Nobody could be more surprised about Astrix's stunning success than the original illustrator of Astrix,Albert Uderzo, who has also authored the series since the death of the original writer,Rene Goscinny.
VOA : standard.2009.10.22
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(Recording) Uderzo told French radio that Astrix was born when the owner of a French magazine called Pilote wanted a comic strip his kids could read that represented French culture.