Asterix celebrates 50 years of Gallic resistance

Arguably the world's best known French character turned 50 yesterday.

Asterix celebrates 50 years of Gallic resistance

Arguably the world's best known French character turned 50 yesterday.

It was 1959 when writer Rene Goscinny and artist Albert Uderzo first sketched out their idea for a story set in a remote village on the Brittany coast, the last outpost of ancient Gaul holding out against the Roman invasion, where the villagers have become brave warriors through the help of a magic potion.

Asterix and his trusty sidekick Obelix were born.

Albert Uderzo was the special guest at the opening of a series of Asterix "events" in the French capital.

There are official dinners with members of the political elite, street parties, a flypast courtesy of the French air force's aerobatics team, a special exhibition and a commemorative book.

Prestige of Paris

"It's wonderful, it's prestigious. Now they must ask the Mayor of Paris to keep this on, it's really beautiful. It must be kept on. It must not be removed."

As well as open air displays at historic sites all over Paris, the Musu00e9e de Cluny is holding an exhibition showing early Asterix drawings.

Thirty original plates from the Asterix albums and the typescripts used to prepare them are being showcased for the first time.

Special issue

Objects such as Goscinny's typewriter and the issue of the magazine Pilote, where the comic strip was unleashed on a France that had just seen Charles de Gaulle become president, are also on display.

In 50 years, 325 million copies of 33 Asterix books have been sold around the world. What's more, the lovable rogues Asterix and Obelix will not be hanging up their shields any time soon.

A commemorative book Asterix and Obelix's Birthday: The Golden Book is out this week featuring the 400 characters who have appeared alongside the Gallic heroes over the last half century.

325 million
Number of Asterix books sold around the world in the past 50 years