Pionpi

Pionpi leapt onto the page in 1990, born from the early Copper/Modern Age collaboration of Mark McClellan, Bill Vallely, and Dennis Francis in the pages of Game Boy #2 — part of Acclaim/Valiant's lively Nintendo Comics System universe that brought the world of video games to life in four-color form. This compact corner of comics history is a genuine curiosity, sharing its panels with the likes of Mario, Princess Daisy, Tatanga, and even King Hippo, making for one of the more wonderfully eclectic rosters of the era. With appearances spread across Game Boy, Nintendo Comics System, and Super Mario Bros., Pionpi may be a rare find with only nine catalog appearances, but that scarcity is exactly what makes them a prize for collectors hunting the quirky, nostalgic edges of early-'90s licensed comics.