I am not sure how many people in the States actually read or have read Asterix, but the little hero from Gaul is quite the success in Europe and in India. This month sees the 50th anniversary of the first Asterix comic book.
The comics, set in 50 B.C., tell the story of a little village that is the only place in all of Gaul unconquered by Roman legions. The village’s defenders are aided by a magic potion, mixed by their druid, that gives them superhuman strength and helps keep the Romans at bay. Asterix, the most quick-witted of the inhabitants, is sent by the village on missions across the world. On his adventures he prefers to rely on his wits, only resorting to fists when necessary. His over-sized sidekick, Obelix, on the other hand, seizes any opportunity to beat-up Romans.
The Wall Street Journal also has a great piece on why Asterix may well be France’s greatest military hero!
