Their success was exponential the first book sold 6,000 copies in its year of publication a year later, the second sold 20,000. From then on, books were released generally on a yearly basis. In 1961 the first book was put together, titled Asterix the Gaul. Astérix was originally serialised in Pilote magazine, debuting in the first issue on 29 October 1959. Prior to creating the Asterix series, Goscinny and Uderzo had previously had success with their series Oumpah-pah, which was published in Tintin magazine. Évariste Vital Luminais' (1821–1896) paintings of Goths had been rather popular in France and are a possible model for the Asterix series. As of 2017, 370 million copies of Asterix books had been sold worldwide, with co-creators René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo being France's best-selling authors abroad. The very first French satellite, Astérix, launched in 1965, was named after the character. There have also been a number of games based on the characters, and a theme park near Paris, Parc Astérix.

Caesar, were major box office successes in France). The success of the series has led to the adaptation of its books into 13 films: nine animated, and four live action (two of which, Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra and Asterix and Obelix vs. 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. For much of the history of the series (Volumes 4 through 29), settings in Gaul and abroad alternated, with even-numbered volumes set abroad and odd-numbered volumes set in Gaul, mostly in the village. In many of the stories, they travel to foreign countries, while other tales are set in and around their village. The '-ix' ending of both names (as well as all the other pseudo-Gaulish '-ix' names in the series) alludes to the '-rix' suffix (meaning 'king') present in the names of many real Gaulish chieftains such as Vercingetorix, Orgetorix, and Dumnorix. The protagonists, the title character Asterix and his friend Obelix, have various adventures.

They do so using a magic potion, brewed by their druid Getafix (Panoramix in the French version), which temporarily gives the recipient superhuman strength. The series follows the adventures of a village of Gauls as they resist Roman occupation in 50 BC. And life is not easy for the Roman legionaries who garrison the fortified camps of Totorum, Aquarium, Laudanum and Compendium. One small village of indomitable Gauls still holds out against the invaders. In the front row are the regular characters, with Asterix himself in the centre.Īsterix comics usually start with the following introduction: Original material for the series has been published as a strip in the comics anthology(s) Pilote.

Asterix and Obelix's Birthday: The Golden Book.

Asterix and cleopatra cartoon