Senninha
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Senninha is a Brazilian comic book series created by Rogério Martins and Ridaut Dias Jr., whose main character is based upon Formula One world champion Ayrton Senna.
Senninha was launched on 28 January 1994 by the publisher Abril, some months before the accident that caused Senna's death. After Senna's death, the comics became very popular and remained this way until 1999, when Brainstore began to publish the comics. However, the series was cancelled in 2000 after only a few new issues. In 2008 the comic was restarted by the publisher HQM, but due to poor sales and poor marketing it was cancelled again.
All profits from licensing of the character went to the Instituto Ayrton Senna.
- Senninha (lit. "Little Senna"), is the main character of the series, with characteristics very similar to Ayrton Senna, including unruly hair, a bulbous nose and red overalls (like the McLaren team for which Senna was best known), as well as being friendly, determined and sometimes rushed. He is eight years old. During the initial run, he wore a blue jumpsuit (like the Williams team that Senna was driving for at the time of the character's creation) and a simple helmet. In issue #10 his helmet became a magical character called Meu Herói.
- Meu Herói (lit. "My Hero"), is the magical helmet of Senninha, colored green, yellow and blue like Senna's helmet (which was predominantly yellow, with one green and one blue horizontal stripe.) To most other people it is a normal helmet and only magical entities and persons as special as Senninha (such as Juan Manuel Fangio, who made a posthumous appearance in the comics in 1995) can see and hear it. Meu Herói was present only in the first series of comics published in the 90s, being inexplicably absent in later comics and animations.
- Neco Chong is the mechanical inventor of the group. He is of Chinese descent and the twin brother of Coni. He is eight years old. Until issue #9 he was called Nico.
- Gabi is an artist and the sensitive member of the group. She is eight years old.
- Becão and Bicão are Senninha's twin helmet-wearing sheepdogs. Becão's helmet is blue with a white band and he thinks and acts like a human. Bicão's helmet is white with a blue stripe and he acts like any other ordinary dog, making a mess wherever he goes.
- Johnny is the heartthrob of the group and good at designing racing cars. He is ten years old.
- Tala Larga is the reporter in the group, who always records the racers with his camera, and often tries to interview Senninha, of whom he is a big fan. He is eight years old. The character was inspired by Galvão Bueno.
- Déia is the detective in the group. She is eight years old.
- Coni Chong Neco's twin sister and the "economist" of the group. She is eight years old.
- Marcha Lenta, whose name means "idle", is often shown sleeping. When awake, he normally interacts with Tala, as his cameraman. He is eight years old.
- JJ is crazy about basketball and computer science, as well as a top student in his class. He is the only black character in the group. He is ten years old.
- Téo is the younger brother of Senninha and can be a brat. He often annoys Johnny, who does not like him very much. He is six years old. The character was Inspired by Ayrton Senna's younger brother Leonardo.
- Gigi is the older sister of Senninha. She loves to talk on the phone. She is thirteen years old. The character was inspired by Viviane Senna, Ayrton Senna's older sister. Like Meu Herói, Gigi was present only in the first series of comics published in the 90s, being inexplicably absent in later comics and animations.
- Braço Duro is the leader of a rival gang to Senninha's group. He is always trying to win races and usually cheats. He hates losing to Senninha. He is nine years old. The character was inspired by Senna's rival Formula One drivers Alain Prost and Michael Schumacher. His name (literally "hard arm") comes from a Brazilian slang for bad drivers.
- Rebimboca is the mechanic of Braço's gang. He always copies Johnny's original ideas of cars design. He is nine years old.
- Bate-Pino has a stutter and always takes a long time to complete a sentence. He is ten years old.
- Pé-de-Breque is a big, fat member of Braço's gang and the typical dim-witted comic relief character. He is eleven years old.
- Tamborim is a purple mongrel cat and the mascot of Braço's gang.
