Monday, April 28, 2014

X - Astérix and Company





Taking a cue from Klahanie’s blog, I’m doing this backwards today. Instead of a word starting with an X, I will use a word that ends with one. I fell in love with this silly yet adorable comic book when a teenager and am so happy I can now read it in its original French. One of the fun things about the “Astérix the Gaul” comic book series, is that all of the names of the Gaelic men (from Astérix’s village) END in “X.”
The women’s names all end either in “E” or “A” as would be appropriate in French. If you look carefully and read out the men’s names however, the joke is on us as readers. Take for instance, what is an asterisk? A star! How about Panoramix, ever had one taken at the dentists? Or Geriatrix, who happens to be the oldest of the villagers. Obélix is Astérix’s best friend (obelisk anyone?). Astérix Le Gaulois was first published in 1959 in “Pilote”magazine, and to this day is a French favorite with 35 volumes so far.  (my husband has two Pilote originals worth I don’t know what) Then came the cartoons and now there are films. All have done well. There is even a theme park near Paris, Parc Astérix. Here then, are some photos of Astérix and Company to hopefully make you smile…

The hero himself
With his best friend Obelix and his dog Dogmatix (in French, Idéfix, like an idea)

From one of the four films Christian Clavier as Asterix and
Gérard Depardieu as Obelix

To give you an idea of the English language version
The cast from one of the films again this time starring Édouard Baer as Asterix

More humor typical of the comic books

A cover

The village inhabitants!

Le Parc Asterix

Even publicized in the subways...

And on postal stamps

Images from:
 

18 comments:

  1. Ah -- words ending in X. I'll have to remember that idea if I do the AtoZ Challenge next year. I'm running out of ideas.

    Wendy at Jollett Etc.

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    1. Yes, Klahanie aka Gary (and Penny), did this last year so I stole the idea from him!

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  2. First off, very clever twist on the old dreaded "X" day of the challenge :)

    I haven't heard of Asterix and his antics. I'll definitely look the comics up. They look like a lot of fun. And the films? I laughed just looking at the pictures! Thanks for sharing this with us!

    Jen

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    1. You're welcome Jennifer. Asterix is so full of fun and nonsense one can't help but love it!

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  3. I'd heard of the characters before but didn't know anything about them.

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    1. Glad I could tell you about something you didn't know! Must be a first!

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  4. Anonymous11:17 AM

    This is awesome! I Never knew who they were, but I had a puzzle of the village inhabitants as a child. Who knows where it came from since we lived in WI and I honestly don't remember how we got the puzzle. Thanks for the lesson!

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    1. How fun to have had a puzzle! Glad you enjoyed the post. My kids have loved him for years...

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  5. I've been to Parc Asterix with my kids a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a much friendlier theme park than Disneyland Paris which was much more commercialised.

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    1. My husband has been there Sally, but sadly not me, yet! I hope to one day. I've heard before that it's much more fun than Euro Disney...

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  6. Hey Lisa,

    Bonjour n'stuff. I'm so grateful that you have thought outside the blog, um box. Yay, box ends in an "x"!

    “Astérix the Gaul”, I know of that. The gall of it. Maybe I should "Xerox" your post! Aha!

    Thanks for the mention of my very obscure, rebellious blog :)

    Gary :) xox

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    1. Obscure? Right! Not! You're welcome anyway. Last year you did the a to z backwards, or was it the year before? I don't know, but that's where the idea come from. You are SO funny!!

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  7. Love all the pictures, the postage stamp best.
    Gail visiting for AtoZ

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    1. I like it too! Evidently they produced more than one but this one caught my eye. Thanks for dropping by and commenting Gail!

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  8. I loved the Asterix comics and the movies. We have a small collection here and my children love them too.



    http://ceciliaaclark.blogspot.com.au

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    1. So neat to know other kids are out there loving Asterix as well. I mean, of course there have to be for the series to be so popular, but over here in the States, that's rare! Thanks for dropping by!

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    2. Oops, forgot! You're in Australia! I first read Asterix and Tin Tin in New Zealand when I stayed there one summer...winter there of course!

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  9. Hi Lisa .. my younger brother was in constant hysterics with Asterix .. and I'm not even sure now if he's without a few of the books ... I was too cool and too old for them I think - but now find them so much fun ..

    Brilliant your hubby has a couple of originals .. and thanks for the tip re the Asterix Park .. sounds like it could be an interesting visit sometime ...

    Great X - hadn't realised Gary done X backwards .. but then .. he does in an upside down world - penny is the only sane one?! He is extremely funny though .. the quips keep coming ... Cheers Hilary

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Thank you so much for commenting on my blog. I may not always be able to respond to the comments you leave, however, I appreciate you dropping by and will do my best to visit your blog as well, if you have one!