How Obelix Fell into the Magic Potion When he was a Little Boy

by René Goscinny, Albert Uderzo (Illustrator)

Asterix (prequel)

On This Page

Description

All of the Asterix stories feature references to Obelix falling into the Druid's Cauldron of magic potion when he was about six years old. This was the event through which he derived his phenomenal physical strength. Here is the full story of how it happened.

Tags

Recommendations

Member Reviews

9 reviews
This slim volume is not a typical Asterix book; rather than being a comic strip album, it is an illustrated short story with the usual division of labour between Goscinny and Uderzo. Originally published in Pilote, the story tells how Obelix came to fall into the cauldron of magic potion and become the permanent bearer of super-human strength we know so well. Asterix himself narrates.

People who know the Asterix canon will be thinking, six years old? Surely Obelix was a baby when that happened? Well, I can't explain the contradiction and I'm not going to worry about it too much. I suggest other readers do the same and instead focus on the witty story and the delightful full page and double page illustrations.

This is essential for all show more true Asterix fans. show less
For those who have read an Asterix book or two will be well aware that his more ample mate, Obelix, possesses super-strength that does not require a sip or two of the magic potion made up by the village's in-house chemist (meth lab?) Getafix. It is referred to on many an occassion how Obelix fell into the potion when he was a child, but now you get the actual story.

In a move away from the traditional cartoon panel layout, this story follows a story book with illustrations. It is narrated by Asterix and is set in a time when they may have been about five years old.

We get to see many of the other villagers we know and love at this age; Fulliautomatix, Cacofonix, and Unhygenix amongst others. We also see Chief Vitalstatistix, who is chief show more in this, but is younger and slimmer. We also meet the parents of both Asterix and Obelix.

Not laced with the normal humour/punning we are used to in Asterix volumes, and for a story it is also very short, and the end was shut off very quickly which was a disappointment. But still, as a historical record every bit as important as any other in Gaul, it makes a subtly pleasant change...although I wouldn't be too quick to read another in similar format...cartoons and prose just do not mix!
show less
½
Five out of ten. CBR format. Explains exactly how Obelix derived his amazing strength.
½
The title tells what it is, a mostly text story of Obelix and Asterix and their childhoods
No valid German National Library records retrieved.
No valid German National Library records retrieved.
Match found in the German National Library.

Members

Recently Added By

Author Information

Picture of author.
722+ Works 69,622 Members
Picture of author.
Illustrator
316+ Works 63,787 Members
Albert Uderzo was born on April 25, 1927 in Fismes, France as Alberto Aleondro Uderzo. In 1940, when he was just 13, he worked for Paris Publishing Society where he learned the basics for his profession - designing text and letters and editing photos. During World War II he worked on a farm and later as a furniture maker with his father. His show more drawing skills were put aside until 1945 when he entered a comic strip competition and later worked on a cartoon film titled Clic Clac. In the mean time he moved to Paris and worked on the magazine O.K. where he created several comics such as Arys Buck and Belloy. It was then that he met Rene Goscinny and the two worked on new comic book characters like Ompah-pah, Jehan Pistolet and Luc Junior. In 1959 they started a magazine called Pilote aimed at older children. It was the first issue that introduced the character Asterix and it was a big hit. By 1967 the comic became so popular that they decided to devote all their time to the series. Albert Uderzo was the illustator of all thirty Asterix adventures and the writer of the last eight adventures. show less

Some Editions

Bell, Anthea (Translator)
Hockridge, Derek (Translator)
Mébarki, Thierry (Illustrator)
Sala, Alfred (Translator)

Series

Work Relationships

Common Knowledge

Canonical title
How Obelix Fell into the Magic Potion When he was a Little Boy
Original title
Comment Obélix est tombé dans la marmite du druide quand il était petit
Alternate titles*
Asterix: Wie Obelix als kleines Kind in den Zaubertrank geplumpst ist; Goscinny und Uderzo präsentieren ein neues Abenteuer von Asterix wie Obelix als kleines Kind in den Zaubertrank geplumpst ist
Original publication date
1989
People/Characters*
Obelix; Asterix; Miraculix; Troubadix; Automatix; Majestix
Important places
Roman Empire; Gaul; Indomitable Village
Important events
Roman Empire; 1st century BCE
First words*
Ich wurde in einem kleinen aremoricanischen Dorf geboren, das euch aus meinen Abenteuern wohlbekannt ist.
Last words*
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Ich glaube, diesmal gibt's unser Leibgericht: Wildschweinbraten!
Original language
French
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.

Classifications

Genre
Graphic Novels & Comics
DDC/MDS
741.5Arts & recreationDrawing & decorative artsDrawing and drawingsComic books, graphic novels, fotonovelas, cartoons, caricatures, comic strips
LCC
PN6747Language and LiteratureLiterature (General)Literature (General)Collections of general literatureComic books, strips, etc.
BISAC

Statistics

Members
542
Popularity
54,536
Reviews
8
Rating
½ (3.41)
Languages
16 — Catalan, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Galician, Greek, Italian, Norwegian (Bokmål), Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
42
ASINs
4