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This is a list of recurring characters in the Asterix comics.
Main characters
Asterix, Obelix, and Dogmatix (en.) are the first characters with short descriptions usually listed at the beginning of each of the Asterix books (after the map of Gaul). They each have separate articles containing more information. Unless otherwise stated, this article uses the names chosen for the English translations of the books.
Asterix is the main character. He is a brave, shrewd warrior of somewhat diminutive size, who eagerly volunteers for all perilous missions.
French: Astérix (from astérisque, meaning "asterisk", which is the typographical symbol " * " indicating a footnote, or from the Greek word αστήρ (aster), meaning a star). His name is usually left unchanged in translations, aside from accents and the use of local alphabets: for example, in Esperanto, Polish, Slovenian, Latvian and Turkish it is Asteriks, although in Turkish he was first named Bücür meaning "shorty", but the name was then changed). An exception is in Icelandic, in which he is known as Ástríkur (Rich of love).
Obelix is Asterix's closest friend and works as a menhir sculptor and delivery man. He is a tall, obese man with two notable attributes: his phenomenal strength and his voracious appetite for food. His strength results from having fallen into Getafix's magic potion cauldron as a boy. As a consequence, Getafix will not let him take additional potion for fear of side effects (for example, turning into stone, as shown in Asterix and Obelix all at Sea), something that Obelix finds immensely unfair. The only exception was in Asterix and Cleopatra when they were trapped in a pyramid. His size is possibly due to the effects of the potion. This is questionable because when Obelix is shown as a child, he is still large for his age. Obelix's size is often the brunt of many jokes. In Asterix and the Big Fight a druid mistakes Obelix for a patient with an eating disorder. At the end of the book, Obelix decides to go on a diet but quickly goes back to eating huge quantities of boar.
French: Obélix: meaning either obelisk, a massive monument, or the typographical symbol (†) (also called an obelus in English) which is sometimes used to indicate a second footnote if the first footnote is indicated by an asterisk. His name is also almost never changed in official translations (not counting orthographical variations such as Obeliks in e.g. Esperanto, Polish and Slovenian). However there is a notable exception in Turkish, in which he is Hopdediks, "Hop dedik!" being a phrase uttered when someone overdoes something.(In recent comic albums Oburiks – obur means "gluttonous".)
In Icelandic his name is Steinríkur, roughly meaning "rich in stone", due to Obelix's fascination with stones.
Dogmatix is Obelix's pet dog. Unlike his immense master, Dogmatix is very tiny, but he can have a nasty temper. Dogmatix loves nature and hates to see trees suffer. (Obelix once mentions that this is because Dogmatix likes to urinate on them.) Dogmatix met Asterix and Obelix in Lutetia (in Asterix and the Banquet) and followed them all the way around Gaul until Obelix finally noticed him. Since then, Obelix has become very affectionate toward Dogmatix. In Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield, Obelix gets mad at hungry people who try to take Dogmatix's bone and insists they will be punished if they try to take advantage of his dog. Dogmatix is relatively intelligent, but is useless when it comes to sniffing out a trail. When given a trail to follow, he will follow the scent to menhirs.[1] In Asterix and the Black Gold, the trio are wandering in the desert when Dogmatix starts to dig. Asterix and Obelix hope he has found water but Dogmatix actually discovers oil. While this does not solve the trio's problem of thirst, it does complete their original mission to find oil.
French: Idéfix (idée fixe, a fixed idea or obsession, also a prejudice). Most translations use some variant of this original name (e.g. Ideafix in Spanish and Idefiks in Esperanto).
In English, Dogmatix comes from dogmatic – clinging to an unchanging set of beliefs. The pun is extended because the name also contains the word "dog".
Hindi – In the मधु मुस्कान (Madhu Muskan) translations, Dogmatix has been called Kutta Bhaunkix (the dog who barks)
In Bengali – he is known as "gNoyartumix" – compare the Bengali term gNyoyartumi, which means "being dogmatic" .
In Hungarian, it is Töpszlix which refers to his small size.
In Serbian, it is Идефикс (Idefiks – directly taken from the French Idéfix) or Гаровикс (Garoviks/Garovix, from garov, a common name for a dog of indeterminable breed)
In Greek early translations he was called "Katrulix" (Κατρουλίξ) meaning "he who pees himself". However this was considered too demeaning by the readers, and thus was changed to Idefix (Ιντεφίξ)
In Portuguese, Ideiafix, a portuguese variation (Ideia Fixa) of the original french name
Major recurring characters
At the beginning of most of the Asterix books, immediately after the map of Gaul, and before the narrative starts, there is a standard description of the main characters above, as well as Getafix, Cacofonix and Vitalstatistix (regardless of their importance in that particular book).
The first appearance of all the major characters is in Asterix the Gaul unless otherwise noted. Notes are given for languages which have translations of 90% or more of the albums – primarily European languages along with Brazilian Portuguese. (Indonesian also falls in this category, but it leaves the French names unchanged. Languages which do not use the "x" (such as those of Eastern Europe like Polish, Baltic languages, Turkish and Esperanto) substitute "ks" in translations; "c" is also not used in some (such as Polish, Greek and Basque) which substitute "k" or "z" for hard and soft "c" respectively in names that are otherwise unaltered.
Getafix is the village druid. In appearance he is tall with a white beard, white robe, red cloak. He is usually seen in possession of a small golden sickle. While his age is never stated, in the story of Asterix' birth (in which all but the oldest villagers are seen as small children) he appears unchanged. In Asterix and the Big Fight the druid Psychoanalytix (who appears quite old) refers to him as his elder and teacher.
Although known for his strength-enhancing magic potion, he has many other magical and medicinal potions at his disposal, and acts as the village doctor and occasionally teacher. Asterix (and most other villagers) will consult him whenever anything strange occurs. He does not himself normally engage in combat, whereas most of the villagers enjoy a good punch-up (even with each other). On one occasion in one of the stories explaining Gaulish women, with using Mrs. Geriatrix as an example, with a fight sparked by Impedimenta. The final cut is shown with all the male villagers and two females, Impedimenta and Bacteria included, with Getafix running to stop the punch up, with a piece of fish flying towards him. What he does next (continues to attempt to stop the fight or joins in the brawl) is unknown, although the former is the most likely.
As the only individual able to produce the "magic potion" upon which the villagers rely for their strength, he is the focus of many stories, and the conscience of the village. On a few occasions, he has refused to make the potion when the villagers become too selfish. He has also occasionally been taken prisoner by hostile forces to get access to the potion – only to be freed again thanks to Asterix and Obelix. Finding ingredients for his potions has also sent Asterix on several adventures.
Getafix is very similar to many wise old men who act as mentors and father-figures to the heroes, including Merlin, Gandalf, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Albus Dumbledore. In Goscinny's works, however, Getafix came across more as just a friend of the protagonists rather than a wise old counselor. He was also, from the very beginning, shown as a figure of fun and had a wonderful sense of humour: in Asterix the Gaul he'd cut his finger while using his sickle and roar with uncontrollable laughter at Asterix' teasing of the Roman Centurion; in Asterix and the Big Fight he was shown as going literally crazy.
In English, the name is a pun on "getting a fix" – a dose of a drug taken by an addict; the phrase can also mean to perceive or to get a solid sense of something. In the short-lived American version of the series, he was called Magigimmix ("magic gimmicks"). He was called Readymix (the name of a British cement firm) in newspaper comics during the 1970s, as Getafix was considered inappropriate for children.
Cacofonix is the village bard. He is usually only a supporting character, but has a major part in the plots of some albums (see Asterix and the Normans, Asterix the Gladiator, Asterix and the Magic Carpet and Asterix and the Secret Weapon). He loves singing and playing his lyre, and jumps at every opportunity to do so. While he can accompany traditional dances, and conducts a village band, his singing is unbearable. In recent albums his music is so spectacularly horrible that it actually starts thunderstorms (even indoors), because of an old French saying that bad singing causes rain.
For his part, Cacofonix considers himself a genius and a superb singer, and he is angrily offended when people criticize his singing, to the point of dismissing them as barbarians.
Some villagers go to extreme lengths to avoid hearing Cacofonix's music. Most notably, Fulliautomatix, the village smith, bangs him on the head at the merest hint of breaking into a song, and has destroyed his lyre on a number of occasions, at one point being called the "ancestor of music critics". As a running gag, Cacofonix is generally tied up and gagged during the banquet at the end of most albums to allow the other villagers to have a good time without having to keep him from singing. He is nonetheless well liked when not singing.
In contrast to the villagers, some of the younger outsiders whom Cacofonix has met do appreciate his "talent": Justforkix (in Asterix and the Normans) actually encouraged Cacofonix to think seriously about moving to Lutetia where he claimed the bard's way with music would be enjoyed; Pepe (in Asterix in Spain) liked it because it reminded him of home (the goats bleating in his village); and Princess Orinjade (in Asterix and the Magic Carpet) expressed similar enthusiasm, though it was perhaps in gratitude for his music having saved her from being sacrificed.
Unlike the other villagers, whose huts are on the ground, Cacofonix's hut is perched up in a tree. Ostensibly this is so that he can act as a lookout to warn the other villagers of imminent invasion, but the real reason is to let him practise his music as far from everyone as possible: it is a tall tree! It has been felled several times but has been replanted, or restored by Getafix' magic acorns (in The Mansions of the Gods).
He and Getafix are the village's teachers, as only bards and druids are allowed to teach in school. He is rarely seen fighting the Romans except when his personal honour is impugned – his voice apparently does not mix well with the magic potion, although in Asterix and the Magic Carpet it actually restores him to full voice.
French: Assurancetourix (Assurance tous risques" meaning "comprehensive insurance") – also in Spanish (Asuranceturix), Catalan (Assegurançatórix), Italian, Portuguese and original Dutch translations.
In English, Cacofonix is derived from cacophonic (describing "harsh and unpleasant sounds"). In the American version of the series,he was called Malacoustix, which refers to "bad acoustics", and in the American dub of the Asterix and the Big Fight film he is called Franksinatrix (a pun on Frank Sinatra).
In Greek he is Κακοφωνίξ (Cacofonix) and in new Dutch translations Kakofonix, Kakofoniks in Polish and Turkish.
In Serbian, his name is Тамбурикс (Tamburiks, Tambourix). The name comes from tambura. He doesn't actually play a tambura, but the instrument is very popular in Serbia. Tamburati (to play tambura), interestingly enough, is a Serbian slang meaning "to beat someone up". At the end of many albums, Tamburiks often gets beaten up, gagged and tied to a tree.
In the Brazilian translation he is Chatotorix (meaning "annoying" or "the very dull one").
In Hindi translation he is गवैयाँ बेसुरीक्स (Gavaiyañ Besurix) (meaning "one who sings out of tune")
In Bengali this bard is known as ("kawlorobix") – the root being ("kawlorob") – meaning "making a lot of noise for no purpose"
In Hungarian translation he is "Hangjanix", which means "He absolutely has no voice".
Similarly, the Esperanto name Malmuziks means "the contrary of music".
In Hebrew, חמשיריקס (Khamshirix) which can be literally translated back as 'Limerix' (from Limerick).
In Icelandic he is Óðríkur, meaning "Rich in Odes". A music-making competition in one of Iceland's most prestigious pre-colleges is named in his honour.
In Welsh, he is Odlgymix, from odl gymysg (mixed rhyme, a metre of Welsh verse).
Chief Vitalstatistix is the leader of the Gaulish village. He is a middle-aged, obese man with red hair, pigtails and a huge moustache. He is generally reasonable, well-informed, fearless, (comparatively) even-tempered and unambitious – the last much to the chagrin of his wife Impedimenta. His major failings are his love of good food and drink (it is unlikely to be a coincidence that his wife is the best cook in the village) – which has led to health problems – and his pride. As a Gaulish chief he prefers to travel on a shield, carried by two shield bearers (they say pride comes before a fall... and he finds creative new ways to fall off the shield in almost every book). The names of the shield bearers are never mentioned.
Vitalstatistix fought at the battle of Alesia where Caesar (almost) completed his conquest of Gaul, before becoming chief of the village. In Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield it was revealed that the shield he is carried on originally belonged to the legendary Gaulish warrior chief Vercingetorix.[2] His father was the village chief before him. He has a brother, Doublehelix, in Lutetia who has a young daughter and a son, Justforkix.
The introduction to each story states that Vitalstatistix has only one fear "that the sky may fall on his head tomorrow"; however, he rarely alludes to this in an actual story, and then only as a rallying cry: "We have nothing to fear but ...".
French: Abraracourcix ("à bras raccourcis" – "with arms up ready to fight") – this is the same in Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and (original) Dutch (although the "o" is usually dropped)
In English, his name is a pun on Vital statistics – the government birth and death records of a region and also an expression for a person's measurements (a comment on his size). In the American translation, he was Macroeconomix from macroeconomics. NOTE: In the English version of the Asterix the Gaul film, he also appears to have been called Tonnabrix (spelling isn't confirmed), and in the American dub of the Asterix and the Big Fight film he is called Bombastix.
In Catalan, he is Copdegarròtix ("cop de garrot" – "club hit")
In German, Greek and Scandinavian, he is Majestix from majestic; similarly in new Dutch translations he is Heroix from heroic.
In Esperanto he is Moŝtiks ("via moŝto" – your highness)
In Finnish he is Aladobix, referring to 'aladobi', a Finnish jelly-like dish containing meat (from the French à la daube)
In Hungarian, he is Hasarengazfix, which means 'His belly surely shakes'
In Polish, he is Asparanoiks, referring to 'paranoia', the fear of the sky falling on his head.
In Turkish, Toptoriks, alluding to his roundness.
In Brazilian Portuguese, his name is usually shortened to Abracurcix.
In Hindi translation, his name is mentioned as मुखिया मोटुमालिक्स (Mukhiya Motumallix), which literally means, 'The Fat Chief'
In Bengali , the chief has a name phonetically similar to some extent to his English one: Bishalakritix, taken from the root bishalakriti, which aptly means "of huge proportions".
In Hebrew, his name is לוחמאמיקס (lokhem-amix), meaning 'brave warrior'.
In Serbian, He is Дрматорикс (Drmatoriks/Drmatorix), from "drmator", a slang term for Communist era movers and shakers ("drmati" means "to shake")
In Welsh, he is Einharweinix, from ein harweinydd (our leader)
In Greek, he was called Χοντρομπαλίξ, from χοντρομπαλάς (dubbing a man "fat ball"), but is currently referred to as Μαζεστίξ (from French majestueux, i.e. majestic).
Chief's shieldbearers
From Asterix and Caesar's Gift onward, Vitalstatistix has had the same (unnamed) bearers carry (and drop) him; prior to that he had different bearers in each album. In Asterix in Switzerland he fires both his shield bearers after he tells them that it's a lovely day, and they look up, tipping the shield back (and dropping the chief). When they lean forward again, he has gone. He then goes and hires new shield bearers including Asterix, Geriatrix, Fulliautomatix and Obelix (in these cases the shield is horribly tilted so he is forced to stand on a slant, and Obelix carried him with one hand like a waiter).
Impedimenta is the matriarchal wife of Chief Vitalstatistix, leader of the village wives and the best cook in the village. She is often disappointed with the other villagers (calling them barbarians) and wishes Vitalstatistix was more ambitious. Consequently she zealously defends and flaunts every privilege due to her as first lady of the village, such as skipping the queue at the fishmongers. She frequently says she wants to go back to Lutetia and live with her successful merchant brother, Homeopathix – the one member of the family her husband openly dislikes.
She nicknamed Vitalstatistix "Piggywiggy" when they were courting, and starts doing this again in Asterix and the Soothsayer as a plan to make Asterix and Obelix erupt in hysterical laughter when she calls him by that name in front of them, thus irritating him and making him punish them by forcing them to stay in the village, away from the soothsayer.[3]
On occasion she has an antagonistic rivalry with Mrs. Geriatrix that has erupted into violence. One such occasion was in Asterix and the Magic Carpet where the two beat each other with fish from Unhygenix's store over the fakir Watziznehm's carpet.
French: Bonemine ("bonne mine", meaning "good looking") – also used in Swedish or Esperanto, and in Greek Μπονεμίνα (Bonemina).
In English, the name is derived from "impediment", an obstacle, but possibly also a reference to the Latin 'impedimenta,' meaning 'baggage'; (in the American translations: Belladonna – a poisonous plant used in cosmetics whose name means beautiful lady).
In Dutch, she is Bellefleur (Beautiful Flower in French).
In German, she is Gutemine; Danish and Norwegian, Godemine, presumably from the old saying "Gute Miene zum bösen Spiel machen" (German), "At holde gode miner til slet spil" (Danish): "To keep up appearances in the face of bad deeds".)
In Hungarian, she is Hengerlice; which means 'tumbler pigeon', a pun on her being a little fat.
In Turkish, she is Dediğimdediks. "Dediğim dedik" refers to someone who insists on getting their way.
In Finnish, she is Smirgeline (a pun on the Finnish word smirgeli meaning "emery", by way of the Finnish dysphemism for a "shrew" being a grinder)
In Polish, she is Dobromina (most likely a pun on the Polish saying "robić dobrą minę do złej gry", which has the same meaning as the German/Danish/Norwegian translation above.)
In Catalan, she is sometimes called Bonemina, but more usually Karabella.
In Hindi, she is referred to as प्यारी सिरर्ददा ( Pyari Sirdarda), the beloved, who causes Headache.
In Hebrew she is called זיופנים (Zivpanim), meaning "Bright face".
Fulliautomatix is the village smith. His father, Semiautomatix, was the village smith before him. He is tall and robust, and very strong – he is one of the strongest characters, perhaps second only to Obelix, and a bit of a bully. Fulliautomatix's first appearance was in the first volume, Asterix the Gaul, where the Roman spy was amazed that he used his fists to forge iron. However, he is subsequently shown using a normal hammer and is now rarely seen without one.
A very different looking Fulliautomatix appeared in Asterix and the Banquet in which he and Obelix argue as to who should be entitled to punch the Roman that they are both engaged in hitting anyway.
Fulliautomatix often interacts with Unhygienix, the fishmonger, with whom he has a friendly rivalry. Fulliautomatix claims the fish he sells are stale, and this often results in Unhygienix throwing a fish at his face, causing a fight (sometimes the other villagers join in just for fun).[4]
Fulliautomatix also takes great pleasure in bullying, breaking the lyre of Cacofonix the bard, threatening him and hitting him on the head at the merest hint of breaking into a song (the songs are so bad that the other villagers do not object). It has been stated that he is perhaps the ancestor of all music critics. On the other hand, he is occasionally beaten up by Geriatrix when he is provoked by some comment the smith makes. When this happens he will often take out his frustration on the nearest convenient bystander (Cacofonix for preference) on the grounds that he does not feel he can fight back against someone so old, which only helps to further incense the old man.
Semiautomatix also has two unnamed children who have appeared in separate comics – a son with red hair in Asterix in Corsica, and a daughter with blonde hair in Asterix and the Secret Weapon. In Asterix and the Great Divide he is shown as having an apprentice, though it is not indicated whether or not they are related; some speculate that he is the young son grown to teenage years.
French: Cétautomatix ("c'est automatique", meaning "it is automatic") – the languages of Iberia follow fairly literally: Esautomátix in Spanish, Esautomàtix in Catalan and Zetautomatix in Basque; in Portuguese Ceutautomatix.
In English, the name is a pun on "fully automatic"
In German and Italian he is simply Automatix. Αυτοματίξ (Aftomatix) in Greek
Mrs Fulliautomatix is one of the inner circle of village wives. One of the shortest women in the village, she takes no nonsense and dominates her much larger husband. Although she appears often, she has never been named in the stories. She has been known to beat up Cacofonix on occasion as well, in (Asterix and the Secret Weapon). She has a brother, as mentioned by her husband in Asterix and the Black Gold.
Geriatrix is the oldest inhabitant of Asterix's village: he is mentioned as 93 years old in Asterix at the Olympic Games. While drunk, he says he feels ten years younger: to which Asterix replies, "Well, that makes you 83, and it's time you were in bed"). Some translations make him no more than 80 – and as such he demands respect (generally more than he is given). Nonetheless he dislikes being treated as old and will attack anyone who comments to that effect. In particular he often beats up Fulliautomatix for refusing to fight back due to his age, and actually cries out to be attacked. In Asterix and the Roman Agent he acquires a club which he later uses to knock down The Mansions of the Gods.
Geriatrix is against foreigners who are not from his village. He is a veteran of the Battle of Gergovia and the Battle of Alesia, and refers to them when excited ("It'll be just like Gergovia all over!") or distraught ("It's just like Alesia all over again!").
He has an eye for the young ladies and has a very young and beautiful wife (who appears to be in her twenties) of whom he is very possessive — particularly when Obelix is around.
In Italian, he is Matusalemix, from Matusalem (Methuselah), the biblical 'old man', similarly in German, Methusalix, Μαθουσαλίξ (Mathusalix) in Greek, formerly Παλαιοντολογίξ (Palaiontologix).
In Hebrew, מתושלחיקס, אשמאיקס, קשישניקס (Methushelakhix, Ashmaix (Asterix at the Olympic Games), Kashishnix (Television series)).
In Esperanto, he is Dojeniks (from dojeno – doyen, wise old man)
In Polish, he is Ramoliks (grumpy old man) or Długowieczniks (long living).
In Hungarian, he is Sokadikix ("umpteenth X"; X means "decade") or Tatix (from "tata", an informal way to address old men) or Rozogavénix ("rickety old") or Matuzsálemix (Methuselah)
In the Brazilian translation he is Veteranix.
In the Hindi translation he is बुड्ढिक्स (Buddhix) (which means "the old man")
Mrs. Geriatrix enjoys her husband's devotion and also her status as wife of the village's most senior inhabitant, which makes her one of the inner circle of village wives. Her youthful appearance suggests that she is less than half her husband's age and is also a lot taller. Although as ambitious and gossip-prone as the other wives, she has also shown herself to be very quick-witted. She is an excellent seamstress but has Geriatrix do most of the housework. She rules her home and marriage, and regularly tells her husband what to do even in direct contradiction of his own stated opinions. She does seem to be happily married, however, and the only serious conflict in her marriage is her occasional apparent interest in Obelix which makes her husband insanely jealous. On one occasion, she is offered the magic potion. She does not appear to be interested and says that it's very fattening, while staring at Obelix. She appears to be in favour of women's rights, as shown in Asterix and the Secret Weapon. She eagerly accepted the radical changes in the village that occurred in this story. She and Impedimenta cause a gigantic fight in Mini Midi Maxi.
She has never been officially named and is always referred to by the local title for wife and the translation of her husband's name (Uderzo has stated she is partially based on his own wife and he wishes to retain an air of mystery). In Asterix and the Soothsayer, Impedimenta appears to address her as Myopia (which, given her choice of spouse would be extremely appropriate), but this is in fact an invocation of a Gaulish Goddess.
His fish do not come from the sea near the village even though he has a fishing boat; instead they are transported all the way from Lutetia (and from Massilia in the German translations) as he believes they are of finer quality. He does not notice their smell, but most of the other villagers do and a lot of fights are caused by his stale fish, as when the blacksmith Fulliautomatix says: "Anyway, it [the fight] wouldn't have happened if they [the fish] were fresh!" and then Unhygenix slaps him with his fish.
He regularly has fights about his fish with his friend Fulliautomatix, the village blacksmith, which often escalate to involve most of the village. Fulliautomatix says the fish are stale, Unhygienix throws a fish at him, he throws it back, it hits someone else, etc., and the whole village gets into a fight. This rivalry is a family tradition – their fathers also fought, and their children are continuing it. Despite this, his catch phrase is a scream to his wife, "Bacteria! Get the fish inside!" or "Save the sales!", in fights on the village he doesn't want to enter (i.e. fights that are not about his fish), when villagers buy or steal his fish to fight with.
French: Ordralfabétix ("Ordre alphabétique", meaning "alphabetical order") – this is essentially the same in Spanish (Ordenalfabétix), Portuguese, Catalan and Italian (Ordinalfabetix), as well as Hebrew (לפיסדראלפאבטיקס, Lefisederalphabetix)
In English, he is Unhygienix ("unclean" from "unhygienic"), and in the Asterix and the Big Fight film he is called Fishstix.
In Dutch, he is Kostunrix ("costs a riks", 'riks' being an old name for 2.50 guilders)
In German, he is Verleihnix ("Verleih' nix" – " (I) do not lend anything")
In Swedish, he is Crabbofix (close to "crab and fish")
In Danish, he is Hørmetix ("Hørme" means "to stink")
Bacteria is the wife of Unhygienix. She is one of the inner circle of village wives. She is quiet and easy-going, but doesn't hesitate to say exactly what she thinks. She helps her husband run his shop, selling fish of dubious quality, and is unperturbed by the bizarre uses to which they are sometimes put. They have two sons (whose names have not been mentioned) – one with blonde hair in Asterix in Corsica, and the other with red hair in Asterix and the Secret Weapon.
French: Iélosubmarine (a pun on "Yellow Submarine") – a variant of this is used in most translations.
In English, bacteria is the name for a kingdom of microorganisms, some of which are responsible for various diseases, keeping the same unsanitary character as her husband's name.
In Dutch, she is Forentientje ('voor een tientje' means 'for a ten-guilder bill', keeping the same monetary nature as the translation of her husband's name)
In Scandinavian, she is Remouladine (After the dressing, remoulade, popular in Scandinavia and often eaten along with fish) (but her name is never used in Swedish!)
In Polish she is "Jelousubmarina", which is "yellow submarine" written according to Polish pronunciation and with a female ending.
Julius Caesar (Jules César) is the Roman dictator and main antagonist of the village, which is a thorn in his side. Many of the stories involve his schemes finally to conquer this last Gaulish village holding out against his legions. At other times, the village has (indirectly) come to his aid, but more often it is a major embarrassment to him in the Roman senate – in at least one book, the entire senate is laughing at him. Despite this, there is always a mutual respect shown between him and Asterix, and the feeling that he's not such a bad guy (aside from trying to conquer them). He is also shown to be a man of honor, since whenever Asterix and Obelix somehow end up helping Caesar, Caesar always grants them any favor they ask. He goes so far as to rebuild the Gaulish village when it was destroyed by Brutus who was trying to kidnap Caesar's son, whom Asterix returned safely to his family (Asterix and Son).
The Pirates
Asterix parodies on the left, Barbe Rouge originals at right
In the course of their travels, Asterix and Obelix regularly cross paths with – and beat up – a group of pirates. Most of the time, Asterix and Obelix sink their ship, causing the pirates severe financial difficulties, but the pirates sometimes sink their own ship, usually to avoid a beating at the hand of the Gauls (as in Asterix and Cleopatra).
On one occasion (in Asterix the Legionary) after the wreck the pirates were depicted in a scene similar to Théodore Géricault's Raft of the Medusa. In this scene the captain also refers to an ancient Gaulish artist called "Jericho".
At other times, it is Asterix and Obelix who have boarded the pirates' vessel and captured booty, thus reversing their roles of hunter and prey. This has happened mainly in the quest for food in an empty ocean (Asterix in Spain). On another occasion, Asterix and Obelix take all the food on the ship, leaving the pirates with a single sausage for the Captain's birthday (Asterix and the Great Crossing). It happened again (in Asterix and the Magic Carpet) with Asterix leaving a single coin for payment; the Captain told his depressed crew that it was better than nothing and that at least they hadn't been beaten up and they still had the ship, but then their lookout proudly announced that he had upheld their honour and scuttled the ship himself. The other pirates were not impressed.
Such is the fear that the pirates have for the Gauls that, having unknowingly taken them aboard, they fled their own ship in the middle of the night while the subjects of their fear were sound asleep (Asterix in Corsica).
Asterix also (on two occasions) forced the Captain to spend all his hard-won loot on the merchandise of Ekonomikrisis the Phoenician merchant (Asterix and the Black Gold).
The main pirates are:
Redbeard (Barbe Rouge) — captain of the pirates.
Pegleg (Triple Patte) — an old pirate with a wooden leg who makes classical quotations in Latin.
unnamed (Baba) — the African pirate in the crow's nest. He also has a cousin who is a gladiator. In the original French and some other language versions he fails to pronounce the letters 'R' and 'L', leaving blanks in his speech. Early translations also had him speaking twisted English until political correctness came in.[neutrality is disputed]
It should also be noted that in the films where the pirates are seen, Erix replaces Pegleg on the jetsam with Redbeard.
Inspiration
The main pirates are based on the French comic series, Barbe Rouge (1959 and continuing). The adventures of Barbe Rouge (Redbeard) and his son Eric were published in the comic Pilote, where Asterix' adventures were also published prior to appearing in book form.
Although, in continental Europe, Barbe Rouge is a popular character in his own right, the popularity of Asterix's pirates is one of the few occasions when parody figures have overshadowed their originals.
Minor recurring characters
Original (French) name is given in parentheses when different.
Brutus – Marcus Junius Brutus, Caesar's adopted son. Constantly plays with a knife, a reference to him being one of Caesar's assassins in real life. Caesar often uses the Shakespearean quote: "Et tu, Brute?" to him for various purposes. Brutus appears in minor roles in various books, and has a major role in Asterix and Son. Brutus's physical appearance is arguably different in each of his appearances.
Pompey (Pompée) – Caesar's greatest enemy and a former consul of Rome. He is mentioned in Asterix the Gladiator and Asterix and the Roman Agent and appears in person in Asterix and the Actress, where he is the book's antagonist.
Spartacus – Gladiator and rebellion leader, appears in Asterix and Obelix All at Sea although in the album he is called Spartakis and is accompanied by a group of multi-national slaves after stealing Caesar's own galley.
Postaldistrix (Pneumatix) – postman. His first appearance is in Asterix and the Normans, when he gives a letter to Vitalstatistix, also in Asterix the Legionary when he brings Tragicomix' letter to Panacea (see below). He also appears in the latest short story which has not yet been published in English.
Tragicomix – Tall, handsome and muscular husband of Panacea. He runs a livery stable in Condatum. Appears in Asterix the Legionary and Asterix and the Actress. Although he seems to be heterosexual, there are scenes to suggest that other males are attracted to him. He has golden-white body and blonde hair. He is usually not fully dressed, and is shown in the comics half naked.
Orthopaedix - an innkeeper from Arausio who appears in Asterix and Caesar's Gift. He and his family move to the village after buying the deeds from Tremensdelirius. His wife Angina pressures him into challenging Vitalstatistix for leadership. In the film Asterix and the Vikings his daughter can be seen when the villagers dance.[9]
Instantmix - Gaulish restaurant owner who helps Asterix and Obelix in Asterix the Gladiator. He later appears in Asterix in Corsica.
Seniorservix - Sea captain from Gesoriacum who appears in Asterix and the Banquet and Asterix in Corsica.
Homeopathix (Homéopatix) – Brother of Impedimenta and a successful merchant in Lutetia. He first appears in Asterix and the Laurel Wreath and is often mentioned in later albums as a figure she would like her husband to emulate (much to his disgust). He has a wife named Tapioca (Galantine).
Whosmoralsarelastix – The chief of a neighbouring Gaulish village. He is a mean and greedy man who often does business with the Romans. Appears in Asterix and the Cauldron.
Romans
Gracchus Armisurplus (Gracchus Nenjetepus) – Centurion of Compendium (Petibonum) for Asterix the Gladiator and Asterix and the Banquet; however his name is translated differently in each album.
Magnumopus - Appeared in Asterix and the roman agent, a roman legionary. He is very big and strong and misunderstands the meaning of psychological warfare; he does not use a pilum or a sword, he uses a club instead.
Infirmofpurpus - Appeared in Asterix and the big fight, a roman legionary. He is unlucky to be leading a roman patrol when he is hit by a flying cauldron.
Obsequilis - Appears in Asterix in Spain, and speaks with a lisp after being punched by the commander-in-chief who has stolen magic potion from asterix.
Others
Anticlimax (Jolitorax) – Asterix's first cousin, once removed. He lives in a British village holding out against the Romans in Asterix in Britain (he appears on the cover). He also appears in Asterix in Corsica and has a nephew who is an escaped galley slave in Asterix and Obelix All at Sea
Mykingdomforanos, McAnix and O'veroptimistix - British chieftains representing England, Scotland and Ireland respectively who appear in Asterix in Britain and Asterix in Corsica.
Petitsuix - Swiss innkeeper who appears in Asterix in Switzerland and Asterix in Corsica.
Pepe (Pépé) – young spoilt son of the chief of an Iberian village holding out against the Romans; he appears on the cover of Asterix in Spain in which he is taken hostage, but rescued and returned by Asterix and Obelix. He makes life difficult for the Gauls as well as for the Romans, though even Obelix is upset when they finally part. He is one of the few people who likes Cacofonix' music, and also has a soft spot for Dogmatix. He visits the village again in Asterix in Corsica.
Edifis (French: Numérobis) - an Egyptian architect and old friend of Getafix[10]
Olaf Timandahaf - Viking chieftain who kidnaps Justforkix in Asterix and the Normans. In the film adaption, he has a wife called Ikea and a daughter called Abba.
Caricatures
The Thompson Twins (or their Roman-era ancestors) in Gaulish costume.
Annie Cordy - Belgian actress who is caricatured as chief Beefix's wife in Asterix in Belgium.
Boadicea - Appears in Asterix in Britain as a housewife. She confronts Asterix, Obelix and Anticlimax after they mistakenly break down her door.
Cassius Ceramix(Aplusbegalix) - Gaulish chief collaborating with the Romans who challenges Vitalstatistix for leadership. Ceramix is a pun on Muhammed Ali's birth name, Cassius Clay, and like him is a skilled boxer. Another famous athlete, the cyclistEddy Merckx, appears as a messenger in Asterix in Belgium.
Pierre Tchernia. - Pierre Tchernia has made various cameos throughout the books, always as a Roman Legionary. He first appears in Asterix the Legionary as one of the generals discussing tactics with Caesar, then Asterix in Corsica as Centurion Hippopotamus, the commanding officer of Totorum. Later, he appears in Obelix & Co. as a drunk legionary who has to be carried out of the forfeited camp by caricatures of Goscinny and Uderzo. He appears again as a legionary in Asterix and Caesar's Gift and Asterix in Belgium.
Kirk Douglas - in "Asterix and Obelix All at Sea" as Spartakis the Greek, leader of a multi-national, multi-cultural band of mutinous slaves who've escaped after commandeering Caesar's personal galley.
