Asterix in

Asterix has been published in (at that time Western) Germany the first time in the comic magazine "Lupo modern" in 1965. Two years later, in 1967, another comic magazine called "MV67" took over and finally the first album was printed in the following year. Some stories have three different translations! Much later, in 1996, the first "Mundart" (dialect) translation was published.

On this page I want to give an overview over all these editions.

"Siggi und Babarras" in Lupo modern

In 1965 the first German translation of Asterix (by Peter Wiechmann) was serialized in the comic magazine "Lupo modern". Asterix & Obelix were called Siggi & Babarras. The publisher was Rolf Kauka Verlag, known for the comic characters Lupo and Fix & Foxi, kind of a German equivalent to Donald Duck and his nephews.
Rolf Kauka had to stop publishing Asterix after four stories, because the translation was not authorized by Goscinny and Uderzo. In Rolf Kauka's translation the location was moved from Gaul to ancient Germany. In [3] "Siggi und die Ostgoten" the Gauls are the Westgoten (western Goths) and the Goths the Ostgoten (eastern Goths). The village of our hero is called Bonnhalla (Bonn, former capital of Western Germany). The druide's name is Konradin (an allusion to Konrad Adenauer, first prime minister in the F32) and the name of the chief of the Goths is Hullberick, which reminds one of Walter Ulbricht, who was in a similar position in the former GDR. The Ostgoten speak a red (communistic?!), east German dialect. One of the Roman legionaries is called Tschie-Ei (GI). The sign at the border points to the "Westsektor" on the one side and to the "Ostsektor" on the other side. And so on...

[2] Siggi und die goldene Sichel - serialized in Lupo modern 1965, no. 6-15
[4] Siggi - Kampf um Rom - serialized in Lupo modern 1965, no. 16-26
[3] Siggi und die Ostgoten - serialized in Lupo modern 1965, no. 27-37
[1] Siggi, der Unverwüstliche - serialized in Lupo modern 1966, no. 9-14

MV67, MV68, MV Comix

In 1967 the first "real" translation was published. [1-4] were completely re-translated. Again the stories were serialized in a comic magazine for children - starting with [7] "Der Kampf der Häuptlinge". The magazine's name was "MV67" (one year later the name changed to "MV68" and from 1969 it was called "MV Comix"). The publisher was Ehapa Verlag in Stuttgart.
The first stories (among them [6] "Asterix und Kleopatra" and [9] "Asterix bei den Normannen") published in this magazine differ from the later album versions. Gudrun Penndorf, whose translation was used for the albums editions of [1-29], took over from the early MV translators only some time in 1969. The last adventure that was serialized was [23] "Obelix GmbH & Co. KG."

[1] Asterix der Gallier - serialized in 1968 in MV68
[2] Die goldene Sichel - serialized in 1968 in MV68
[3] Asterix und die Goten - serialized in 1968/69 in MV68/MV Comix
[4] Asterix als Gladiator - serialized in 1968 in MV68
[5] Tour de France - serialized in 1968 in MV68
[6] Asterix und Kleopatra - serialized in 1968 in MV68
[7] Der Kampf der Häuptlinge - serialized 1967 in MV67
[8] Asterix bei den Briten - serialized in 1967/68 in MV67/MV68
[9] Asterix und die Normannen - serialized in 1968 in MV68
[10] Asterix als Legionär - serialized in 1969 in MV Comix
[11] Asterix und der Avernerschild - serialized in 1969 in MV Comix
[12] Asterix bei den Olympischen Spielen - serialized in 1968 in MV68
[13] Asterix und der Kupferkessel - serialized in 1969/70 in MV Comix
[14] Asterix in Spanien - serialized in 1970 in MV Comix
[15] Streit um Asterix - serialized in 1970/71 in MV Comix
[16] Asterix bei den Schweizern - serialized in 1971 in MV Comix
[17] Die Trabantenstadt - serialized in 1971/72 in MV Comix
[18] Die Lorbeeren des Cäsar - serialized in 1972 in MV Comix
[19] Der Seher - serialized in 1972/73 in MV Comix
[20] Asterix auf Korsika - serialized in 1973 in MV Comix
[21] Das Geschenk Cäsars - serialized in 1975 in MV Comix
[22] Die große Überfahrt - serialized in 1975/76 in MV Comix
[23] Obelix GmbH & Co. KG. - serialized in 1976/77 in MV Comix

Comparison of the MV68 and later album translations (see below) of [6] Asterix und Kleopatra:

detail [6] MV68
MV68 detail [6] Ehapa
album

Asterix in other magazines

Some stories have been serialized in other magazines, too:

Comic Zeitung in 1974/75. 4 issues only, with a few pages of [7].
YPS [1-30].
hobby at least [1] in 1970 and [6] in 1971. 6 Asterix pages per magazine.
Gong in the 70s. I have never seen a copy, but the translation is said to differ from the album translation.
Bild rainbow press newspaper, several (shortened) short stories in August 2005.

Album edition by Delta Verlag / Ehapa Verlag*

* which is now Egmont Ehapa Verlag (for the SC edition) and Egmont vgs (since 2003 for the HC edition)

In 1968 the first albums were printed by Delta Verlag (a joint venture of Dargaud and Ehapa Verlag).
The translators are Gudrun Penndorf for [1-29], Adolf Kabatek and Michael F. Walz for [30], Michael F. Walz alone for [31] and Horst Berner and Wolfgang Kukulies for [32]. The translation of [31] is well-known for its low quality and also the texts in [32] sometimes lack appropriate translation.
If you compare different prints of one story you may find minor changes. But in general the translation wasn't changed over the years. Only the first adventure - [1] "Asterix der Gallier" - was completely revised for the 20^th anniversary of the German edition in 1988. This new version became the standard translation for [1] then. Also the coloring was redone.
The numbering of the first seven books differs from the original French sequence. The albums are available in a softcover and a hardcover edition, a so called "Werkedition" with a small lexicon and a number of editions with more than one story in one book.
In 2001 (together with the new album [31]) a new edition - with the first eight albums recolored and the cover pictures redone - was published. The cover of [6] "Asterix und Kleopatra" was redone completely - with a big mistake! Found it?!

[1] Asterix der Gallier - 1968
[6] Asterix und Kleopatra, as no. 2 - 1969
[4] Asterix als Gladiator, as no. 3 - 1969
[7] Der Kampf der Häuptlinge, as no. 4 - 1969
[2] Die goldene Sichel, as no. 5 - 1970
[5] Tour de France, as no. 6 - 1970
[3] Asterix und die Goten, as no. 7 - 1970
[8] Asterix bei den Briten - 1971
[9] Asterix und die Normannen - 1971
[10] Asterix als Legionär - 1971
[11] Asterix und der Arvernerschild - 1972
[12] Asterix bei den Olympischen Spielen - 1972
[13] Asterix und der Kupferkessel - 1972
[14] Asterix in Spanien - 1973
[15] Streit um Asterix - 1973
[16] Asterix bei den Schweizern - 1973
[17] Die Trabantenstadt - 1974
[18] Die Lorbeeren des Cäsar - 1974
[19] Der Seher - 1975
[20] Asterix auf Korsika - 1975
[21] Das Geschenk Cäsars - 1976
[22] Die große Überfahrt - 1977
[23] Obelix GmbH & Co. KG - 1978
[24] Asterix bei den Belgiern - 1980
[25] Der große Graben - 1980
[26] Die Odyssee - 1982
[27] Der Sohn des Asterix - 1983
[28] Asterix im Morgenland - 1987
[29] Asterix und Maestria - 1991
[30] Obelix auf Kreuzfahrt - 1996
[31] Asterix und Latraviata - 14 March 2001
[32] Asterix plaudert aus der Schule - 2003*
[33] Gallien in Gefahr - 14 October 2005
[34] Asterix & Obelix feiern Geburtstag - 22 October 2009

* an extended edition of [32] with one additional short story was published in 2006

Mundart

In 1996 Ehapa (in cooperation with Delta Verlag) started the Mundart [in English: dialect] series. In the recent years Asterix has been translated into a big number of (both High and Low) German dialects spoken in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. For information about the translators check Ehapa's Mundart pages.

[25] Dr große Graba - [Mundart 1] Schwäbisch - 1996
[26] De Törn för nix - [Mundart 2] Platt - 1996
[27] Däm Asterix singe Jung - [Mundart 3] Kölsch - 1996
[28] Asterix em Morgaländle - [Mundart 4] Schwäbisch 2 - 1996
[25] Dr gross Grabe - [Mundart 5] Schwyzerdütsch - 1996
[29] De Rose und 's Schwärd - [Mundart 6] Sächsisch - 1997
[11] Asterix un de Arvernerschild - [Mundart 7] Pfälzisch - 1997
[25] Da grosse Grobn - [Mundart 8] Wienerisch
[3] Auf geht's zu de Gotn! - [Mundart 9] Bairisch - 1997
[9] Asterix un de Wikingers - [Mundart 10] Platt 2 - 1997
[26] Asterix u Obelix uf Irrwäge - [Mundart 11] Schwyzerdütsch 2 - 1997
[10] Asterix bei de Legionär - [Mundart 12] Schwäbisch 3 - 1997
[4] Brut un Spillcher - [Mundart 13] Kölsch 2 - 1997
[25] Hibbe un dribbe - [Mundart 14] Hessisch - 1997
[15] Zoff im Pott - [Mundart 15] Ruhrdeutsch - March 1998
[30] Lütt Obelix op grote Fohrt - [Mundart 16] Platt 3 - 1998
[19] Da Woasoga - [Mundart 17] Wienerisch 2 - 1998
[7] Di Haibtling' raffm's raus! - [Mundart 18] Fränkisch - 1998
[27] Em Asterix soi Bobbelsche - [Mundart 19] Pfälzisch 2 - 1998
[17] Die Platte Jottweedee - [Mundart 20] Berlinerisch - 1998
[11] Asterix und da Aweanaschüld - [Mundart 21] Steirisch - 1998
[29] Asterix un d' Emanz' - [Mundart 22] Badisch - 1998
[28] Asterix drennd im Oriendd - [Mundart 23] Bairisch 2 - 1998
[18] Em Cäsar saa Kränzie - [Mundart 24] Moselfränkisch - 1999
[27] Asterix sein Ulligen - [Mundart 25] Ruhrdeutsch 2 - April 1999
[30] Ruff un runner - [Mundart 26] Hessisch 2
[27] Asterix sien Söhn - [Mundart 27] Ostfriesisch - 1999
[26] De Asterix unnerwääschs - [Mundart 28] Saarländisch - 2000
[29] Asterix und es Gscheiderlä - [Mundart 29] Fränkisch 2 - August 1999
[23] Obelix und's groasse Gschäft - [Mundart 30] Tirolerisch - 2000
[13] Asterix un de Kuoperpott - [Mundart 31] Westfälisch - 2000
[10] Asterix oes Legionäa - [Mundart 32] Wienerisch 3 - 1999
[21] Cäsarn sinn Jeschenke - [Mundart 33] Thüringisch - 2000
[5] Tour de Ländle - [Mundart 34] Alemannisch - 2000
[15] Graffd wead! - [Mundart 35] Bairisch 3
[12] Fix un ferdisch - [Mundart 36] Hessisch 3 - 2000
[12] Asterix ba di Olümpischn Schpüle - [Mundart 37] Steirisch 2 - 2000
[17] Hammonia-City - [Mundart 38] Hamburgisch - 2000
[4] Asterix ols Gladiatoa - [Mundart 39] Kärntnerisch - December 2000
[2] Dat Köschemetz us Jold - [Mundart 40] Düsseldorfer Platt - February 2001
[13] Kuddelmuddel ums Kupperdibbe - [Mundart 41] Mainzerisch - December 2001
[1] Asterix dr Gallchor - [Mundart 42] Sächsisch 2 - March 2002
[17] De Hüslibau - [Mundart 43] Alemannisch 2 - August 2001
[7] Ozabfd is! - [Mundart 44] Münchnerisch - September 2001
[6] Asterix un es Zuckerschnecksche - [Mundart 45] Hessisch 4 - October 2001
[4] Asterix im Aarmviehteaader - [Mundart 46] Saarländisch 2 - October 2001
[18] Am Cäsar sei Lorbeerkränzle - [Mundart 47] Schwäbisch 4 - December 2001
[10] Asterix ba d'r Naia - [Mundart 48] Südtirolerisch - September 2002
[6] Asterix und det Pyramidenluda - [Mundart 49] Berlinerisch 2 - September 2002
[19] De Zottelbock - [Mundart 50] Hessisch 5 - October 2002
[10] Geh fort! - [Mundart 51] Hessisch 6 - May 2003
[13] Da Subbnkessl - [Mundart 52] Münchnerisch 2 - September 2003
[13] Asterix isch kesslun - [Mundart 53] Südtirolerisch 2 - September 2003
[5] Dour de Frångn - [Mundart 54] Unterfränkisch - December 2003
[6] Asterix un dat Kleo - [Mundart 55] Kölsch 3 - February 2004
[32] De Bieberer Zwersch - [Mundart 56] Hessisch 7 - August 2004
[13] Di Fråche der Ehre - [Mundart 57] Unterfränkisch 2 - November 2004
[27] Am Asterix sei Butzawaggele - [Mundart 58] Schwäbisch 5 - June 2005
[19] De Zukunftsgugger - [Mundart 59] Hunsrücker Platt - March 2006
[21] Olls lai Lolli - [Mundart 60] Südtirolerisch 3 - August 2005
[7] Då boxe di Beudel - [Mundart 61] Unterfränkisch 3 - November 2006
[2] Die Sischel vun Gold - [Mundart 62] Saarländisch 3 - May 2007
[4] Asterix da Gladiatoa - [Mundart 63] Bairisch 4 - July 2008
[22] Över't wiede Water - [Mundart 64] Platt 4 - Oktober 2008
[13] Was e Gefuddel - [Mundart 65] Hessisch 8 - November 2008

Other dialect translations

Some other translations which would fit in the Mundart series have been published in other countries by different publishers:

Alsatian (Elsässisch)
[12] Verlaa Dargaud (Dargaud Éditeur), France
[32] Les Éditions Albert-René, France

Luxembourgian (Lëtzebuergesch), official language in Luxembourg
[27] Editioun Cactus Createam, Luxembourg
[3,4,12,16,24,26,28,29] Editions Saint-Paul (Sankt-Paulus-Dréckerei), Luxembourg

Swiss German (Schwyzerdütsch)
[16] Dargaud Éditeur
[29] Emmentaler Druck, Switzerland

Twents
[1] De Oare útjouwerij, Enschede, The Netherlands

Other translations published in Germany

Latin - [1-15,25-31] Egmont Ehapa Verlag, Berlin

Esperanto - [1] (out of print for a long time) Delta Verlag, Stuttgart

Asterix International! <www.asterix-international.de> © 1998-2009 CK - c k ( a t ) a s t e r i x - i n t e r n a t i o n a l . d e
All pictures and texts taken from the Asterix comics © LES ÉDITIONS ALBERT-RENÉ / GOSCINNY-UDERZO and the respective publishers.