Editing Monica and Friends (section)

{{short description|Comic series from Brazil}}
{{Infobox comic book title
<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| image= Monica's gang EN.JPG
| caption = Cover of the first issue of ''Monica's Gang'' in English by Panini
| schedule = Monthly
| genre = [[Children]]<br />[[Comedy]]<br />[[Parody]]<br />[[Adventure fiction|Adventure]]<br />[[Fantasy]]<br />[[Science-fiction]]
| publisher = {{Plainlist|
* [[Editora Abril|Abril]] <small>(1970–86)</small>
* [[Editora Globo|Globo]] <small>(1987–2006)</small>
* [[Panini Comics]] <small>(2007–present)</small>}}
| date = 1959– present <small>(as comic strip)</small><br />1970–present <small>(as comic book)</small>
| format = {{flat list|
[[Comic strip]]<br />[[Comic book]]}}
| startmo = <!-- optional in lieu of date-->
| startyr = 1959
| endmo = <!-- optional in lieu of date-->
| endyr = 
| main_char_team = {{flat list|
''Monica'' (Mônica)<br />''Jimmy Five'' (Cebolinha)<br />''Smudge'' (Cascão)<br />''Maggy'' (Magali)}}
*''Franklin'' (Franjinha)
*''Blu'' (Bidu)
| creators = [[Mauricio de Sousa]]
| altcat  = Brazilian comics titles
| sort = Monica's Gang
| charsort = <!-- If "character" is set -->
}}
'''''Monica and Friends''''' ({{Langx|pt|Turma da Mônica}}), previously published as '''''Monica's Gang''''' in Anglophone territories and as '''''Frizz and Friends''''' in London,<ref>{{cite web|title = Monica's Gang To Become Monica And Friends In The USA|url = http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/01/27/monicas-gang-to-become-monica-and-friends-in-the-usa/|website = Bleeding Cool Comic Book, Movie, TV News|date = 28 January 2014|access-date = 2015-12-26|archive-date = 2016-03-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051710/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/01/27/monicas-gang-to-become-monica-and-friends-in-the-usa/|url-status = live}}</ref> is a Brazilian [[comic book]] series and [[media franchise]] created by [[Mauricio de Sousa]].

The series originated in a comic strip first published by the newspaper Folha da Manhã in 1959, in which the [[protagonists]] were [[Blu (comic strip character)|Blu]] (''Bidu'') and [[List of Monica's Gang characters#Minor characters|Franklin]] (''Franjinha''),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.universohq.com/quadrinhos/2009/n11092009_05.cfm|title=Álbum especial comemora os 50 anos do Bidu|first=Marcus|last=Ramone|date=2009-09-11|publisher=Universo HQ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913002201/http://www.universohq.com/quadrinhos/2009/n11092009_05.cfm|archive-date=2009-09-13}}</ref> however, in the following years the series was shaped towards its current identity with the introduction of new characters such as [[Monica (Monica's Gang)|Monica]] (''Mônica'') and [[Jimmy Five]] (''Cebolinha'') who became the new protagonists.<ref name="r7">{{cite web|access-date=2021-01-12 |date=2020-06-25 |language=pt-BR |publisher=[[R7 (website)|R7]] |title=Turma da Mônica - Origem, Maurício de Sousa e personagens |url=https://segredosdomundo.r7.com/turma-da-monica-origem/ |website=Segredos do Mundo}}<!-- auto-translated from Portuguese by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> The stories revolve around a group of children who live in a fictional neighborhood in [[São Paulo]] known as Lemon Tree District (''Bairro do Limoeiro'') which has a street with the same name called Lemon Tree Street (''Rua do Limoeiro'') where Monica and her several friends live, inspired by the neighborhood of Cambuí in [[Campinas]] and the city of [[Mogi das Cruzes]], where Mauricio spent his childhood.<ref>[http://hq.cosmo.com.br/TEXTOS/HQCOISA/h0082_pelezinho.shtm MundoHQ - Pelezinho vai para a Copa!!!] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404004254/http://hq.cosmo.com.br/TEXTOS/HQCOISA/h0082_pelezinho.shtm |date=2008-04-04 }}</ref>

Although the title of the franchise mainly refers to the core group of children who live on Lemon Tree Street, it's also used as an umbrella title who encompasses other works created by Mauricio throughout his career such as ''[[Chuck Billy 'n' Folks]]'', ''[[Tina's Pals]]'', ''[[Lionel's Kingdom]]'', ''[[Bug-a-Booo]]'', ''[[The Cavern Clan]]'', ''[[The Funnies (Monica and Friends)|Bubbly the Astronaut]]'', ''[[Horacio's World]]'', ''[[The Tribe (Monica and Friends)|The Tribe]]'', and others, since stories from these series are frequently published in comics focused in characters such as Monica, Jimmy Five, [[Smudge (Monica and Friends)|Smudge]], [[Maggy (Monica and Friends)|Maggy]] and [[Chuck Billy (Chuck Billy 'n' Folks)|Chuck Billy]]. Since 1970, in the form of comic books, the characters have been published by publishers such as [[Editora Abril|Abril]] (1970-1986), [[Editora Globo|Globo]] (1987-2006) and [[Panini Comics]] (2007-present), totaling almost 2,000 issues already published for each character.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=7 June 2016 |archive-date=5 January 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105122412/http://www.universohq.com/quadrinhos/2009/review_Monica1.cfm |date=2009 |first=Marcus |last=Ramone |publisher=[[Universo HQ]] |title=Resenha Mônica #1 |url=http://www.universohq.com/quadrinhos/2009/review_Monica1.cfm}}<!-- auto-translated from Portuguese by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite web|archive-date=5 January 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105035904/http://www.universohq.com/quadrinhos/2007/n08012007_08.cfm |author=Marcus Ramone |date=8 January 2007 |publisher=[[Universo HQ]] |title=Turma da Mônica chega às bancas pela Panini Comics |url=http://www.universohq.com/quadrinhos/2007/n08012007_08.cfm}}<!-- auto-translated from Portuguese by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

The English title of the series was later changed to ''Monica and Friends''. The characters and comics were subsequently adapted into, among other media, an [[Monica and Friends (TV series)|animated television series]] as well as films, most of which are [[anthology film|anthologies]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Quem vai mandar nessa turma? |website=Istoé Dinheiro |url=http://www.istoedinheiro.com.br/noticias/negocios/20140411/quem-vai-mandar-nessa-turma/145387.shtml |access-date=July 10, 2014 |language=pt |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714131251/http://www.istoedinheiro.com.br/noticias/negocios/20140411/quem-vai-mandar-nessa-turma/145387.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2008, a spin-off series, ''[[Monica Teen]]'', was created in a [[manga]] style and features the characters as teenagers.

''Monica'' is considered the most well-known comic book character in Brazil. In 2015 alone, the characters were used on three million products for over 150 companies.<ref>Sousa, Monica Spada nee. ''Freedom the Size of an Elephant''.</ref> Nowadays the comics are sold in 40 countries in 14 languages.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.infoanimation.com.br/2014/01/turma-da-monica-no-mercado-internacional.html | title=Turma da Mônica no mercado internacional | access-date=2014-02-14 | archive-date=2014-02-22 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222164218/http://www.infoanimation.com.br/2014/01/turma-da-monica-no-mercado-internacional.html | url-status=live }}</ref>