The Mark of Zero

"The Mark of Zero" is the thirty-third animated episode of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!. It is paired with the live-action segment "Toupee."
== Plot ==
Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool and Toad arrive in El Desertland looking for the masked hero Zero, whom they hope can help them against King Koopa. Spotting a taco stand, the group decides to stop off for lunch. Unfortunately, El Koopitan (King Koopa's alias in this episode) spots them and sends in his Koopa Troopas and Mouser to attack. Upon seeing El Koopitan's men, the Taco Stand Lady runs into her stand and closes off the shop leaving the Marios to fend for themselves.
The Marios are quickly surrounded but Zero makes a sudden appearance. She easily manages to fight off the Koopa Troopas and fights with Mouser. After a brief sword fight, Mouser is defeated and his shirt had a "0" cut into it. El Koopitan takes sees an opportunity, however, and pins Zero to a cactus by throwing a smaller cactus onto his cape. Zero is captured and the Marios are left in favor of the better prey.
Making their way to a town, the Marios attempt to incite the townsfolk to fight back but without Zero, the Townsfolk are too afraid to try. El Koopitan takes full advantage of this and starts terrorizing the town. The Marios attempt to fight off his forces with vegetables but they run out. It seems that they too will be captured but Mario makes a break for some tortillas and uses those as weapons. The tortillas do a fine job as weapons and El Koopitan leaves. The Mayor then apologizes for his people fleeing, saying they need Zero to inspire them.
In spite (or because) of recent events, El Koopitan decides to deal with the village once and for all. The villagers quickly surrender but Mario and Luigi show up dressed up as Zero and his sidekick Zero Plus One. With their heroes to back them up, the Villagers right with a renewed strength and manage to fight off El Koopitan but not before Mouser shouts out the location of their fort.
The Marios head out to the fort to rescue the real Zero. While they are spotted, they easily defeat the guards and manage to accomplish their mission.
Back at the taco stand, the Taco Stand Lady asks them if they have decided but has forgotten to take off her mask and fake moustache. The group realizes that she's Zero and she offers them free tacos if they'll keep her secret. Mario eagerly agrees to the trade.
== Trivia/Goofs ==
* Zero is a spoof of and the title is a spoof of the 1920 film .
* This is the first time the Marios are shown to glide with a cape, which would later become a power-up in Super Mario World.
* The featured song, "La Bamba" by Los Lobos is the only non-English song played.
* Near the beginning of the episode, right after Mario takes his order, Bowser interrupts. For the first two seconds, before they notice his arrival, Mario mouths the start of Bowser's line.
* When Mario and Luigi duck inside the giant sombrero-like carriage from Mouser's thrown cactus pieces, Mario, in Luigi's voice, says "holy calamari".
* A brief anime reference appears when Zero moves two Koopa Troopas into a cactus; a closeup of one of the Koopa Troopas is seen as it falls down has a common hurt expression on his face.
* When Luigi says "Wow, this Zero guy can get down, Mario" while Zero challenges Mouser, he doesn't move his lips when he says "Mario".
* When the commercial break is over and everyone is surrounded, Luigi keeps his mouth open when he moans and says that the Koopa Troopas pulling his arms apart are hurting him.
== Availability ==
File:TSMBSS - Volume 2 (DVD, 2006) Shout Factory.png|The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! - Volume 2 (DVD, 2006)
File:TSMBSS - Box Office Mario (DVD, 2009).jpg|The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!: Box Office Mario (DVD, 2009)
File:TSMBSS - Volume 2 (DVD, 2012) NCircle re-release.jpg|The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! - Volume 2 (DVD, 2012) (NCircle Re-release)
fi:The Mark of Zero
Category:Episodes of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!