Did you know that the public had great responsibility in creating Monica? Know this story!
Created by Mauricio de Sousa, Turma da Mônica is extremely loved inside and outside Brazil. With its comics present in approximately 40 countries, and stories translated into up to 14 languages, the adventures of Monica and her friends have already surpassed the impressive milestone of 1 billion copies sold worldwide, adding since 1970.
Even though it was a huge success, the story of the creation of the beloved group starts very differently than many imagine, since, in the beginning, Mônica did not even exist.
How did Monica come about?
During the first strips published by mauricio, in 1959, the main characters were Franjinha and Bidu. Soon after, other names emerged that are well known by the public to this day: Cebolinha, Penadinho, Horácio, Piteco, Hiroshi, Zézinho and Chico Bento.
Despite being extremely adored, readers have come to complain about the lack of girls in the stories. That’s how the comic artist decided to be inspired by the personality of his second daughter, Monica Sousaand created a character with the same name.
But anyone who thinks she has already emerged as a protagonist is wrong. Mônica’s official debut took place in 1963, as a supporting character in a Cebolinha comic strip published in the Folha da Manhã newspaper. To the surprise of many, Dona da Rua has no lines in her first appearance, but is already seen with her faithful plush rabbit Samsão — who at the time had no name and was not blue.
Also, at that time, Samson was yellow, referencing the real-life stuffed rabbit that the creator’s daughter had when she was little. In addition, the toy spent good years without having a name. The way it would be called was only chosen in 1983, according to Veja São Paulo magazine, through a contest held in the class’ comics.
Over the years, Mônica ended up conquering even more the hearts of the public, and became the protagonist of the comics developed by Mauricio de Sousaalso being the main character in the comic artist’s first comic book, released in May 1970 by Editora Abril, with the name “Mônica e Sua Turma”.
Source: Recreio
