Bowser (; known in Japan as ) is a
video game character and the primary
antagonist of
Nintendo's
Mario franchise. In
Japan, the character bears the title of . In the United States, the character was first referred to as "Bowser, King of the Koopa" and "The sorcerer king" in the
Super Mario Bros. instruction manual. Bowser is the leader and most powerful of the
turtle-like
Koopa race, and has been the enemy of Mario ever since Bowser's first appearance, in the game
Super Mario Bros.