The 41st Asterix album, Asterix in Lusitania, is set to hit bookstores on October 23, 2025, and promises to bring sunshine, humor, and plenty of Portuguese flavor. Written by Fabcaro and illustrated by Didier Conrad, this second collaboration between the duo takes Asterix and Obelix on a brand-new voyage — this time to the ancient lands of present-day Portugal.
From Gaul to Lusitania
After The White Iris (2023), which took place in Gaul, Fabcaro wanted to send the two heroes somewhere bright and cheerful. “I wanted a sunny destination,” he explained to BFMTV. “Lusitania came quite naturally.” Both the writer and Albert René’s managing director Céleste Surugue traveled to Portugal in early 2024 for research.
“We came back thinking: this is such a welcoming, colorful, and luminous place,” said Surugue. “Even before you open the album, you should feel that it’s somewhere you’d love to be.”
Bringing Ancient Portugal to Life
For illustrator Didier Conrad, capturing the right atmosphere was key. Having already visited Portugal, he aimed to reflect its warmth and rich landscapes. Lusitania, he notes, is much greener than the drier Hispania seen in Asterix in Spain (1969). The album will also feature bright, hilly cities inspired by Lisbon — complete with cobblestone streets and the famous azulejos (ornamental tiles) that give Portuguese architecture its distinct character.
New Faces: Friends and Foes
As always, a new journey means new encounters. On the cover, readers can spot the villain Pirepès, a scheming character reminiscent of Tullius Detritus from Asterix and the Roman Agent. He is joined by a Roman centurion named Nouvelopus, who bears a striking resemblance to British actor Ricky Gervais — a new addition to the long list of celebrities caricatured in Asterix albums.
For the Lusitanians, Conrad drew inspiration from a small detail hidden in The Mansions of the Gods (1971), where a Lusitanian character appeared briefly. “Goscinny and Uderzo had already laid the groundwork,” he explained. “That design guided me in creating Solilès and Pataquès, two Lusitanian runners who also appeared in Asterix and the Chariot Race.”
For the Lusitanian women, Conrad looked to Portuguese folk art — statues, dolls, and traditional clothing — adapting them to fit the ancient Asterix world.
What’s in a Name?
Every culture in Asterix has its linguistic quirks. The Gauls end in -ix, the Romans in -us, the Goths in -ic. The Lusitanians, following the precedent set by Jean-Yves Ferri in Asterix and the Chariot Race, will have names ending in -ès. “I kept that rule,” said Fabcaro. “The young Lusitanian we meet at the beginning is called Boulequiès, for example.”
The Spirit of Saudade
Each Asterix adventure captures the essence of its setting — and for Portugal, Fabcaro chose to explore the uniquely Lusitanian feeling of saudade: a blend of nostalgia, melancholy, and fatalism.
“Saudade is a kind of gentle sadness,” Fabcaro explained. “The challenge was to turn something so melancholic into a source of comedy.”
He traces this feeling back to Viriatus, the Lusitanian hero who, like Vercingetorix, fought against Roman occupation and was ultimately betrayed by his own. “I imagined that the saudade began with that betrayal — something the Lusitanians never quite got over.”
A Journey Full of Humor and Heart
Like their predecessors Goscinny and Uderzo, Fabcaro and Conrad approach their subjects with humor and affection. “We play with stereotypes, but always kindly,” said Céleste Surugue. “This new Asterix is a journey full of smiles, color, and tenderness.”
Asterix in Lusitania will be published in more than 20 languages and is expected to be one of the most anticipated comic releases of 2025.
Sources: BFMTV interviews with Fabcaro, Didier Conrad, and Céleste Surugue; Éditions Albert René press materials.
The 41st Asterix album, Asterix in Lusitania, is set to hit bookstores on October 23, 2025, and promises to bring sunshine, humor, and plenty of Portuguese flavor. Written by Fabcaro and illustrated by Didier Conrad, this second collaboration between the duo takes Asterix and Obelix on a brand-new voyage — this time to the ancient lands of present-day Portugal.
From Gaul to Lusitania
After The White Iris (2023), which took place in Gaul, Fabcaro wanted to send the two heroes somewhere bright and cheerful. “I wanted a sunny destination,” he explained to BFMTV. “Lusitania came quite naturally.” Both the writer and Albert René’s managing director Céleste Surugue traveled to Portugal in early 2024 for research.
“We came back thinking: this is such a welcoming, colorful, and luminous place,” said Surugue. “Even before you open the album, you should feel that it’s somewhere you’d love to be.”
Bringing Ancient Portugal to Life
For illustrator Didier Conrad, capturing the right atmosphere was key. Having already visited Portugal, he aimed to reflect its warmth and rich landscapes. Lusitania, he notes, is much greener than the drier Hispania seen in Asterix in Spain (1969). The album will also feature bright, hilly cities inspired by Lisbon — complete with cobblestone streets and the famous azulejos (ornamental tiles) that give Portuguese architecture its distinct character.
New Faces: Friends and Foes
As always, a new journey means new encounters. On the cover, readers can spot the villain Pirepès, a scheming character reminiscent of Tullius Detritus from Asterix and the Roman Agent. He is joined by a Roman centurion named Nouvelopus, who bears a striking resemblance to British actor Ricky Gervais — a new addition to the long list of celebrities caricatured in Asterix albums.
For the Lusitanians, Conrad drew inspiration from a small detail hidden in The Mansions of the Gods (1971), where a Lusitanian character appeared briefly. “Goscinny and Uderzo had already laid the groundwork,” he explained. “That design guided me in creating Solilès and Pataquès, two Lusitanian runners who also appeared in Asterix and the Chariot Race.”
For the Lusitanian women, Conrad looked to Portuguese folk art — statues, dolls, and traditional clothing — adapting them to fit the ancient Asterix world.
What’s in a Name?
Every culture in Asterix has its linguistic quirks. The Gauls end in -ix, the Romans in -us, the Goths in -ic. The Lusitanians, following the precedent set by Jean-Yves Ferri in Asterix and the Chariot Race, will have names ending in -ès. “I kept that rule,” said Fabcaro. “The young Lusitanian we meet at the beginning is called Boulequiès, for example.”
The Spirit of Saudade
Each Asterix adventure captures the essence of its setting — and for Portugal, Fabcaro chose to explore the uniquely Lusitanian feeling of saudade: a blend of nostalgia, melancholy, and fatalism.
“Saudade is a kind of gentle sadness,” Fabcaro explained. “The challenge was to turn something so melancholic into a source of comedy.”
He traces this feeling back to Viriatus, the Lusitanian hero who, like Vercingetorix, fought against Roman occupation and was ultimately betrayed by his own. “I imagined that the saudade began with that betrayal — something the Lusitanians never quite got over.”
A Journey Full of Humor and Heart
Like their predecessors Goscinny and Uderzo, Fabcaro and Conrad approach their subjects with humor and affection. “We play with stereotypes, but always kindly,” said Céleste Surugue. “This new Asterix is a journey full of smiles, color, and tenderness.”
Asterix in Lusitania will be published in more than 20 languages and is expected to be one of the most anticipated comic releases of 2025.
Sources: BFMTV interviews with Fabcaro, Didier Conrad, and Céleste Surugue; Éditions Albert René press materials.