5
Jul 06
Ronaldinho, stand up comic
In Barcelona, some time before the Brazil team caught the plane home, browsing in FNAC, the HMV of the continent. Suddenly, this!
There were loads of them, a pile of – oh, fifty – taking pride of place on the counter, and more dotted around. How could I not?
It’s a high profile comic in Spain and Brazil – the artist, Mauricio de Sousa is a big name there. So what do you learn of the life of young Ronaldinho? It’s in Spanish, but I fancy I’ve gathered it’s gist:
- The earth was once a CUBE, until Little Ron was born, when it spontaneously geo-morphed it into a football shape.
- Ronaldinho has a FAMILY, who are sometimes beset by minor difficulties, best overcome with football.
- Ronaldinho has DOGS. They play an anarchic and unorthodox game of football.
- On planet Ronaldinho, there is a GIRL (his sister?). She does not enjoy football.
My favourite moment features the only grown-up appearance of Ronaldinho, in this stirring and worthy conclusion to a story on books:
Google tells me that the final couplet means this:
First journalist: It is pleasant to interview to crack with as much general culture.
Second journalist: Yes.
Available in the UK, and translated properly, as a strip in KiCK! magazine.
Do other members of the Brazilian football team appear in youthful form? (i.e. does he have a fat mate?)
Is there a villainous Argentine??
ha! I used to read those comics when i ws about 7-10, and I recognise many of the characters in the background.