Table 3.3. Recurring Fictional Characters
| Character | Meaning: explained meaning. Comments |
|---|---|
| Arthritix | (American) Arthritis: a joint disease usually found in the elderly. The village elder. |
| Asterix | Asterisk: a star ("*"). Our hero. Comes from the Greek
asteriskos, small star. It was originally used to draw attention
to something unusual or striking. These days it is used to indicate the
presence of a footnote, or to show that something is missing.
The names Asterix and Obelix are also, partially, visual gags - "The characters actually look like the shapes they're named for. Asterix has six sort of appendages of his body: His arms, his legs and his helmet wings. He's a little fellow, and these make up most of his form. So he really does look like a little asterisk! And Obelix is like the shape of an obelisk - tear-drop shaped." |
| Belladonna | (American) Belladona: a poisonous plant of the nightshade family. The chief's wife. |
| Bacteria | (English) Wife of the fishmonger |
| Cacofonix | (English) Cacophony: an unmusical din. The village bard. |
| Dogmatix |
Dogmatics: the study of religious dogmas. The small white dog who travels
with them.
(alt.) Dogmatic: Given to holding and asserting fixed ideas and opinions. This definition fits in nicely with the French name Idéfix. Environmentalist who howls whenever trees are knocked over. It's easy to skim over him, but he's sometimes doing something interesting. The original French name, Idéfix, was chosen by the readers of Pilote in a contest organized in the 60's. Other names that were suggested by readers include Patracourcix and Papeurdurix. Goscinny and Uderzo founded the film company Dogmatix Studios to make The Twelve Tasks of Asterix. In the opening credits Dogmatix barks from the middle of the Dogmatix studio logo — a la the lion in the MGM films. |
| Drinklikafix | Innkeeper who appears in Asterix and the Golden Sickle, Asterix and the Banquet and Asterix in Corsica. Modelled on the French actor Raimu (1883 - 1946). |
| Epidemix | (US) Epidemic, (illness) affecting a large group of people. The fishmonger. |
| Fulliautomatix | (English) Fully automatic. The village blacksmith. Running feud with Unhyginix. Pounds on Cacophonix when he tries to sing. |
| Getafix | (English) Get a fix. The village druid. |
| Geriatrix | (English) Geriatrics: the science of aging. The village old fogey (with a nubile young wife). |
| Impedimenta | (English) Impedimenta: something hindering progress, baggage. The chief's wife. |
| Macroeconomix | (American) Macroeconomics: the study of economy at a global or national level. The village chief. |
| Magigimmix | (American) Magic gimmicks. The village druid. |
| Malacoustix | (American) Malacoustics: bad sound. Village bard. |
| Myopia | (English) Definitely not Geriatrix's wife.
Peter Kessler says - "There is much speculation whether this is the name of Mrs. Geriatrix. Impedimenta utters it while talking to Mrs. Geriatrix. People disagree whether it is actually the name of Mrs. Geriatrix or just some kind of an oath uttered by Impedimenta. And Uderzo has said that he wanted to retain some mystery around the character as he based her in part on his wide." |
| Obelix |
Asterix's co-hero. Fell in the magic potion as a
baby, so can't have any now (except in Asterix And Cleopatra and
Asterix and Obelix all at Sea).
An obelisk is a small dagger-like typographical symbol (†). It was
originally used to mark something that was spurious, doubtful, or obsolete.
These days it is used to indicate either the presence of a footnote (if the
asterisk has already been used) or, particularly after a person's name, to show
that they have kicked the bucket.
This and an asterisk are used for footnotes and cross reference in many books
and papers. Maybe the authors are attempting to make a joke about
how these adventures are a footnote to history.
Hendrik Jan has learnt an obelisk, indicated a critical comment, whereas
the asterisk indicated a clarification.
(alt.) In Greek, Obelix sounds like Ovelias. Ovelias in the ancient Greek word for a spit (the iron thing Gauls use to cook a wild boar on open fire). Thus the name Obelix might have something to do with that, if we take his love for such kind of food into consideration. (alt.) Obelisk: a stone monument with four sides and a pyramidal top, like a squared off menhir. (remote alt.) 'O' meaning round + 'belly' + ix |
| Pirates | Inspired by another French comic series (Le Démon des Caraïbes) from Pilote magazine in the 60's, These poor SOBs end up getting sunk almost every issue. According to the Official Asterix site, the Captain of the pirates is called Redbeard. Redbeard's son is named Erix. The old one with the crutch is a latin scholar sometimes called "pegleg". The black pirate lookout in the crow's nest is named Baba in most translations but not in the English ones. |
| Unhygenix | (English) Unhygenic: unclean, dirty. The fishmonger. |
| Vitalstatistix | (English) Vital statistics: probably referring to his waistline... The village chief. |