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audiencereader when they watch TVread comics. When we read comic books, we can see the change of facial expression in the illustration, for example when
the character is angry, shocked, laughing, surprised or crying. Illustration will also help to create humor. According to Bodmer 1992,
illustrations serve to expand, explain, interpret, or decorate a written text. They perform certain functions that may differ from those of gallery paintings. Art
work in picture books is most often concerned with storytelling. In comic, the illustration helps the readers understand the setting of the story. It also helps the
readers to understand the humor better than reading the text alone. It is stated before, that the drawing represents the context of situation in
the comic. It is also explained that illustration and expression are the part or the drawing. To relate it with the context of situation, the present researcher analyzes
only the illustration and the expression of the characters to represent the context of situation of the comic.
E. THE COMIC 1. General Description of
Asterix at the Olympic Games Comic.
. Asterix comic series were written by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo.
The cartoon series are about the Gaulish hero and his friends, who live in a village surrounded by invading Romans. The Gaulish people have a druid who can make
a magic potion which gives tremendous strength. The comics have been massively popular since first appearing in 1959. Asterix became one of the most sold comics
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in the world selling more copies than Disney characters. Estimated number of copies sold in the last 40 years is more than 250 millions. So far, Asterix has been
translated to more than 70 languages. The comic Asterix at the Olympic Games is one of the Asterix series. It is
the 12th comic book album in the Asterix series written in 1968 to coincide with the Mexico City Olympics. It was translated into English in 1972 to coincide with
the Munich Olympics. The story satirizes performance enhancing drug usage in sports.
The comic tells about the Gauls, Asterix and Obelix, who join the Olympic Games in Olympia. There believe that they can beat all the athletes who join the
games. The Druid, Getafix, already prepares the magic potion which helps Asterix and Obelix become unbeatable. The Romans feel hopeless when they know that
Asterix and Obelix join the games. However, the Olympus Magistrates comes to the Olympic Village where the Romans and the Gauls are practicing. He
announces that all artificial stimulants are forbidden on penalty of disqualification. Hearing this announcement, the Romans feel the energy to
compete again. After the announcement, Obelix states that it is a pity for the Gauls
because they cannot use the magic potion. If they do not drink the magic potion, they do not have any power. When Asterix and Getafix hear Obelix’s statement,
they have an idea to trap all the Romans. Asterix and Getafix are talking loudly in front of the Romans about the location of the magic potion. After they are sure
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that the Romans hear what they are talking about, they leave the hall of the Olympic Village.
The game for the Romans starts on the next day. There is only one game for the Romans that is sprinting. All the Romans athletes start the game and they
reach the finish line together except Asterix. When all the athletes arrive in the finish line, Getafix states his objection to the judge that all of the Romans have
drunk the magic potion before the competition. The judges think that it is a serious accusation to the Romans athletes. The
judges ask Getafix to prove his accusation. Getafix then tell the judges that he already adds some permitted coloring matter to the cauldron of the magic potion.
If the athletes’ tongues have a blue tongue, it means that they have drunk the magic potion. Because of this incident, Asterix becomes the winner of the game.
However, Asterix gives the palm of victory to Gluteus Maximus.
2. Characters and Characterization
Asterix at the Olympic Games is one of the most famous series of Asterix comics. There are some characters which play the main rule in this comic. Those
are Asterix, Obelix, Getafix, Chief Vitalstatistix, Chief Gaius Veriambitius and Gluteus Maximus. To understand the characters of the comic, here are the
characterizations of each character.
a. Asterix
Asterix is the main character. He is a brave, intelligent and shrewd warrior of somewhat diminutive size, who eagerly volunteers for all perilous missions. He
