Oumpah-pah le Peau-Rouge (Ompa-pa the Redskin) is a comic series created by Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny, best known as the creators of Asterix. The series first appeared in the weekly Tintin magazine in 1958, though it remained serialised for a relatively short time, ending in 1962. The stories were published in book form by Lombard and Dargaud starting in 1961. In 1995, the series was reissued by Albert Uderzo's own publishing house, Les Éditions Albert-René.
The series features the adventures of Ompa-pa (Oumpah-pah in French — the name referring to a waltz), a Native American of the Flatfeet tribe, and his friend, and the French officer Hubert Brussels Sprout (Hubert de la Pâte Feuilletée in French, which translates as Hubert of Puff Pastry), whom Ompa-pa calls Two-scalp, a reference to his wig.
The series is set in the 18th century during the age of French colonization in America. Ompa-pa is strong and quick, and loves to eat pemmican. He is an honest and trustworthy brave whose simple heroism is comparable to that of the more famous Asterix, whom Uderzo and Goscinny later created. Hubert Brussels Sprout, whom the Flatfeet initially hold as a prisoner, subsequently serves as a mediator between the Europeans and the Native Americans, and is also an ally against the tribe known as the Sockitoomee, the sworn enemies of the Flatfeet.
When Brussels Sprout introduces Ompa-pa as his brother, his commanding officer remarks: "When madam the Marquise your mother hears about this..."
The character Ompa-pa makes a cameo appearance in the 1976 Asterix film The Twelve Tasks of Asterix, though this story is set in pre-Columbian America.
Ompa-pa the Redskin provides examples of:
- Agent Peacock: Sprout. He's claimed to be the brave. But most of all, he's quite a Butt-Monkey.
- Agony of the Feet: This happens a few times.
- Butt Biter: This happened once in the animated pilot adaption for the comic.
- Butt-Monkey: Sprout (again). Also played straight with the Sockitoomees and one of Ompa-pa's brothers.
- The Cameo: Ompa-pa makes a Cameo appearance in The Twelve Tasks of Asterix, though this story is set in pre-Columbian America.
- Color Failure: Spout, and the other French officers too.
- Dub Name Change: Ompa-pa was originally called Oumpah-pah and Sprout was called Hubert de la Pâte Feuilletée in French.
- Ompa-pa was also called Umpa-pa in Germany.
- Every One Has Standards: Ompa-pa might be brave, but he was so shocked and screamed when he saw that Sprout has "two scalps".
- Funny Animal: The bird and the tiger from the animated adaption counts.
- Grumpy Old Man: There are plenty of them, such as:
- Ompa-pa's father. though he doesn't lose his temper that much.
- The Old Bully of the Redskins
- And a few elders...
- Indian Maiden: There aren't many maidens out there (aside from Mama-pa) but there's a lady and a mother making fun of a Sockitoomee about the makeup.
- Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: Sprout (sensitive guy) and Ompa-pa (manly man).
- Tiny Guy, Huge Girl: Ompa-pa's parents, obviously.
- Tipis and Totem Poles: Played straight but Parodied.
- Tonto Talk: Parodied, not only Ompa-Pa himself but also the rest of the indians as well.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Ompa-pa loves eating pemican.
