Asterix is a French comic book series that first appeared in the Franco-Belgian comics magazine Pilote in 1959.
The series was written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo, and it has been translated into more than 100 languages. After Goscinny’s death in 1977, Uderzo continued both writing and illustrating the series until he retired in 2009. Since then, the series has been taken over by writer Jean-Yves Ferri and illustrator Didier Conrad.
The comic series takes place in 50 BC and centres around the adventures of a clever, diminutive Gaul named Asterix and his large and superhumanly strong friend, Obelix. They live in a small, independent village in the region of Armorica (now known as Brittany, France), which is the only part of Gaul not yet conquered by Julius Caesar and his Roman legions. This is because the village druid, Getafix, creates a magic potion that gives the villagers superhuman strength, allowing them to resist the Romans.
A typical plot for an Asterix comic revolves around the Romans trying to conquer the village or the villagers going on some quest, often resulting in comedic and satirical adventures. These adventures often take Asterix and Obelix to different parts of the ancient world, such as Rome, Egypt, Britain, India, and even America. The series is famous for its humorous and satirical take on historical events and figures, as well as contemporary European society and politics.
One of the central themes throughout the series is the idea of resistance against oppressive forces.
The tiny Gaulish village constantly repels the powerful Roman Empire, symbolising the struggle of the individual or small community against larger, oppressive forces.
