Nintendo Comics System: The Legend of Zelda

There were only two Legend of Zelda games in existence in 1990, but the series had already captivated many players with its exciting battles, clever puzzles, and plenty of thrilling challenges. So popular were the Zelda games that they would become part of the Nintendo Comics System. These comics would combine elements of the first two Zelda games with those found in the animated series, which at the time aired in syndication as part of the Super Mario Bros. Super Show. They are also among the better stories that appeared in the short-lived comic series. In this installment of my series of articles about the Nintendo Comics System, I shall tell you more about the Zelda comics.

The land of Hyrule had fallen into chaos thanks to Ganon, the Prince of Darkness, whose power came from the Triforce of Power that he had stolen. With his minions, Ganon sought to obtain the Triforce of Wisdom that, as in the animated series, would enable him to rule Hyrule for eternity. Protecting the Triforce of Wisdom with her life was Princess Zelda, but she knew that only a hero who possessed the Triforce of Courage could defeat Ganon and restore peace to the land. That hero would be a traveling adventurer named Link, who had come to Hyrule in search of excitement. Once found by Impa, Zelda's nursemaid, he would dedicate his life to serving Zelda and ensuring that Ganon would never get his hands on the Triforce of Wisdom.

As in the games and cartoon, Link was quite courageous, and willing to take on any challenge that came along. Here, however, he was occasionally a bit careless, but he would always save the day. When Link was not busy foiling Ganon's plans, he was trying to win Zelda's heart. Like in the animated series, he would try to get Zelda to kiss him, only to be refused outright or to be interrupted somehow. Zelda was quite capable of taking care of herself, and was often willing to put herself in danger in order to help save Hyrule. Sometimes, she would need rescuing, and Link would come to her aid. She truly did love Link, but rarely admitted it, and when she did, she would deny having said so later on.

Ganon was as vile and heartless as he was in the games. He would wear a hooded cloak that would conceal his face, making only his glowing red eyes visible. Sometimes, his full face would be in view, and it resembled that seen in the animated series: a hideous-looking pig face. There was no masking his evil intents, however: he would do anything to be rid of Link and Zelda. In one story, he attempted to convince some of the Hylians that he was the good guy and that Link and Zelda were villains. The latter two protagonists would set the people straight and stop Ganon from ruining their crops. While Ganon's plans would always be stopped, he and his minions would always come up with another way to try and take control of Hyrule for good.

As for other recurring protagonists, there was Sprite, a fairy who could use magic and would aid Link on occasion. King Harkinian, Zelda's father, would inform Link of some of the problems plaguing Hyrule, but he could do little in stopping Ganon. The aforementioned Impa would consult the Triforce of Wisdom for information regarding Ganon's plans. Not seen in either the games or the animated series was Captain Krin, who would sometimes help Link protect the kingdom. Trying to defeat them all were Ganon's minions, many of whom were featured in the games. Moblins, Wizzrobes, Goriyas, and numerous other enemies would try, and often fail, to defeat Link.

The adventures took place in many locations throughout Hyrule. One adventure took Link and Zelda to a palace that contained a magic whistle. With the whistle, Zelda hoped to leave Hyrule, taking the Triforce of Wisdom with her, so that Ganon would never steal it. However, she eventually realized that, as long as Link was around to protect Hyrule, the Triforce was as good as safe, and so she decided to stay. Other stories occurred in the North Palace from Zelda 2, such as one in which Ganon used several disguises to try and trick Link into leaving the palace. If he had succeeded, Link would have been struck by a fatal magic spell, and Hyrule would be doomed. Sometimes, other characters from the games would show up, as well. Bagu, from Zelda 2, appeared in one tale as a man who was forced to betray Link by stealing the Triforce of Wisdom in order to save his frogs, who had been kidnapped by Ganon.

As in many of the other Nintendo Comics System titles, the issues often contained a pair of self-contained ten-page stories, with one or two page tales added to the mix. The stories would be filled with drama and suspense, with some humor occasionally popping up, as well. Sometimes, there would be two-part stories that would start and end in the same issue. One such story had Link steal Ganon's Triforce of Power and, being influenced by its magic, wanting to overthrow the evil prince with the aid of the Triforce of Wisdom. However, he ended up as a pig-like beast himself and decided to get rid of the Triforce of Power, nearly sacrificing himself in the process. Sadly, we shall never know if Link ever overthrew Ganon for good, as the series was quickly canceled, though stories were reprinted in other comics as well as in the hardcover book The Best of the Nintendo Comics System.

I said earlier that the Zelda stories were among the better tales that appeared in the Nintendo Comics System series, and with good reason. There was plenty of suspense and drama, and at times, you got a real feel for the characters. One would be made to care about the protagonists and the struggles that they needed to endure to emerge victorious. The aforementioned tale with Link's being corrupted by the Triforce of Power is a strong example of this point, as one would encourage Link to do the right thing and rid himself of the Triforce, regardless of the price he would have to pay. The action was faithful to the games and the animated series, and had the series continued, more exciting tales would surely have come along, and elements from later Zelda games could have been included, as well.

While the Legend of Zelda comics are no longer being published, the stories themselves live on thanks to the Internet. Not only are scans of the comics readily available, but they have also shown up on e-bay. Zelda fans who read the comics will surely enjoy them, as they are perhaps the most solid of all the titles that were featured in the Nintendo Comics System. In the next article, I will talk about the comics featuring Captain N, who was an animated star instead of a video game character, but who still enjoyed being a comic book star for a limited time. Until then, look for the Zelda comics and see how exciting comics based on Nintendo's series can be if done just right.