| Obelix | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Dargaud |
| First appearance | Asterix the Gaul (1959) |
| Created by | René Goscinny Albert Uderzo |
| In-story information | |
| Abilities | Permanent superhuman strength, provided by magical potion |
Obelix (/ˈɒbəlɪks/; French: Obélix) is a cartoon character in the French comic book series Asterix. He works as a menhir sculptor and deliveryman as well as one of the primary defenders of the Gaulish village, and is Asterix's best friend. Obelix is noted for his obesity, the menhirs he carries around on his back and his superhuman strength. He fell into a cauldron of the Gauls' magic potion when he was a baby, causing him to be the only Gaul in Asterix's village who is in a permanent state of superhuman strength. Because of this already enormous strength, Obelix is not allowed to drink the magic potion ever again, a ban he regards as being tremendously unfair. Other characteristics are his simplemindedness, his love and care for his dog Dogmatix, his anger when someone refers to him as being "fat", his enthusiasm for hunting and eating wild boars, and beating up Romans. His catchphrase is: "Ils sont fous ces romains", which translates into "These Romans are crazy!", although he considers nearly every other nationality, even other Gauls, to be just as strange.
The character was portrayed by actor Gérard Depardieu in every Asterix live-action film until 2023's Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom.