Way back in the 1990s, when times were simpler and we didn’t have the Internets, there was a special day that happened once a month that made those long hours in elementary and middle school worth while. It was Nintendo Power day; that day when the mailbox would belch forth a mint copy of Nintendo’s gaming publication. I’d read through it in an hour or so, memorize the cheats, and then take the player’s poll (which I would never win).
I’d also read the Howard and Nester comic, starring Nintendo Fun Club President Howard Phillips and Nestor, a red-headed obnoxious gamer who was always getting in trouble or participating in comic-world representations of NES games. Howard played the straight man, and was always good for a tip or hidden 1-up location (Ninja Gaiden, for example). Eventually, the comic was streamlined to just “Nester” (spelled out in broad paint strokes), and finally discontinued in issue 55.
I don’t subscribe to NP anymore, and the last issue I read was the one my parents got me with a Nintendo DS-themed birthday gift pile in 2005, so I was surprised to learn that this month’s super issue (Mega Man 9 exclusive, new Castlevania fighter), also featured a new Nester comic. Nester is as much a part of Nintendo history as anything—he even made it into a few NES- and N64-era titles—so it’s cool to see a modern day hat tip. He’s older now, married and has a kid and loves Mario Kart Wii, which tells me he’s as much a Nintendo marketing tool as he ever was. I really expected nothing less.
Ah, yes. Classic Nester comics.
I too looked forward to them each month.
Now, I just wish I have my new issue of Nintendo Power (it would seem I would get it earlier since NOA’s only a half-block away from my place…)
I can’t wait till I get my new NP. I used to look forward to Howard and Nester and if they aged him, the better!! I think I stopped subscribing to NP a bit after they stopped the comic, and just restarted my NP sub 2 months ago! Pure coincidence that they kinda line up to the end and rebirth of the strip!
Nester had sex? ZOMGZ!1
I just read it. it was good, and his son seems to be the new Howard (he slides a tip in about Mario Kart Wii). right on NP!!
Oh is that what that was? I saw the comic in the front of the magazine, but it just looked like a lousy advertisement for the Wii Wheel, so I didn’t bother reading it. If I had recognized Nester I would have read it earlier. But seeing as how the art style is such an unholy mess of digital coloring, Nester was completely recognizable. Ahhh. Howard and Nester. Good times. When the first Smash Bros came out and I heard one of the characters was some kid named Ness, I thought it was Nester.
Nester wasn’t a huge fan of mario kart wii. The first frame showed him in last place. D:
(I dunno who Nester is; I s’pose I’m too young.)
i had totally forgotten about these comics until that picture and it all flooded back to me. i need to subscribe to NP just for this.
I will unfortunately probably not be able to:
1. Get a Nintendo Subscription
2. Find a Nintendo Power anytime soon at my current location
Which leads me to ask the most inevitable and obvious question…does someone have a scan of the comic that they can post here? I used to love reading Howard and Nester when I was little, and would like to see how he’s grown up.