New Asterix comic book released today The Asterix phenomenon has continued to be a publishing juggernaut despite the death in 1977 of the writer René Goscinny , who created the series in 1959 with his artist friend Albert Uderzo. The latest edition, which is the work of writer Jean-Yves Ferri and artist Didier Conrad, marks the first in the series not written and illustrated by one of the original creators. There are characters in kilts, of course. And whisky. We tried to find a Celtic tone," said writer Ferri. The cover features a winking Asterix watching Obelix completing a caber toss; the latter character was drawn by Uderzo for the cover. The Asterix series has sold 352 million copies sold worldwide, with translations in more than 110 languages and dialects, making it a bestseller in the comic book world. Two million copies of Asterix and the Picts were printed for France and another three million for foreign audiences, including copies in Scots and Gaelic. The series has been adapted into four live-action films and is the inspiration French theme park, Parc Asterix.