View source for Asterix

{{Short description|Series of French comic albums}}
{{About|the comic book series|its main character|Asterix (character)|the star-shaped symbol (*)|Asterisk|other uses|Asterix (disambiguation)}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox comics meta series
| name          = Asterix
| image         = Asterix.svg
| image_size    = 
| caption       = 
| title_nonEN   = {{lang|fr|Astérix le Gaulois}}
| graphic_novel = y
| anthology     = ''[[Pilote]]''
| titles        = [[List of Asterix volumes|Full list]]
| writers       = {{Plainlist|
*[[René Goscinny]] (1959–1977)
*[[Albert Uderzo]] (1980–2009)
*[[Jean-Yves Ferri]] (2013–2021)
*[[Fabcaro]] (2023–present)
}}
| artists       = {{plainlist|
*[[Albert Uderzo]] (1959–2009)
*[[Didier Conrad]] (2013–present)
}}
| translators   = {{plainlist|
*English: [[Anthea Bell]], [[Derek Hockridge]] (1969–2013); [[Anthea Bell]] (2013–2016); [[Adriana Hunter]] (2017–present)}}
| country       = France (origin), other (for translated books)
| genre         = {{plainlist|
*[[Comedy]]
*[[Satire]]}}
| publisher     = [[Dargaud]], [[Éditions Albert René]], [[Hachette (publisher)|Hachette]] for canonical volumes in French; others for non-canonical volumes (1976–1996) in French; [[Hodder & Stoughton|Hodder]], Hachette and others for non-canonical volumes (1976–1996) in English
| date          = 29 October 1959 – present (original); 1969–present (English translation)
| nonUS         = y
| altcat        = Asterix
| alttop        = y
| sort          = A
}}

'''''Asterix''''' ({{langx|fr|Astérix}} or {{lang|fr|Astérix le Gaulois}} {{IPA|fr|asteʁiks lə ɡolwa|}}, "Asterix the [[Gauls|Gaul]]"; also known as '''''Asterix and Obelix''''' in some adaptations or '''''The Adventures of Asterix''''') is a [[Franco-Belgian comics|French]] [[comic album]] [[book series|series]] about a [[Gauls|Gaulish]] village which, thanks to a [[Potion|magic potion]] that enhances strength, resists the forces of [[Julius Caesar]]'s [[Roman Republic]] [[Roman Army|Army]] in the time after the [[Gallic Wars]].  Many adventures take the titular hero [[Asterix (character)|Asterix]] and his friend [[Obelix]] to Rome and beyond.

The series first appeared in the Franco-Belgian comic magazine ''[[Pilote]]'' on 29 October 1959. It was written by [[René Goscinny]] and illustrated by [[Albert Uderzo]] until Goscinny's death in 1977. Uderzo then took over the writing until 2009, when he sold the rights to publishing company [[Hachette (publisher)|Hachette]]; he died in 2020. In 2013, a new team consisting of [[Jean-Yves Ferri]] (script) and [[Didier Conrad]] (artwork) took over. {{As of|2025}}, 41 volumes have been released; the most recent was penned by new writer [[Fabcaro]] and released on 23 October 2025. By that point, the volumes in total had sold 393 million copies,<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://asterix40.com/en/the-asterix-phenomenon/
|title=The Asterix Phenomenon – ''Asterix and the White Iris''
|access-date=2024-03-07|archive-date=10 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510013359/https://asterix40.com/en/the-asterix-phenomenon/|url-status=live}}</ref> making them the best-selling European comic book series, the fourth [[List of best-selling comic series|best-selling]] comic book series in the world and the second one after ''[[One Piece]]'' in terms of [[Trade paperback (comics)|collected volumes]]-format comics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.accio.com/business/top-selling-comic-book-character-of-all-time |title=Top Selling Comic Book Character of All Time Revealed |website=Accio}}</ref>

==Description==

[[File:Asterix - Cast.png|thumb|Some of the many characters in ''Asterix''. In the front row are the regular characters, with [[Asterix (character)|Asterix]] himself in the centre, along with [[Obelix]], [[Getafix]], [[Vitalstatistix]] and others.]]
Asterix comics usually start with the following introduction:

{{quote|The year is 50 BC. Gaul is entirely occupied by the Romans. Well, not entirely... One small village of indomitable Gauls still holds out against the invaders. And life is not easy for the Roman legionaries who garrison the fortified camps of Totorum, Aquarium, Laudanum and Compendium...<ref>{{cite news |first=Neil |last=Mackay |title=Neil MacKay's big read: Life lessons from Asterix to bring joy into your life |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18343250.neil-mackays-big-read-life-lessons-asterix-bring-joy-life/ |publisher=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] |date=2020-03-29 |archive-date=31 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331022238/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18343250.neil-mackays-big-read-life-lessons-asterix-bring-joy-life/ |url-status=live}}</ref>}}

The series follows the adventures of a village of [[Gauls]] as they resist [[Roman Republic|Roman]] occupation in 50 BC. They do so using a [[Potion|magic potion]], brewed by their [[druid]] Getafix (Panoramix in the French version), which temporarily gives the recipient superhuman strength. The protagonists, the title character [[Asterix (character)|Asterix]] and his friend [[Obelix]], have various adventures. The {{nowrap|''-ix''}} ending of both names (as well as all the other pseudo-Gaulish {{nowrap|''-ix''}} names in the series) alludes to the {{nowrap|''-rix''}} suffix (meaning {{gloss|king}}, like {{nowrap|''rex''}} in Latin) present in the names of many real Gaulish chieftains such as [[Vercingetorix]], [[Orgetorix]], and [[Dumnorix]].

In some of the stories, they travel to foreign countries, whilst other tales are set in and around their village. For much of the history of the series (volumes 4 through 29), settings in Gaul and abroad alternate, with even-numbered volumes set abroad and odd-numbered volumes set in Gaul, mostly in the village.

The ''Asterix'' series is one of the most popular Franco-Belgian comics in the world, with the series being translated into 111 languages and dialects {{as of|2009|lc=y}}.<ref name="Time">{{cite news|url=http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1931169,00.html|title=Asterix at 50: The Comic Hero Conquers the World|date=19 November 2009|newspaper=Time|first=Leo|last=Cendrowicz|access-date=7 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908022648/http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1931169,00.html|archive-date=8 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

The success of the series has led to the adaptation of its books into [[List of Asterix films|15 films]]: ten animated, and five live action (two of which, ''[[Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra]]'' and ''[[Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar]]'', were [[Lists of highest-grossing films in France|major box office successes in France]]). There have also been a number of [[List of Asterix games|games]] based on the characters, and a theme park near Paris, [[Parc Astérix]]. The very first French satellite, [[Astérix (satellite)|Astérix]], launched in 1965, was named after the character, whose name is close to Greek [[wikt:ἄστρον#Ancient Greek |ἄστρον]] (''astron'') and Latin ''[[wikt:astrum|astrum]]'', both meaning {{gloss|star}}.<ref>{{cite web | title=France and the French satellite Astérix: the third space power in 1965 | website=spacelegalissues.com | date=2019-02-28 | url=https://www.spacelegalissues.com/space-law-when-france-became-the-third-space-power/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312172200/https://www.spacelegalissues.com/space-law-when-france-became-the-third-space-power/ | archive-date=2021-03-12 | url-status=dead | access-date=2026-01-06}}</ref> As of 20 April 2022, 385{{nbsp}}million copies of ''Asterix'' books had been sold worldwide and translated into 111 languages, making this the world's most widely translated comic book series,<ref name="cineuropa">{{cite news |last1=Abbatescianni |first1=Davide |title=At Cartoon Next, Céleste Surugue shares the secrets behind Asterix's success story |url=https://www.cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/424405 |access-date=21 April 2022 |publisher=Cineuropa |archive-date=20 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420092149/https://www.cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/424405 |url-status=live}}</ref> with co-creators René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo being France's best-selling authors abroad.<ref name="Volumes-sold">{{cite news | last= volumes-sold | title= Asterix the Gaul rises sky high | url= http://in.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idINIndia-43015020091008 | work= Reuters| date= 8 October 2009 | access-date= 9 October 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091010020156/http://in.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idINIndia-43015020091008 | archive-date= 10 October 2009 | url-status= dead}}</ref><ref name=Buzz.com>{{cite web |url=http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/6-3-2004-54995.asp |title=Goscinny and Uderzo |author=Sonal Panse |publisher=Buzzle.com |access-date=11 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091101142444/http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/6-3-2004-54995.asp |archive-date=1 November 2009 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

In April 2022, Albert and René's general director, Céleste Surugue, hosted a 45-minute talk entitled "The Next Incarnation of a Heritage Franchise: Asterix" and spoke about the success of the Asterix franchise, of which he noted: "The idea was to find a subject with a strong connection with French culture and, while looking at the country's history, they ended up choosing its first defeat, namely the Gaul's Roman colonisation". He also went on to say how, since 1989, [[Parc Asterix]] has attracted an average of 2.3 million visitors per year. Other notable mentions were how the franchise includes 10 animated movies, which recorded over 53 million viewers worldwide. The inception of Studios Idéfix in 1974 and the opening of Studio 58 in 2016 were among the necessary steps to make Asterix a "100% Gaulish production", considered the best solution to keep the creative process under control from start to finish and to employ French manpower. He also noted how a new album is now published every two years, with print figures of 5 million and an estimated readership of 20 million.<ref name="cineuropa"/>

==Publication history==
[[File:Evariste-Vital Luminais - Goths traversant une rivière.jpg|thumb|[[Évariste Vital Luminais]]' (1821–1896) paintings of Goths had been rather popular in France and are a possible model for the ''Asterix'' series.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Luminais Musée des beaux-arts|publisher = Dominique Dussol: Evariste Vital|year = 2002|page = 32}}

&nbsp;
</ref>]]
Prior to creating the ''Asterix'' series, Goscinny and Uderzo had had success with their series ''[[Oumpah-pah]]'', which was published in ''[[Tintin (magazine)|Tintin]]'' magazine.<ref name="Comic creator">{{cite web |url=http://lambiek.net/home.htm|title=René Goscinny|publisher=Comic creator |access-date=9 March 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100324201421/http://lambiek.net/home.htm| archive-date= 24 March 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>
''Astérix'' was originally serialised in ''[[Pilote]]'' magazine, debuting in the first issue on 29 October 1959.<ref name="Pilote-1959">{{cite web | last =BDoubliées | title =Pilote année 1959 | url =http://bdoubliees.com/journalpilote/series1/asterix.htm | language =fr | access-date =28 April 2007 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110525075208/http://www.bdoubliees.com/journalpilote/series1/asterix.htm | archive-date =25 May 2011 | url-status =live}}</ref> In 1961, the first book was put together, titled ''[[Asterix the Gaul]]''. From then on, books were released generally on a yearly basis. Their success was exponential; the first book sold 6,000 copies in its year of publication; a year later, the second sold 20,000. In 1963, the third sold 40,000; the fourth, released in 1964, sold 150,000. A year later, the fifth sold 300,000; 1966's ''Asterix and the Big Fight'' sold 400,000 upon initial publication. The ninth ''Asterix'' volume, when first released in 1967, sold 1.2 million copies in two days.

Uderzo's first preliminary sketches portrayed Asterix as a huge and strong traditional Gaulish warrior. But Goscinny had a different picture in his mind, visualizing Asterix as a shrewd, compact warrior who would possess intelligence and wit more than raw strength. However, Uderzo felt that the downsized hero needed a strong but dim companion, to which Goscinny agreed. Hence, Obelix was born.<ref name="Kessler Peter">{{cite book |last1= Kessler |first1= Peter |title=Asterix Complete Guide |edition= First |date=2 November 1995 |publisher=Hodder Children's Books |isbn=978-0-340-65346-3}}</ref> Despite the growing popularity of ''Asterix'' with the readers, the financial backing for the publication ''Pilote'' ceased. ''Pilote'' was taken over by [[Dargaud|Georges Dargaud]].<ref name="Kessler Peter"/>

When Goscinny died in 1977, Uderzo continued the series by popular demand of the readers, who implored him to continue. He continued to issue new volumes of the series, but on a less frequent basis. Many critics and fans of the series prefer the earlier collaborations with Goscinny.<ref name="beeb"/> Uderzo created his own publishing company, [[Éditions Albert René]], which published every album drawn and written by Uderzo alone since then.<ref name="Kessler Peter"/> However, [[Dargaud]], the initial publisher of the series, kept the publishing rights on the 24 first albums made by both Uderzo and Goscinny. In 1990, the Uderzo and Goscinny families decided to sue Dargaud to take over the rights. In 1998, after a long trial, Dargaud lost the rights to publish and sell the albums. Uderzo decided to sell these rights to Hachette instead of Albert-René, but the publishing rights on new albums were still owned by Albert Uderzo (40%), Sylvie Uderzo (20%) and Anne Goscinny (40%).{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

In December 2008, Uderzo sold his stake to Hachette, which took over the company.<ref>{{cite news | last=Lezard | first=Nicholas | author-link=Nicholas Lezard | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=16 January 2009 | access-date= 21 June 2016 |title=Asterix has sold out to the Empire | url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2009/jan/16/asterix-sylvie-uderzo-le-monde | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428175037/https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2009/jan/16/asterix-sylvie-uderzo-le-monde | archive-date=28 April 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In a letter published in the French newspaper {{lang|fr|[[Le Monde]]}} in 2009, Uderzo's daughter, Sylvie, attacked her father's decision to sell the family publishing firm and the rights to produce new ''Astérix'' adventures after his death. She said:

<blockquote>... the co-creator of ''Astérix'', France's comic strip hero, has betrayed the Gaulish warrior to the modern-day Romans – the men of industry and finance.<ref>{{cite news | last=Shirbon | first=Estelle | work=[[Reuters]] | date=14 January 2009 | access-date=16 January 2009 | title=Asterix battles new Romans in publishing dispute | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE50D46K20090114 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525025049/http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE50D46K20090114 | archive-date=25 May 2009 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7831375.stm | title=Divisions emerge in Asterix camp | date=15 January 2009 | access-date=16 January 2009 | publisher=[[BBC News]] | location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090119011222/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7831375.stm| archive-date= 19 January 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref></blockquote>

However, René Goscinny's daughter, Anne, also gave her agreement to the continuation of the series and sold her rights at the same time. She is reported to have said that "''Asterix'' has already had two lives: one during my father's lifetime and one after it. Why not a third?".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bodoi.info/magazine/2009-01-20/anne-goscinny-%C2%ABasterix-a-eu-deja-eu-deux-vies-du-vivant-de-mon-pere-et-apres-pourquoi-pas-une-troisieme%C2%BB/10581 |title=Anne Goscinny: "Astérix a eu déjà eu deux vies, du vivant de mon père et après. Pourquoi pas une troisième?" |language=fr |publisher=Bodoï |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207205018/http://www.bodoi.info/magazine/2009-01-20/anne-goscinny-%C2%ABasterix-a-eu-deja-eu-deux-vies-du-vivant-de-mon-pere-et-apres-pourquoi-pas-une-troisieme%C2%BB/10581 |archive-date=7 February 2009}}</ref> A few months later, Uderzo appointed three illustrators, who had been his assistants for many years, to continue the series.<ref name="beeb">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8319196.stm|title=Should Asterix hang up his sword ?|publisher=BBC News|author=Hugh Schofield|date=22 October 2009|location=London|access-date=25 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100827043048/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8319196.stm|archive-date=27 August 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011, Uderzo announced that a new ''Asterix'' album was due out in 2013, with [[Jean-Yves Ferri]] writing the story and [[Frédéric Mébarki]] drawing it.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15279427 |title=Asterix attraction coming to the UK |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=12 October 2011 |access-date=16 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223125235/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15279427 |archive-date=23 December 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> A year later, in 2012, the publisher Albert-René announced that Frédéric Mébarki had withdrawn from drawing the new album, due to the pressure he felt in following in the steps of Uderzo. Comic artist [[Didier Conrad]] was officially announced to take over drawing duties from Mébarki, with the due date of the new album in 2013 unchanged.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/10/15/didier-conrad-is-the-new-artist-for-asterix/ |title=Didier Conrad Is The New Artist For Asterix |author=Rich Johnston |author-link=Rich Johnston |website=[[Bleeding Cool]] |publisher=[[Avatar Press]] |date=15 October 2012 |access-date=16 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019011413/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/10/15/didier-conrad-is-the-new-artist-for-asterix/ |archive-date=19 October 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2012/10/10/97001-20121010FILWWW00604--asterixwi-change-encore-de-dessinateur.php |title=Astérix change encore de dessinateur |work=lefigaro.fr |author=AFP |publisher=[[Le Figaro]] |date=10 October 2012 |access-date=16 October 2012 |language=fr |trans-title=Asterix switches drawing artist again |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012233324/http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2012/10/10/97001-20121010FILWWW00604--asterixwi-change-encore-de-dessinateur.php | archive-date=12 October 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2015, after the [[Charlie Hebdo shooting|murders]] of seven cartoonists at the satirical Paris weekly ''[[Charlie Hebdo]]'', ''Astérix'' creator Albert Uderzo came out of retirement to draw two ''Astérix'' pictures honouring the memories of the victims.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/charlie-hebdo-asterix-creator-albert-uderzo-comes-out-of-retirement-to-draw-je-suis-charlie-cartoon-9968835.html|title=Asterix creator comes out of retirement to declare 'Moi aussi je suis un Charlie'|date=2015-01-09|work=The Independent|access-date=2017-11-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719011653/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/charlie-hebdo-asterix-creator-albert-uderzo-comes-out-of-retirement-to-draw-je-suis-charlie-cartoon-9968835.html|archive-date=19 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

==List of titles==
{{Main|List of Asterix volumes}}

Numbers 1–24, 32 and 34 are by Goscinny and Uderzo. Numbers 25–31 and 33 are by Uderzo alone. Numbers 35–39 are by [[Jean-Yves Ferri]] and [[Didier Conrad]]. Numbers 40-41 are by [[Fabcaro]] and Conrad. Years stated are for their initial [[Comic albums|album]] release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/ |title=La collection des albums d'Astérix le Gaulois |trans-title= The collection of Asterix series albums |language=fr |date = 15 October 2018|archive-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015161715/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
# ''[[Asterix the Gaul]]'' (1961)<ref name=guide>{{cite book|last=Kessler|first=Peter|title=The Complete Guide to Asterix (The Adventures of Asterix and Obelix)|year=1997|publisher=Distribooks Inc|isbn=978-0-340-65346-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-le-gaulois/ |title= Astérix le Gaulois |language=fr |date = 3 October 2018|archive-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003222440/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-le-gaulois/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Golden Sickle]]'' (1962)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/la-serpe-d-or/ |title= La Serpe d'Or |language=fr |date = 3 October 2018|archive-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003221656/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/la-serpe-d-or/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Goths]]'' (1963)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-et-les-goths/ |title= Astérix et les Goths |language=fr |date = 3 October 2018|archive-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003221630/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-et-les-goths/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix the Gladiator]]'' (1964)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-gladiateur/ |title= Astérix Gladiateur |language=fr |date = 3 October 2018|archive-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003222337/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-gladiateur/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Banquet]]'' (1965)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-et-cleopatre/ |title= Le Tour de Gaule d'Astérix |language=fr |date = 26 November 2018|archive-date=26 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126141630/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-tour-de-gaule-d-asterix/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and Cleopatra]]'' (1965)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-tour-de-gaule-d-asterix/ |title= Astérix et Cléopâtre |language=fr |date = 3 October 2018|archive-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003222036/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-et-cleopatre/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Big Fight]]'' (1966)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-combat-des-chefs/ |title= Le Combat des chefs |language=fr |date = 4 October 2018|archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004023029/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-combat-des-chefs/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix in Britain]]'' (1966)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-chez-les-bretons/ |title= Astérix chez les Bretons |language=fr |date = 4 October 2018|archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004023411/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-chez-les-bretons/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Normans]]'' (1967)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-et-les-normands/ |title= Astérix et les Normands |language=fr |date = 26 November 2018|archive-date=26 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126141650/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-et-les-normands/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix the Legionary]]'' (1967)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-et-le-chaudron/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-legionnaire/ |title= Astérix légionnaire |language=fr |date = 26 November 2018|archive-date=26 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126135444/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-legionnaire/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield]]'' (1967)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-bouclier-arverne/ |title= Le Bouclier arverne |language=fr |date = 27 November 2018|archive-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127023350/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-bouclier-arverne/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix at the Olympic Games]]'' (1968)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-aux-jeux-olympiques-1968/ |title= Astérix aux jeux Olympiques |language=fr |date = 27 November 2018|archive-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127023702/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-aux-jeux-olympiques-1968/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Cauldron]]'' (1969)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-et-le-chaudron/ |title= Astérix et le chaudron |language=fr |date = 26 November 2018|archive-date=26 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126223217/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-et-le-chaudron/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix in Spain]]'' (1969)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-en-hispanie/ |title= Astérix en Hispanie |language=fr |date = 26 November 2018|archive-date=26 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126223433/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-en-hispanie/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Roman Agent]]'' (1970)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/la-zizanie/ |title= La Zizanie |language=fr |date = 3 October 2018|archive-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003221256/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/la-zizanie/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix in Switzerland]]'' (1970)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-chez-les-helvetes/ |title= Astérix chez les Helvètes |language=fr |date = 3 October 2018|archive-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003222513/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-chez-les-helvetes/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[The Mansions of the Gods]]'' (1971)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-domaine-des-dieux/ |title= Le Domaine des dieux |language=fr |date = 23 September 2018|archive-date=2020-09-23 |website=Astérix |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923064106/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-domaine-des-dieux/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Laurel Wreath]]'' (1972)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/les-lauriers-de-cesar/ |title= Les Lauriers de César |language=fr |date = 4 October 2018|archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004023436/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/les-lauriers-de-cesar/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Soothsayer]]'' (1972)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-devin/ |title= Le Devin |language=fr |date = 4 October 2018|archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004022208/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-devin/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix in Corsica]]'' (1973)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-en-corse/ |title= Astérix en Corse |language=fr |date = 4 October 2018|archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004023646/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-en-corse/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and Caesar's Gift]]'' (1974)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-cadeau-de-cesar/ |title= Le Cadeau de César |language=fr |date = 4 October 2018|archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004023544/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-cadeau-de-cesar/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Great Crossing]]'' (1975)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/la-grande-traversee/ |title= La Grande Traversée |language=fr |date = 4 October 2018|archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004022553/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/la-grande-traversee/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Obelix and Co.]]'' (1976)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/obelix-et-compagnie/ |title=Obélix et Compagnie |language=fr |date = 4 October 2018|archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004021927/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/obelix-et-compagnie/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix in Belgium]]'' (1979)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-chez-les-belges/|title= Astérix chez les Belges |language=fr |date = 4 October 2018|archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004064322/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-chez-les-belges/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Great Divide]]'' (1980)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-grand-fosse/|title= Le Grand Fossé |language=fr |date = 4 October 2018|archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004062811/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-grand-fosse/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Black Gold]]'' (1981)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/l-odyssee-d-asterix/ |title=L'Odyssée d'Astérix |language=fr |date = 4 October 2018|archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004064314/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/l-odyssee-d-asterix/ |website=Astérix |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and Son]]'' (1983)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-fils-d-asterix/|title = Le Fils d'Astérix |language=fr |date = 27 November 2018|archive-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127152243/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-fils-d-asterix/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Magic Carpet]]'' (1987)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-chez-rahazade/|title = Astérix chez Rahãzade |language=fr |date = 27 November 2018|archive-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127152745/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-chez-rahazade/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Secret Weapon]]'' (1991)<ref name="guide"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/la-fille-de-vercingetorix/|title = La Rose et le glaive |language=fr |date = 27 November 2018|archive-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127153811/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/la-rose-et-le-glaive/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and Obelix All at Sea]]'' (1996)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/la-galere-d-obelix/ |title = La Galère d'Obélix |language=fr |date = 27 November 2018|archive-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127152240/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/la-galere-d-obelix/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Actress]]'' (2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-et-latraviata/ |title = Astérix et Latraviata |language=fr |date = 27 November 2018|archive-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127153430/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-et-latraviata/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Class Act]]'' (2003)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/la-rentree-gauloise/ |title = Astérix et la rentrée gauloise |language=fr |date = 27 November 2018|archive-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127153829/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/la-rentree-gauloise/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Falling Sky]]'' (2005)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-ciel-lui-tombe-sur-la-tete/ |title = Le Ciel lui tombe sur la tête |language=fr |date = 27 November 2018|archive-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127155709/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-ciel-lui-tombe-sur-la-tete/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and Obelix's Birthday: The Golden Book]]'' (2009)<ref name="50th Anniversary">{{cite web|url=https://www.teenlibrarian.co.uk/2009/10/09/october-2009-is-asterix’s-50th-birthday/ |title=October 2009 Is Asterix's 50th Birthday |publisher=Teenlibrarian.co.uk |date=9 October 2009 |access-date=31 December 2010 |archive-date=March 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304065927/http://teenlibrarian.co.uk/2009/10/09/october-2009-is-asterix’s-50th-birthday/ |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/anniversaire-livre-d-or/ |title = L'Anniversaire d'Astérix & Obélix – Le Livre d'Or |language=fr |date = 4 October 2018|archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004064124/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/anniversaire-livre-d-or/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Picts]]'' (2013)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-chez-les-pictes/ |title = Astérix chez les Pictes |language=fr |date = 26 November 2018|archive-date=26 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126135822/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-chez-les-pictes/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Missing Scroll]]'' (2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-papyrus-de-cesar/ |title = Le Papyrus de César |language=fr |date = 26 November 2018|archive-date=26 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126141735/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/le-papyrus-de-cesar/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Chariot Race]]'' (2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-et-la-transitalique/ |title = Astérix et la Transitalique |language=fr |date = 24 November 2018|archive-date=24 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124163613/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-et-la-transitalique/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Chieftain's Daughter]]'' (2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/la-fille-de-vercingetorix/|title = La Fille de Vercingétorix |language=fr |date = 26 October 2019|archive-date=26 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026195926/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/la-fille-de-vercingetorix/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the Griffin]]'' (2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-et-le-griffon/|title = Astérix et le Griffon |language=fr |date = 29 March 2021|archive-date=29 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329082436/https://www.asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/asterix-et-le-griffon/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix and the White Iris]]'' (2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/liris-blanc/|title = L'Iris blanc |language=fr |date = 30 May 2023|archive-date=30 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530103656/https://asterix.com/la-collection/les-albums/liris-blanc/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
# ''[[Asterix in Lusitania]]'' (2025)

*Non-canonical volumes:
** ''[[Asterix Conquers Rome]]'', to be the 23rd volume, before ''Obelix and Co.'' (1976) – comic
** ''[[How Obelix Fell into the Magic Potion When he was a Little Boy]]'' (1989) – special issue album
** ''Uderzo Croqué par ses Amis'' (''Uderzo sketched by his friends'') (1996) – tribute album by various artists
** ''[[Astérix et ses Amis]]'' (Asterix and his friends) (2007) – tribute album by various artists
** ''[[The Twelve Tasks of Asterix]]'' (2016)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asterix.com/missive/lettre019en.htm|title = The Twelve Tasks of Asterix is back in a very special anniversary edition|date=28 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508004445/https://asterix.com/missive/lettre019en.htm|archive-date=8 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> – special issue album, illustrated text
{{Div col end}}

''[[Asterix Conquers Rome]]'' is a comics adaptation of the animated film ''[[The Twelve Tasks of Asterix]]''. It was released in 1976 and was the 23rd volume to be published, but it has been rarely reprinted and is not considered to be [[canon (fiction)|canonical]] to the series. The only English translations ever to be published were in the ''[[Asterix Annual 1980]]'' and never an English standalone volume. A picture-book version of the same story was published in English translation as ''The Twelve Tasks of Asterix'' by Hodder & Stoughton in 1978.

In 1996, a tribute album in honour of Albert Uderzo was released titled ''Uderzo Croqué par ses Amis'', a volume containing 21 short stories with Uderzo in Ancient Gaul. This volume was published by [[Soleil Productions]] and has not been translated into English.

In 2007, Éditions Albert René released a tribute volume titled ''[[Astérix et ses Amis]]'', a 60-page volume of one-to-four-page short stories. It was a tribute to Albert Uderzo on his 80th birthday by 34 European cartoonists. The volume was translated into nine languages. {{as of|2016}}, it has not been translated into English.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asterix.com/edition/albums-hors-collection/asterix-et-ses-amis.html |title=Les albums hors collection – Astérix et ses Amis – Hommage à Albert Uderzo |publisher=Asterix.com |access-date=31 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607234005/http://www.asterix.com/edition/albums-hors-collection/asterix-et-ses-amis.html |archive-date=7 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2016, the French publisher Hachette, along with Anne Goscinny and Albert Uderzo decided to make the special issue album ''The XII Tasks of Asterix'' for the 40th anniversary of the film ''The Twelve Tasks of Asterix''. There was no English edition.

==Synopsis and characters==
{{Main|List of Asterix characters}}
{{anchor|Village}}
The main setting for the series is an unnamed coastal village, rumoured to be inspired by [[Erquy]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Erquy: a day in the real-life Gaulish village of Astérix |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/news/erquy-day-real-life-gaulish-122532779.html|website=Yahoo! News |date=16 August 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530152528/https://uk.news.yahoo.com/news/erquy-day-real-life-gaulish-122532779.html| archive-date=30 May 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> in [[Armorica]] (present-day [[Brittany]]/[[Normandy]]), a province of [[Gaul]] (modern France), in the year 50 BC. Julius Caesar has conquered nearly all of Gaul for the Roman Republic during the [[Gallic Wars]]. The little Armorican village, however, has held out in this [[alternate history]] because the villagers can gain temporary superhuman strength by drinking a [[Potion|magic potion]] brewed by the village druid, [[Getafix]]. His chief is [[Vitalstatistix]].

The main protagonist and hero of the village is [[Asterix (character)|Asterix]], a diminutive warrior who, because of his shrewdness, is usually entrusted with the most important affairs of the village. He is aided in his adventures by his rather corpulent and slower-thinking friend, [[Obelix]], a [[menhir]] deliveryman who, because he fell into the druid's cauldron of the potion as a baby, has permanent superhuman strength (because of this, Getafix steadfastly refuses to allow Obelix to drink the potion, as doing so would have a dangerous and unpredictable result, eventually revealed in ''[[Asterix and Obelix All at Sea]]'' to be [[petrifaction]] into [[granite]]). Following ''[[Asterix and the Banquet]]'', Obelix adopts, and thus is usually accompanied by, his little dog [[List of Asterix characters#Dogmatix|Dogmatix]]. (Except for Asterix and Obelix, the names of the characters change with the language. For example, Obelix's dog's name is "Idéfix" in the original French edition.)

Asterix and Obelix (and sometimes other members of the village) go on various adventures both within the village and in far away lands. Places visited in the series include parts of [[Gaul]] ([[Lutetia]], [[Corsica]] etc.), neighbouring nations ([[Belgium]], [[Spain]], [[United Kingdom|Britain]], [[Germany]] etc.), and far away lands ([[North America]], [[Middle East]], [[India]] etc.).

The series employs [[science-fiction]] and [[fantasy]] elements in the more recent books; for instance, the use of [[extraterrestrials]] in ''[[Asterix and the Falling Sky]]'' and the city of [[Atlantis]] in ''[[Asterix and Obelix All at Sea]]''.

With rare exceptions, the ending of the albums usually shows a big banquet with the village's inhabitants gathering – the sole exception is the [[bard]] [[Cacofonix]] restrained and gagged to prevent him from singing (but in ''[[Asterix and the Normans]]'' the blacksmith Fulliautomatix was tied up). Mostly the banquets are held under the starry nights in the village, where roast boar is devoured and all (but one) are set about in merrymaking. However, there are a few exceptions, such as in ''[[Asterix and Cleopatra]]''.

==Humour==
The humour encountered in the ''Asterix'' comics often centers around [[pun]]s, [[caricature]]s, and [[tongue-in-cheek]] [[stereotype]]s of contemporary European nations and [[List of regions in France|French regions]]. Much of the multi-layered humour in the initial Asterix books was French-specific, which delayed the translation of the books into other languages for fear of losing the jokes and the spirit of the story. Some translations have actually added local humour: In the Italian translation, the Roman legionaries are made to speak in 20th-century Roman dialect, and Obelix's famous ''[[:fr:Ils sont fous, ces Romains !|Ils sont fous, ces Romains !]]'' ("These Romans are crazy") is translated as ''Sono pazzi questi romani'', a long-established humorous expansion of the Roman abbreviation ''[[SPQR]]''.<ref>See, e.g. {{cite book|last=von Hefner|first=Otto Titan|author-link=:de:Otto Titan von Hefner|url=https://archive.org/stream/handbuchdertheo00hefngoog#page/n122/mode/2up|title=Handbuch der theoretischen und praktischen Heraldik|year=1861|location=Munich|page=106}}</ref> In another example: [[Hiccups]] are written [[onomatopoeia|onomatopoeically]] in French as ''hips'', but in English as "hic", allowing Roman legionaries in more than one of the English translations to [[declension|decline]] their hiccups absurdly in Latin (''hic, haec, hoc''). The newer albums share a more universal humour, both written and visual.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7049642.stm |title=The vital statistics of Asterix |date=18 October 2007 |publisher=BBC News|access-date=10 March 2010 | location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100208100111/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7049642.stm| archive-date= 8 February 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>

===Character names===
All the fictional characters in ''Asterix'' have names which are puns on their roles or personalities, and which follow certain patterns specific to nationality. Certain rules are followed (most of the time) such as Gauls (and their neighbours) having an {{nowrap|''-ix''}} suffix for the men and ending in {{nowrap|''-a''}} for the women; for example, Chief [[Vitalstatistix]] (so called due to his portly stature) and his wife [[Impedimenta]] (often at odds with the chief). The male Roman names end in {{nowrap|''-us''}}, echoing Latin nominative male singular form, as in [[List of Asterix characters#Romans|Gluteus Maximus]], a muscle-bound athlete whose name is literally the [[gluteus maximus|butt]] of the joke. Gothic names (present-day Germany) end in {{nowrap|''-ic''}}, after Gothic chiefs such as [[Alaric I|Alaric]] and [[Theoderic]]; for example [[Rhetoric]] the interpreter. Greek names end in {{nowrap|''-os''}} or {{nowrap|''-es''}}; for example, [[Thermos]] the restaurateur. British names usually end in {{nowrap|''-ax''}} or {{nowrap|''-os''}} and are often puns on the [[Taxation in the United Kingdom|taxation]] associated with the later [[United Kingdom]]; examples include Mykingdomforanos, a British tribal chieftain, [[Value added tax|Valuaddedtax]] the druid, and [[Selective employment tax|Selectivemploymentax]] the mercenary. Names of Normans end with {{nowrap|''-af''}}, for example Nescaf or Cenotaf. Egyptian characters often end in {{nowrap|''-is''}}, such as the architects Edifis and Artifis, and the scribe Exlibris. Indic names, apart from the only Indic female characters Orinjade and Lemuhnade, exhibit considerable variation; examples include Watziznehm, Watzit, Owzat, and Howdoo. Other nationalities are treated to [[pidgin]] translations from their language, like Huevos y Bacon, a Spanish chieftain (whose name, meaning [[wikt:eggs and bacon|eggs and bacon]], is often guidebook Spanish for tourists), or literary and other popular media references, like [[List of Asterix characters#Caricatures|Dubbelosix]] (a sly reference to [[James Bond]]'s codename "007").<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Embleton |first=Sheila |date=1991-01-01 |title=Names and Their Substitutes: Onomastic Observations on Astérix and Its Translations1 |url=https://benjamins.com/online/target/articles/target.3.2.04emb |journal=Target. International Journal of Translation Studies |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=175–206 |doi=10.1075/target.3.2.04emb |issn=0924-1884 |access-date=10 April 2022 |archive-date=28 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128175040/https://benjamins.com/online/target/articles/target.3.2.04emb |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Most of these jokes, and hence the names of the characters, are specific to the translation; for example, the druid named [[Getafix]] in English {{nowrap|translation{{tsp}}{{mdash}}}}‌"get a fix", referring to the character's role in dispensing the [[Potion|magic potion]]⁠{{nowrap|{{px2}}{{mdash}}{{px2}}}}‌is ''Panoramix'' in the original French and ''Miraculix'' in German.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asterix.com/the-a-to-z-of-asterix/characters/getafix.html|publisher=Asterix the official website|title=A to Z of Asterix: Getafix|access-date=8 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111204808/http://www.asterix.com/the-a-to-z-of-asterix/characters/getafix.html|archive-date=11 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Even so, occasionally the wordplay has been preserved: Obelix's dog, known in the original French as ''Idéfix'' (from ''[[Idée fixe (psychology)|idée fixe]]'', a "fixed idea" or obsession), is called ''Dogmatix'' in English, which not only renders the original meaning strikingly closely ("dogmatic") but in fact adds another layer of wordplay with the syllable {{nowrap|"Dog–"}} at the beginning of the name.

The name ''Asterix'', [[French language|French]] ''Astérix'', comes from ''{{lang|fr|astérisque}}'', meaning "[[asterisk]]", which is the typographical symbol {{nowrap|"{{hsp}}*{{hsp}}"}} indicating a footnote, from the Greek word ἀστήρ (''aster''), meaning "star". His name is usually left unchanged in translations, aside from accents and the use of local [[alphabet]]s. For example, in [[Esperanto]], [[Polish language|Polish]], [[Slovene language|Slovene]], [[Latvian language|Latvian]], and [[Turkish language|Turkish]] it is ''Asteriks'' (in Turkish he was first named ''Bücür'' meaning "shorty", but the name was then standardised). Two exceptions include [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]], in which he is known as ''Ástríkur'' ("Rich of love"), and [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]], where he is known as {{lang|si|සූර පප්පා}} (''Soora Pappa''), which can be interpreted as "[[Hero]]". The name ''Obelix'' (''Obélix'') may refer to "[[obelisk]]", a stone column from ancient Egypt (and hence his large size and strength and his task of carrying around [[menhir]]s), but also to another typographical symbol, the [[Dagger (mark)|obelisk or obelus]] ({{char|†}}).

{{xref|For explanations of some of the other names, see: [[List of Asterix characters|List of ''Asterix'' characters]].}}

===Ethnic stereotypes===
Many of the ''Asterix'' adventures take place in other countries away from their homeland in Gaul. In every album that takes place abroad, the characters meet (usually modern-day) stereotypes for each country, as seen by the French.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2 November 2009|title=In praise of... Asterix|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/nov/02/in-praise-asterix|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908060259/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/nov/02/in-praise-asterix|archive-date=8 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

* Italics (Italians) are the inhabitants of Italy. In the adventures of Asterix, the term "Romans" is used by non-Italics to refer to all inhabitants of Italy, who at that time had extended their dominion over a large part of the [[Mediterranean basin]]. But as can be seen in ''[[Asterix and the Chariot Race]]'', in the [[Italian Peninsula]] this term is used only to refer to the people from the capital, with many Italics preferring to identify themselves as [[Umbrians]], [[Etruscans]], [[Adriatic Veneti|Venetians]], etc. Various topics from this country are explored, as in this example, [[Italian cuisine]] (pasta, pizza, wine), art, famous people ([[Luciano Pavarotti]], [[Silvio Berlusconi]], [[Leonardo da Vinci]]'s [[Mona Lisa]]), and even the controversial issues of [[political corruption]]. Romans in general appear more similar to the historical Romans than to modern-age Italians.
* Goths (Germans) are disciplined and [[militaristic]], but divided into many [[Political faction|factions]] that fight amongst each other (which is a reference to Germany before [[Otto von Bismarck]], and to the rivalry between [[East Germany]] and [[West Germany]] in the [[Aftermath of World War II]]), and they wear the [[Pickelhaube]] helmet common during the [[German Empire]]. In later appearances, the Goths tend to be more good-natured.
* Helvetians (Swiss) are neutral, eat [[fondue]], and are obsessed with cleaning, accurate time-keeping, and banks.
* The Britons (English) are [[phlegmatic]], and speak with early 20th-century aristocratic slang (similar to [[Bertie Wooster]]). They stop for [[tea (drink)|tea]] every day (making it with hot water and a drop of milk until Asterix brings them actual [[tea]] leaves), play darts and drink warm beer ([[Bitter (beer)|Bitter]]) in pubs, eat boiled food with [[mint sauce]], and live in streets containing rows of identical houses. In ''Asterix and Obelix: God Save Britannia'' the Britons all wore woollen pullovers and [[Tam o' shanter (cap)|Tam o' shanters]]. 
* Hibernians (Irish) inhabit Hibernia, the Latin name of Ireland and they fight against the Romans alongside the Britons to defend the British Isles.
* Iberians (Spanish) are filled with [[pride]] and have rather choleric tempers. They produce [[olive oil]], provide very slow aid for chariot problems on the Roman roads and (thanks to Asterix) adopt [[bullfighting]] as a tradition.
* When the Gauls visited North America in ''[[Asterix and the Great Crossing]]'', Obelix punches one of the attacking [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] with a [[knockout]] blow. The warrior first hallucinates [[American eagle|American-style emblematic eagles]]; the second time, he sees stars in the formation of the [[Flag of the United States|Stars and Stripes]]; the third time, he sees stars shaped like the [[United States military aircraft national insignia|United States Air Force roundel]]. Asterix's inspired idea for getting the attention of a [[L'Anse aux Meadows|nearby Viking ship]] (which could take them back to Gaul) is to hold up a torch; this refers to the [[Statue of Liberty]] (which was a gift from France).
* Corsicans are proud, patriotic, and easily aroused but lazy, making decisions by using [[political corruption|pre-filled]] [[ballot box]]es. They harbour [[Feud|vendettas]] against each other, and always take their [[siesta]]. 
* Greeks are [[chauvinism|chauvinists]] and consider Romans, Gauls, and all others to be [[barbarians]]. They eat stuffed grape leaves ([[dolma]]), drink resinated wine ([[retsina]]), and are [[tourism in Greece|hospitable to tourists]]. Most seem to be related by blood, and often [[nepotism|suggest some cousin]] appropriate for a job. Greek characters are often depicted in side profile, making them resemble figures from classical Greek vase paintings. 
* Normans ([[Vikings]]) drink endlessly, they always use [[cream]] in their cuisine, they do not know what fear is (which they are trying to discover), and in their home territory ([[Scandinavia]]), the night lasts for 6 months.<br>Their depiction in the albums is a mix of stereotypes of [[Scandinavia]]n Vikings and the [[Normans|Norman French]]. Their names end in "-af".
* [[Cimbri|Cimbres]] (Danes) are very similar to the Normans with the greatest difference being that the Gauls are unable to communicate with them. Their names end in "-sen", a common ending of surnames in Denmark and Norway akin to "-son".
* Belgians speak with a funny accent, snub the Gauls, and always eat [[French fries|sliced roots deep-fried in bear fat]]. They also tell [[Belgian joke]]s.
* Lusitanians (Portuguese) are short in stature and polite (Uderzo said all the Portuguese who he had met were like that). Their most recent appearance in the albums depicts them with an easy-going and procrastinating nature. 
* The Indians have elephant trainers, as well as gurus who can fast for weeks and levitate on [[magic carpet]]s. They worship thirty-three million deities and consider cows as sacred. They also bathe in the [[Ganges]] river.
* Egyptians are short with prominent noses, endlessly engaged in building pyramids and palaces. Their favorite food is [[lentil soup]] and they sail [[felucca]]s along the banks of the [[Nile River]].
* Persians (Iranians) produce [[carpets]] and staunchly refuse to mend foreign ones. They eat [[caviar]], as well as roasted camel and the women wear [[burqas]].
* [[Hittites]], [[Sumer]]ians, [[Akkadian Empire|Akkadians]], [[Assyrian people|Assyrians]], and [[Babylonia]]ns are perpetually at war with each other and attack strangers because they confuse them with their enemies, but they later apologize when they realize that the strangers are not their enemies. This is likely a criticism of the constant conflicts among the Middle Eastern peoples.
* The Jews are all depicted as [[Yemenite Jews]], with dark skin, black eyes, and beards, a tribute to [[Marc Chagall]], the famous painter whose painting of [[King David]] hangs at the [[Knesset]] (Israeli Parliament).
* [[Numidians]], contrary to the [[Berbers|Berber]] inhabitants of ancient Numidia (located in North Africa), are obviously Africans from [[sub-Saharan Africa]]. The names end in "-tha", similar to the historical king [[Jugurtha]] of Numidia.
* The Picts (Scots) wear a typical dress with a [[kilt]] (skirt), have the habit of drinking "malt water" ([[whisky]]) and throwing logs ([[caber toss]]ing) as a popular sport and their names all start with "Mac-".
* Sarmatians (Ukrainians) inhabit the North [[Black Sea]] area, which represents present-day Ukraine. Their names end in "-ov", like many Ukrainian surnames.

When the Gauls see foreigners speaking their foreign languages, these have different representations in the cartoon [[speech bubble]]s:

*Iberian: Same as Spanish, with inversion of exclamation marks ('¡') and question marks ("¿").
*Goth language: Gothic script (incomprehensible to the Gauls, except Getafix, who speaks Gothic).
*Cimbres: "Ø" and "Å" instead of "O" and "A" (incomprehensible to the Gauls).
*Amerindian: Pictograms and sign language (generally incomprehensible to the Gauls).
*Egyptians and Kushites: [[Hieroglyphs]] with explanatory footnotes (incomprehensible to the Gauls).
*Greek: Straight letters, carved as if in stone.
*Sarmatian: In their speech balloons, some letters (E, F, N, R ...) are written in a mirror-reversed form, which evokes the modern [[Cyrillic alphabet]].

==Translations==
The various volumes have been translated into more than 120 languages and dialects. Besides the original French language, most albums are available in Arabic, Basque, Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, Galician, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Icelandic, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Latvian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, and Ukrainian.<ref name = "Asterix around the World"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asterix.com/the-collection/translations/asterix-in-latin.html |title=Accueil – Astérix – le site officiel |access-date=25 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130012927/http://www.asterix.com/the-collection/translations/asterix-in-latin.html |archive-date=30 January 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Some books have also been translated into languages including Esperanto, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Scots, Indonesian, Hindi, Persian, Bengali, Afrikaans, Arabic, Frisian, Romansch, Thai, Vietnamese, Welsh, Sinhala, Ancient Greek, and Luxembourgish.<ref name = "Asterix around the World">{{cite web |url=http://www.asterix-obelix.nl/ |title=Asterix around the World |publisher=asterix-obelix-nl.com |access-date=9 March 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100123051237/http://www.asterix-obelix.nl/| archive-date= 23 January 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>

In Europe, several volumes were translated into a variety of [[regional language]]s and [[dialect]]s, such as [[Alsatian language|Alsatian]], [[Breton language|Breton]], Chtimi ([[Picard language|Picard]]), and [[Corsican language|Corsican]] in France; [[Austro-Bavarian language|Bavarian]], [[Swabian German|Swabian]], and [[Low German]] in Germany; and [[Savonian dialects|Savo]], [[Karelia]], [[Rauma, Finland|Rauma]], and [[Helsinki slang]] dialects in Finland. In Portugal a special edition of the first volume, ''[[Asterix the Gaul]]'', was translated into local language [[Mirandese]].<ref name="Asterix.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.asterix.com/encyclopedia/translations/|title=Translations|publisher=Asterix.com|access-date=11 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211214621/http://www.asterix.com/encyclopedia/translations/|archive-date=11 February 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> In Greece, a number of volumes have appeared in the [[Cretan Greek]], [[Cypriot Greek]], and [[Pontic Greek]] dialects.<ref>{{cite web | title = List of Asterix comics published in Greece by Mamouth Comix | url = http://www.mamouthcomix.gr/asterix/index.html | language = el | access-date = 30 March 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090409055539/http://www.mamouthcomix.gr/asterix/index.html | archive-date = 9 April 2009 | url-status = dead}}</ref> In the Italian version, while the Gauls speak standard Italian, the legionaries speak in the [[Romanesco dialect|Romanesque]] dialect. In the former Yugoslavia, the "Forum" publishing house translated Corsican text in ''[[Asterix in Corsica]]'' into the Montenegrin dialect of [[Serbo-Croatian]] (today called [[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]]).

In the Netherlands, several volumes were translated into [[West Frisian language|West Frisian]], a Germanic language spoken in the province of [[Friesland]]; into [[Limburgish language|Limburgish]], a regional language spoken not only in [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Dutch Limburg]] but also in [[Limburg (Belgium)|Belgian Limburg]] and [[North Rhine-Westphalia|North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany]]; and into [[Tweants dialect|Tweants]], a dialect in the region of [[Twente]] in the eastern province of [[Overijssel]]. Hungarian-language books were published in the former [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] for the [[Magyars|Hungarian]] minority living in [[Serbia]]. Although not translated into a fully autonomous dialect, the books differ slightly from the language of the books issued in Hungary. In [[Sri Lanka]], the cartoon series was adapted into [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]] as ''Sura Pappa''.<ref name="Asterix.com"/>

Most volumes have been translated into [[Latin]] and [[Attic Greek|Ancient Greek]], with accompanying teachers' guides, as a way of teaching these ancient languages.

===English translation===
{{Main|English translations of Asterix}}
In the early 1960s, translations of some strips were published in British comics including ''Valiant'', ''Ranger'', and ''Look & Learn'', under names ''Little Fred and Big Ed'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://comictrip.wordpress.com/2015/04/21/asterix-le-breton-little-fred-big-ed-part-1/ |title=Astérix le Breton: Little Fred & Big Ed (part 1) |website=ComicOrama en Français|date= 2015-04-21|access-date= 11 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170601033832/https://comictrip.wordpress.com/2015/04/21/asterix-le-breton-little-fred-big-ed-part-1/|archive-date=1 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''Beric the Bold'', set in Roman-occupied Britain. These were included in an exhibition on Goscinny's life and career, and Asterix, in London's Jewish Museum in 2018.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/may/10/the-ancient-brit-with-bags-of-grit-how-anglicised-asterix-first-came-to-uk |title=The Ancient Brit with Bags of Grit? How anglicised Asterix came to UK |newspaper=The Guardian |date=11 May 2018 |author=Mark Brown |access-date=11 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510220315/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/may/10/the-ancient-brit-with-bags-of-grit-how-anglicised-asterix-first-came-to-uk |archive-date=10 May 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishmuseum.org.uk/asterix |title=Astérix in Britain: The Life and Work of René Goscinny|website=The Jewish Museum London|date=10 May 2018|access-date= 11 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511131748/http://www.jewishmuseum.org.uk/asterix|archive-date=11 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1970, [[William Morrow and Company]] published English translations in hardback of three Asterix albums for the American market. These were ''[[Asterix the Gaul]]'', ''[[Asterix and Cleopatra]]'' and ''[[Asterix the Legionary]]''. Lawrence Hughes in a letter to ''[[The New York Times]]''  stated, "Sales were modest, with the third title selling half the number of the first. I was publisher at the time, and [[Bill Cosby]] tried to buy film and television rights. When that fell through, we gave up the series."<ref>{{cite news |title=Opinion {{!}} Asterix in America (Published 1996) |work=The New York Times |date=24 October 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604051741/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/24/opinion/l-asterix-in-america-950513.html |archive-date=2023-06-04 |url-status=live |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/24/opinion/l-asterix-in-america-950513.html}}</ref>

The first 33 Asterix albums were translated into English by [[Anthea Bell]] and [[Derek Hockridge]] (including the three volumes reprinted by William Morrow),<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://catalog.loc.gov/vwebv/holdingsInfo?searchId=4799&recCount=25&recPointer=1&bibId=2680665|title=Library of Congress catalog record for first William Morrow volume|publisher=[[Library of Congress]]|date=9 May 1970 |author=W. Morrow |access-date=4 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604051627/https://catalog.loc.gov/vwebv/holdingsInfo?searchId=4799&recCount=25&recPointer=1&bibId=2680665|archive-date=4 June 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> who were widely praised for maintaining the spirit and humour of the original French versions. Hockridge died in 2013, so Bell translated books 34 to 36 by herself, before retiring in 2016 for health reasons. She died in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/oct/18/anthea-bell-magnificent-translator-of-asterix-and-kafka-dies-aged-82|title=Anthea Bell, 'magnificent' translator of Asterix and Kafka, dies aged 82|last=Flood|first=Alison|date=2018-10-18|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=2018-10-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019144919/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/oct/18/anthea-bell-magnificent-translator-of-asterix-and-kafka-dies-aged-82|archive-date=19 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Adriana Hunter]] became translator.

US publisher [[Papercutz (publisher)|Papercutz]] in December 2019 announced it would begin publishing "all-new more American translations" of the Asterix books, starting on 19 May 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nellis |first1=Spenser |title=Papercutz takes over Asterix Publishing in the Americas! |url=https://papercutz.com/papercutz-takes-over-asterix-publishing-in-the-americas |website=Papercutz |date=4 December 2019 |access-date=3 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103104257/http://papercutz.com/papercutz-takes-over-asterix-publishing-in-the-americas |archive-date=3 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> The launch was postponed to 15 July 2020 as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnston |first1=Rich |title=American Publication of Asterix Delayed Two Months |url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2020/03/23/american-publication-of-asterix-delayed-two-months/ |access-date=25 March 2020 |publisher=BleedingCool.com |date=23 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325155104/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2020/03/23/american-publication-of-asterix-delayed-two-months/ |archive-date=25 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> The new translator is Joe Johnson, a professor of French and Spanish at [[Clayton State University]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Milligan |first1=Mercedes |title=Papercutz Brings Beloved 'Asterix' Comics to US This Summer |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/licensing/papercutz-brings-beloved-asterix-comics-to-us-this-summer/ |access-date=12 May 2020 |publisher=Animation Magazine |date=12 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518204821/https://www.animationmagazine.net/licensing/papercutz-brings-beloved-asterix-comics-to-us-this-summer/ |archive-date=18 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> The comics' popularity has been relatively low in US markets, where Franco-Belgian comics have less mainstream exposure.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleedingfool.com/comics/why-asterix-has-never-caught-on-with-u-s-comics-readers/ |title=Why 'Asterix' Has Never Caught on with U.S. Comics Readers |author=Avi Green |date=26 November 2021 |website=Bleesing Fool}}</ref>

==Adaptations==
The series has been adapted into various media. There are 18 films, 15 board games, 40 video games, and 1 theme park.

===Films===
{{Main|List of Asterix films}}
* ''Deux Romains en Gaule'', 1967 black and white television film, mixed media, live-action with Asterix and Obelix animated. Released on DVD in 2002.
* ''[[Asterix the Gaul (film)|Asterix the Gaul]]'', 1967, animated, based on the album ''[[Asterix the Gaul]]''.
* ''Asterix and the Golden Sickle'', 1967, animated, based upon the album ''[[Asterix and the Golden Sickle]]'', incomplete and never released.
* ''[[Asterix and Cleopatra (film)|Asterix and Cleopatra]]'', 1968, animated, based on the album ''[[Asterix and Cleopatra]]''.
* ''The Dogmatix movie'', 1973, animated, a unique story based on Dogmatix and his animal friends, Albert Uderzo created a comic version (consisting of eight comics, as the film is a combination of 8 different stories) of the never-released movie in 2003.
* ''[[The Twelve Tasks of Asterix]]'', 1976, animated, a unique story not based on an existing comic.
* ''[[Asterix Versus Caesar]]'', 1985, animated, based on both ''[[Asterix the Legionary]]'' and ''[[Asterix the Gladiator]]''.
* ''[[Asterix in Britain (film)|Asterix in Britain]]'', 1986, animated, based upon the album ''[[Asterix in Britain]]''.
* ''[[Asterix and the Big Fight (film)|Asterix and the Big Fight]]'', 1989, animated, based on both ''[[Asterix and the Big Fight]]'' and ''[[Asterix and the Soothsayer]]''.
* ''[[Asterix Conquers America]]'', 1994, animated, loosely based upon the album ''[[Asterix and the Great Crossing]]''.
* ''[[Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar]]'', 1999, live-action, based primarily upon ''[[Asterix the Gaul]]'', ''[[Asterix and the Soothsayer]]'', ''[[Asterix and the Goths]]'', ''[[Asterix the Legionary]]'', and ''[[Asterix the Gladiator]]''.
* ''[[Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra]]'', 2002, live-action, based upon the album ''[[Asterix and Cleopatra]]''.
* ''[[Asterix and the Vikings]]'', 2006, animated, loosely based upon the album ''[[Asterix and the Normans]]'' along with some side references to ''[[Asterix and the Great Crossing]].''
* ''[[Asterix at the Olympic Games (film)|Asterix at the Olympic Games]]'', 2008, live-action, loosely based upon the album ''[[Asterix at the Olympic Games]]''.<ref name = "Asterix around the World"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/catalog/soundtrackdetail.php?movieid=61353|title=Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre|publisher=Soundtrack collectors|access-date=13 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403025304/http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/catalog/soundtrackdetail.php?movieid=61353|archive-date=3 April 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0463872/ |title=Astérix aux jeux olympiques|year=2008 |publisher=IMD |access-date=13 March 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100204215430/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0463872/| archive-date= 4 February 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>
* ''[[Asterix and Obelix: God Save Britannia]]'', 2012, live-action, loosely based upon the album ''[[Asterix in Britain]]'' and ''[[Asterix and the Normans]]''.
* ''[[Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods]]'', 2014, animated, based upon the album ''[[The Mansions of the Gods]]'' and is the first animated ''Asterix'' movie in stereoscopic 3D.
* ''[[Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion]]'', 2018, animated, original story.
* ''[[Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom]]'', 2023, live-action, original story, consisting of Asterix and Obelix traveling to China to rescue the empress from Julius Caesar and his ally, Prince Deng Tsin Quin.
* ''[[Asterix: The Kingdom of Nubia]]'', 2026.

===Television series===
''Dogmatix and the Indomitables'', an animated series of eleven-minute episodes, was produced by Studio 58 and [[Futurikon]], and premiered on the Okoo streaming service on 2 July 2021 before beginning its linear broadcast on [[France 4]] on 28 August 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvmag.lefigaro.fr/programme-tv/idefix-a-sa-propre-serie-bientot-sur-france-4_bebd5a96-d4ee-11eb-be46-ba566eaae02a/|title=Idéfix a sa propre série, bientôt sur France 4|first=Nathalie|last=Chuc|date=24 June 2021|access-date=24 June 2021|work=[[Le Figaro]]|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624144616/https://tvmag.lefigaro.fr/programme-tv/idefix-a-sa-propre-serie-bientot-sur-france-4_bebd5a96-d4ee-11eb-be46-ba566eaae02a/|archive-date=24 June 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> The animation is produced by o2o Studio.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dogmatix And the Indomitables: the first spin-off animated TV show based upon the universe of Asterix!|url=https://www.asterix.com/en/idefix-et-les-irreductibles-pour-la-premiere-fois-lunivers-dasterix-a-la-television-en-animation-3d/|date=21 December 2020|access-date=10 June 2021|publisher=[[Éditions Albert René]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117160448/https://www.asterix.com/en/idefix-et-les-irreductibles-pour-la-premiere-fois-lunivers-dasterix-a-la-television-en-animation-3d/ |archive-date=17 January 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Dogmatix And the Indomitables: the first spin-off animated TV show based upon the universe of Asterix!|url=https://www.asterix.com/idefix-et-les-irreductibles-pour-la-premiere-fois-lunivers-dasterix-a-la-television-en-animation-3d/|date=21 December 2020|access-date=10 June 2021|publisher=[[Éditions Albert René]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104111323/https://www.asterix.com/idefix-et-les-irreductibles-pour-la-premiere-fois-lunivers-dasterix-a-la-television-en-animation-3d/ |language=fr |archive-date=4 January 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> 
The show is distributed globally by [[Mediawan|LS Distribution]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/ls-distribution-studio-58-unleash-asterix-spinoff-idefix-and-the-indomitables/|title=LS Distribution & Studio 58 Unleash Asterix Spinoff 'Idefix and the Indomitables'|first=Mercedes|last=Milligan|date=6 January 2021|access-date=24 June 2021|work=[[Animation Magazine]]|archive-date=7 October 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007063948/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2021/01/ls-distribution-studio-58-unleash-asterix-spinoff-idefix-and-the-indomitables/|url-status=live}}</ref> 

[[File:Official_Netflix_announcement_poster_for_Asterix_series.jpg|thumb|left|The official Netflix announcement poster]]
''[[Asterix and Obelix: The Big Fight]]'', a CG-animated<ref>{{cite web|last=Milligan |first=Mercedes |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/streaming/french-studio-tat-tapped-for-netflix-asterix-series/ |title=French Studio TAT Tapped for Netflix 'Asterix' Series |publisher=Animation Magazine |date=4 February 2022 |accessdate=18 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204170932/https://www.animationmagazine.net/streaming/french-studio-tat-tapped-for-netflix-asterix-series/|archive-date=4 February 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> miniseries based on [[Asterix and the Big Fight|the 1966 album]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ellioty |first1=Dave |title=Netflix Orders First Ever 'Asterix' Animated Series |url=https://www.geektown.co.uk/2021/03/03/netflix-orders-first-ever-asterix-animated-series/ |access-date=10 June 2021 |publisher=geektown |date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303170725/https://www.geektown.co.uk/2021/03/03/netflix-orders-first-ever-asterix-animated-series/|archive-date=3 March 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> and directed by [[Alain Chabat]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Tony |title=Asterix comes to Netflix in 2023 in an Alain Chabat directed series |url=https://cultbox.co.uk/news/asterix-comes-to-netflix-in-2023-in-an-alain-chabat-directed-series |access-date=10 June 2021 |publisher=cultbox |date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303122628/https://cultbox.co.uk/news/asterix-comes-to-netflix-in-2023-in-an-alain-chabat-directed-series|archive-date=3 March 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ft |first1=Ma |title=Asterix, Obelix and Dogmatix are Coming to Netflix in 2023 |url=https://news.newonnetflix.info/news/asterix-obelix-and-dogmatix-are-coming-to-netflix-in-2023/ |access-date=10 June 2021 |publisher=New on Netflix |date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415145919/https://news.newonnetflix.info/news/asterix-obelix-and-dogmatix-are-coming-to-netflix-in-2023/|archive-date=15 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> debuted on [[Netflix]] in 2025.

===Games===
{{Main|List of Asterix games}}

Many [[gamebook]]s, [[board game]]s and [[video game]]s are based upon the ''Asterix'' series. In particular, many video games were released by various computer game publishers.

===Theme park===
{{Main|Parc Astérix}}
[[Parc Astérix]], a theme park 35 kilometres (22 miles) north of Paris, based upon the series, was opened in 1989. It is one of the most visited sites in France, with around 2.3&nbsp;million visitors per year.

==In popular culture==
[[File:Asterixchips.JPG|thumb|upright|Asterix ham and cheese-flavoured [[potato chip]]s]]
*The first French satellite, which was launched in 1965, was named ''[[Astérix (satellite)|Astérix-1]]'' in honour of Asterix.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://berlinspectator.com/2019/10/08/asterix-the-european-comic-character-with-a-personality/|title=Asterix: The European Comic Character with a Personality|last=Marcus|first=Immanuel|date=9 October 2019|newspaper=The Berlin Spectator|access-date=9 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804000418/https://berlinspectator.com/2019/10/08/asterix-the-european-comic-character-with-a-personality/|archive-date=4 August 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Asteroids [[29401 Asterix]] and [[29402 Obelix]] were also named in honour of the characters. Coincidentally, the word Asterix/Asterisk originates from the Greek for ''Little Star''.
*During the (failed) campaign for Paris to host the [[1992 Summer Olympics]] in 1986, Asterix appeared in many posters over the [[Eiffel Tower]].
*The French company [[Kraft Foods|Belin]] introduced a series of ''Asterix'' [[crisps]] shaped in the forms of [[scutum (shield)|Roman shields]], [[gourd]]s, [[wild boar]], and [[bone]]s.
* In ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]'', one of the bosses, Burt the Bashful, bears a slight resemblance to Obelix; as a result, the French and German translations of the game renamed the boss in reference to the character, respectively using "Gros Bélixo" ("Bélixo" being an anagram of "Obélix") and "Xilebo" ("Obelix" spelled backwards).
* In the UK in 1995, ''Asterix'' coins were presented free in every [[Ferrero SpA|Ferrero]] [[Nutella]] jars.
* In 1991, Asterix and Obelix appeared on the cover of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' for a special edition about France, art directed by [[Mirko Ilić]]. In a 2009 issue of the same magazine, Asterix is described as being seen by some as a symbol for France's independence and defiance of globalisation.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1931169,00.html |magazine=TIME |title=Asterix at 50: The Comic Hero Conquers the World |date=21 October 2009 |access-date=21 October 2009 |first=Leo |last=Cendrowicz |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024031144/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0%2C8599%2C1931169%2C00.html |archive-date=24 October 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite this, Asterix has made several promotional appearances for fast food chain McDonald's, including one advertisement which featured members of the village enjoying the traditional story-ending feast at a McDonald's restaurant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meeja.com.au/articles/asterix-the-gaul-seen-feasting-at-mcdonald-s-restaurant |publisher=meeja.com.au |date=19 August 2010 |access-date=19 August 2010 |title=Asterix the Gaul seen feasting at McDonald's restaurant |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706110249/http://www.meeja.com.au/articles/asterix-the-gaul-seen-feasting-at-mcdonald-s-restaurant |archive-date=6 July 2011}}</ref>
* Version 4.0 of the operating system [[OpenBSD]] features a parody of an Asterix story.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openbsd.org/40.html |title=OpenBSD 4.0 homepage |publisher=Openbsd.org |date=1 November 2006 |access-date=31 December 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101223013107/http://www.openbsd.org/40.html| archive-date= 23 December 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>
* ''[[Action Comics]]'' Issue #579, published by [[DC Comics]] in 1986, written by [[Jean-Marc Lofficier|Lofficier]] and Illustrated by [[Keith Giffen]], featured a homage to ''Asterix'' where [[Superman]] and [[Jimmy Olsen]] are drawn back in time to a small village of indomitable Gauls.
* In 2005, the Mirror World ''Asterix'' exhibition was held in [[Brussels]]. The Belgian post office also released a set of stamps to coincide with the exhibition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bpost.be/site/fr/residential/stamps/philately/stamps/2005/items/19ter.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130219181130/http://www.bpost.be/site/fr/residential/stamps/philately/stamps/2005/items/19ter.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-02-19|title=bpost -|date=19 February 2013|website=archive.ph}}</ref> A book was released to coincide with the exhibition, containing sections in French, Dutch and English.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://es.asterix.com/33/tour.htm |title=The Mirror World exhibition official site |access-date=20 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927081820/http://es.asterix.com/33/tour.htm |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* On 29 October 2009, the Google homepage of a great number of countries displayed a [[Google logo|logo]] (called [[Google Doodle]]) commemorating the 50th anniversary of ''Asterix''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://doodles.google/doodle/asterix-comics-50th-anniversary-2009-goscinny-uderzo/ |title=Asterix's anniversary |work=Google |date=29 October 2009 |access-date=27 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108035628/http://www.google.com/doodles/asterix-comics-50th-anniversary-2009-goscinny-uderzo |archive-date=8 January 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* Although they have since changed, the #2 and #3 heralds in the [[Society for Creative Anachronism]]'s Kingdom of Ansteorra were the Asterisk and Obelisk Heralds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://heraldry.ansteorra.org/docs/COH_Admin_Handbook.pdf|title=KINGDOM OF ANSTEORRA ADMINISTRATIVE HANDBOOK FOR THE COLLEGE OF HERALDS|date=July 2013|access-date=9 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714114952/http://heraldry.ansteorra.org/docs/COH_Admin_Handbook.pdf|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Asterix and Obelix were the official mascots of the [[2017 IIHF World Championship]]s, jointly hosted by France and Germany.
* In 2019, France issued a commemorative €2 coin to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Asterix.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Starck |first1=Jeff |title=France issues €2 of cartoon figure Asterix |url=https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/france-issues-2-euro-of-cartoon-figure-asterix |access-date=6 October 2019 |publisher=Coin World |date=25 June 2019 |archive-date=2019-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006144903/https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/france-issues-2-euro-of-cartoon-figure-asterix |url-status=live}}</ref>
* The [[Royal Canadian Navy]] has a supply vessel named [[MV Asterix]]. A second Resolve-Class ship, to have been named MV Obelix, was cancelled.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/davie-shipyards-layoffs-1.4439089|title=The Resolve-Class naval support ship Asterix|date=8 December 2017|access-date=30 April 2018|archive-date=2017-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209085950/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/davie-shipyards-layoffs-1.4439089|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Asterix, Obelix and Vitalstatistix appear in [[Larry Gonick]]'s ''[[The Cartoon History of the Universe]]'' volume 2, especially in the depiction of the Gallic invasion of Italy (390 – 387 BCE). In the final panel of that sequence, as they trudge off into the sunset, Obelix says "Come on, Asterix! Let's get our own comic book."

==See also==

*[[List of Asterix characters|List of ''Asterix'' characters]]
*[[Bande dessinée]]
*[[English translations of Asterix|English translations of ''Asterix'']]
*[[List of Asterix games|List of ''Asterix'' games]]
*[[List of Asterix volumes|List of ''Asterix'' volumes]]
*[[Kajko i Kokosz]]
*[[Potion]]
*[[Roman Gaul]], after Julius Caesar's conquest of 58–51 BC that consisted of five provinces
*''[[Commentarii de Bello Gallico]]''

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
{{Refbegin}}
*[http://bdoubliees.com/journalpilote/series1/asterix.htm ''Astérix'' publications in ''Pilote''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525075208/http://www.bdoubliees.com/journalpilote/series1/asterix.htm |date=25 May 2011 }} BDoubliées {{in lang|fr}}
*[http://www.bedetheque.com/serie-59-BD-Asterix.html ''Astérix'' albums] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611130241/http://www.bedetheque.com/serie-59-BD-Asterix.html |date=11 June 2007 }} Bedetheque {{in lang|fr}}
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|last=Gabilliet|first=Jean-Paul|chapter=A Disappointing Crossing: The North American Reception of Asterix and Tintin|editor1=Daniel Stein|editor2=Shane Denson|editor3=Christina Meyer|title=Transnational Perspectives on Graphic Narratives: Comics at the Crossroads|publisher=[[A&C Black]]|date=2013-03-28|isbn=<!--old: 1441185232-->9781441185235}} – This is Chapter #16, in Part III: Translations, Transformations, Migrations
*Tosina Fernández, Luis J. [https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/401827 "Creatividad paremiológica en las traducciones al castellano de Astérix"] ''Proverbium'' vol. 38, 2021, pp.&nbsp;361–376.
*Tosina Fernández, Luis J. "Paremiological Creativity and Visual Representation of Proverbs: An Analysis of the Use of Proverbs in the Adventures of Asterix the Gaul". Proceedings of the Fourteenth Interdisciplinary Colloquium on Proverbs, 2 to 8 November 2020, at Tavira, Portugal, edited by Rui J.B. Soares and Outi Lauhakangas, Tavira: Tipografia Tavirense, 2021, pp.&nbsp;256–277.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Astérix}}{{Wikiquote}}
*[http://www.asterix.com/en Official site]
*[https://archive.today/20240525205650/https://www.webcitation.org/66jm7lLVB?url=http://toonopedia.com/asterix.htm Asterix the Gaul] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]], from the original on 6 April 2012.
*[http://www.asterix-obelix.nl/ ''Asterix'' around the World – The many languages]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051119024530/http://www.gthomas.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ Alea Jacta Est (''Asterix'' for grown-ups)] Each ''Asterix'' book is examined in detail
*[http://www.mage.fst.uha.fr/asterix/allusion/allusion.html Les allusions culturelles dans Astérix] – Cultural allusions {{in lang|fr}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050204014231/http://openscroll.org/asterix/ The ''Asterix'' Annotations] – album-by-album explanations of all the historical references and obscure in-jokes

{{Asterix| Asterix|type=other}}
{{Authority control}}

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