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{{Short description|1st comic book in the Asterix series}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}{{Infobox graphic novel
<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->|title=Asterix the Gaul|foreigntitle=Astérix le Gaulois|image=Asterix the Gaul.png|imagesize=<!-- default 250 -->|caption=Cover of the English edition|publisher=[[Dargaud]]|date=1961|series=[[Asterix]]|main_char_team=[[Asterix (character)|Asterix]] and [[Obelix]]|origpublication=''[[Pilote]]'' magazine|origissues=1–38|origdate=29 October 1959 – 14 July 1960|origlanguage=French|origisbn=|writer=[[René Goscinny]]|artist=[[Albert Uderzo]]|transpublisher=[[Brockhampton Press]]|transdate=1969|transisbn=|translator={{plainlist|
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==Plot summary==
All of the [[Gaul]] area is under [[ancient Rome|Roman]] control, except for one small village in [[Armorica]] (present-day [[Brittany]]), whose inhabitants are made invincible by a magic potion created periodically by the [[Druid]] [[Recurring characters in Asterix#Getafix|Getafix]]. To discover the secret of the Gauls' strength, [[Centurion]] Crismus Bonus, commander of a Roman garrison at the fortified camp of [[Compendium]], sends a spy, legionary Caligula Minus, disguised as a Gaul to the village. The Roman's identity is revealed when he loses his false moustache, shortly after he discovers the existence of the magic potion; whereupon he reports his discovery to the Centurion.
Crismus Bonus, hoping to overthrow [[Julius Caesar]], orders Getafix captured and interrogated for the recipe; but to no avail. [[Protagonist]] Asterix learned of Getafix's capture from a cart-seller; infiltrates the Roman camp in the latter's cart; and hears Crismus Bonus revealing his intended rebellion to Marcus Ginandtonicus, his second-in-command. Following Asterix's suggestion, Getafix pretends to agree to the Centurion's demand of the potion when Asterix pretends to give in to [[torture]], and demands an unseasonal ingredient: strawberries. While Crismus Bonus' soldiers try to find strawberries, Asterix and Getafix relax in relative luxury; and when the strawberries arrive, consume them all, and console Crismus Bonus that the potion may be made without them.
After all the ingredients are found, a potion is prepared that causes the [[hair]] and [[beard]] of the drinker to grow at an accelerated pace. The Romans are tricked into drinking this potion and before long, all of them have long hair and beards. When Crismus Bonus pleads Getafix to make an antidote, the druid makes a cauldron of vegetable soup (knowing that the hair-growth potion shall soon cease to take effect), and also prepares a small quantity of the real magic potion for Asterix. As Getafix and Asterix escape, they are stopped by a huge army of Roman reinforcements commanded by [[Recurring characters in Asterix#Julius Caesar|Julius Caesar]]. Upon meeting Asterix and Getafix, Caesar hears of Crismus Bonus' intentions against himself; deports Crismus Bonus and his garrison to [[Outer Mongolia]]; and frees Asterix and Getafix for giving him the information, while reminding them that they are still enemies. The two Gauls then return to their village, where their neighbors celebrate their return.
==Characters==
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* The Roman second-in-command changes abruptly a few pages into the story.
* Getafix begins the story living in a cave in the forest and looking much like a stereotypical caveman. He also uses a walking stick.
* Obelix is seen carrying an axe in his first appearance. It is never seen again. He is satisfied with helping Asterix eat just one boar between them. Obelix is only a peripheral character in the first album, and
* Asterix and other villagers appear to be using the potion constantly, yet seeing the potion being made is viewed as an event.
* Fulliautomatix is seen working metal with his bare hands. He also bears no resemblance to his later appearances.
* Cacofonix the bard plays and calls a dance, and at the end is seated at the table at the feast. Later albums established a [[running gag]] where he is never allowed to sing (except in those such as ''[[Asterix and the Normans]]'', ''[[The Mansions of the Gods]]'' and ''[[Asterix and the Magic Carpet]]''), and is tied up and gagged at feasts to prevent this.
* When he is first introduced in the prologue, Caesar has a completely different look than he has in the rest of the series, including at the end of this album.
==Publishing history==
The story was first published as a [[Serial (literature)|serial]] in ''[[Pilote]]'' magazine, a [[Franco-Belgian comics]] magazine founded by Goscinny and a few other comic artists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.frenchbyfrench.com/advanced.php?artist=Goscinny%2520Uderzo&title=Ast%25E9rix%2520le%2520Gaulois|title=Ast%E9rix%20le%20Gaulois|website=www.frenchbyfrench.com|language=en-en|access-date=2018-10-01|archive-date=2 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002020256/http://www.frenchbyfrench.com/advanced.php?artist=Goscinny%2520Uderzo&title=Ast%25E9rix%2520le%2520Gaulois|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The first page appeared in the promotional issue #0, distributed on 1 June 1959, and the story was serially published in the magazine from issue #1 (29 October 1959) until issue #38 (14 July 1960). A small head of Asterix first appeared on the cover of #9 (24 December 1959), and a full Asterix cover was used on #21 (17 March 1960).
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The English translation by [[Anthea Bell]] and [[Derek Hockridge]] was first published in 1969 by [[Brockhampton Press]].
The plate for page 35 was redrawn by Albert Uderzo's brother Marcel in 1970 because the original was lost. This is why there are some slight differences in the drawing style. All English versions from [[Hodder & Stoughton]] (Hodder Dargaud) use the original illustrations, which were made from a copy of an actual printed page, hence the blurriness. The 2004 release from [[Orion Books]] uses the redone illustrations from the French editions.<ref>[http://www.asterix.com/the-collection/albums/asterix-the-gaul.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001051636/http://www.asterix.com/the-collection/albums/asterix-the-gaul.html
An [[audiobook]] of ''Asterix the Gaul'' adapted by [[Anthea Bell]] and narrated by [[Willie Rushton]] was released on [[EMI Records]] ''Listen for Pleasure'' label in 1990.
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* It changes all references to the Circus Maximus to the Colosseum, even though in the timeline it wouldn't be built for another 120 years.
==British comic
Valiant comics saved #59 (16 November 1963) carried a British version of Asterix with just the names changed which ran for a time, on the back page (so it was in colour). It was called "Little Fred and Big Ed" and they lived in a British village called Nevergiveup, the druid was named Hokus Pokus and the chief Roman was called Pompus.
==Film adaptation==
The book was adapted into [[Asterix the Gaul (film)|a film]], which was released in 1967. Goscinny and Uderzo were not consulted during the making of the film, and the first they heard of it was a few months before it was released, when they were shown an early version of it. It was generally not well received, and a planned adaptation of ''[[Asterix and the Golden Sickle]]'', made by the same animation team, was scrapped.
==See also ==
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