Mafalda - The Comic Strip

- Mafalda: The main character, is an Argentine girl--around five or six years old--with strong political views. She's very concerned about war, poverty, and the state of the world, and is often reading the newspaper, listening to the news on her radio, or consulting her globe. Mafalda hates soup and loves the Beatles.

- "Mama" (Raquel) and "Papa" (no name): Mafalda's mother is a housewife, much to Mafalda's chagrine. Her father works for an insurance company, loves plants, and sympathises with mafalda's world view.

- Felipe: A dreamer who is deeply scared of school, even though he's the brightest and oldest member of the gang. He often wages intense internal battles with his conscience and his innate sense of responsibility. Felipe loves reading comic books, particularly "The Lone Ranger".

- Manolito: The son of a Spanish (Galician) shopkeeper, more concerned with business and money than anything else. He works in his father's shop.

- Susanita: A frivolous gossip whose greatest ambition in life is to be a mother and dedicated housewife.

- Miguelito: Somewhat of a rebel, most of the time he is a little too eager to get into philosophical debates. A descendant of italian immigrants, his grandfather is very fond of Benito Mussolini.

- Guille: Mafalda's little brother. He has a pathologic dependence on his pacifier.

- Libertad: A diminutive girl whose name means "Freedom". She always says what's on her mind.

Felipe is Mafalda's best friend. He's a year older than Mafalda, he has very little will power, does poorly in school, and has a vivid imagination. Felipe loves comic books and is particularly fond of "The Lone Ranger".

Some of his typical phrases are the following:

"Don't leave for tomorrow what you can do today . . . I'll start applying that tomorrow."

"I've decided to confront reality, so as soon as it gets pleasant, let me know."

"Even my weaknesses are stronger than I am."

(Image from here.)