Monica (comic) Books

The Brazilian publisher Editora Girassol will release, in participation with Maurico de Sousa Productions, two special editions in which Monica Teen(and her gang) interpret classics of world literature: Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson; and Midsummer Night’s Dream, by William Shakespeare.

MSP and Editora Girassol 

The new collection, baptized Monica Teen- Romances and Adventures, will bring Monica, Jimmy Five, Maggy and Smudge starring in the modern retellings of the plots. These are the first releases by Girassol(Sunflower) involving Monica’s Gang(the teenage version).

The two volumes will be released in 7 inches (17.5 cm) by 9 inches(23 cm) format, with 48 pages and a hard cover. Each edition will cost 49.90 reals(about 22 US dollars).

(Original article: Turma da Mônica Jovem reviveclássicos da literature, written by Samir Naliato on April 2, 2014. Republished and translated with permission by UniversoHQ)

MSP(Mauricio de Sousa Productions) have made a smart move here. Turma da Monica Jovem(Monica Teen) has been a must read fever among tweens and young adults in Brazil since it was introduced in 2008. Issue  34, showcasing  the first kiss between the two protagonists, sold over 500,000 issues in September 2011. America’s best selling issue was Justice League  #1, with over 200,000 issues sold. Monica, Maggy, Jimmy Five (now, a more mature Jim Five), and Smudge sell chocolates, dolls, clothes, fashion accessories, and personal hygiene products all over Brazil. Last year, they made a special appearance in beloved young adult writer Thalita Rebouças’ novel: Ela Disse, Ele Disse: O Namoro(“She Said, He Said: The Romance”), published by Rocco Young Readers. Mauricio de Sousa included the characters in vignettes, reacting to the action in the novel- connecting the fictional characters with the popular trends of today.

MSP, with Panini Comics,  also produces a bimonthly “Cinema Classics” series with each issue featuring a spoof of a different film series or movie classic. From ET, Blair Witch Project and Night at the Museum to classics like King Kong, Casablanca, Gladiator and Titanic. Superhero movies have also been featured with issues featuring Batman (Batboy), Superman, Green Lantern and The Avengers. With MSP focusing on retellings of popular high school reading material, this both dulls the burden of an assignment and introduces the reader to the original works. Time will tell how successful these retellings are or how the brand will grow from here.