Obelix

Asterix’s pal: not fat (he’s got a powerful physique, that’s all), he fell into a cauldron of magic potion when he was a little boy.

Determined to make Asterix an anti-hero flying in the face of the established order of the world of comic books, René Goscinny certainly did not want to give his main character a sidekick who would play the classic role of stooge. But Albert Uderzo, somewhat frustrated at not having made Asterix a beefy Gaul like he dreamed, could not resist placing at his side a big strong warrior, more akin to the impressive muscle-bound characters he already excelled at drawing.

Although he had only a minor role in the first adventure, Obelix quickly became an essential character that his authors developed as they went along. He is actually the readers’ favourite hero: all opinion polls place Obelix at the top of the list of favourite village characters. One survey among young adolescent girls even made Obelix out to be the “sexiest” character amongst the Gauls!

In the adventures penned by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, we find him by turns easily offended (who’s fat?), sensitive (we have seen him cry at a romantic happy ending), and definitely a glutton. An overgrown child who grew up too quickly and who is not yet aware of his own strength (in his defence, it must be said that not everyone falls in a cauldron of magic potion when he’s a little boy!), Obelix is an inexhaustible source of gags.

An eternal klutz, he is irresistible, whether he is fighting, falling in love (which happens often!), finally catching on to something long after the others, or when he overdoes it on the alcoholic drinks (“Zigackly!”)… As far as he is concerned, it is always playtime (well, at least once snack time is finished!), and nothing really matters, because it’s all the others who are crazy. Does the magic potion bless people with the innocence of childhood? It’s not certain that the Romans see things this way…

In which book ?

1 - Asterix the Gaul
2 - Asterix and the Golden Sickle
3 - Asterix and the Goths
4 - Asterix the Gladiator
5 - Asterix and the Banquet
6 - Asterix and Cleopatra
7 - Asterix and the Big Fight
8 - Asterix in Britain
9 - Asterix and the Normans
10 - Asterix the Legionary
11 - Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield
12 - Asterix at the Olympic Games
13 - Asterix and the Cauldron
14 - Asterix in Spain
15 - Asterix and the Roman Agent
16 - Asterix in Switzerland
17 - The Mansions of the Gods
18 - Asterix and the Laurel Wreath
19 - Asterix and the Soothsayer
20 - Asterix in Corsica
21 - Asterix and Caesar's Gift
22 - Asterix and the Great Crossing
23 - Obelix and Co
24 - Asterix in Belgium
25 - Asterix and the Great Divide
26 - Asterix and the Black Gold
27 - Asterix and Son
28 - Asterix and the Magic Carpet
29 - Asterix and the Secret Weapon
30 - Asterix and Obelix all at Sea
31 - Asterix and the Actress
32 - Asterix and the class act
33 - Asterix and the falling Sky
34 - Asterix and Obelix’s Birthday - The Golden Book
35 - Asterix and the Picts
36 - Asterix and the Missing scroll
37 - Asterix and the Chariot Race
38 - Asterix and the Chieftain's daughter
39 - Asterix and the Griffin