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.