Asterix artist Albert Uderzo stepping down

Co-creator of Asterix, Albert Uderzo says he is retiring from illustrating the dimunitive-but-powerful Gaul's adventures, reports the Australian.

Uderzo has been creating occasional Asterix books solo since the series' writer Rene Goscinny passed away in 1977.

At 84, Uderzo said that he would let his successor pen the 35th album, due out next year.

"I'm tired. The years have gone by and these years weigh heavily," he said. "I have decided to leave this to young authors who certainly have enough talent to do it."

But with a flourish worthy of Asterix, Uderzo refused to name his successor, setting the Parisian rumor-mill into overdrive. "It's an artist who has followed us for a long time in the bosom of the studio," he said.