3. Asterix
The only all-ages character on this list, Asterix the Gaul has been delighting readers for decades. Asterix is a pre-Christian character who, along with his best friends Obelix, Dogmatix, and the rest of the Gaulish (ancient France) village, holds out against the Roman Empire led by Julius Caesar. The comedic adventure series has seen Asterix travel all over the ancient world from England, to Spain, to America, Corsica, Switzerland and Germany, parodying the stereotypical national traits as well as other contemporary cultural fads as he goes, and richly drawn in an instantly recognisable style. How is a small village able to stand against the might of the Roman Empire? Getafix the druid's magic potion. The potion gives whoever drinks it temporary super-strength (except for Obelix who fell into a cauldron of it when he was a baby and remained permanently strong). Asterix has been a constant bestseller and fan favourite series since his first appearance in 1959 and, though one half of the original creative team, René Goscinny, passed away in 1977, Albert Uderzo has continued producing the books which are currently up to 35. And though last year's Asterix and the Picts (ancient Scots) saw an entirely new creative team producing the book, it's reassuring to know that when Uderzo passes on, Asterix will continue. By Toutatis, Asterix is great!