The Asterix adventures take place in 50 BC. The Romans have conquered all of Gaul. All? Not quite! There is a small seaside village somewhere on the coast of Brittany inhabited by indomitable Gauls who resist the Romans occupation.
What makes them invincible is a secret magic potion prepared by their druid, Getafix, which gives them temporary superhuman strenght. The only one not allowed to drink the potion is Obelix who fell in it as a youngster and ended up with permanent superhuman strength. Asterix, our hero, is a small but brave and cunning warrior. He and Obelix, his inseparable friend, go on many adventures around the village, around Europe and sometimes around the world. They love nothing more than to combat the Romans and celebrate their adventures under a starry sky. The only thing they are afraid of is that the sky might fall on their heads.
Well translated in English, the Asterix comic books are aimed at a teen/adult audience and integrate many historical events in to their plots. You may think that the deep satirical presence throughout these books might make it difficult for children under the age of 12 to understand the humor, but young kids love these books and there is plenty of slapstick to go around which they will much appreciate. Don't worry about exposing your kids to violence - nothing more than missing teeth , dented armor and black eyes presented in a very comical way. For example, in the first story "Asterix the Gaul," the Romans capture the village druid and torture him by tickling his feet with a feather.
Asterix is a French national icon. Kids of all ages will love these wonderful humorous stories filled with dazzling illustrations, filled with puns which will keep you smiling at every page, and filled with colorful, endearing and hilarious characters who will entertain you with their quirky personalities.