Ragumo: Difference between revisions

'''Ragumo''' are mole enemies that appeared in ''[[Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins]]'' and various manga adaptions of the game, being a close relative to the [[Monty Mole]] species<ref name=OfficialSite>[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/l6j/enemy/index.html Official Japanese ''Super Mario Land 2'' site]; the description refers to it as "''[[Monty Mole]]'s relative!?''", confirming that Ragumo is a relative to the Monty Mole species.</ref><ref>''[[Perfect Edition of the Great Mario Character Encyclopedia|Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten]]'' (page 227): "''This mole looks like Monty Mole wearing a drill.''"</ref> native to the [[Tree Zone]] in [[Mario Land (Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins)|Mario Land]]. Like most moles, the Ragumo are {{wp|fossorial}} creatures that use the large drills on their faces to help aid in digging.

In ''Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins'', Ragumo appear exclusively in the [[Tree Zone]]'s [[Tree Zone Area 1|first stage]] and can be found in low-lying areas, such as pits or ditches. When Mario encounters a Ragumo, they will dig up to the surface before popping out in an attempt to ambush Mario. Unlike their [[Monty Mole]]s however, Ragumo do not chase Mario annd anre significantly much slower, making them much more easier to deal with than their relatives. Mario can defeat a Ragumo by simply [[jump]]ing on them before or after they are out of the ground. [[Fireball]]s are also an effective way to defeat a Ragumo, though this only applies once the Ragumo is surfaced, as the fireballs will simply miss the Ragumo while they are still underground.

The Ragumo appear in two volumes of ''[[Super Mario-kun]]'', as a part of the ''Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins'' arc. Like most enemies featured in ''Super Mario-kun'', Ragumo act similarly to how they do in their source material. Notably, in volume 6 specifically, the Ragumo is redesigned to heavily resemble a [[Monty Mole]] (although still keeping their signature drill), likely due to the official Japanese descriptions describing them as relatives of the Monty Mole species.

A singular Ragumo appears as a minor antagonist in the final chapter of volume 6, with them being a major enemy that ambushes Mario and his [[Carrot]] friend when the duo were entering the [[Tree Zone]]. Mario attempts to lure the Ragumo with the Carrot, but the Carrot kicks Mario into the air for trying to use them as bait. Mario then proceeds to attempt to defeat the Ragumo by throwing [[fireball]]s at them, although they pop out on the other side of the ground completely unharmed. A [[Bopping Toady]] then helps the Ragumo by pinning Mario down using their tongue. While Mario's Carrot friend tries helping him, they are quickly drilled into pieces by the Ragumo before the angry mole attempts to drill through Mario as well. Mario prolongs his fate by using his [[Bunny Mario|Bunny Ears]] to try and fight back the Ragumo's drill up until he spots a [[Super Mushroom]] that he uses to power up his Bunny Ears. Now with the extra power, Mario easily breaks the Ragumo's drill and slaps the Bopping Toady that was pinning him as well.

Ragumo would make an appearance in ''[[Super Mario 4koma Manga Theater]]'', behaving similarly to how they behave in their source material. Interestingly enough, Ragumo's appearance in this manga reveals that they cannot handle the sunlight, and will retreat back underground if blinded by it.

Ragumo would make their only appearance in the self titled "Ragumo" (ラグモ) strip from '''volume 8''', in which a Ragumo would wait underground for Mario to pass by in order to ambush the unsuspecting plumber. Unfortunately, as the Ragumo attempted to ambush Mario, the Ragumo would immediately be blinded by the sun and quickly retreat back underground. After failing to defeat Mario, the Ragumo would then lament on how the sun was an unexpected strong enemy to them, as the Ragumo's child tries to get their attention (revealing that the Ragumo in the story was a father).