With France's population recovering from the triumphs and deceits of local elections, Tony Robinson relates the story of that pugnacious hero of Gallic supremacy - Asterix the Gaul. More popularthan Mickey Mouse , translated into more languages than Anne Franks 's diary, Asterix seems to have conquered the world. Butwhy? And what does this tell us about the potency of graphic novels? Producer Rebecca Nicholson (R)