The other day, browsing a second-hand bookshop archive, I stumbled upon a comic book called Alix. The story follows a young Gallo-Roman teenager navigating the political turmoil of the late Roman Republic throughout Europe.
Digging a little more, I discovered it is part of a Franco-Belgian series created in 1948 by Jacques Martin. Mixing history and mythology, Alix‘s adventures follow the mysterious yet serious tone of its contemporaries, Phantom and Mandrake.
Based on the length of its series, Alix probably influenced readers and created a trend that gave birth to the artwork that most profoundly shaped my life.
Created in 1959 by Goscinny and Uderzo, Asterix follows this village of Gauls resisting Roman occupation in 50 BC. They use a magic potion that give them temporary superhuman strength, and resist domination day after day.
The art is vibrant, and the stories bring great entertainment despite their historical liberties. Ensuring their national pride, the French authors created a universe where Gauls were not massacred. In Asterix, they not only resist Romans but have them as neighbors, sharing experiences and punching them constantly.
Are We the Sum of Our Influences?
People say we become like the five people we spend the most time with. This extends to books, movies, and hobbies too. Looking back, my most defining “friends” weren’t people:
- Asterix sparked my love for history and made me recognize art;
- Indiana Jones made me understand it was okay to be curious and investigative;
- Drawing, a skill practiced by my older brother before me, shaped my creativity and gave me wings;
- The Bible unveiled endless worlds beyond my little town, introducing civilizations, war, hate, and hope. All stories kindly revolutionized by a humble guy who appears only in the final four books;
- Finally, Football, not only as a daily activity but as a global culture, made me dream about traveling.
The Library That Built Me
My father, a university professor, often took me to the library. There, I met Asterix and was instantly hooked. The comics showed me how European culture influenced my Latin American reality. Through it, the French turned a sad past into entertainment, recounting defeat and slavery with tales of heroism and pride.
Revisiting Old Friends
Finding Alix brought these memories rushing back. It reminded me how deeply Asterix shaped me despite being culturally undervalued.
I’ll write more about it soon. But what about you? What stories, books, or characters shaped the person you’ve become?
Credit: Statue de Vercingétorix (an inspiration to Asterix) by Marcel Musil.
