"The Hundredth Smurf" is the sixth story of the original French-language The Smurfs comic book series that was sold only in Belgium created by Peyo and Yvan Delporte. It is published for the first time in n°1244 of newspaper Spirou in the form of a mini story in 1962. It is then redrawn and published in the album "The Egg and the Smurfs" in 1968.
A remastered 50th anniversary edition was published as a hardcover book on June 5th 2008 as part of the 50th anniversary of the Smurfs' appearances. Then it was met with a remastered 60th anniversary edition on May 20th 2018, with an updated "Dupuis" logo replacing the original.
Characters[]
- Vanity Smurf (Debut)
- Hundredth Smurf
- Papa Smurf
- Greedy Smurf
- Jokey Smurf
- Grouchy Smurf
- Brainy Smurf
- Dopey Smurf
- Snappy Smurf
- Animals
- Lazy Smurf (Debut)
- Farmer Smurf (Debut)
- Handy Smurf (Debut)
- Harmony Smurf (Debut)
- Generic Smurfs
Plot[]
Papa Smurf realizes that they are due to perform the Dance of the Moon which is held every 654 years. A hundred Smurfs are required for the ceremony but there are only 99 Smurfs in the village and Papa Smurf is at a loss as to how to make up the required number. Meanwhile, Vanity Smurf decides to make himself a large mirror. Since the process of hammering and polishing the required sheet of metal proves to be unbearably noisy, and he insists on working through the night, the other Smurfs demand that he continues in the forest. Vanity finishes his mirror but is then caught in a storm. Sheltering under a tree, he is admiring himself in his new mirror when it is struck by lightning. The mirror disappears but Vanity's reflection has come to life! The reflection does and says the same things as Vanity: the only problem being that his physical actions are still those of a mirror image and he speaks in reverse. They thus hurry back to the village. Papa Smurf thinks the reflection is the hundredth Smurf he needs for the Dance of the Moon, but the reflection sings and dances backwards which ruins the rehearsals. Papa Smurf's attempts to make him act like a normal Smurf are in vain. Vanity takes the reflection back to his house but since they do the same things at the same time, they end up having to squeeze through the door, eat from the same bowl, sleep in the same bed (which results in a sleepless night) and use the same towel, which is ripped by both Smurfs pulling at it. This series of incidents causes them to fight but then the reflection hits the wall and is knocked unconscious by a cauldron falling from the shelf above him. Vanity takes advantage to lock his double outside the house. Their synchronism has now been broken and the reflection is now able to move around of his own accord. However, he still speaks in reverse and cannot fit in with the rest of the village. Sad and lonely, he wanders the forest where he finds the mirror from which he came from. The reflection tries to re-enter the mirror but instead goes right through it. However, he has now reflected again, becoming a real Smurf who can act and speak normally. He is thus made welcome by the other Smurfs. Relieved, Papa Smurf returns home only to find a double of himself talking in gibberish and performing the same actions as him. He is horrified at the idea that they are now 101 Smurfs, but, on closer inspection, discovers that it is in fact Jokey Smurf in disguise. Papa Smurf kicks him out of his house. That night, the Dance of the Moon is held as a double celebration.
Trivia[]
- This is the first story that introduces a naming system for the other Smurfs (aside from Papa Smurf) according to their personality trait or occupation that would be used in later stories. Some of the Smurfs such as Brainy Smurf and Dopey Smurf had early French names before Peyo decided to settle on the finalized names in later stories and merchandise.
- At this particular point, Peyo originally intended for Brainy to not wear glasses at the original print.
- This is the first comic story to feature Vanity, Handy, Farmer, Harmony, and Lazy.
- This is the first time Jokey Smurf is seen with his trademark explosive gift boxes, but it was originally a red gag box before it was changed to the former in King Smurf and was seen doing various jokes (aside from his gift boxes) frequently.
- Chronologically, since this print was actually the sixth story in the comic series of The Smurfs released in 1962 before The Smurfette, therefore, the story actually took place before Gargamel created Smurfette. The other stories that chronologically took place before her creation was "The Smurfnapper", "The Egg And The Smurfs", "The Hunger Of The Smurfs", "The Flying Smurf", and "Smurfphony In C".
- It is the 100th mini narrative to appear in the Spirou magazines.
- The is the only appearance of the Hundredth Smurf, whom was the first magically created Smurf to reside in the Smurf Village and the Smurf who is responsible for filling in the original number of 100 male Smurfs before the introduction of additional Smurfs in later stories.
See Also[]
- An external link to the story's original print: http://www.inedispirou.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=2285