American comic writer Ian Flynn might well be best known for his work with the Sonic the Hedgehog series, but if things had have happened slightly differently, he could have ended up working on some Mario projects, too.

Flynn was the chief writer of Archie Comics' Sonic the Hedgehog series, starting the role in 2006 and seeing it through right up until the comic was cancelled in 2017. Now, he works as the head writer for the IDW Publishing Sonic series, and also writes for Mega Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and more.

It was with Archic Comics that Flynn's pitch for a Super Mario Bros. comic was born; the pitch was for a four-part mini with the hope that it would turn into an ongoing thing. He's shared how the comic would have gone down on Twitter, with events being based on the original Super Mario Bros.:

With literally no one left to save the princess, Mario jumps at the call to adventure. Luigi less so. They stock up on what power-ups are left after the invasion and embark on a journey through Worlds 1-8, burning through their provisions since they're novice heroes (4/11) — Ian Flynn (@IanFlynnBKC) August 28, 2019

Mario makes his way past the traps and firebars to his first showdown with Bowser. The King of Koopas wants to know who's been causing so much trouble for his troops and it's...this pudgy guy? Oh well. Anyone who challenges him meets the same fate. (6/11) — Ian Flynn (@IanFlynnBKC) August 28, 2019

It's Luigi, screaming in blind terror, running thru the castle as fast as he can. Over the bridge. Past the baffled combatants. Into a wall. Which knocks loose the decorative axe. Which cuts the bridge. (8/11) — Ian Flynn (@IanFlynnBKC) August 28, 2019

The trio returns to the Mushroom Kingdom and begin to rebuild. Peach names Mario & Luigi royal plumbers. Luigi is overjoyed - they're set for life now! No more adventures! Cut to the stinger ending of Bowser crawling out of the magma moat. (10/11) — Ian Flynn (@IanFlynnBKC) August 28, 2019

In the full thread, he goes onto explain that he believes the concept was well-received at Nintendo of America, but that it ultimately didn't successfully pass through Nintendo's head office in Japan. After reading through that, we must admit we'd quite like to sit and flick through the finished (but sadly not real) comic.

What could have been, huh?