Smudge (Monica's Gang)
Encyclopedia
Smudge is one of the main characters of Monica's Gang
. He was created in 1961, and since 1982, has his own printed comics appearing weekly on the newsagents.. Mauricio de Sousa
, his creator, says he based the character on a child he knew while growing up in Mogi das Cruzes
.
, and because of that, has never, throughout the entire series, taken a bath. However, he was once illegally portrayed taking a shower in a TV commercial for a Brazilian showerhead manufacturer. He was once also drawn carrying a bundle of clothes and cookies under heavy rain and with water up to his waist in a time when Southern Brazil was suffering a heavy rain season. He fears rain, bodies of water, showers and taps. He also doesn't drink pure water, although he drinks juices and eat soup. To protect himself, he always carries an umbrella with him, for any possible emergency. In some strips, Smudge is even able to fly to run from water.
Smudge's personality was, initially, of a "garbage addict"; but he became a person who recycles old stuff in order to make new toys to play with. He used to visit the garbage deposit everyday, but since the last few years, he doesn't go there any more. He is the gang's handyman, often fixing the other kids' broken toys.
Jimmy Five
's best friend, he is always convinced or even blackmailed to participate on his "infallible plans", even though in the end he is always the one to mess everything up, because he always lets the cat out of the bag. He dates Dustine (Cascuda) - a girl who hates water just like him, but takes a bath every few stories, unlike Smudge.
In Monica Teen, Cascão is known to take a bath occasionally.
Smudge loves soccer, a recurring theme in his strips. A supporter of Corinthians
, he is the only character who supports a defined team. Jimmy Five, for example, has been described as a São Paulo
or a Palmeiras
supporter.
Monica's Gang
Monica's Gang is a popular Brazilian comic book series. The series was created by Mauricio de Sousa, who signs his work as "Mauricio". Plots are centered on the adventures of a group of seven-year-old friends in the fictional neighborhood of "Limoeiro" in São Paulo...
. He was created in 1961, and since 1982, has his own printed comics appearing weekly on the newsagents.. Mauricio de Sousa
Mauricio de Sousa
Mauricio de Sousa is a Brazilian cartoonist who has created over 200 characters for his popular series of children's comic books....
, his creator, says he based the character on a child he knew while growing up in Mogi das Cruzes
Mogi das Cruzes
Mogi das Cruzes is a municipality in the state of São Paulo metropolitan region of the state capital. The population in 2010 according to the Census population is 387,241 inhabitants, resulting in a population density of 533.90 inhabitants per km ²....
.
Characteristics
Smudge is best known for his great fear of waterAquaphobia
Aquaphobia is an abnormal and persistent fear of water. Aquaphobia is a specific phobia that involves a level of fear that is beyond the patient's control or that may interfere with daily life. People suffer aquaphobia in many ways and may experience it even though they realize the water in an...
, and because of that, has never, throughout the entire series, taken a bath. However, he was once illegally portrayed taking a shower in a TV commercial for a Brazilian showerhead manufacturer. He was once also drawn carrying a bundle of clothes and cookies under heavy rain and with water up to his waist in a time when Southern Brazil was suffering a heavy rain season. He fears rain, bodies of water, showers and taps. He also doesn't drink pure water, although he drinks juices and eat soup. To protect himself, he always carries an umbrella with him, for any possible emergency. In some strips, Smudge is even able to fly to run from water.
Smudge's personality was, initially, of a "garbage addict"; but he became a person who recycles old stuff in order to make new toys to play with. He used to visit the garbage deposit everyday, but since the last few years, he doesn't go there any more. He is the gang's handyman, often fixing the other kids' broken toys.
Jimmy Five
Jimmy Five
Jimmy Five is one of Monica's Gang main characters. He was created in 1960, and currently has his own printed comic strips, called Cebolinha, which were first released in 1973...
's best friend, he is always convinced or even blackmailed to participate on his "infallible plans", even though in the end he is always the one to mess everything up, because he always lets the cat out of the bag. He dates Dustine (Cascuda) - a girl who hates water just like him, but takes a bath every few stories, unlike Smudge.
In Monica Teen, Cascão is known to take a bath occasionally.
Smudge loves soccer, a recurring theme in his strips. A supporter of Corinthians
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, commonly just known as Corinthians , is a Brazilian football club based in the city of São Paulo. They play in the São Paulo state league, as well as the Brasileirão, Brazil's top national league...
, he is the only character who supports a defined team. Jimmy Five, for example, has been described as a São Paulo
São Paulo Futebol Clube
São Paulo Futebol Clube , commonly known as São Paulo, is a professional football club based in São Paulo, Brazil. They play in the Campeonato Paulista, São Paulo's state league, and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A or Brasileirão, Brazil's national league, and are one of the only five clubs to...
or a Palmeiras
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras is a Brazilian football club from São Paulo. The club was founded on August 26, 1914, as Palestra Italia but changed to the current name on September 14, 1942...
supporter.
Related characters
- Seu Antenor (Mr. Antenor) – Smudge's father, an avid Corinthians supporter just like his son. He sometimes tries to convince his son to take a bath, with no results. He spends the weekends with Smudge, and sometimes with his friend Seu Cebola and Jimmy FiveJimmy FiveJimmy Five is one of Monica's Gang main characters. He was created in 1960, and currently has his own printed comic strips, called Cebolinha, which were first released in 1973...
, and sometimes both Cebola and Antenor even force Jimmy and Smudge to do what he they enjoyed when younger. - Dona Lurdinha (Mrs. Lurdinha) – Smudge's mother. Just like her husband, she tries hard to convince her son to take a bath, but the results are the same. She eventually tries to force Smudge to take a bath, using brute force, but there's always something to save Smudge from what he calls "death".
- Captain Fray (Capitão Feio, lit. "Captain Ugly") – One of Monica's Gang main enemies. He was once Smudge's uncle, but went mad and decided to be as dirty as his nephew. He lives in the underworld of the sewer system and leads a large army of "dirty beings", monsters made of dirt. He also has superpowersSuperpower (ability)Superpower is a popular culture term for a fictional superhuman ability. When a character possesses multiple such abilities, the terms super powers or simply powers are used...
: Apart from flying, he can release dirt beams, move objects from a distance, or create objects using dust. Water works on him just like kryptoniteKryptoniteKryptonite is a fictional material from the Superman mythos —the ore form of a radioactive element from Superman's home planet of Krypton. It is famous for being the ultimate physical weakness of Superman, and the word kryptonite has since become synonymous with an Achilles' heel —the one weakness...
works on SupermanSupermanSuperman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
: Once he's wet, all his powers are gone. His dream is to make the entire world a dirtier place to live, and also to rule it. However, Monica and her friends always find a way to stop him. Captain somewhat has a good feeling towards Smudge, occasionally. He sometimes is the one to save him from any contact with water. On the other hand, there are strips in which he wants to destroy Smudge for Smudge being the dirtier being in the universe, a status that Captain desires. - Chauvy (Chovinista) – Smudge's pet, this small pigPigA pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
hates water as much as his owner, but is sometimes seen taking a bath. - Dustine (Cascuda) – Smudge's girlfriend. Although she was created only to be Smudge's lover, he sometimes chases other girls.