Asterix et Obelix

[Luciana]

Does anyone else share my enthusiasm? I've read most of them as a kid, I made my dad buy the books in the newsstands. Later I got access to some editions in the original French, and I enjoyed reading it immensely. Not now, because I'm concentrating on learning Spanish and don't want to confuse the two languages (their similarity is both a blessing and a curse), but later in the year I intend to buy the whole collection in French (and hope it's not so expensive!).

The character's names vary with the language they're translated to, because they're puns, but Asterix and Obelix always remain the same.

I can't say which are my favorites! Probably A Gift to Caesar, in which Uderzo makes fun of marketing techniques. :D

Who else!?!

[Frostbite]

I read those as a kid, they're absolutely great. And layered humor too, so an adult won't laugh at the same things children will, but it's hilarious for both. Check out les 12 Travaux d'Astérix which is my favorite.

[LucyR]

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
Does anyone else share my enthusiasm?

I read them in English and loved them. I always thought the translators must have really known their stuff to translate from French and still keep the humour.

[Ove]

I have been a fan ever since i bought the first album and i have them all in my collection.

When i was in High Scool we did a study of the cartoon as historic source material and we discovered that it was stunningly accurate, NOT regarding the plain historic facts (the books actually spans 3-4 centuries) but as a source to how people lived, worked, etc. The descriptions of roman camps are quite stunningly precise.

My favourite album is "Asterix and Cleopatra" and it is my favourite movie too. You really should try the latest movie version : IMDB (http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0250223/) . The first movie was a bit silly but this one is very well done, faithfull to the spirit of the cartoons.:D :D :D :D :D

[LucyR]

Favourite character: Pirate captain.

Favourite adventure: "Asterix and the Goths". Just how I imagine the Germans...:D

[CFLarsen]

Grew up on the stuff. Have them all.

I am particular fond of the many characters who are real persons. It takes a while before you discover them, but they are there...

Of course, also the references to other cartoon characters, the gags, the artwork....

Classic. Simply classic.

On a side note, it's interesting that many Danes continue to read them when they reach adulthood. It was quite a shock to my American family and friends that I read comics - and that I had so many of them! Of course, I also had some comics, that definitely were not for kids, so.... ;)

[Zep]

Me too. Actually, the French versions were my first "primer" on learning colloquial French (not that I have progressed much at all...). I put the French and English versions of the stories together and soaked it up.

Very Gallic humour (and I fancy myself as Obelix too).

[Chaos]

I love them, too. I have all 31 of them i German, and several more in English, and one of them "Asterix in Britain", in Latin. (Now that´s real fun if you know Latin...)
I also have several Asterix "translation" into German dialects, with the puns changed to reflect the region. Take for example, "Asterix and the Olympic Games", the scene where the teams enter the stadiums; the Hesse dialect version of this scene contains a lot of references to local soccer teams.
("Kassel is exactly on time, as we know them, Offenbach didn´t find the way...and Darmstadt wasn´t even invited.")

[Ove]

On a side note, it's interesting that many Danes continue to read them when they reach adulthood. It was quite a shock to my American family and friends that I read comics - and that I had so many of them! Of course, I also had some comics, that definitely were not for kids, so....

Let me guess: "R.Crumb"? "Freak Brothers"? "Perverse Persson (Gottlieb)". ;) ;)

[Mendor]

Asterix and Obelix are great. I have a few albums in English, one in French and two in Esperanto (yes, really!) I've read a book -- I can't remember its name now -- that talked about the history of Asterix, and also about the English translators, including the nice detail that Goscinny once wished he'd thought of their joke rather than his original.

(The joke was a background one in Asterix in Britain. The original was based on the fact that melon in French means both "bowler hat" and "melon". A shopkeeper shouts something like "My melon is too dear, is it?" at someone (who responds "Il est"). The English translation had the shopkeeper shouting "So this melon's bad, is it?" and getting the response "Rather, old fruit." Goscinny said he wished he'd put "vieux fruit" into the original.)

[CFLarsen]

Originally posted by Ove
Let me guess: "R.Crumb"? "Freak Brothers"? "Perverse Persson (Gottlieb)". ;) ;)

Those, too. :)

[Marc]

Never read the books, but did enjoy the films I saw. First saw 12 Tasks of Asterix long time ago.

Did see a trailer for the live action movie once, looked very interesting. Ah yes, here is a link for it (http://www.mymovies.net/trailers/trailer_play.asp?TRID=65%7C66)

[CFLarsen]

Originally posted by Marc
Never read the books, but did enjoy the films I saw. First saw 12 Tasks of Asterix long time ago.

Did see a trailer for the live action movie once, looked very interesting. Ah yes, here is a link for it (http://www.mymovies.net/trailers/trailer_play.asp?TRID=65%7C66)

Get the books.
Get the books.
Get the books.

[Chaos]

Originally posted by CFLarsen


Get the books.
Get the books.
Get the books.

Wrong.

It should be:

1. Get the books
2. Read the books
3. Go to step 2

[CFLarsen]

Originally posted by Chaos
Wrong.

It should be:

1. Get the books
2. Read the books
3. Go to step 2

Pedant.

(.....wait....who said that?? :) )

[Luciana]

Is it in English where Idefix (the dog) becomes Dogmafix? So, they have translated "obsession" as "dogma", uh? ... :cool:

[Mendor]

Yes. I always thought that was an awful clever translation (another one: "Assurancetourix" becomes "Cacofonix")

What's Dogmatix/Idéfix called in Portuguese?

[Luciana]

In Portuguese it's similar to French: Idéiafix. The bard becomes "chatotorix", and "chato" means boring. Which he is. :)

What makes me wonder - are there Asterix costume parties? And do they feast like they do? And eat wild boar?

Has anyone been to their park, nearby Paris? I haven't, they say it's disappointing. Even then, I'd like to go!

[Zep]

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
Is it in English where Idefix (the dog) becomes Dogmafix? So, they have translated "obsession" as "dogma", uh? ... :cool: Slight spelling error, nice play on words. Dogmatix.

Not only is the character a "dog", but also...

dog·mat·ic, adj.

1. Relating to, characteristic of, or resulting from dogma.
2. Characterized by an authoritative, arrogant assertion of unproved or unprovable principles.



Cacophonix
His music is, well, not the greatest.

ca·coph·o·ny, n. pl. ca·coph·o·nies

1. Jarring, discordant sound; dissonance: heard a cacophony of horns during the traffic jam.
2. The use of harsh or discordant sounds in literary composition, as for poetic effect.

Just about sums him up, yes?

[Brown]

The Midwestern USA newspaper in my home town ran this strip for a while. I liked it, but I did not get much chance to read it, because it was discontinued very quickly.

For some reason, some "readers" of the newspaper worked themsleves into a tizzy because they thought the strip was not funny. (These same "readers" also opined that "Peantus," "Family Circus" and "Marmaduke" WERE funny.) The newspaper had such negative response to Asterix & Obelix that the strip was cancelled after a few weeks.

Now, to be fair, the same readers also enjoyed "Calvin & Hobbes," "The Far Side," "Charlie" and "Dilbert." They had SOME good taste. But these same readers wouldn't let the paper cancel "Peanuts" even though the guy who drew it was DEAD!

[CFLarsen]

Originally posted by Brown
The Midwestern USA newspaper in my home town ran this strip for a while. I liked it, but I did not get much chance to read it, because it was discontinued very quickly.

For some reason, some "readers" of the newspaper worked themsleves into a tizzy because they thought the strip was not funny. (These same "readers" also opined that "Peantus," "Family Circus" and "Marmaduke" WERE funny.) The newspaper had such negative response to Asterix & Obelix that the strip was cancelled after a few weeks.

Now, to be fair, the same readers also enjoyed "Calvin & Hobbes," "The Far Side," "Charlie" and "Dilbert." They had SOME good taste. But these same readers wouldn't let the paper cancel "Peanuts" even though the guy who drew it was DEAD!

A&O is designed to be read full-page. It also doesn't have a punchline every 3rd frame.

[Underemployed]

Since my parents just moved house, I got a load of my old possessions back in the clean-up. Among them, my nearly complete collection of Asterix books. I've just finished re-reading them.

Works of genius, every one. Obelix & Co. does do a great job of ridiculing marketing methods, but it's "Mansions Of The Gods" that does it for me every time with its merciless mockery of modern living.

Asterix parties? I'd like to go to one of those...

[Ove]

But these same readers wouldn't let the paper cancel "Peanuts" even though the guy who drew it was DEAD!

So is one of Asterix's "fathers" : Rene Goschinnylink (http://www.lambiek.net/goscinny.htm) since he was the writer the series has problems and the latest albums has not been in the same style. Rene was also writer on "Lucky Luke" and "Iznogood".
Cacophonix
In Danish he is called "Troubadurix" which is somewhat clever.;) I read somewhere that Rene insisted on having the translation translated BACK in french by another translator so that he could check the jokes.

[Chaos]

Oh well, the names...

In German, they are...

the chief: Majestix
the dog: Idefix
the "bard": Troubardix
the druid: Miraculix
the old man: Methusalix

[Mendor]

Names in English:

The chief: Vitalstatistix :D
The dog: Dogmatix
The bard: Cacofonix
The druid: Getafix
The old man: Geriatrix
The blacksmith: Fulliautomatix
The fishmonger: UnhygenixOriginally posted by Luciana Nery
Has anyone been to their park, nearby Paris? I haven't, they say it's disappointing. Even then, I'd like to go! Yep. A few times, actually. I seem to remember being in rapturous joy, but I was pretty young at the time. (about 8 or 9, perhaps?) The shows were very funny, I remember, even though I couldn't understand French at the time.

I enjoyed Parc Astérix far more than EuroDisney. :)

They had "saucissons de sanglier", but I never tried one to see if they were telling the truth...

[TriangleMan]

Ever since I was young I read Asterix books (in english), as far as I know I've read them all.

Favourites: Asterix and the Chieften's Shield. Loved the take on dieting, laughed out loud when I first read the name of the shopkeeper (Winesandspirix?)

Asterix in Britain is another classic, my father was British and had many of the mannerisms that the Britons in the book had :D

[Underemployed]

Oooooh I just had a memory flash. Way back, before there was a Parc Astérix, there were Asterix Bars across Northern France. I recall a tasty hamburger meal - the whole thing was much like a burger franchise restaurant, which of course it was. The walls were covered with pages from Asterix books. No wild boar on the menu for some reason....Or magic potion.

Anyone else recall this restaurant chain? Does it still operate?

One thing I still marvel at is that so many countries read and appreciate Asterix. The village of the Gauls could really be any village, any time. The attitudes of the Gauls towards 'foreigners' (as seen on their numerous trips abroad - Asterix And The Olympic Games springs to mind) is the same in every country.

[Luciana]

The official website is such a delight: Astérix - Le site (http://www.asterix.tm.fr/), with info in 5 languages.

[Walter Wayne]

Flashback to grade 9 for me. I was in french immersion and and we read A & O as part of the French Lit. course. I enjoyed it, even though my french was horrible. I will have to put them on my to read again list.

Walt

[Marian]

I saw the cartoon as a kid, and my family and I loved it. A few years ago I spent some time and money tracking down copies on DVD (with horrible subtitles in some language I've never seen). And they're not even on DVD, but some other format that can be coaxed into most DVD players. I was REALLY disappointed. :( It was one of those things that I wish I had just left to memory.

I wasn't aware that there were books, I'll have to look for those (in an english translation). Maybe that will be closer to what I remember. I don't recall seeing books when I searched for the cartoon, but I did run across a theme park, which I think was in France. Hopefully I can find them on Amazon.

Oh also I don't know if anyone has read The Cartoon History of the Universe, but when he did Roman history (forgoet if it's vol I or II), he put in an Astreix panel (for when the Gauls sacked Rome), which cracked me up.

[c0rbin]

My dutch grandma read them to me when I was young. They were in french and she translated them as she went along.

Good stuff.

[Skeptic]

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
The official website is such a delight: Astérix - Le site (http://www.asterix.tm.fr/), with info in 5 languages.

BEST.
WEBSITE.
EVER.

[kittynh]

Sorry, my kids and I are Tin Tin fans. It was so wonderful to live in Belgium, where cartoonists are national heros. Tin Tin stores are great too! But rather expensive!

You can find cartoon shops all over the place and people pay big bucks for little 3D characters, and posters and prints.

Oh, lots of shops selling used books too! Kitten liked to get her Tin Tin books in several languages.

[Luciana]

I'm sorry, kitty, I'm not a Tin-Tin person. Always found him such a bore...

Regarding the movies... there were two recent ones, with Gerard Depardieu. The first one is a shame, a total waste of time, truly depressing. Now, the second is worth watching, great fun. And it features Monica Belluci, looking awesome as Cleopatra.

[CFLarsen]

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
I'm sorry, kitty, I'm not a Tin-Tin person. Always found him such a bore...

:eek::eek::eek:

HERETIC! A WITCH! A WITCH! A WITCH!

....may we burn her?

[local weather]

When I was between the ages of 10 and 14 we lived in Jakarta, Indonesia. One of the British kids turned me on to Asterix and Obelix comics, I think I had 9 or 10 of them. The artwork is just outstanding and the stories are always funny, with lots of little jokes thrown in.

I liked all of the ones that I read, but the only one that I still own, and possibly my favorite is Asterix and the Normans. The Normans are so cool, they drink apple brandy from the skulls of their enemies.

[PygmyPlaidGiraffe]

I discovered Tin Tin and Asterix and Obelix when quite young in my local public library (age 9/10). My brother had immense fun reading the books. I reread as many of the A & O (en francais) I could when I took a French class.

this may annoy one or more atheists but oh well:


Que Toutatis vous accompagne!

[Kopji]

There's books? :D

Ok I admit that sometimes I don't get the French sense of humor, (hey - sometimes I do).

I was scratching my head trying to remember when I first read these. (Tintin too, about the same time). I have a crazy uncle who taught in Europe in the '60's, (he was not crazy yet). He was also a big fan and would send the strips to us with packages and letters.

I remember liking Tintin more as a kid.

I had been really looking forward to the A & O movies but I hear they were not well received (my condolences). Probably translates to "I'll never see them now..."

[Thomas]

Originally posted by CFLarsen


:eek::eek::eek:

HERETIC! A WITCH! A WITCH! A WITCH!

....may we burn her?

If... she... weighs the same as a duck... she's made of wood!

We shall use my largest scales!

[bluess]

Thanks for reminding me of Asterix. I have one, I think just titled Asterix the Gaul, which my dad got for me when I was seven. I will have to dig it out of the bookshelf tonight. I do remember the poor little Roman soldier being revealed as a false Gaul during a dance where you 'Pull your partner's mustache.' Ok, now I'm smirking to myself at work....

[SGT]

You must read them in French and remember to pronounce latin names like the French do. For instance, two of the Roman camps: Petibonum and Babaorum, when read with French pronunciation become like Petit bonhomme (little man) and Baba au Rhum (a kink of cake).
In one of the books, Ceasar refers to the camp of Tartopum (Tarte aux pommes - Apple pie) and is corrected by Asterix that informs him the real name: Babaorum.

[Polux]

I used to be a big fan of Astérix. I still like it, I just haven't read them for a long time now. I have many books, some in Spanish and some in English.
The Spanish version has some of the character names as a phonetic of the original French, like 'asuranceturix'... kinda pointless!
Great drawings, I love 'em.

I'm also a big fan of Mafalda (by Quino), the biggest Argentinian comic strip which has reached an awful lot of markets, but somehow has had trouble breaking into the English speaking world.

[dogjones]

Why isn't this thread more popular, by Belenos?

These skeptics are crazy.

[Simon39759]

Yeah; I am a native French speaker and grew up on Asterix.
Sadly, after Goscinny's death, the serie was continued by Uderzo alone and the quality of the story telling has droped from the early ones. The most recent ones are quite an embarrassment really.

One thing I particularly like in Goscinny's writing was the erudition, coming from a very classical education, that shine through it. In a sense, it does remind me of the Monthy Pythons.


By the way, beside being very productive as writing comics, René Goscinny did write short novellas (http://www.amazon.com/Nicholas-Ren%C3%A9-Goscinny/dp/0714845299/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260150284&sr=8-1-spell) inspired by his childhood and it seems that they have recently been translated into English, in case some of you guys want to check them out...

[ugot2bekidding]

When I was a child, my brother sent me a few of the books from Italy, and I loved them. Since they were in Italian, I had always assumed they were a product of Italy. Thanks for this thread, it has rekindled my enthusiam for them. Are the English translations decent or should I stick to Italian (I can't read French)?

[Worm]

Read most of them as a kid in my local library. Still have about 4 of them on my shelf - really must get hold of the others. Great gentle humour in them.

[Rasmus]

Who else!?!

I learned to read through Asterix. According to my mother, the first words I read were along the lines of "Boom" and "Pow". (Because they were in bigger print, I guess.)

I also learned to read upside down first - my dad would sit on the floor with me and read the comics to me, and I'd be looking at them the other way around.

So, yes: Me. 'nuff said.

[Chaos]

When I was a child, my brother sent me a few of the books from Italy, and I loved them. Since they were in Italian, I had always assumed they were a product of Italy. Thanks for this thread, it has rekindled my enthusiam for them. Are the English translations decent or should I stick to Italian (I can't read French)?

The good thing about Asterix is that people put great effort into getting the translations right - or rather, putting the same kind of jokes into the translations as there are in the original.

For example, I heard that in Italian, the iconic phrase "those Romans are crazy" is rendered as "sono pazzi questi romani", which of course is a play on the acronym SPQR which is the proper name of the Roman Republic (Senatus Populusque Romanum - the Senate and the People of Rome). This isn´t in the German, English or Latin versions I´ve read, so I guess it is not in the original, either - the Italian translators came up with this for added humor. And let´s not get into some of the versions in German dialects that there are...

So, yeah, here´s another Asterix lover...

[dogjones]

Yeah; I am a native French speaker and grew up on Asterix.
Sadly, after Goscinny's death, the serie was continued by Uderzo alone and the quality of the story telling has droped from the early ones. The most recent ones are quite an embarrassment really.

One thing I particularly like in Goscinny's writing was the erudition, coming from a very classical education, that shine through it. In a sense, it does remind me of the Monthy Pythons.


By the way, beside being very productive as writing comics, René Goscinny did write short novellas (http://www.amazon.com/Nicholas-Ren%C3%A9-Goscinny/dp/0714845299/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260150284&sr=8-1-spell) inspired by his childhood and it seems that they have recently been translated into English, in case some of you guys want to check them out...

Thanks so much for this! Time to order the lot. They're translated by Anthea Bell I see, the same translator who did Asterix so brilliantly.

[dogjones]

When I was a child, my brother sent me a few of the books from Italy, and I loved them. Since they were in Italian, I had always assumed they were a product of Italy. Thanks for this thread, it has rekindled my enthusiam for them. Are the English translations decent or should I stick to Italian (I can't read French)?

The English translations are fantastic. Replete with puns. And great names. Like "Chief Whosemoralsareelastix"

[dogjones]

Read most of them as a kid in my local library. Still have about 4 of them on my shelf - really must get hold of the others. Great gentle humour in them.

A friend of mine summed up the Asterix ethic thus:

All of life is a battle for survival.
All of humanity is care for others.

He's right, by Toutatis.

[ugot2bekidding]

For example, I heard that in Italian, the iconic phrase "those Romans are crazy" is rendered as "sono pazzi questi romani", which of course is a play on the acronym SPQR which is the proper name of the Roman Republic (Senatus Populusque Romanum - the Senate and the People of Rome).

Oh.My.God...I remember that! It's only been like, um, 40 years. :)

Now I kinda want to get the Italian versions...for the nostalgia, and to help me brush up on my Italian.

[Morrigan]

Holy thread necromancy, Batman, par Toutatis.

I loooooove Astérix. Grew up on all the comics and animated films (up to Le Coup du Menhir, of course -- everything after that is a disgrace). I know most of the lines by heart.

When I was 12, there was a TV game show going on called "Tous pour un", which was an extremely specialized quiz show about a subject in particular. There would first be a contest in the general population to find the ideal candidate for the TV show, and the winner would appear on the TV show and would have to answer really hard and obscure questions.

One day, they made an "Tous pour un" episode for kids, which was about Tintin, for kids 12-17. A 12 year old girl appeared on the show and nailed all the questions. Really impressive.

A few weeks later, it was another kid's episode, for Astérix. I entered the contest, and had studied really hard (with my dad helping to prepare questions) to know the most obscure trivia tidbits found in the book (as an example, I could tell you the number of the Roman road appearing on a stone slab on page X of book Y). I did really good on that preliminary test, too, I think I missed like 2 questions. I didn't get picked up, but I had a lot of fun participating for it. :D The guy who won, a 17 year old, kicked ass on the show. The questions on the show were even harder than the ones in the written contest, too -- some of which I could have never figured out myself and required cultural knowledge I didn't have at the tender age of 12; for example, he was shown a few minor characters which artwork was a famous person's caricature, and was asked to match the caricature (e.g. Jacques Chirac, Winston Churchill, Sean Connery, etc.) with the real person. And he did it. :jaw-dropp

[grunion]

I also love Asterix, after coming across some of the books quite by accident as a teenager. As a High School history teacher I used them as supplementary material when we were studying the Roman Empire and some of the kids really enjoyed it. I tried to get the French teacher interested in using them in her class but she turned up her nose at it.

I have introduced my young children to Tintin and they are well-hooked, but I'll save Asterix for when they're just a little older.

[Marduk]

Not now, because I'm concentrating on learning Spanish

altogether now
"Veinticinco de Diciembre,
fun, fun, fun.
Veinticinco de Diciembre,
fun, fun, fun.

Como un sol nació Jesús,
radiando luz, radiando luz.
De María era hijo;
un establo fué su cuna,
fun, fun, fun."

hated spanish, absolutely detested it, apparently thats normal
;)

[malbui]

By the way, beside being very productive as writing comics, René Goscinny did write short novellas (http://www.amazon.com/Nicholas-Ren%C3%A9-Goscinny/dp/0714845299/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260150284&sr=8-1-spell) inspired by his childhood and it seems that they have recently been translated into English, in case some of you guys want to check them out...


These stories (in the original) are currently the bedtime reading for my daughter. Two stories a night and she always falls asleep giggling.

[Simon39759]

Congrat on your choice, these novellas are among my favorite reading since pretty much as long as I can read.

[Shrike]

In 2002 an historian and a classisist from the university of Amsterdam wrote a book called Asterix and the truth (Asterix en de waarheid).
From what I remember (really have to read it again) the Asterix books are historically very accurate - apart from the magic potions of course :-)
I cannot find any translations of this book unfortunately, but I highly recommend it to anyone who can read Dutch.

[CriticalSock]

I loved it when they went to Britain and although tea hadn't reached Britain yet, everyone still had a cup of hot water with a spot of milk!

[Ove]

I loved it when they went to Britain and although tea hadn't reached Britain yet, everyone still had a cup of hot water with a spot of milk!

And it was actually Asterix who introduced Tea to Britain in that album. Miraculix had gotten the herbs, Asterix took them along and then he persuaded the Brits that he could make magic potion with them, and it worked. :D

[Blackadder]

Ah Asterix. My childhood love I started reading them at age 4 (looking at the pictures, couldn't read yet) because my dad had bought all of them fortunately.

At around 8 I started making lists of every single Roman name in all the books. Later I discovered that they had names with some joke build in, many of those you don't recognize at a young age. And the clever part was that they really put effort in the translations, I read the Dutch versions, but my uncle had the original French albums.

I also collected latin phrases from the albums. It was the main reason to pick up some Latin classes in high school.

I loved how I discovered more and more references to the real world when I grew up and reread them for the umpteenth time. Examples:

- Obelix damaging the Sphinx in Egypt
- The bank vaults in Helvetia (Switzerland) And the Red Cross and the United Nations!
- Tour de France
- various reverence to Arts (Andy Warhol, Rembrandt, Breugel, the Laocoön, Christo)
- politicians and movie stars
- James Bond :) (doubleosix) (but in dutch his name was nulnulnix, which is extra funny because nul means 'zero' but also 'loser' , and nix means 'nothing' and this secret agent unlike mr Bond is a bit of a loser who accomplishes nothing)


etc etc

I still buy old albums when I run into them, because the ones from my youth have been worn out and fell apart and I like the feel and look of those old editions. (also because they have been translated again some years ago, and I prefer the old original translations which were better, so I don't buy brand new reprints.

The last books are pretty bad. After Goscinny died, the series died. The best books are those from the seventies.

[dogjones]

And it was actually Asterix who introduced Tea to Britain in that album. Miraculix had gotten the herbs, Asterix took them along and then he persuaded the Brits that he could make magic potion with them, and it worked. :D

It would annoy Caesar when the Brits stopped fighting at 4pm on weekdays to drink hot water with a spot of milk... until he had the brilliant idea of only attacking at 4pm on weekdays - "I say! That's a bit off!"

[dogjones]

"Now drink up your beer before it gets cold!"

"Boiled... with mint sauce... poor things!"

[dogjones]

Ah Asterix. My childhood love I started reading them at age 4 (looking at the pictures, couldn't read yet) because my dad had bought all of them fortunately.

At around 8 I started making lists of every single Roman name in all the books. Later I discovered that they had names with some joke build in, many of those you don't recognize at a young age. And the clever part was that they really put effort in the translations, I read the Dutch versions, but my uncle had the original French albums.

I also collected latin phrases from the albums. It was the main reason to pick up some Latin classes in high school.

I loved how I discovered more and more references to the real world when I grew up and reread them for the umpteenth time. Examples:

- Obelix damaging the Sphinx in Egypt
- The bank vaults in Helvetia (Switzerland) And the Red Cross and the United Nations!
- Tour de France
- various reverence to Arts (Andy Warhol, Rembrandt, Breugel, the Laocoön, Christo)
- politicians and movie stars
- James Bond :) (doubleosix) (but in dutch his name was nulnulnix, which is extra funny because nul means 'zero' but also 'loser' , and nix means 'nothing' and this secret agent unlike mr Bond is a bit of a loser who accomplishes nothing)


etc etc


Caesar's spy, code name H2SO4... his real name is Vitriolix

[Morrigan]

Ah yes, he was called HCI (Acidecloridric) in French. :D

Zerozerosix was great too.

The only truly good post-Goscinny book, IMO, is L'Odyssée d'Astérix, where he seeks oil in the Middle East. Many great gags in that one, I'm surprised it was written by Uderzo alone. Zerozerosix and his gadgets, "Ponce Pénates" washing his hands, the "lamentations" joke, the funny-yet-tasteful joke at Jews (Goscinny -was- Jewish after all) being "close to their sestertius" by Obelix, and of course, one of my favourite gag, the one with the Akkadians, Assyrians, Hittites, etc. all fighting each others. :newlol

"Sorry good sir, we are Medes, lost in this desert. Can you point us towards the exit?"
"JUST FOLLOW THE ARROWS!"

[Chaos]

Ah yes, he was called HCI (Acidecloridric) in French. :D

Zerozerosix was great too.

The only truly good post-Goscinny book, IMO, is L'Odyssée d'Astérix, where he seeks oil in the Middle East. Many great gags in that one, I'm surprised it was written by Uderzo alone. Zerozerosix and his gadgets, "Ponce Pénates" washing his hands, the "lamentations" joke, the funny-yet-tasteful joke at Jews (Goscinny -was- Jewish after all) being "close to their sestertius" by Obelix, and of course, one of my favourite gag, the one with the Akkadians, Assyrians, Hittites, etc. all fighting each others. :newlol

"Sorry good sir, we are Medes, lost in this desert. Can you point us towards the exit?"
"JUST FOLLOW THE ARROWS!"

Actually, I thought the post-Goscinny comics were generally decent (as in: readable and re-readable), if not great (as in: great classics of comic literature), with occasional grand hilarity. Well, except for that latest train wreck with the extraterrestrial superheroes.

[zooterkin]

I remember my Mum bringing a couple home from school (she was a teacher) where another teacher had them, over 40 years ago; can't remember if they were in English or French. Over the years, she's acquired the complete set in English (often as a birthday or Christmas present, and, I'm ashamed to say, she wasn't always the first to read a particular book...), plus a few in other languages from around the world.

Although I liked the pictures (I think I fell in love with a couple of the female characters), it was really the words I loved, especially a lot of the names.

And it was actually Asterix who introduced Tea to Britain in that album.

The names that stick in my mind are the two Roman guards at the Tower of Londinium, Sendervictorius and Appianglorius. :D


Miraculix had gotten the herbs, Asterix took them along and then he persuaded the Brits that he could make magic potion with them, and it worked. :D

The druid was Getafix in the English books, but, mystifyingly, Panoramix in the animated version on TV.

[Blackadder]

The names that stick in my mind are the two Roman guards at the Tower of Londinium, Sendervictorius and Appianglorius. :D



The Roman governor in that book is called Encyclopedius Brittanicus :)

[Morrigan]

Actually, I thought the post-Goscinny comics were generally decent (as in: readable and re-readable), if not great (as in: great classics of comic literature), with occasional grand hilarity. Well, except for that latest train wreck with the extraterrestrial superheroes.

Well, Le Grand Fossé, L'Odyssée d'Astérix, Le Fils d'Astérix and Astérix Chez Rahàzade are pretty good, I'd say (with only L'Odyssée being actually great -- the others are still not quite as good as the classic Goscinny albums). But La Rose et le Glaive was rather weak, and everything after that is a big awful trainwreck. :covereyes

[Chaos]

Well, Le Grand Fossé, L'Odyssée d'Astérix, Le Fils d'Astérix and Astérix Chez Rahàzade are pretty good, I'd say (with only L'Odyssée being actually great -- the others are still not quite as good as the classic Goscinny albums). But La Rose et le Glaive was rather weak, and everything after that is a big awful trainwreck. :covereyes

Which one was that last one... the one with the actress pretending to be Obelix´s love interest?

[grunion]

Inspired by this thread I showed my 8-year-old son my old copy of Asterix The Gaul. He devoured it, laughing out loud throughout. What joy to re-experience the first encounter with it through his eyes! He doesn't really get the historical context but has never really been exposed to such intelligent humor before. I have another 4 or 5 Asterix albums, but something tells me that there are some additional purchases in my future.

[dogjones]

The druid was Getafix in the English books, but, mystifyingly, Panoramix in the animated version on TV.

I think he was Panoramix in Asterix the Gaul as well.

(P... pull his MOUSTACHE???)

[grunion]

I think he was Panoramix in Asterix the Gaul as well.

(P... pull his MOUSTACHE???)No, in my copy of Asterix the Gaul the Druid is Getafix. I'm thinking the sensors wanted to play down the drug angle for the animated versions.

[Shrike]

No, in my copy of Asterix the Gaul the Druid is Getafix. I'm thinking the sensors wanted to play down the drug angle for the animated versions.
As Blackadder says above, the Dutch translations have changed during the years. Some names have gone back to the French, in our case for the bard IIRC.
Maybe that's the case here as well.

[The Drain]

A shame that Asterix never made it to Hibernia. There is one reference to 17 March 55BC 'later to become St Patrix Day' and there is one Hibernian character with the wonderful name O'veroptimistix. I presume those were Anthea Bell inventions?

One name that I never 'got' was that of the little Iberian boy Huevos y Bacon. Can anyone enlighten me? If I strangle the pronunciation of Huevos should I hear 'eggs'?!

Thank you to posters on this thread for telling me about the 'Nicholas' books - I had no idea they existed. They're now on my Amazon wish-list for my 8 year-old of the same name - and it's clearly time to get out my original Asterix books from the attic.

[zooterkin]

One name that I never 'got' was that of the little Iberian boy Huevos y Bacon. Can anyone enlighten me? If I strangle the pronunciation of Huevos should I hear 'eggs'?!


No, but 'huevos' is Spanish for 'eggs', if my 'O' level was not in vain. But, like you, that one didn't really work for me, even when I understood it; I suspect there's another allusion I'm missing.

[Simon39759]

A shame that Asterix never made it to Hibernia. There is one reference to 17 March 55BC 'later to become St Patrix Day' and there is one Hibernian character with the wonderful name O'veroptimistix. I presume those were Anthea Bell inventions?

One name that I never 'got' was that of the little Iberian boy Huevos y Bacon. Can anyone enlighten me? If I strangle the pronunciation of Huevos should I hear 'eggs'?!

Thank you to posters on this thread for telling me about the 'Nicholas' books - I had no idea they existed. They're now on my Amazon wish-list for my 8 year-old of the same name - and it's clearly time to get out my original Asterix books from the attic.


Huevos y bacon, indeed means eggs and bacon.
The french name is 'Soupalognon y crouton' which is French for Onion soup with croûton.
I guess the translators wished to keep the culinary feeling.

Even better is another Ibere in the album, a chariot salesman whose name is 'lachélechampignon y causon': 'let go of the accelerator and let's chat'.


Also, you're welcome, as I said, I have long and noce memories of the books and I am glad to help other people enjoy them.
It's also not a bad way to start reading on your own...

[dogjones]

No, in my copy of Asterix the Gaul the Druid is Getafix. I'm thinking the sensors wanted to play down the drug angle for the animated versions.

Interesting, I'm pretty sure in my old copy he's Panoramix - although I lost that a while ago unfortunately.

As to the censor thing that's a bit silly of them if that's the case. I didn't get the Getafix name until I relooked at them when I was like, 22 or something!

[Chaos]

So what are the names in all the different versions? It seems most names (except Asterix and Obelix themselves) differ from language to language:

In German, they are:
Miraculix the druid
Troubardix the bard
Majestix the boss
Verleihnix the fishmonger (means "lend nothing", by the way)
Automatix the smith
Idefix the dog
Methusalix the old man

[zooterkin]

In English (from memory):
Getafix the druid
Cacofonix the bard
Vitalstatistix the Chief
Unhygienix the fishmonger
Fullyautomatix the smith
Dogmatix the dog
Geriatrix the old man

[Dr Adequate]

So what are the names in all the different versions? It seems most names (except Asterix and Obelix themselves) differ from language to language:

In German, they are:
Miraculix the druid
Troubardix the bard
Majestix the boss
Verleihnix the fishmonger (means "lend nothing", by the way)
Automatix the smith
Idefix the dog
Methusalix the old man If you go here (http://www.asterix.com/encyclopedia/characters/), then if you move your mouse pointer over a character, you'll get their (English version) name as a hovertext. To get a different language, click on the appropriate flag on the right hand side of the screen.

[dogjones]

If you go here (http://www.asterix.com/encyclopedia/characters/), then if you move your mouse pointer over a character, you'll get their (English version) name as a hovertext. To get a different language, click on the appropriate flag on the right hand side of the screen.

That's cool. Although not quite comprehensive enough for my liking - I want the minor characters as well, like Ptenisnet the Egyptian and Hiphiphurrax the rugby player, etc etc

[Simon39759]

That's cool. Although not quite comprehensive enough for my liking - I want the minor characters as well, like Ptenisnet the Egyptian and Hiphiphurrax the rugby player, etc etc

Well; unfortunately, I could only found that detailled a list in the French version of Wikipedia (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_personnages_d'Ast%C3%A9rix_le_Gaulois) which doesn't make the reading of the description easier, but I guess you can always look for the English names...

[Chaos]

That's cool. Although not quite comprehensive enough for my liking - I want the minor characters as well, like Ptenisnet the Egyptian and Hiphiphurrax the rugby player, etc etc

Ptenisnet is Tennisplatzis in German (Tennisplatz means tennis court). Hiphiphurrax is the same in German and Ipiphurrax in Latin. Yes, I read that Asterix in Latin... Asterix apud Britannos.

I think the bard was Cantorix is Latin (cantor is Latin for singer). Not sure about the others. I think it´s time I tried to find that one again.

As a nice little easter egg, the Latin version even translates the name of the translator, who is called Rubicastellanus, meaning "of the Red Castle". His real name is Felix von Rothenburg; the last name (in slightly archaic spelling) means "of the Red Castle".

[ddt]

So what are the names in all the different versions? It seems most names (except Asterix and Obelix themselves) differ from language to language:

In German, they are:
Miraculix the druid
Troubardix the bard
Majestix the boss
Verleihnix the fishmonger (means "lend nothing", by the way)
Automatix the smith
Idefix the dog
Methusalix the old man

In Dutch:
Panoramix - the druid
Kostunrix - the fishmonger (means: "costs 2.50")
Hoefnix - the smith ("hoef" = hoof, but also means "needs nothing")
Nestorix - the old man

The others are identical to the French names in the old translations, but in the new Dutch translations some names have been changed.

I've got (nearly) all of them in Dutch, and all except the last couple of ones in German, as well as single ones in Latin, French, Norwegian. It's fun to compare translations and see how translators did their best to either translate the humor or at least replace it with their own.

I also have a spoof "Asterix and the nuclear reactors", made by the anti-nuclear scene, with strips from all albums but mainly based on "Mansion of the Gods". In it, Caesar wants to establish a "brutus rapidus" (fast breeder) near the Gaulish village. :)

[Shrike]

In Dutch:
Panoramix - the druid
Kostunrix - the fishmonger (means: "costs 2.50")
Hoefnix - the smith ("hoef" = hoof, but also means "needs nothing")
Nestorix - the old man

The others are identical to the French names in the old translations, but in the new Dutch translations some names have been changed.

I've got (nearly) all of them in Dutch, and all except the last couple of ones in German, as well as single ones in Latin, French, Norwegian. It's fun to compare translations and see how translators did their best to either translate the humor or at least replace it with their own.

I also have a spoof "Asterix and the nuclear reactors", made by the anti-nuclear scene, with strips from all albums but mainly based on "Mansion of the Gods". In it, Caesar wants to establish a "brutus rapidus" (fast breeder) near the Gaulish village. :)
Abraracourcix and Assurancetourix where the notable changes in the new translations, Heroix and Kakofonix respectively (we don't need to help with that, do we?).
My favourite was in Asterix en de Ziener (Asterix and the Soothsayer). The soothsayer's name was Xinix (I see nothing).

[dogjones]

Ptenisnet is Tennisplatzis in German (Tennisplatz means tennis court). Hiphiphurrax is the same in German and Ipiphurrax in Latin. Yes, I read that Asterix in Latin... Asterix apud Britannos.

I think the bard was Cantorix is Latin (cantor is Latin for singer). Not sure about the others. I think it´s time I tried to find that one again.

As a nice little easter egg, the Latin version even translates the name of the translator, who is called Rubicastellanus, meaning "of the Red Castle". His real name is Felix von Rothenburg; the last name (in slightly archaic spelling) means "of the Red Castle".

Nice!

How's about Chief Whosemoralsareelastix?

[Morrigan]

Moralélastix in French.

It's painful for me to admit, but some of the names are better (pun-wise) in some translations. Cacophonix, Unhygienix, Dogmatix, Getafix... those are really good.

[Chaos]

Nice!

How's about Chief Whosemoralsareelastix?

Moralelastix in German.

How is the Egyptian architect called elsewhere? He is Numerobis in German.

How about the Phoenician merchant - Epidemais?

The chieftain of the British village is Sebigbos in German. What is he called elsewhere?

And what about the fortresses surrounding the village? They are Laudanum, Aquarium, Kleinbonum and... dang I forget the fourth name. Kleinbonum is Parvibonum in Latin, klein and parvi both mean "little".

[Morrigan]

The Egyptian architect is Numerobis and the Phoenician merchant is Epidemais also, but I fail to see how they're puns outside of French. The architect's rivals are Amonbofis ("à mon beau fils", "to my beautiful son" -- and there's a pun with the god "Amon" too :D) and his lackey Tournevis (screwdriver).

Zebigbos is the British chieftain ("the big boss" with a zany French accent :D) in French also. The Roman camps are Laudanum, Petibonum ("petit bonhomme", little man), Aquarium and Babaorum.

[Chaos]

The Egyptian architect is Numerobis and the Phoenician merchant is Epidemais also, but I fail to see how they're puns outside of French. The architect's rivals are Amonbofis ("à mon beau fils", "to my beautiful son" -- and there's a pun with the god "Amon" too :D) and his lackey Tournevis (screwdriver).

Zebigbos is the British chieftain ("the big boss" with a zany French accent :D) in French also. The Roman camps are Laudanum, Petibonum ("petit bonhomme", little man), Aquarium and Babaorum.

Oh, right the fourth camp was Babaorum... or Barbaorum maybe.

I was wondering for years what Numerobis and Epidemais were supposed to mean. Can you explain?

[Morrigan]

Numero means "number" and "bis" means "twice" (or "a second time"), and "epi de mais" means "corn cob".

[Ove]

Actually i think the Danes hit the names quite good

Miraculix the druid (play on miracle)
Majestix the chief (majesty)
Armamix the blacksmith (armament)
Hoermetix the fish monger (Hoerm is danish for awfull smell)
Trubadurix the Bard (troubadur)
Senilix the old man (senile ;) )
Lillefix: Obelixs hopeless lovestory (Lille = small, Fix = smart)

The egyptean Architect is called Linealis (Lineal = Ruler)



The roman camps are "Aquarium", "Solarium", "Terrarium" and "Pericum" (the last one beng a spice)

[dogjones]

Moralélastix in French.

It's painful for me to admit, but some of the names are better (pun-wise) in some translations. Cacophonix, Unhygienix, Dogmatix, Getafix... those are really good.

English has rather a lot of synonyms to choose from, yeah. Vitalstatistix and Impedimentia are great also.

I don't know why but I find the name "Crismus Bonus" instantly funny.

[dogjones]

OK, here's a question. Roman documentation in the comix is always chiseled onto slabs of marble. Is that historically accurate? Cos in the TV series "Rome" (hark at my sources!) they use paper/papyrus.

[Chaos]

English has rather a lot of synonyms to choose from, yeah. Vitalstatistix and Impedimentia are great also.

I don't know why but I find the name "Crismus Bonus" instantly funny.

There are some very funny ones in German. The Roman in Tour de France who is organizing the blockade of the village is Nichtsalsverdrus ("Nichts als Verdruss" = nothing but frustration). The two robbers in the same story are Sinus and Cosinus (sine and cosine).

[ddt]

In 2002 an historian and a classisist from the university of Amsterdam wrote a book called Asterix and the truth (Asterix en de waarheid).
From what I remember (really have to read it again) the Asterix books are historically very accurate - apart from the magic potions of course :-)
I cannot find any translations of this book unfortunately, but I highly recommend it to anyone who can read Dutch.

The authors are: René van Royen and Sunnyva van der Vegt.
Their first book is titled: "Asterix en de waarheid" (Asterix and the truth).

After that, they published some more books. Their first is IMHO their best as it focuses most clearly on the basic setting at the time and doesn't digress into ethnic features that have obviously been back-transposed into earlier times by Goscinny and Uderzo.

Amazon lists a German and a Spanish translation of their first book, and a German translation of another one (link (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&sort=relevancerank&search-alias=books&field-author=Rene%20van%20Royen)). If you read one of those languages, I also recommend buying it.

[ddt]

OK, here's a question. Roman documentation in the comix is always chiseled onto slabs of marble. Is that historically accurate? Cos in the TV series "Rome" (hark at my sources!) they use paper/papyrus.

That's obviously a pun. If the Romans really would have used slabs of marble for their administration, the whole of Europe and the Mediterranean would have been covered in such slabs. Most of what we find though - inscriptions on buildings, epitaphs - are indeed stone inscriptions.

Besides stones and papyrus, the Romans also used wax tablets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wax_tablet). The great thing about that is that it's reusable - just smear out the wax again and the surface is clean. Not so great for archaeologists though. :(

[deadrose]

I loved Asterix as a kid and was thrilled to death when I moved to Canada and found several of the animated shows on videotape. Took them home and my kids played them for years, until the tapes were literally worn out.

Now as young adults, I've heard them use references to them, for instance, the Roman bureaucracy in The Twelve Tasks of Asterix. It also gave them a lifelong love of wordplay.

My books got lost somewhere along the way, I'd love to replace them one day.

[Jorghnassen]

Now as young adults, I've heard them use references to them, for instance, the Roman bureaucracy in The Twelve Tasks of Asterix.

When I was a kid, that was my least favorite of the tasks. Couldn't understand why everyone was being such an pain in the rear end. Now it's probably my favorite part of the film. There's a lot of Asterix that you can appreciate better as an adult (and that goes for other comics "made for kids", such as Peanuts and Mafalda).

[Foolmewunz]

I discovered Asterix when I moved to Montreal in 1970. I was learning French, anyway, so they were a great primer, and being that I was all hippified they also hit the right political tone.

I read and reread the first 12/15 volumes/issues over and over - never realized there were English translations nor that they carried the puns and word play over so well as in the examples in this thread.

My daughter loved them - I think she still has my old comix. But, knowing that they're available in English, I'll have to renew my friendship for Marcello (I can't burden the poor kid with yet another language; he's learning four already).

[arthwollipot]

I loved and still love Asterix. I read them in English. It always amazed me that someone was able to translate sparkling French wordplay into sparkling English wordplay.

I studied Latin in high school almost solely because of Asterix.

[The Drain]

This story on the BBC website made me think of the indominatable duo:

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46913000/jpg/_46913820_feralwildboar.jpg Mad, bad and dangerous.. the Irish wild boar makes a comeback.

Mmm, light the fire, get the spit ready - now, does anyone know how to catch one of these things without the aid of magic potion?

[big-E]

How is the Egyptian architect called elsewhere? He is Numerobis in German.


The two Egyptian rival architects are called Artifis (the bad-guy-but-good-architect) and Edifis (the good-guy-but-bad-architect) in the English translation - i.e. artifice (skill/cunning or something made with such) and edifice (a building, usually large/elaborate and perhaps not entirely stable). Well up to the standard of the other names!

[dogjones]

This story on the BBC website made me think of the indominatable duo:

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46913000/jpg/_46913820_feralwildboar.jpg Mad, bad and dangerous.. the Irish wild boar makes a comeback.

Mmm, light the fire, get the spit ready - now, does anyone know how to catch one of these things without the aid of magic potion?

Best to consult Ballistix the druid... :D

[joobz]

As a kid, I never could get into Asterix. The art style bothered me. ALthough, I did love the cartoon one where they had to go through "red tape".

[Morrigan]

... Joobz, no. Don't say that. I'm afraid we can't be friends anymore now. :(

[joobz]

... Joobz, no. Don't say that. I'm afraid we can't be friends anymore now. :(

It's true. But note, That was when I was a kid. I didn't like a lot of things that were actually cool then.

My first album I ever bought was.....Paula Abdul.:blush: