article

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

Main characters

Asterix

Main article: Asterix
  • French: Astérix (meaning "asterisk", ie. the star (*) typographical symbol indicating a footnote) — his name is never changed in translations aside from accents and the use of the local alphabet
Asterix is the main character. He is a brave, cunning warrior, of somewhat diminutive size. He eagerly volunteers for all the most perilous missions.


Obelix

  • French: Obélix (meaning obelisk ie. a massive monument or a companion mark to the asterisk the obelisk typographical symbol (†) indicating a second footnote — his name is also almost never changed in official translations aside from accents and the use of the local alphabet
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. Like Asterix, Obelix is a bachelor, but harbours a hopeless crush on Panacea, the daughter of Soporifix (one of the other villagers), and occasionally other young women, most notably Mrs. Geriatrix.

Dogmatix

First Appearance: Asterix and the Banquet
  • French: Idéfix (a fixed idea or theme) - most translations use some variant of this original name.
In English, Dogmatix comes from dogma - an unchanging set of beliefs.
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.

Major recurring characters

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.

Cacofonix

  • French: Assurancetourix (meaning "comprehensive insurance") - also in Dutch, Italian and Spanish.
In German and Swedish he is Troubadix, or Trubadurix in Danish, Norwegian and Finnish (a pun on "trubadur", the word for bard).
In Portuguese he is Chatotorix (meaning "annoying").
In English, Cacofonix is derrived from cacophony (meaning "a harsh and unpleasant sound"), which itself has a Greek derivation.
In Greek he is Kakofonix, Kakofoniks in Polish. 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).

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.

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.

Fulliautomatix

  • French: Cétautomatix (meaning "it is automatic") — the languages of Spain follow fairly literally: Eseautomatix in Castillian, 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 (Automatiks in Polish. Aftomatix in Greek)
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 Armarix in Norwegian
In Swedish versions Smidefix (as a pun on the word "smith")
In Finnish he is Caravellix 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.

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 too). 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. He is married (and dominated by his much smaller, unnamed wife) and has a son and daughter.

Geriatrix

First Appearance: Asterix at the Olympic Games (but unnamed cameos in Asterix the Gladiator and other early stories)
  • French: Agecanonix (meaning "very old age").
In English the name comes from Geriatrics, the branch of medicine dealing with old age.
In Spanish he is Edadepiedrix or Edatdepèdrix in Catalan (meaning "Stone Age").
In Finnish and Scandinavian languages he is Senilix (from senile).
In Dutch he is Nestorix (after Nestor).
In German he is Methusalix or in Italian Matusalemix (after Methuselah).
In Portuguese he is Veteranix, in Greek, Palaiontolovix, in Polish, Ramoliks.

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.

Mrs. Geriatrix

First Appearance: Asterix and the Roman Agent
  • 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).
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. 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.

Getafix

  • French: Panoramix ("panoramic" or "wide view") - in most European translations this name is used.
    In English, the name is a pun on a "fix" - a dose of a drug taken by an addict.
    In German and Scandinavian he is Miraculix.
    In Finnish he is Akvavitix.

    Getafix is the village druid. In appearance he is tall with a white beard, white gown 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.

    Impedimenta

    First Appearance: Asterix and the Big Fight (but not named until Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield)
    • French: Bonemine ("good looking") - also used in Swedish, and close variants in Greek (Bonemina) and Italian (Beniamina)
      In English, the name is derrived from "impediment", an obstacle.
      In Spanish she is Karabella
      In Portuguese she is Naftalina
      In Dutch she is Bellefleur
      In German she is Gutemine; Danish and Norwegian, Godemine
      In Finnish she is Smirgeline
      In Polish she is Dobrominko

      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. She frequently says she wants to go back to Lutetia and live with her successful merchant brother, Homeopathix.

      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.

      Julius Caesar

      Main article: Julius Caesar   (historical)
      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).

      Unhygienix

      First Appearance: Asterix in Spain
      • French: Ordralfabétix (meaning "alphabetical order") - this is essentially the same in Italian, Portuguese and Spanish (with minor spelling changes)
        In English he is Unhygienix ("unclean" from "hygiene")
        In Dutch he is Kostunrix ("costs a riks", 'riks' being slang for two-and-a-half guilders)
        In German he is Verleihnix
        In Swedish he is Crabbofix (close to "crab & fish")
        In Danish he is Hørmetix (Hermetix in Norwegian)
        In Finnish he is Amaryllix
        In Greek he is Katalfavitix
        In Polish he is Ahigieniks
        Unhygienix is the village fishmonger, as was his father Unhealthix before him. His wife Bacteria helps him run his shop, selling fish of dubious quality. They have a son (whose name has not been mentioned).

        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.

        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., etc., everyone gets into a fight. This rivalry is a family tradition — their fathers also fought, and their children are continuing it.

        Bacteria

        First Appearance: Asterix in Spain
        • French: Iélosubmarine (a pun on "Yellow Submarine") — a variant of this is used in most translations
        In Scandinavian she is Remouladine (but her name is never used in Swedish!)
        In Dutch she is Forentientje ('voor een tientje' means 'for a ten-euro bill', keeping in the same monetary character as the translation of her husband's name.)
        In English, bacteria is the name for a class of microscopic life forms, some of which are responsible for various deseases, keeping in the same unsanitary character as the name of her husband.
        Bacteria is the wife of Unhygienix. She helps him sell fish and takes the strange uses they get put to as an everyday occurrence. She is one of the inner circle of village wives.

        Vitalstatistix

        • French: Abraracourcix ("à bras raccourcis" — "with arms up ready to fight")- this is the same in Dutch, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish (although the "o" is usually dropped)
        In English, Vitalstatistix is a pun on Vital statistics - the government birth and death records of a region.
        In Catalan he is Acopdegarròtix
        In German, Greek and Scandinavian he is Majestix, a pun of Majesty
        In Finnish, Aladobix
        In Polish he is Asparanoiks
        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. 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 mentions this in an actual story — and only as a rallying cry when addressing the villagers. 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.

        Minor recurring characters

        Original (French) name is given in parentheses when different

        Villagers

        • 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
        • Mrs. Fulliautomatix - Wife of Fulliautomatix and one of the inner circle of village wives who are first seen in Asterix and the Roman Agent.
        • Obese lady - another of Impedimenta's inner circle of village wives
        • 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).
        • Soporifix (Plantaquatix) - father of Panacea who is mentioned, but not seen until Asterix and the Actress

        Gauls

        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.
        • Brutus - Marcus Junius Brutus, Caesar's adopted son. Constantly plays with a knife.

        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 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 also visits the village 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
        • Tremendelirius (Roméomontaigus) - A Roman Legionary who is an old drunk; he causes trouble in Asterix and Caesar's Gift   & Asterix and the Actress However, sometimes, the pirates would sink their own ship to avoid a beating at the hand of the Gauls. The three main pirates are based on the French comic series, Barbe Rouge (1959 and continuing).
          • Redbeard (Barbe Rouge) - captain of the pirates.
          • Pegleg - an old pirate with a wooden leg who makes classical quotations in Latin.
          • Boy (Baba) - the 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.

        External links

        Asterix | Comics characters

        Figuren aus Asterix | Personnages secondaires d'Astérix le Gaulois | Asterix

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Recurring characters in Asterix".

Home Page • arts • business • computers • games • health • hospitals • home • kids & teens • news • physicians • recreation• reference • regional • science • shopping • society • sports • world