Link (more recent Goatse here) (thanks, Tom!)
“Obelix is typically seen carrying a large menhir stone (thus his name = Obelisk), which he manufactures and sells from his quarry near the village of invincible Gauls.
“The pose the carousel character is in suggests Obelix’s typical presentation and I guess the intent was to have the riders be ‘carried’ by Obelix in place of his menhir. We have been conditioned by goatse to see something different!”
Reader comment: Andy says: “Yes I know there is far, far more important stuff in the world to worry about than this, but Obelix is French, not Belgian. Not only that, but Asterix, Obelix, their druid Getafix (I kid you not), Chief Vitalstatistix et al are such beloved symbols of French nationalism that you translocate them at your peril.”
“Tin Tin is Belgian (written and illustrated by Herge), and indeed ‘Asterix in Belgium’ is easily one of the best of the Gallic warrior’s excursions round Europe, but the chap himself is as French as they come.
“Oh, and thanks but no thanks for reminding me about that picture again. If I could edit one thing out of my memory…”