Asterix The Gaul

The cover on the English version.

Asterix the Gaul (French: Astérix le Gaulois) is the first book of the Asterix series; it was released in 1959.

Plot[edit]

All Gaul is divided into three parts...no, four parts. One Gaulish village holds out against the Roman invasion, and no amount of fighting can subdue these Gauls.

Centurion Crismus Bonus, whos men are being constantly defeated by Gauls whom they outnumber four to one, decides that the Gauls must have some secret. Through a round of Musical Chairs he selects a spy named Caligua Minus, who is disguised as a Gaul that has been captured by the Romans. Asterix and Obelix spot the Romans with the "Gaul" and quickly free him, bringing him back to the village.

In the village, Caligua Minus persuades Getafix to give him the secret of their strength, whereupon Getafix gives him some magic potion. After the Gauls discover that he is a spy, he escapes.

Back in the Roman camp, Crismus Bonus learns about the potion from Caligua Minus and decides to acquire the secret, which will allow him to conquer Julius Caesar. His soldiers capture Getafix, intending to force him to make the potion.

A worried Asterix discovers that Getafix has been captured and slips into the Roman camp. Before being captured and thrown in with Getafix, he learns that Crismus Bonus intends to use the potion to acquire the imperial throne. Getafix agrees to make the potion, but instead brews a hair tonic which makes the Roman legionnaires' hair and beard grow very long.

A furious Crismus Bonus agrees to free the Gauls if Getafix gives him the antidote to the tonic (in reality there is no antidote; the effects wear off after several days). Getafix agrees, and makes some potion just for Asterix as well as the "antidote" (soup). By means of the potion, Getafix and Asterix escape, only to be recaptured by Romans led by Julius Caesar himself.

Asterix reveals that Crismus Bonus was attempting to overthrow Caesar by means of the potion. As a reward, Caesar frees the Gauls and sends Crismus Bonus and his men to Outer Mongolia.