Editing Asterix (section)

==Description==

[[File:Asterix - Cast.png|thumb|Some of the many characters in ''Asterix''. In the front row are the regular characters, with [[Asterix (character)|Asterix]] himself in the centre, along with [[Obelix]], [[Getafix]], [[Vitalstatistix]] and others.]]
Asterix comics usually start with the following introduction: <blockquote>'' The year is 50 BC. Gaul is entirely occupied by the Romans. Well, not entirely... One small village of indomitable Gauls still holds out against the invaders. And life is not easy for the Roman legionaries who garrison the fortified camps of Totorum, Aquarium, Laudanum and Compendium...''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.angelfire.com/country/masti/myweb/intro.htm|title=Richie's World: The World of Asterix|website=[[Angelfire]]|access-date=2019-06-11|archive-date=11 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711232958/https://www.angelfire.com/country/masti/myweb/intro.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Neil |last=Mackay |title=Neil MacKay's big read: Life lessons from Asterix to bring joy into your life |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18343250.neil-mackays-big-read-life-lessons-asterix-bring-joy-life/ |publisher=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] |date=2020-03-29 |archive-date=31 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331022238/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18343250.neil-mackays-big-read-life-lessons-asterix-bring-joy-life/ |url-status=live}}</ref></blockquote>The series follows the adventures of a village of [[Gauls]] as they resist [[Roman Republic|Roman]] occupation in 50 BC. They do so using a [[Potion|magic potion]], brewed by their [[druid]] Getafix (Panoramix in the French version), which temporarily gives the recipient superhuman strength. The protagonists, the title character [[Asterix (character)|Asterix]] and his friend [[Obelix]], have various adventures. 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", like "-rex" in Latin) present in the names of many real Gaulish chieftains such as [[Vercingetorix]], [[Orgetorix]], and [[Dumnorix]].

In some of the stories, they travel to foreign countries, whilst other tales are set in and around their village. For much of the history of the series (volumes 4 through 29), settings in Gaul and abroad alternate, with even-numbered volumes set abroad and odd-numbered volumes set in Gaul, mostly in the village.

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|lc=y}}.<ref name="Time">{{cite news|url=http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1931169,00.html|title=Asterix at 50: The Comic Hero Conquers the World|date=19 November 2009|newspaper=Time|first=Leo|last=Cendrowicz|access-date=7 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908022648/http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1931169,00.html|archive-date=8 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

The success of the series has led to the adaptation of its books into [[List of Asterix films|15 films]]: ten animated, and five live action (two of which, ''[[Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra]]'' and ''[[Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar]]'', were [[Lists of highest-grossing films in France|major box office successes in France]]). There have also been a number of [[List of Asterix games|games]] based on the characters, and a theme park near Paris, [[Parc Astérix]]. The very first French satellite, [[Astérix (satellite)|Astérix]], launched in 1965, was named after the character, whose name is close to Greek ἀστήρ and Latin ''astrum'', meaning a "star". As of 20 April 2022, 385{{nbsp}}million copies of ''Asterix'' books had been sold worldwide and translated in 111 languages making it the world's most widely translated comic book series,<ref name="cineuropa">{{cite news |last1=Abbatescianni |first1=Davide |title=At Cartoon Next, Céleste Surugue shares the secrets behind Asterix's success story |url=https://www.cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/424405 |access-date=21 April 2022 |publisher=Cineuropa |archive-date=20 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420092149/https://www.cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/424405 |url-status=live}}</ref> with co-creators René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo being France's best-selling authors abroad.<ref name="Volumes-sold">{{cite news | last= volumes-sold | title= Asterix the Gaul rises sky high | url= http://in.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idINIndia-43015020091008 | work= Reuters| date= 8 October 2009 | access-date= 9 October 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091010020156/http://in.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idINIndia-43015020091008 | archive-date= 10 October 2009 | url-status= dead}}</ref><ref name=Buzz.com>{{cite web |url=http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/6-3-2004-54995.asp |title=Goscinny and Uderzo |author=Sonal Panse |publisher=Buzzle.com |access-date=11 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091101142444/http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/6-3-2004-54995.asp |archive-date=1 November 2009 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

In April 2022, Albert and René's general director, Céleste Surugue, hosted a 45-minute talk entitled 'The Next Incarnation of a Heritage Franchise: Asterix' and spoke about the success of the Asterix franchise, of which he noted "The idea was to find a subject with a strong connection with French culture and, while looking at the country's history, they ended up choosing its first defeat, namely the Gaul's Roman colonisation". He also went on to say how, since 1989, [[Parc Asterix]] has attracted an average of 2.3 million visitors per year. Other notable mentions were how the franchise includes 10 animated movies, which recorded over 53 million viewers worldwide. The inception of Studios Idéfix in 1974 and the opening of Studio 58 in 2016 were among the necessary steps to make Asterix a "100% Gaulish production", considered the best solution to keep the creative process under control from start to finish and to employ French manpower. He also noted how a new album is now published every two years, with print figures of 5 million and an estimated readership of 20 million.<ref name="cineuropa"/>