Daughter accuses Asterix author of betraying his hero
Richard Lea writing in guardian.co.uk, Thursday 15 January 2009

Hero no more? Albert Uderzo poses with his characters in 2005 Photograph: Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP/Getty Images

The Romans may not have defeated Asterix, but his creator, Albert Uderzo, stands accused of surrendering to the indomitable Gaul's worst enemies: businessmen and financiers.

Writing in Le Monde yesterday, his daughter Sylvie suggests the 81-year-old illustrator has been pushed into denying "all the values" she was brought up with: "independence, fraternity, conviviality and resistance".
"This first victory of the invader over the indomitable Gauls is the only scenario no-one has ever dared to imagine," she continues. "It's as if characters Detritus or some other Accidentrix had come to the village, seen the chief, Albert, my father, and conquered him … As if they had managed to open the gates of the village to the empire!"

Uderzo, who created Asterix with the late Rene Goscinny in 1959, sold his stake in the company which publishes Asterix to Hachette last December, giving them a controlling stake of 60% in the company. The remaining 40% is owned by Sylvie.
The company announced last week that Uderzo had given authorisation for the bestselling series to continue after his death.

Read the full story at The Guardian online.

And more on Asterix living on from The Courier Mail.