Obelix

Obelix
Occupation(s)	Menhir sculptor and deliveryman
Known for	Central character in the French comic series Asterix; superhuman strength from magic potion accident
Notable work	Asterix comic series

Obelix ( ; ) plays a central role in the French comic series Asterix, published by Dargaud. As a menhir sculptor and deliveryman, he stands as one of the main protectors of the Gaulish village and is the closest companion of Asterix. His enduring superhuman strength is a result of falling into the magic potion cauldron during infancy, granting him permanent power but preventing him from consuming any more potion. Recognizable by his large physique, immense strength, and habit of carrying menhirs, Obelix enjoys hunting wild boar, battling Roman soldiers, and looking after his dog Dogmatix. His signature line, "Ils sont fous ces romains" ("These Romans are crazy!"), humorously captures his perspective on different groups.

Gérard Depardieu portrayed Obelix in all live-action Asterix adaptations up to 2023's Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom.

Character

Obelix serves as Asterix’s best friend and menhir transporter, with their birthdays mentioned inconsistently throughout the comics. His hobbies include hunting wild boar, engaging Roman legionaries in combat—often collecting their helmets as trophies—and producing menhirs in his personal quarry. He deeply cares for his dog Dogmatix and maintains family connections to figures from Condate and Lutetia.

His appetite is voracious, extending beyond wild boar to include nuts and oysters; however, he dislikes boiled boar meat. Thanks to his permanent potion-induced strength, Obelix is unaffected by drugs, spices, or poisons but becomes easily drunk when consuming alcohol. Although he owns a home, he frequently resides with Asterix.

The menhirs he crafts provide the village with goods in exchange and serve both as weapons and comically oversized decorations. Despite his friendly nature, Obelix lacks social grace—often unaware of his own power, he unintentionally breaks doors or walls. He depends on Asterix for guidance and shows limited enthusiasm for intellectual matters but occasionally reveals unexpected wisdom.

While playful yet fierce in combat, Obelix treats fighting as a sport and remains courteous toward adversaries—including Romans who fear his formidable reputation. He also enjoys dancing and sometimes drinks goat’s milk excessively.

Like Asterix, Obelix remains unmarried but has shown romantic interest in several women, notably Panacea and Mrs. Geriatrix, hinting at possible future descendants as suggested in Asterix and the Class Act.

His well-known catchphrase "These Romans are crazy" is often adapted to refer to other groups he encounters, parodying Julius Caesar’s historical comment about the Gauls.

Strength

Unlike other villagers, Obelix does not require the druid Getafix’s magic potion to gain superhuman strength because he fell into the cauldron as an infant, making its effects permanent. Obelix is notably tall and heavily built, measuring about and weighing over . Getafix refuses to administer more potion to him except under extreme conditions due to concerns about excessive power, much to Obelix’s frustration. (In Asterix and Obelix All at Sea, too much potion can turn an adult into stone; however, Obelix did not experience this as a child.) In Asterix and Cleopatra, Getafix gives him a few drops to unlock a door inside the Great Pyramid's Labyrinth; Obelix notices little difference since he is already exceptionally strong.

Both Getafix (in Asterix the Gaul) and Asterix (in Asterix and the Laurel Wreath) clarify that the potion does NOT grant invulnerability—injuries from Romans remain possible though rare due to their strength. Nevertheless, Obelix often appears impervious, shrugging off attacks that would incapacitate others—such as Roman spear tips lodged in his backside (Asterix in Corsica). This implies that the potion enhanced not only his strength but also his endurance and muscle resilience. He occasionally feels pain from sharp weapons, such as when struck by an arrow in Asterix and the Magic Carpet.

Obelix maintains strong opinions regarding Gaul-Roman relations, favoring conflict over peace:

• In Asterix in Britain, he dismisses claims of Roman invasion by suggesting Britons invited them for excitement. He appreciates rugby’s roughness and proposes introducing it to Gaul.
• Asterix in Corsica reveals yearly village assaults on Romans commemorate the Gaulish triumph at Gergovia. Obelix views Roman avoidance of these attacks as damaging to their "friendly" relations.
• In Asterix and Obelix All at Sea, he experiences nightmares about Romans departing Gaul and considers peace disrespectful to Vercingetorix’s legacy—likely fearing fewer opportunities for battle. Ironically, he praises Romans for attacking the village when they were preparing a parade.
• The Roman civil war between Caesar and Pompey, depicted in Asterix the Legionary and Asterix and the Actress, prompts Obelix to regret wasted lives—and fewer Romans left for combat.

Portrayal

Obelix was brought to life in a 1960 radio drama by the voice of Albert Augier. In the realm of animated cinema, his voice has been provided by several actors: Jacques Morel lent his voice for the initial three movies, followed by Pierre Tornade who voiced the character in the 1980s and 1990s films as well as in the video games Asterix & Obelix XXL and Asterix & Obelix XXL 2: Mission: Las Vegum. Later, Jacques Frantz took over for the 2006 film Asterix and the Vikings and the game Asterix at the Olympic Games. Since the release of Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods in 2014, Obelix has been voiced by a different actor. The English-language versions have featured various talents including Hal Brav, Michael Kilgarriff, Billy Kearns, Bernard Bresslaw, Rosey Grier, Howard Lew Lewis, Brad Garrett, C. Ernst Harth, and Nick Frost.

In live-action adaptations, Obelix was initially portrayed by Gérard Depardieu. For the film Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom, the role was assumed by Gilles Lellouche. English dubs of these films have included voice contributions from Terry Jones, Dominic Fumusa, and Paul Bandey.

Name

The name "Obelix" is a clever play on the Greek term obélisque, meaning obelisk, which alludes to his strong build and his characteristic act of carrying large stone monuments known as (menhirs). This term also connects to the typographical symbol called an obelus (or obèle), often used alongside an asterisk—the namesake of his companion Asterix.

See also

• List of Asterix characters