Simplify the following text for a Grade 8 native English-speaking person.
Original: Asterix or The Adventures of Asterix is a series of French comic books written by RenÃ Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo ( Uderzo also took over the job of writing the series after the death of Goscinny in 1977 ) .
Simplified: Asterix is a French comic book , created by RenÃ Goscinny ( words ) and Albert Uderzo ( pictures ) . Goscinny died in 1977 and Uderzo continues to draw and write the series by himself .