Dogmatix
Encyclopedia
Dogmatix is a fictional character
, a tiny white dog who belongs to Obelix
in the Asterix
comics. Dogmatix is a pun on the words dog
and dogma
tic. In the original French his name is Idéfix, itself a pun on the French expression idée fixe
(fixed idea) meaning an obsession. This pun is unusual for a translation in that it is remarkably close to the original meaning and adds to it (by inclusion of the dog- syllable).
Dogmatix is the only main character in the series that is an animal. His role is minor in most of the stories, significant mainly as a 'bone' of contention between Asterix
and Obelix as to whether he should be allowed to accompany them on their adventures. However, he is often doing something interesting in the background and occasionally fulfils an important part of the plot.
In the words of the authors, Dogmatix is the only known "canine ecologist" who loves trees and howls in distress whenever one is damaged. Despite his small size, he is quite fearless. He has drunk the magic potion on a number of occasions, but his favourite treat is to 'chew a bone'.
Dogmatix makes his first appearance in Asterix and the Banquet
. He is first seen sitting in front of a butcher's shop in Lutetia
, watching Asterix and Obelix go in. He then follows Asterix and Obelix all around Gaul, appearing in nearly every panel of the story until the end. The fact that he ran after them throughout the story was meant to be a literal running gag
. He went unnoticed by the two men until the very end when he attracted Obelix' attention at the closing banquet and was given a pat on the head and a bone. He was meant to be a one-off character (hence his leaving the village in the final picture) but he was so effective that it was decided to bring him back.
Thus his next appearance is in the next adventure, Asterix and Cleopatra
in which he played a more active role and was given a name. He caused Asterix and Obelix to argue about whether or not he should accompany them to Egypt, but proved his worth when he followed the Gauls
into a pyramid
in which they were lost and guided them out safely (with the promise of lots of bones).
Like many dogs, Dogmatix is very protective and jealous of his master, especially when he falls for, or is shown affection by, beautiful young women. In Asterix the Legionary
he makes very clear his loathing for Panacea with whom Obelix had fallen in love. He shows the same attitude to Influenza in Asterix and Caesar's Gift
and Melodrama in Asterix and the Great Divide
. However, despite his loyalty to his master, Dogmatix has been shown to side with Asterix in arguments on various occasions, such as in Asterix and the Soothsayer
and Obelix and Co.
His friendship with Pepe in Asterix in Spain
and Asterix in Corsica
causes Obelix to become very jealous. Likewise, Dogmatix is unimpressed by Obelix's attraction towards Panacea in the earlier stages of Asterix the Legionary
and is hostile and growls when his master asks her to look after him while he is away. However, Panacea kisses him straightaway, putting him into a lovestruck daze.
In Asterix and the Actress
, he finds a mate and returns with a litter of puppies.
Although, they carry the Goscinny/Uderzo byline, these are licenced works aimed at the children's market. They lack the style and sophistication of the main Asterix creative team, and have little or no editing for continuity. Although widely translated (not by the regular English translators of the Asterix comics), these comics did not become very popular, and are mostly forgotten.
In 1983, an attempt was made to revive the series with two new stories. These were translated by Derek Hockridge
and Anthea Bell
, who were the regular English language translators of the Asterix albums.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, a tiny white dog who belongs to Obelix
Obelix
Obelix is a fictional character from the French comic book series Asterix. He works as a menhir sculptor and deliveryman, and is Asterix's best friend. Obelix is noted for his fatness, the menhirs he carries around on his back and his superhuman strength...
in the Asterix
Asterix
Asterix or The Adventures of Asterix is a series of French comic books written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo . The series first appeared in French in the magazine Pilote on October 29, 1959...
comics. Dogmatix is a pun on the words dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
and dogma
Dogma
Dogma is the established belief or doctrine held by a religion, or a particular group or organization. It is authoritative and not to be disputed, doubted, or diverged from, by the practitioners or believers...
tic. In the original French his name is Idéfix, itself a pun on the French expression idée fixe
Idée fixe (psychology)
For other uses, see Idée fixeAn idée fixe is a preoccupation of mind held so firmly as to resist any attempt to modify it, a fixation. The name originates from the French [French : idée, idea + fixe, fixed]...
(fixed idea) meaning an obsession. This pun is unusual for a translation in that it is remarkably close to the original meaning and adds to it (by inclusion of the dog- syllable).
Dogmatix is the only main character in the series that is an animal. His role is minor in most of the stories, significant mainly as a 'bone' of contention between Asterix
Asterix (character)
Asterix is a fictional character, the titular hero of the French comic book series The Adventures of Asterix.The series portrays him as a diminutive but fearless Gaulish warrior living in the time of Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars. Asterix was created in 1959 by writer René Goscinny and illustrator...
and Obelix as to whether he should be allowed to accompany them on their adventures. However, he is often doing something interesting in the background and occasionally fulfils an important part of the plot.
In the words of the authors, Dogmatix is the only known "canine ecologist" who loves trees and howls in distress whenever one is damaged. Despite his small size, he is quite fearless. He has drunk the magic potion on a number of occasions, but his favourite treat is to 'chew a bone'.
Dogmatix makes his first appearance in Asterix and the Banquet
Asterix and the Banquet
Asterix and the Banquet is the fifth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo . It was first serialized in the magazine Pilote, issues 172-213, in 1963.-Plot:...
. He is first seen sitting in front of a butcher's shop in Lutetia
Lutetia
Lutetia was a town in pre-Roman and Roman Gaul. The Gallo-Roman city was a forerunner of the re-established Merovingian town that is the ancestor of present-day Paris...
, watching Asterix and Obelix go in. He then follows Asterix and Obelix all around Gaul, appearing in nearly every panel of the story until the end. The fact that he ran after them throughout the story was meant to be a literal running gag
Running gag
A running gag, or running joke, is a literary device that takes the form of an amusing joke or a comical reference and appears repeatedly throughout a work of literature or other form of storytelling....
. He went unnoticed by the two men until the very end when he attracted Obelix' attention at the closing banquet and was given a pat on the head and a bone. He was meant to be a one-off character (hence his leaving the village in the final picture) but he was so effective that it was decided to bring him back.
Thus his next appearance is in the next adventure, Asterix and Cleopatra
Asterix and Cleopatra
Asterix and Cleopatra is the sixth book in the Asterix comic book series by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It was first published in serial form in Pilote magazine, issues 215-257, in 1963.-Synopsis:...
in which he played a more active role and was given a name. He caused Asterix and Obelix to argue about whether or not he should accompany them to Egypt, but proved his worth when he followed the Gauls
Gauls
The Gauls were a Celtic people living in Gaul, the region roughly corresponding to what is now France, Belgium, Switzerland and Northern Italy, from the Iron Age through the Roman period. They mostly spoke the Continental Celtic language called Gaulish....
into a pyramid
Pyramid
A pyramid is a structure whose outer surfaces are triangular and converge at a single point. The base of a pyramid can be trilateral, quadrilateral, or any polygon shape, meaning that a pyramid has at least three triangular surfaces...
in which they were lost and guided them out safely (with the promise of lots of bones).
Like many dogs, Dogmatix is very protective and jealous of his master, especially when he falls for, or is shown affection by, beautiful young women. In Asterix the Legionary
Asterix the Legionary
Asterix the Legionary is the tenth Asterix book in the Asterix comic book series by Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It was first published as a serial in Pilote magazine, issues 368-389, in 1966.-Synopsis:...
he makes very clear his loathing for Panacea with whom Obelix had fallen in love. He shows the same attitude to Influenza in Asterix and Caesar's Gift
Asterix and Caesar's Gift
Asterix and Caesar's Gift is the twenty-first volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo . It was the first Asterix adventure that was not published in serial form in Pilote prior to its publication as a book.-The gift of Caesar:The story begins c...
and Melodrama in Asterix and the Great Divide
Asterix and the Great Divide
Asterix and the Great Divide is the twenty-fifth volume of the Asterix comic book series. It was first published in 1980.-Plot summary:In a village similar to Asterix's, two rival chiefs, Cleverdix and Majestix, have been elected...
. However, despite his loyalty to his master, Dogmatix has been shown to side with Asterix in arguments on various occasions, such as in Asterix and the Soothsayer
Asterix and the Soothsayer
Asterix and the Soothsayer is the nineteenth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo . It was originally serialized in Pilote issues 652-673 in 1972.-Plot summary:...
and Obelix and Co.
Obelix and Co.
Obelix and Co. is the twenty-third volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo . The book's main focus is on the attempts by the Gaul-occupying Romans to corrupt the one remaining village that still holds out against them by instilling capitalism.-Plot...
His friendship with Pepe in Asterix in Spain
Asterix in Spain
Asterix in Spain is the fourteenth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo . It was originally serialized in the megazine Pilote, issues 498-519, in 1969, and translated into English in 1971...
and Asterix in Corsica
Asterix in Corsica
Asterix in Corsica is the twentieth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo . It was originally serialized in Pilote issues 687-708 in 1973...
causes Obelix to become very jealous. Likewise, Dogmatix is unimpressed by Obelix's attraction towards Panacea in the earlier stages of Asterix the Legionary
Asterix the Legionary
Asterix the Legionary is the tenth Asterix book in the Asterix comic book series by Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It was first published as a serial in Pilote magazine, issues 368-389, in 1966.-Synopsis:...
and is hostile and growls when his master asks her to look after him while he is away. However, Panacea kisses him straightaway, putting him into a lovestruck daze.
In Asterix and the Actress
Asterix and the Actress
Asterix and the Actress is the 31st volume of the Asterix comic book series, written and illustrated by Albert Uderzo.-Plot summary:For Asterix and Obelix' birthday party, their parents have decided to come from Condatum...
, he finds a mate and returns with a litter of puppies.
Dogmatix books
Dogmatix's great popularity gave rise to a line of children's books in 1973 featuring his "adventures". These were in the form of text with illustrations and were not consistent with the Asterix stories.- Idéfix fait du sport. (Dogmatix the Athlete)
- Idéfix et la petite fille. (Dogmatix and the Little Girl)
- Idéfix au cirque. (Dogmatix at the Circus)
- Une folle poursuite. (The Crazy Chase)
- Idéfix se fait un ami. (Dogmatix Makes a Friend)
- La chasse au sanglier. (Dogmatix and the Boar Hunt)
- L'orage. (Dogmatix and the Storm)
- Un gouter bien merité. (The Well-Deserved Tea Party)
- Idefix et le bébé. (Dogmatix and the Baby)
- Idéfix et le poisson clown. (Dogmatix and the Lost Fish)
- L'anniversaire d'Idéfix. (Dogmatix' Birthday)
- Idéfix à la neige. (Dogmatix in the Snow)
- Idéfix magicien. (Dogmatix the Wizard)
- Idéfix et le perroquet. (Dogmatix and the Parrot)
Although, they carry the Goscinny/Uderzo byline, these are licenced works aimed at the children's market. They lack the style and sophistication of the main Asterix creative team, and have little or no editing for continuity. Although widely translated (not by the regular English translators of the Asterix comics), these comics did not become very popular, and are mostly forgotten.
In 1983, an attempt was made to revive the series with two new stories. These were translated by Derek Hockridge
Derek Hockridge
Derek Hockridge was born in 1934 in Wales and brought up in Birmingham. His degree at the University of Wales, Cardiff, was followed by teacher training at St Edmund Hall, Oxford...
and Anthea Bell
Anthea Bell
Anthea Bell OBE is a British translator who has translated numerous literary works, especially children's literature, from French, German, Danish and Polish to English...
, who were the regular English language translators of the Asterix albums.
- Idefix et le vilain petit aiglon. (Dogmatix and the Ugly Little Eagle)
- Idefix et la grande fringale. (Dogmatix and the Magic Potions)