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Asterix

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Has anyone ever heard of Asterix. It's a french comic book and quite possibly the most famous one in all of Europe. Unfortunately it's virtually unknown in America and Japan, since we both have our own comic book legends.

Anyways, the comic is set in 50 BC. Julius Caesar and the Roman Empire have taken over all of EUrope except for one small-but-strong Gaulish village. The hero of the village is Asterix, who drinks a magic potion to give him super strength whenever he's in danger. His best friend is Obelix, a fat guy who's favorite food in all the world is roast boar and has a pet named Dogmatix. Other people in the village are, Getafix, a druid who makes Asterix's potions, Cacofonix, a bard with a horrible singing voice, and Vitalstatistix, the chief of the village. Throughout the series, Asterix and Obelix go on many adventures, not just in Europe, but in other places like the Middle East.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/29/Asterixcover-asterix_the_gaul.jpg

The comic is older than you think. The first issue, "Asterix the Gaul" came out in 1961, before Spider-Man came out. Asterix's creater, Goscinny, died in 1977 (coincidence?). After that, the stories were written by the comic's illustrator, Uderzo. Many fans like Goscinny's stories better because of the sense of humor. The series still goes on today, even though this year's issue, "Asterix and the Falling Sky" was a flop because of references to American and Japanese comics and is rumored to be the last in the series.

There was also a cartoon series based on Asterix. It's not really a series though, because the episodes were released several years apart from each other. Many fans consider the three episodes made in the 80s to be the best, because of the quality. Live action movies were made about Asterix in the 90s, and another one is scheduled to be released next year.

<EDIT>: I forgot to mention the video games, and there were quite a few of them. I remember some being for Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis, and there was an arcade game that played like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In fact, Atari recently released a new Asterix game for the PS2 called "Asterix & Obelix Kick Buttix". It's been released in America, so if you have it, tell me if it's good or not.

Anyways, my school has a french class, and my younger sister is in it. My uncle (who grew up in the 80s) told me his class watched some Asterix episodes in french language during his french class. And I thought it'd be a neat idea if my sister's french class could do the same. I already showed her french teacher an Asterix comic (Asterix in Spain, English version), and he said he enjoyed it and would love for me to find him some episodes to show to the class. I told him I'd give him the episodes on 1 CD each, then he could hook up a projector (our school has one) to his computer and the class can watch it on the wall instead of a normal TV screen.

I know a place where I can download the english versions of the episodes, but the teacher would only accept them if they were in french. Do you know of a place where I can get the french versions of the episodes?

Meanwhile, here's a Wikipedia link. Tell me what you think of Asterix.
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As a French-Canadian,i've read almost all of the Asterix comics saw the animated movies and the 2 live action adaptation with Gerard Depardieu as Obelix,btw Roberto Benigni was funny as Detritus

EDIT: BTW i looked at IMDB to be sure,and the first Asterix animated movie was made in 1967
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I am happy to say I am aware of Asterix, despite my being American. I remember seeing the (I assume) 80s cartoons on either Nickelodeon or Disney Channel when I was quite young.

I remember that there was supposed to be a video game for one of the Nintendo systems (I think Gamecube...possibly N64) called "Kick Asterix", but I don't think it was ever completed.

I was not aware of the existence of Asterix beyond the handful of cartoons, though. Interesting to learn he's been around so long.
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I've heard of Asterix. But not that familiar with him. There was a video game for the Atari 2600 that was sold in Europe and Quebec based off them. Sadly, this is my only real exposure to them.
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I remember that there was supposed to be a video game for one of the Nintendo systems (I think Gamecube...possibly N64) called "Kick Asterix", but I don't think it was ever completed.


That might be the PS2 game I mentioned: "Asterix & Obelix Kick Buttix".
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I used to watch "Ravioli" in German class...

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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I am a huge, huge fan of Asterix since a small kid. I own about half of the books published up until the early 90s, and I've read them all at a public library when I was a kid. I haven't read the latest ones, the ones published from the mid 90s foward, but I intend to. I've heard that the last one is about an alien invasion! Which is really bizarre, because it goes out of the Asterix plotline base in such a drastic way, it would be like having a Star Wars book set in today's Earth...

Also, I kind of like Uderzo's way of writting, it's not as clever and brilliant as Goscini's writtings, but still he did a great job so far...

And I belive that as a kid I have watched "Asterix and Ceasar's Surprise" movie dozens of times...
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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I read the English translations when I was in elementary and junior high school. Funny stuff. Always wanted to see the films, but never got around to it.

Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I'm a nice man.

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Nice to see you people know about him.

Now, about my other question, which no one's answered yet:

Where can I download the french versions of the cartoons, so my sister's french teacher can show them to her class.
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Good question. I wish I had an answer.

Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I'm a nice man.

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Originally posted by: theredbaron
There's tonnes of Asterix comics in Australia. At least in every school library I went to. Never read them, though. I just read Tintin.


You never read Asterix?

Tintin is great, but I belive Asterix is better.
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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4 months is a probably about right to consider a thread dead, but I thought I'd revive it for a short time because my father found a DVD of Asterix Meets Cleopatra for the price of $1.
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About two months ago I purchased Asterix last album, "Asterix and the Falling Sky", the one with the... *sigh* aliens. While is the best looking Asterix album, filled with complex scenery and drawings, and computer colorized, the plot is very weak - I would say it's the "Phantom Menace" of the Asterix albums. I hope Uderzo gets a final album together, something epic and tragic, like "The Death of Asterix".
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering