Asterix in Translation: The Genius of Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge
I grew up in Canada, and so was exposed to Asterix.  As were people that I've met from France (of course), Australia, India, Spain, Germany, etc, etc, etc.<p>And yet in the United States the comics are almost non-existent.  My best guess is that American publishers don't think that Americans will understand such sophisticated humor.<p>Whatever they think, kids that I expose to the comics consistently love them.  At a younger age for the physical humor (such as Obelix accidentally walking through doors).  At an older age, for all of the layers (many of which I know escape me).<p>The originals were excellent.  The translations are excellent.  I highly recommend them.  Though I'd recommend starting with the ones written while Goscinny was still alive.  The look of the latter ones is still the same, but there is more reference to repeated in jokes and the overall humor is not to the same quality.