"The Fake Smurf" is based on the 1961 comic story titled, "Le Faux Schtroumpf" (The Fake Smurf). It was one of several Smurf early stories that appeared as a detachable supplement in the comic magazine Spirou. In 1967, it was serialized in Spirou containing several revisions. These are the major differences from the original comic:
- In the comic, it was Gargamel who becomes the fake Smurf, not the witch Hogatha (who was created by Studio Peyo for the cartoon series).
- Hogatha met Vanity Smurf who leads her to the Smurf Village. In the comic, an un-named Smurf led Gargamel to the Village.
- Hogatha was given the name "Snorty Smurf" by the other Smurfs. In the comic, Gargamel's Smurf persona was nameless which allowed him to blend with the other Smurfs (as most of them lack any personal names).
- Hogath used Jokey's joke boxes to sabotage the suspension bridge that the Smurfs recently completed. In the comic, Gargamel sabotaged the bridge by cutting one of its ropes.
- Clumsy found Hogatha's fake Smurf tail. In the comic, an un-named Smurf found Gargamel's.
- Hogatha being lead out of the Smurf Village after being captured, thought she is going to be hanged by Papa Smurf when he threw a rope over a tree branch. In the comic, Gargamel thought he is going to be killed by Papa Smurf who was holding a knife.
"The Fake Smurf" is the first time that Hogatha identifies herself by name to the Smurfs as Gargamel did in the original comic story. In the 1959 comic story "Le voleur de Schtroumpfs ("The Thief of Smurfs" in English) which introduces Gargamel, the wizard did not identify himself by name to the Smurfs. That story was not adapted by Hanna-Barbara for the cartoon series.
In "The Fake Smurf" where Hogatha runs away from the Smurf Village after being let go by Papa Smurf, she vows that she will "get even" with the Smurfs - something Gargamel always desires in the comic version ever since his first appearance in "Le voleur de Schtroumpfs ("The Thief of Smurfs" in English).