Asterix (Astérix in French) is a celebrated series of French comic books created by writer René Goscinny and illustrator Albert Uderzo. It first appeared in the French magazine Pilote on October 29, 1959.
The series is set in 50 BC in a small Gaulish village resisting Roman occupation. The inhabitants of this village possess superhuman strength thanks to a magic potion brewed by their druid, Panoramix. When he forgets how to prepare their magic potion, Asterix, Obelix, and the Gauls must find new ways to fend off Roman soldiers.
Fastnfurious is Caesar’s main general. His daughter Metadata tells Caesar about the ancient tradition of the Gauls. “The Big Fight” is when two chiefs from opposing villages come together for a fight. The winner takes over the losing village, meaning Rome would finally have a way to formally and directly control all of Gaul. But first, Metadata hatches a plan to separate the Gauls from their druid, Panoramix.
The series is loaded with humor in a way that only the French can deliver. Poking fun at Rome’s belief in multiple gods and overweight townspeople, and surely you noticed some of the names of the characters.
In The Big Fight, we get not-so-typical 30+ minute episodes, each adding something new to the fold. In the first episode, we’re given the backstory on why Obelix is restricted from having the magic potion and how the original recipe was concocted. We also learn the origin of rival villages and rising antagonists.
The build-up to the inevitable clash is monumental and entertaining. This is a big win if you’re an Asterix fan or just want a solid cartoon to watch on Netflix. It’s best to watch in French with English subtitles (sometimes those dubs can be tough to watch).
Astérix & Obélix: The Big Fight gets a 9 out of 10. The French comic book turned animated series keeps its original form and delivers yet again in another limited series. Did they have to spoof so many things in pop culture (like Avengers: Endgame)? No, but we’re better off for it. If you’ve ever wanted to watch animated battles on a very innocent, Fortnite-esque level, this is the show for you and your kids.
Astérix & Obélix: The Big Fight is available now on Netflix
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of Netflix
Genre: Kids
Rating: TV-Y7
Runtime: Five Episodes | 35 mins.
Trailer: Watch
U.S. Release Date: April 30, 2025