“Losing is not an option! And neither is giving up!” declares the iconic antagonist Bowser, and his legacy certainly supports this stance.

The Mario Bros. nemesis and leader of the Koopa Troop is at once fierce and fumbling, an often comic villain whose fire-breathing skills and equally fiery temper frequently upstage his opponents.

And with a name that translates as “Great Demon King Koopa,” it’s no small wonder that King Koopa has become a hot tattoo subject in recent years.

Defined by his formidable dragon-turtle hybrid appearance and memorable catchphrases such as “Koopa Pack, attack!,” Bowser is the definitive bad guy you love to love. Hellbent on kidnapping Princess Peach and repeatedly failing to do so, he is the perpetually foiled bully who nonetheless never gives up.

There are a number of possible Bowser tattoos awaiting the faithful fan, from the numerous depictions that have evolved over the decades to his endless supply of bombastic one-liners. These top 50 best Bowser tattoo ideas are more than just a mark of one’s Mario world fandom, but a predilection for the bumbling bad guys with all the good quotes, who likewise garner all the laughs.

While the King of the Koopa Troop takes himself VERY seriously, the man who inks his likeness onto his skin is very much able to laugh at himself and his foibles. “I’m the biggest, baddest brute around, and don’t you forget it,” warns Bowser in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, and no doubt the same can be said of his tattoo supporters.

As is often the case in the realm of gaming, and storytelling at large, the villains are often the ones we secretly root for. We can relate to them on a level not often met where stereotypical heroes are concerned, and if nothing else they speak to a basic need in all of us to spit some fire from time to time.