The closest we get to an origin story is the way Obelix’s backstory is laid out in this (second) panel: he was dropped into the magic potion as a baby, and that’s why he’s always strong and doesn’t need to drink it. Obelix, we find out early on, doesn’t need it. Asterix usually carries a flask on his belt filled with the stuff. It’s just enough to beat up any number of Roman soldiers and escape unharmed. Made by the resident Druid Getafix, the potion, when drunk, allows a person to have super strength for a short time. The Secret Sauceīut how does this small ragtag group of people continue to hold out against their much better armored enemies? On Asterix’s side, they eagerly await the Romans, because it brings them joy to beat their enemies up.įrom those simple seeds comes the glory of “Asterix,” a humorous book about a group of rebels living their day to day lives and having fantastic adventures, often at the expense of the Romans who control most of Europe. They will stop at nothing to conquer them. Leadership finds it frustrating that this one village remains outside of their grasp. The rank and file of Roman soldiers don’t want to bother them anymore, but their fearless leaders and Julius Caesar don’t often see things that way. The conflict is very simple: Asterix’s village is well known by the Romans for fighting back and winning every time. With very little explanation and exposition, you’re up and running in day to day life. Asterix isn’t “The Chosen One” discovering his fate. In the story, you’ll get explanations for the current set-up, but you’re not getting a drawn-out tale of “normal people” wandering into “super things” to kick things off. Asterix is the little guy who’s very wiley, and smiles much more than you see in this panel.Īsterix also wears a hat with wings that puts Captain America’s old head gear to shame. Obelix is the big guy who carries large menhirs (big rocks) around a lot. Everything about the world of Asterix is already set up before the reader hits page one.įirst, here are your heroes introduced on the first page, by name: “Asterix the Gaul” is, in many ways, the perfect pilot episode. But how much longer can Asterix, Obelix, and their friends resist the mighty Roman legions of Julius Caesar? Anything is possible, with a little cunning plus the druid Getafix’s potions!” The Pilot Episode Only one small village of indomitable Gauls still holds out against the invaders. The back cover copy sets the stage perfectly, so I’ll just steal it: Writer: Rene Goscinny Artist: Albert Uderzo Lettering: Bryony Newhouse Translator: Anthea Bell, Derek Hockridge Published by: Orion Books (a division of Hachette) Number of Pages: 48 Original Publication: 1961 The Set-Up
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