00- Introduction and Character Information.pdf

What is Asterix?

Asterix is a famous French Comic book, that has been translated into

100+ languages and dialects! (pretty impressive hah?). The first

Asterix adventure ( Asterix the Gaul ) appeared in a magazine called

Pilote and from then on, 32 other official Asterix comics have been

published. Rene Goscinny wrote the books while Albert Uderzo

illustrated them until the death of Goscinny aged 51. Uderzo then

carried on the series. As well as the comic books, there have been

many spin-offs including movie books, game books, Dogmatix books

etc. Asterix is so popular, he even has his own theme park and movies .

Plot

The series is about a village of Gauls that have managed to hold out from the Roman

invaders because of their Druid Getafix's Magic Potion. The series concentrates on two

Gauls Asterix and his sidekick Obelix (who fell into the magic potion got unlimited super-

human strength when he was a baby) and have many adventures together.

Asterix Info

Vital Statistics:

Name:

Asterix

French Name:

Asterix

Meaning:

" *" (asterisk) or "a star"

Appearance:

Short, yellow whiskers, big nose. Wears winged helmet and a sword

and gourd round his belt.

Marital Status:

Bachelor

Occupation:

Village hero

First Appears in: Asterix the Gaul

The Evolution of Asterix:

You can view more Asterix Images here .

"Asterix, the hero of these adventures . A shrewd, cunning little warrior; all

perilous missions are immediately entrusted to him. Asterix gets his

superhuman strength from the magic potion brewed by the druid Getafix..."

In the front of every Asterix book, Asterix is described as a hero. But is he one? He certainly

doesn't look like it - he's tiny, not a muscle on him. Uderzo's original drawings depicted him

as a traditional hero type - large and strong, but Goscinny came up with the idea of making

him an anti-hero - who relied not on muscles but intelligence.

Asterix isn't all that he is made out to be - for many, he would not be everyone's favourite

character. He is the straight man to Obelix's comic. To really get our head around this, let us

first look at his personality, at a first glance a description would be this... A caring, brave

warrior who likes his food at the best of times.. He is ready to face dangers (except when the

dangers are woman) and will do anything for the liberty of his village. The fate of the village

has rested on his tiny shoulders more than once.

Nothing bad there, but could this "(except when the dangers are woman)" be an insecurity.

In Asterix and the Actress just look at his face when his mother brings all those ladies for tea

- he just doesn't want to be there.

Asterix is superficial, always optimistic and happy. He isn't the one who makes us laugh at

his antics. On his own he is boring - he just doesn't act like a real person. To me he appears

overconfident, too happy, artificial.

Now I'm not knocking Asterix, he is the face of the books, quite literally. Probably one of

the best well known in all the characters, if not the most popular.

His best moment? Standing on top of that pedestal, with a 1st wreath in hand at the Olympic

Games.

Obelix Info

Vital Statistics:

Name:

Obelix

French Name:

Obelix

Meaning:

• An Obelisk is a typographical dagger (†) , used for footnotes and

cross references in many books \

• An Obelisk is also a tall, four sided stone, similiar to a menhir.

• Could also mean O+belly+ix

Appearance:

Big nose, red pigtails, whiskers.. Wears blue & white breeches, small

helmet. Large (er - I mean well covered)!

Marital Status:

Bachelor

Occupation:

Menhir Delivery Man

First Appears in: Asterix the Gaul

You can view more Images of Obelix here .

"Obelix, Asterix's inseperable freind. A Menhir delivery-man by trade;

addicted to wild boar. Obelix is always ready to drop everything and go off

on a new adventure with Asterix - so long as there's wild boar to eat and

plenty of fighting"

Ah yes, everyone knows that fat guy (or should I say well covered?). To actual readers he is

the comic relief, the dumb guy who isn't so dumb at all. He knows what he wants from life -

food and a good fight.

Obelix is an intriguing character. He doesn't act like an adult, he acts if he hasn't grown up.

Some say he is stupid. This is not the case at all, he is merely a child at heart. This is what

makes him so darn funny! Giving a simple, yet comical view on the current happenings. He

does, admittedly quite often feels left out when nobody bothers to explain what is going on.

But it is funny, that when Obelix was returned to childhood in Asterix & Obelix all at Sea ,

he acted almost adult!

Of course, no review of Obelix would be complete with the subject of his super strength, and

him not being able to have a single drop more of Magic Potion (which he of course fell into

when he was a little boy)

Getafix Info

Vital Statistics:

Name:

Getafix

Meaning:

Get a Fix

French Name:

Panoramix

Appearance:

A long white bushy beard with a balding head. Red cape and white

Druid's uniform and finally blue shoes. It is said the colours he wears is

based on the French Flag.

Marital Status:

Bachelor (Druid's don't marry)

Occupation:

The village druid, Member of the Village Council and sometimes school

teacher

First Appears in: Asterix the Gaul

You can view more Images of Getafix here .

"Getafix, the venerable village druid. Gathers mistletoe and brews magic potions. His

specialty is the potion which gives superhuman strength. But Getafix also has other recipes

up his sleeve."

Without Getafix the village of "indomitable" Gauls would have been conquered long ago. If

it wasn't for Getafix Asterix would be a tramp begging for food to feed his frail body and

Obelix - he would be a Roman Menhir Delivery man.

Getafix is my favorite character - I don't know why, he just is.

It would seem that Getafix is the most famous of the Druids. Not just for his amazing magic

potion, but for his knowledge. In Asterix and the Big Fight, the druid Psychoanalytix said

" Getafix? Dear old Getafix who taught us everything we know? Getafix who has secrets

known only to himself? " From what this druid says, it would seem that Getafix started the

whole "druid" sect.

But if this was true, why isn't he the "head" druid as seen in Asterix and the Goths? Maybe

he just wanted his life to be simpler. Getafix has won druid of the year many a time.

Winning a Golden Menhir and Golden Cauldron among many things. Don't ask me what a

menhir has got to do with the druid occupation....

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