From 1988 through to 2012, Nintendo Power was a mainstay of magazine stands across the United States, and it’s likely many of the fans who got their start flicking through its pages vividly remember its cover art. Instead of recycling pre-supplied renders, for many of its covers, Nintendo Power instead created its own artwork, especially in the early years. Whether it be a Mario made of clay or a lavish portrayal of Castlevania, there’s plenty to be nostalgic about.
If you’ve ever wondered how those iconic covers came to be, you might want to check out the Art of Nintendo Power Twitter account, run by Stephan Reese, an amateur historian who has amassed a collection of original sketches, lineart, and more. Check out a selection of posts below:
Fun fact! My frames are color coded! Any time you see red and yellow matting like this, that means you're looking at a cover! Here is the original line art for Volume 41 – Super Mario Kart!#mariokart #supermariokart #mario #nintendopower #nintendo #originalart #colorcoded pic.twitter.com/bwukhd42ez
— The Art of Nintendo Power (@ArtofNP) February 22, 2020
I'm not just going to show you things published in Nintendo Power… sometimes I'll show you things that weren't! Like this rejected Cyrax from Mortal Kombat cover! Likely rejected due to being super off model!#mortalkombat #snes #NintendoPower #nintendo #gamehistory #art #cover pic.twitter.com/e76lconBd9
— The Art of Nintendo Power (@ArtofNP) February 22, 2020
Sheesh gang! Really feeling the love right now!
Few people have been asking about Star Fox. Unfortunately the comic art is, so far, on lockdown. But I DO have the pencils for the cover!#starfox #nintendopower #art #artcollecting #nintendo #argonaut #coverart #pencils #airbrush pic.twitter.com/rtmvEeT8Zn
— The Art of Nintendo Power (@ArtofNP) February 22, 2020
Be sure to click through for even more images of these iconic pieces of artwork from yesteryear!
Written by Tom Brown
Whether it’s an exciting new entry in a series long established or a weird experiment meant only for the dedicated, Tom is eager to report on it. Rest assured, if Nintendo ever announces Elite Beat Agents 2, he’ll be there.
