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Picture of Chudomix
Chudomix (or Getafix) is the village druid. In appearance he is tall with a white beard, white robe, red cloak and usually seen in possession of a small golden sickle. While his age is never stated, in the story of Asterix\' birth (where all but the oldest villagers are seen as small children) he appears unchanged. In Asterix and the Big Fight the druid Psychoanalytix (who appears quite old) refers to him as his elder and teacher. Although known for his strength-enhancing magic potion he has many other magical and medicinal potions at his disposal, and acts as the village doctor and occasionally teacher. Asterix (and most other villagers) will consult him whenever anything strange occurs. He does not himself normally engage in combat, whereas most of the villagers enjoy a good punch-up (even with each other). On one occasion in one of the stories explaining Gaulish women, with using Mrs. Geriatrix as an example, with a fight sparked by Impedimanta. The final cut is shown with all the male villagers and two females, Impedimanta and Bacteria included, with Getafix running to stop the punch up, with a piece of fish flying towards him. What he does next (continues to attempt to stop the fight or joins in the brawl) is unknown, although the former is the most likely.
As the only individual able to produce the \"magic potion\" upon which the villagers rely for their strength, he is the focus of many stories, and the conscience of the village. On a few occasions, he has refused to make the potion when the villagers become too selfish. He has also occasionally been taken prisoner by hostile forces to get access to the potion – only to be freed again thanks to Asterix and Obelix. Finding ingredients for his potions has also sent Asterix on several adventures.
Getafix is very similar to many wise old men who usually act as mentors and father-figures to the heroes, going all the way from Merlin to Gandalf, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Albus Dumbledore. Under Goscinny, however, Getafix came across as more of just a friend to the protagonists rather than a wise old counselor. He was also, from the very beginning, shown as a figure of fun and had a wonderful sense of humour: in Asterix the Gaul he\'d cut his finger while using his sickle and roar with uncontrollable laughter at Asterix\' teasing of the Roman Centurion; in Asterix and the Big Fight he was shown as going literally crazy.
There... Now you have spent those annoying few minutes while waiting for the regeneration cycle to give you action points back... Time well spent... :) |