Buenos Aires honors René Goscinny on centenary of his birth

Buenos Aires paid tribute this Saturday to French writer René Goscinny, creator of Astérix, Lucky Luke, and Le Petit Nicolas, on the centenary of his birth. The event, part of the Corrientes 24 horas festival, transformed Avenida Corrientes into a pedestrian zone with a mapping show on the Obelisk, a giant-screen screening of 'Astérix and Obélix: The Chiefs' Battle', games, French cooking classes, and discounts in bookshops Source: infobae. Goscinny, born in Paris on August 14, 1926, lived in Buenos Aires from age two to nineteen, where he studied at the Lycée Français and developed his passion for drawing and humor Source: listindiario. His daughter Anne Goscinny has noted that 'my father, his characters and my heart are decidedly Argentine' Source: infobae.

The Argentine influence

Goscinny's time in Argentina left a lasting mark. He grew up near Plaza San Martín and spoke Spanish with a local accent, according to editor Leopoldo Kulesz, who has been reissuing his works through Libros del Zorzal Source: clarin. Some legends claim that Obélix's blue-and-white pants were a tribute to Racing Club, but Kulesz says there is no evidence: 'We searched a lot and there is no verifiable fact that says that' Source: infobae. Another coincidence: 'Obélix comes from obelisk. We don't know if it's the Buenos Aires Obelisk, but why not?' Source: infobae.

Lasting legacy

Goscinny's work remains hugely popular. With over 500 million copies sold, he is 'the best-selling comics scriptwriter in the world', according to historian Pascal Ory Source: abces. The recent release of 'Astérix in Lusitania' sold five million copies Source: abces. Kulesz emphasizes the importance of faithful translations: 'For me, Goscinny is like Cervantes, Shakespeare. He is a genius' Source: clarin.