New Asterix comic inspired by Scotland The author of the new Asterix comic book has revealed that the Scottish landscape was the inspiration for the hero's latest epic tale, Asterix and the Picts. Jean-Yves Ferri spoke publicly about Asterix and the Picts for the first time at an Alliance Française lecture in Glasgow where he divulged information about the story line and described Scotland's role in the creative process. Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland he said, "I love the landscapes of Scotland, especially in the north, up in the Highlands. And it's the landscape for a story of Asterix - an ideal landscape. In my story, politics are the background. But the story - the principle story - is a kind of love story between a Pict character and a girl. And Asterix and Obelix went to Scotland to help him. The comic book, published in October, is the first Asterix story written and illustrated by anyone other than the original creators, Albert Uderzo and Rene Goscinny. Goscinny died in 1977 but illustrator Uderzo took on the writing duties and produced a further 11 comic books. This is 35th in a series, which began with Asterix and the Gaul in 1961 and has now sold more than 350 million copies worldwide. It sees Asterix and his erstwhile sidekick Obelix travel from Ancient Gaul to Iron Age Scotland where the Picts of the title reside. All the Scottish stereotypes are firmly in place with whisky, bagpipes and the Loch Ness Monster all included. Ferri has also introduced a political slant, touching upon the Scottish independence referendum debate. The pro-independence Yes Scotland campaign welcomed the allusion. They said: "We are animated by an endorsement from such a prestigious character, but, as ever, we would have to check that he is registered to vote."