Recurring characters in Asterix

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This is a list of recurring characters in the Asterix comics.

Contents

[edit] Main characters

Asterix, Obelix, and Dogmatix 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.

[edit] Asterix

Main article: Asterix

Asterix is the main character. He is a brave, cunning 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). His name is never changed in translations aside from accents and the use of the local alphabet. The exception from this is in Icelandic where he is known as Ástríkur (Rich of love).


[edit] Obelix

Main article: Obelix

Obelix is Asterix's closest friend and works as a menhir delivery man. He is a large, obese man with two predominant attributes: his phenomenal strength and voracious appetite for food. His strength results from having fallen into Getafix's magic potion as a boy. As a consequence, Getafix will not let him take additional potion for fear of side effects, something that Obelix finds immensely unfair.

  • French: Obélix (meaning obelisk ie. a massive monument or the typographical symbol () indicating a second footnote) — his name is also almost never changed in official translations with the notable exception of Turkish where he is Hopdediks.
Dogmatix

[edit] Dogmatix

Main article: Dogmatix
First Appearance: Asterix and the Banquet

Dogmatix is Obelix's pet dog. Unlike his immense master, Dogmatix is very tiny, but can have a nasty temper. Dogmatix loves nature and hates to see trees suffer. Dogmatix met Asterix and Obelix in Lutetia and followed them all the way around Gaul until Obelix finally noticed him.

  • French: Idéfix ("idée fixe," a fixed idea or theme) - most translations use some variant of this original name.
In English, Dogmatix comes from dogmatic - clinging to an unchanging set of beliefs.
  • Hindi - In the मधु मुस्कान (Madhu Muskan)translations, Dogmatix has been called : Kutta Bhaunkix (The dog who barks)

[edit] Major recurring characters

At the beginning of most of the Asterix books, right after the map of Gaul, 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).

First appearance of all major characters is Asterix the Gaul unless otherwise noted. Notes are given for languages which have translations of 90% or more of the albums — primarily European along with Brazilian (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) substitute "ks" in translations; "C" is also not used in some (such as Polish, Greek and Basque) which substitute "K" or "Z" for hard or soft "C" respectively in names that are otherwise untranslated.

[edit] Getafix

Getafix

Getafix is the village druid. In appearance he is tall with a white beard, white gown, red cloak and usually seen in possession of a small golden sickle. While his age is never stated, in the story of Asterix' birth (where 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).

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, going all the way from Merlin and Gandalf, to Obi-Wan Kenobi. He does vary a bit however in that, from the very beginning, he has also been a figure of fun and has 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.

  • French: Panoramix ("panoramic" or "wide view") - in most European translations this name is used.
In English, the name is a pun on "getting a fix" - a dose of a drug taken by an addict.
In German, and Scandinavian he is Miraculix.
In Finnish, he is Akvavitix; in Turkish, Büyüfiks.
In Hindi, he is हकीम वैधिक्स (Hakeem Vaidhix), Hindi for a village doctor.
In Hungarian, he is Magicoturmix, which is not actually a Hungarian composition but is rather expressive.
In Bengali, he is Etashetamix, meaning 'mix this and that'.
In Icelandic, he is Sjóðríkur, roughly meaning 'one who boils'. In comparison, Asterix is 'Ástríkur, 'one who loves'

[edit] Cacofonix

Cacofonix is the village bard. He is usually only a supporting character, but has had a major part in the plot 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 call traditional dances, and conducts a village band, his singing is unbearably bad. 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. 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 appreciate his singing: Justforkix (from Asterix and the Normans) actually encouraged Cacofonix to seriously thinking of moving to Lutetia where he claimed the bard's way with music would be appreciated; Pepe (from Asterix in Spain) enjoyed it because it reminded him of home; and Princess Orinjade (of Asterix and the Magic Carpet) expressed similar keenness, though it was perhaps in gratitude of the fact that his music had saved her from sacrifice.

Unlike the other villagers, whose huts are on the ground, Cacofonix's hut is perched up in a tree. Ostensibly this is so he can act as a lookout to warn the other villagers of imminent invasion, but primarily to let him practice his music as far from everyone as possible (it's a tall tree). It has been felled several times but has been replanted, or restored by Getafix' magic acorns (from 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 (Seguroatodoriesguix), Catalan (Assegurançatórix), Italian, Portuguese and original Dutch translations.
In English, Cacofonix is derived from cacophonic (describing "harsh and unpleasant sounds")
In Greek and new Dutch translations, he is Kakofonix, Kakofoniks in Polish and Turkish.
In German and Swedish, he is Troubadix; in Danish, Norwegian and Finnish Trubadurix (a pun on "Troubadour" / "trubadur", a word for bard).
In the Brazilian translation he is Chatotorix (meaning "annoying").
In Hindi translation he is गवैयाँ बेसुरीक्स (Gavaiyañ Besurix) (meaning "one who sings out of tune")

[edit] Vitalstatistix

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 have 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 goeth 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. 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.
In Catalan, he is Copdegarròtix
In German, Greek and Scandinavian, he is Majestix from majestic; similarly in new Dutch translations he is Heroix from heroic.
In Hungarian, he is Hasarengazfix, which means 'His belly surely shakes'
In Polish, he is Asparanoiks; in Turkish, Toptoriks; in Finnish, Aladobix
In Brazilian Portuguese, his name is usually shortened to Abracurcix, which changes the pun to "Open a school"
In Hindi translation, his name is mentioned as मुखिया मोटुमालिक्स (Mukhiya Motumallix), which literally means, 'The Fat Chief'

[edit] 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 each album. Also, in one Asterix story, 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).

[edit] Impedimenta

First Appearance: Asterix and the Big Fight (but not named until Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield)

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 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 part of the family her husband is openly not fond of.

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 with 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.

  • French: Bonemine ("bonne mine", meaning "good looking") - also used in Swedish, and in Greek (Bonemina)
In English, the name is derived from "impediment", an obstacle (in the American translations: Belladonna — a poisonous plant used in cosmetics whose name means beautiful lady).
In Italian, she is Beniamina
In Spanish, she is Karabella
In the Brazilian translation she is Naftalina (Portugal: Caralinda)
In Dutch, she is Bellefleur
In German, she is Gutemine; Danish and Norwegian, Godemine (Presumably after the old saying "At holde gode miner til slet spil": "To keep up appearances in the face of bad deeds".)
In Finnish, she is Smirgeline
In Polish, she is Dobromina
In Catalan, she's sometimes called Bonemina, but she's usually called Karabella.
In Hindi, she's referred as प्यारी सिरर्ददा ( Pyari Sirdarda) , the beloved, who causes Headache.

[edit] Fulliautomatix

First Appearance: Asterix the Gaul

Fulliautomatix is the village smith. 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.

Fulliautomatix

One character that Fulliautomatix often interacts with is 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). Another is Cacofonix the bard, who Fulliautomatix takes great pleasure in bullying, breaking his lyre, threatening him and hitting him on the head at the merest hint of breaking into a song (which is so bad that the other villagers do not object). On the other hand, he is occasionally beaten up by Geriatrix when he is provoked by some comment the smith makes — Fulliautomatix does not feel he can fight back against someone so old which further incenses the old man — when this happens he will often take out his frustration on the nearest convenient bystander (Cacofonix by preference).

His father, Semiautomatix, was the village smith before him.

  • French: Cétautomatix ("c'est automatique", meaning "it is automatic") — the languages of Spain follow fairly literally: Esautomátix in Castilian, Esautomàtix in Catalan and Zetautomatix in Basque
In English, the name is a pun on "fully automatic"
In German, Italian and Portuguese he is simply Automatix. Aftomatix in Greek)
In Polish, he is Automatiks, or Tenautomatiks.
In Dutch, he is Hoefnix (a double pun: 'hoef' means 'hoove' and the phrase 'ik hoef niks' means 'I don't need anything')
In Danish, he is Armanix, and Armamix in Norwegian
In Swedish versions, Smidefix (as a pun on the words "smith" and "fix")
In Finnish, he is Caravellix
In Hindi translation, he is बदबोलिक्स लोहातोडिक्स (Badbolix Lohatodix) (which means "one who brags a lot and breaks (as in works) with iron)

[edit] Mrs. Fulliautomatix

First Appearance: Asterix and the Roman Agent

Mrs Fulliautomatix is one of the inner circle of village wives. She takes no nonsense and dominates her much larger husband. They have a son and a daughter. Although she appears often she has never been named in the stories. She has been known to beat up Cacofonix on occasion as well.(Asterix and the Secret Weapon)

[edit] Geriatrix

First Appearance: Asterix the Gladiator but first named in Asterix at the Olympic Games
Geriatrix

Geriatrix is the oldest inhabitant of Asterix's village — he is mentioned as ninety-three in Asterix at the Olympic Games although some translations make him no more than eighty — 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.

Geriatrix is against foreigners who aren't from his village. He is a veteran of the Battle of Gergovia and 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 (appearing to be in her twenties) and beautiful wife of whom he is very possessive — particularly when Obelix is around.

  • French: Agecanonix ("Âge canonique", meaning "very old age") (also in Portuguese).
In English, the name comes from Geriatrics, the branch of medicine dealing with old age. He is also known as Arthritix in the American translations.
In Spanish, he is Edadepiedrix or Edatdepèdrix in Catalan (meaning "Stone Age").
In Finnish and Scandinavian languages, he is Senilix (from senile).
In Italian, he is Matusalemix, from Matusalem (Methuselah), the biblical 'old man', similarly in German, Methusalix and in Greek, Mathusalix (used to be Palaiontolovix)
Mrs.Geriatrix
In Dutch, he is Nestorix (after Nestor).
In Polish, he is Ramoliks (old grumpy man) or Długowieczniks (long living).
In Hungarian, he is Sokadikix ("umpteenth X"; X means "decade") or Tatix (from "tata", an informal addressing for 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")

[edit] Mrs. Geriatrix

First Appearance: Asterix and the Roman Agent

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. 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 other 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. Also she is a lot taller than her husband.

  • 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).

[edit] Unhygienix

First Appearance: Asterix in Spain

Unhygienix is the village fishmonger, as was his father Unhealthix before him. His fish don't come from the sea near the village although he has a fishing boat, instead they are transported all the way from Lutetia. He does not notice their smell (or most other strong odours that would make the other villagers ill) but dislikes the smell of frying.

Unhygienix

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 his fish are stale, Unhygienix throws a fish at him, he throws it back, it hits someone else, etc., the whole village gets into a fight. This rivalry is a family tradition — their fathers also fought, and their children are continuing it.

  • French: Ordralfabétix ("Ordre alphabétique", meaning "alphabetical order") - this is essentially the same in Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan and Italian (Ordinalfabetix)
In English, he is Unhygienix ("unclean" from "unhygienic")
In Dutch, he is Kostunrix ("costs a riks", 'riks' being slang for two-and-a-half guilders)
In German, he is Verleihnix ("Verleih' nix" — " (I) do not lend anything")
In Swedish, he is Crabbofix (close to "crab & fish")
In Danish, he is Hørmetix ("Hørme" means "stinks")
In Norwegian, he is Hermetix ("Hermetikk" refers to the food contianed in hermetic tin cans)
In Polish, he is Szykalfabetiks (alphabetical order) or Ahigieniks (unhygienic)
In Hungarian, he is Messesaglix ("stinks far")
In Finnish, he is Amaryllix; in Greek, Alfavitix (Αλφαβητίξ)

[edit] Bacteria

First Appearance: Asterix in Spain

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 they are sometimes put to. They have a son (whose name has not been mentioned).

  • 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-euro 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!)

[edit] Julius Caesar

Main article: Julius Caesar   (historical)
Julus Caesar in Asterix Comics
Julus Caesar in Asterix Comics

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 to finally conquer this last Gaulish holdout 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. 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).

[edit] The Pirates

From left to right: Redbeard, Pegleg, Boy (Baba)
From left to right: Redbeard, Pegleg, Boy (Baba)

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.

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 spell the letter 'R', leaving blanks in his speech.
  • Erix - the captain's son. Seen in Asterix and the Banquet, he is mentioned in Asterix and Cleopatra as being left as a deposit on a new ship.

In addition a number of members of the pirate crew are sight gags, some of whom have appeared on more than one occasion such as the Frankenstein's monster and a Mongol warrior.

It should also be noted that in the films where the pirates are seen, Erix replaces Pegleg on the jetsam with Redbeard.

The main pirates are based on the French comic series, Barbe Rouge (1959 and continuing). The adventures of Barbe Rouge 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 times that parody figures have overshadowed their originals.

[edit] Minor recurring characters

Original (French) name is given in parentheses when different

[edit] Historical figures

  • Queen Cleopatra (Cléopâtre) - Queen of Egypt. Other characters often make remarks about her beautiful nose. She appears on the cover of Asterix and Cleopatra. She is also in Asterix and Son and Asterix and Obelix All at Sea.
  • 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.

[edit] Villagers

  • Monosyllabix and Polysyllabix (Petitélégrafix) - Villagers that appear together, first in Obelix and Co., where they appear on the cover. They are part of the village council (as seen in Asterix in Belgium).
  • Obese lady - another of Impedimenta's inner circle of village wives
  • Soporifix (Plantaquatix) - father of Panacea who is mentioned in Asterix the Legionary, but not seen until Asterix and the Actress
  • Other villagers mentioned by name (and presumed to be recurring part of crowd scenes):

[edit] Gauls

[edit] 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
  • 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 & Obelix. He makes the Gauls' lives as miserable as he does the Romans'. 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
  • Ekonomikrisis (Epidemaïs) - a Phoenecian merchant who appears in Asterix the Gladiator and also Asterix and the Black Gold
  • Gracchus Armisurplus (Gracchus Nenjetepus) - Centurion of Compendium (Petitbonum) for Asterix the Gladiator and Asterix and the Banquet; however his name is translated differently in each album
  • Tremensdelirius (Roméomontaigus) - A Roman Legionary who is an old drunk; he causes trouble in Asterix and Caesar's Gift   & Asterix and the Actress

[edit] External links