere by Dimentio between Chapters 6 and 7. Bowser was locked in an Underwhere prison, with no idea how he got there. He eventually broke free and made his way to the Underwhere Road, which is where Mario found him in Chapter 7-2. Bowser at first thought Mario was engineering some trick to separate Peach from him and battled Mario again. After another defeat, Bowser was convinced that this was no trick and rejoined Mario's party. Bowser later went one-on-one with O'Chunks in Chapter 8-1. Afterwards Bowser stayed behind with O'Chunks to hold up the falling ceiling while the others moved on. Both of them were saved from a crushing demise when the floor collapsed beneath them. Bowser proceeded to join Mario and the others in the game's final battles.

Sports

Despite his evil ways, Bowser occasionally joined with his enemies in various sporting events. These include:

• 

  Even in the friendly sports environment, Bowser finds ways to stir up trouble.
  Golf: Bowser was playable in Mario Golf 64, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour and Mario Golf: Advance Tour (though not as part of the main adventure). He also appears in Mario Golf GBC.
• Kart Racing: Bowser was playable in all of the kart games, starting in Super Mario Kart. This includes Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (where he is paired with Bowser Jr.), Mario Kart DS, Mario Kart Arcade GP, Mario Kart Arcade GP 2, and Mario Kart Wii.
• Tennis: Bowser is playable in Mario Tennis 64, Mario Tennis GBC (through a transfer pak), Mario Power Tennis and Mario Tennis: Power Tour.
• Baseball: Bowser is playable in Mario Superstar Baseball.
• Soccer: In Super Mario Strikers Bowser is not playable but appears as an antagonist with his own team of robots known as the Super Team. But in Mario Strikers Charged he is a playable character, replacing his Super Team robots.
• Basketball: Bowser is playable in Mario Hoops 3-on-3.

He also appeared as an antagonist in the Mario Party games. He usually had the same role in every Mario Party game; he had his own space on the board where he would torment anyone who came near, surrounded by a gaggle of miniature lookalike Bowsers, and he almost always had his own unlockable board.

One notable insight into Bowser's character was given, however, in Mario Party 5. He travelled throughout the dream lands of the Dream Depot and wreaked havoc in hopes of making his dream came true. But Mario (or one of his friends) challenged Bowser on each level and eventually defeated Bowser in one last battle. This actually made Bowser happy, as it fulfilled what he had wished for - a worthy opponent.

Other Major Roles

Video Games

• Bowser is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. In Melee, Bowser is the final boss of Adventure Mode, and under special conditions, a giant and monstrous version of Bowser known as Giga Bowser appears as the final boss after Bowser. In that game Bowser also has three unlockable trophies along with one of Baby Bowser and one of Giga Bowser. In Brawl, Bowser can turn into Giga Bowser as his Final Smash.

Other Media

• Bowser appeared in the Japan-only anime movie Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach. In this version, Bowser kidnaps Peach as in Super Mario Bros.. He also displays shape-shifting powers. At the end of the movie, he becomes a giant and battles Mario. Mario eventually defeats Bowser after he uses a Super Star. In a scene eerily similar to the method of defeating Bowser in Super Mario 64, Mario lifts Bowser up by the tail and spins him around before tossing him away.
• Bowser also appeared in a three-part anime OVA, which each part being based on a different fairy tale. In the first segment, he was an ogre who kidnapped that segment's version of Princess Peach. In the second segment, Mario was tiny and at one point Bowser tried eating him. However, Mario pokes Bowser's stomach with a needle until Bowser spits him out and runs away. In the final segment, Bowser is dressed as a woman and plays the role of the evil queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. He tries poisoning Peach and later holds her hostage with a knife, but Bowser is defeated by Luigi.
• Bowser appeared in the Super Mario Bros. Super Show and its two sequel shows as King Koopa, although he was called Bowser in some later episodes. In this series, King Koopa had a more reptilian appearance and had a variety of disguises that he used in each episode (similar to King K. Rool). In the later shows, his Koopalings also appeared.
• He appeared as the main villain of the Super Mario Bros. Movie, once again going by the name of Koopa. In this movie he is actually a humanoid creature who evolved from a dinosaur and was the tyrannical ruler of Dinohatten. He sent out his bumbling cousins Iggy and Spike (named after Bowser minions from the video games) to do his dirty work and also used a special machine to de-evolve any naysayers who challenged his authority. At the end of the movie, he briefly transformed into a dinosaur while attacking Mario and Luigi, but he was almost immediately blown away. He was played by Dennis Hopper.

Trivia

• In Japan, Bowser's name is 'Koopa'. The regular koopa troopas are called nokonoko.
• In some of the early artwork, Bowser doesn't have his hair.
• Technically, he is still married to Peach following the events of Super Paper Mario.
• Bowser was going be in Super Smash Bros., but he was removed.
• Belome says that Bowser tastes repulsive.