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PARIS: “We are in 50 BC. All of Gaul is occupied by the Romans… All of it? No! A small village of irreducible Gauls still and always resists the invader…”.

Phrases that evoke, without hesitation, two silhouettes: one small and frail, the other tall and obese: the timeless Asterix and Obelix.

It was one of the most anticipated films of the year in France, and it was just released on Wednesday 1er February in dark rooms, “Asterix and Obelix. The middle Empire“.

Directed by Guillaume Canet, the French blockbuster (65 million euros budget) features an impressive cast: Gilles Lellouche, Vincent Cassel, Jonathan Cohen, Marion Cotillard, Pierre Richard, Philippe Katerine, Big Flo and Oli, Angèle, McFly and Carlito , Zlatan Ibrahimovic, or Matthieu Chedid.

If the reception of this comedy is rather mixed, the inseparable duo formed by Asterix and Obelix still seems as seductive. Besides, who are they really? How did they come into being? How did their friendship start? Back to a shock duo.

Same day same time

Although they are obviously fictional characters, Asterix and Obelix still have a story. This dates back to 1959, more precisely on October 29, under the pencil strokes of Albert Uderzo, when Asterix appeared for the first time in the first issue of Pilotwhere he saw his first adventure, entitled “Asterix the gallic“. He won’t be alone, since Obélix also joins him in this issue, although he plays a secondary role.

The biography of the two characters can be found in the pages of the comic strip. In Asterix and Latraviata, published in 2001, we learn for example that the two accomplices were born on the same day, at the same time. Information delivered by the Druid Getafix himself. The two characters are 35 years old at the start of their adventures and… do not age. A single exception is made, during the publication of the Visitors’ Book, published in 2009 on the occasion of the 50e anniversary of the saga, where we discover the two 85-year-old heroes: Asterix has beards, he has a son and five grandchildren, while Obelix’s mustache and hair have turned white.

In Asterix and the Gallic return to schoolpublished in 2003, we also learn that Obélix’s parents are called Obélodalix and Gélatine, and those of Asterix, Astronomix and Praline.

An unbreakable friendship

The two Gauls were therefore born at the same time and grew up in the same village. Their friendship, as seen in the pages of the comic book albums, is very strong. Apart from a few often very funny sulks, they are the best friends in the world and it started at a young age.

In fact, Asterix in his youth is Obelix’s only friend: Obelix’s shyness and corpulence make him a special child, whom Asterix, first in the class, always defends. Besides, you should never tell Obélix that he’s fat, otherwise you’ll get… a slap in the face. Obélix’s heavy build is indeed the subject of a denial on his part: he declares to be “just a little wrapped up” or “not skinny, that’s all”, or even “low chest”.

Who says friendship and youth, necessarily says nonsense. And it is also during this period of their lives that Asterix commits the only stupidity that we know of him: he makes Obelix fall into the pot of the legendary magic potion. Result: Obelix drinks all of the potion and gains the superhuman strength the potion gives and… for his entire life.

Between them, Asterix and Obelix are the two main defenders of the village of diehards. Asterix is ​​the most cunning and intelligent warrior in the village and often takes his advice from the druid Getafix, the village sage who prepares the famous magic potion. Obélix, of great sensitivity, is unquestionably the strongest Gaul in his village.