Fourth generation of video game consoles
Nintendo executives were initially reluctant to design a new system, but as the market transitioned to the newer hardware, Nintendo saw the erosion of the commanding market share it had built up with the Nintendo Entertainment System. Nintendo's fourth-generation console, the Super Famicom, was released in Japan on November 21, 1990; Nintendo's initial shipment of 300,000 units sold out within hours. The machine reached North America as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System on August 23, 1991, and Europe and Australia in April 1992.
Mario (franchise)
The "Nintendo Comics System" was a series of comic books published by Valiant Comics in 1990 and 1991. It was part of a licensing deal with Nintendo, featuring characters from their video games and the cartoons based on them. Valiant's "Super Mario Bros." comic books were based on the three main "Mario" games on the Nintendo Entertainment System, as well as "The Super Mario Bros. Super Show". The "Mario" line was renewed for 1991 with two different books—"Super Mario Bros." and "Adventures of the Super Mario Bros."