Astérix et Obélix is a popular French comic strip published since 1959 about a village of Gauls who resist Roman occupation through a magic potion. The comic follows the adventures of Astérix and his companion Obélix as they have adventures near and far from their village. Over 33 books have been published featuring the characters, which have been translated into over 100 languages.
2. Astérix et Obélix is a comic strip (Bande Dessinée or BD in French) The first strips were published in 1959, written by René Goscinny and drawn by Albert Uderzo (who are both Belgian). Goscinny and Uderzo quickly expanded into writing whole books. 33 books have been published so far, which have been translated from the original French into over 100 languages (including English!)
3. Astérix and Obélix live in a small village in the North-West of Gaul (France). The year is 50BC, and the Romans have conquered all of Gaul. All of it? Not quite…
4. Astérix’ village has held out against the Romans, because of a potion which is made by the village druid, Getafix. It gives the villagers superhuman strength. Astérix’ best friend Obélix is never allowed any of the potion, because he fell in to a pot of it when he was a baby and now always has superhuman strength.
5. Astérix and Obélix (and sometimes other members of their village) go on all sorts of adventures, sometimes near to home, and sometimes very far away.
6. There is a theme park near Paris called Parc Astérix devoted to Astérix, Obélix and the rest of the villagers. There have also been 9 board games, 24 computer games, 8 animated films and 3 live action films made about Astérix’ stories.
7. Main characters Astérix Obélix Dogmatix (Idéfix in French) Getafix (Panoramix in French) Vitalstatistix (Abraracourix in French) Cacafonix (Assurancetourix in French)
