La figure du Noir ou la persistance de l'imagerie coloniale dans les aventures d' Astérix.

This article focuses on the representation of Black characters in the French comic series Astérix. Written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo, the series first appeared in 1959, during the wars of decolonization in the last remnants of the French Empire. Although Astérix is meant to entertain, it is still a product of its time, especially in its portrayal of characters of African descent. The series is populated with Black men as pygmies, cannibals, or with obvious ape-like characteristics. Almost all have distorted small skulls, enormous red lips, and speak in grotesque accents. Although the colonial and racist imagery of the early Franco-Belgian bande-dessinée has been the subject of scrutiny, the racist caricatures of Astérix have received surprisingly little academic criticism. This article addresses the origins of these colonial influences, provides examples of racial stereotypes, and discusses the persistence of such portrayals in contemporary albums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]