The Amazing Asterix Volume

54 Pages·2012·0.31 MB·English

by  Michael Cooper

The Amazing
Asterix Volume

By Michael Cooper

© 2012 Michael Cooper All Right Reserved

Introduction
Asterix first appeared in Pilote magazine in 1959 and has since been translated
into 100 languages, selling over 300 million books.
The series revolves around a sleepy village by the sea in ancient Gaul (a region
of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era which included France -
where Asterix is set) that steadfastly refuses to acknowledge Roman rule
because they have a magic potion brewed by their venerable druid Getafix that
gives the recipient super strength. So any Romans with designs on the village
can expect a magic potion enhanced bashing and despite the invaders controlling
the outside world (save for the surrounding forest which the Gauls consider their
own private domain) life there amongst the little thatched huts goes on as normal
with bickering, banquets, hunting, mass brawls, friendships, gossip, rivalries,
celebrations.
There are essentially two types of Asterix story. The first (and most prevalent) is
our diminutive central hero Asterix and his boar munching best friend Obelix
having to go on an epic mission or quest outside the village that could take them
to anywhere from Lutetia (ancestor to modern day Paris) to Rome to Egypt. The
second device is the story set in and around the village where the Romans come
up with some new elaborate scheme to try and finally bring this recalcitrant
rabble of Gauls to heel (and naturally never succeed). I find that the latter stories
are often more inventive although the travels of Asterix and Obelix certainly
produced some great albums and the more spectacular art (Uderzo's illustrations
of Roman interiors and architecture are sublime).
Asterix is possibly something of an acquired taste (and generally broader than
something like Tintin for example) but the wonderfully cosy art by Uderzo is
always superb and these books are remarkably clever at times beneath the
surface. What other comic would reference The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Tulp by
Rembrandt or the Peasant Wedding Feast by Pieter Breugel the Elder? When
Goscinny died in 1977 and Uderzo took over the writing duties in addition to his
artistic obligations the series was sadly never quite the same again. Thankfully
though, most of the volumes were written by Goscinny and his wit, historical
jokes, cultural references, and general sense of fun is frequently a delight.
The Books

Asterix the Gaul
Year of Publication: 1961
Synopsis:
Centurion Crismus Bonus, head of the Roman garrison at the fortified camp of
Compendium, is determined to find out why some Gauls still hold out in a tiny
village by the sea despite the best efforts of the Romans to bring them to heel.
The reason for the defiance is of course the magic potion brewed by Getafix the
druid and when the Romans learn of this they decide they must get hold of this
potion at all costs. A Roman legionary named Caliguliminix is disguised as a
Gaul to go undercover in the village...
Is it any good?:
Yes, the blueprint for the series is pleasantly in place right from the start with an
amusing and incident packed adventure. Uderzo would refine his art in future
volumes but his colourful and detailed illustrations are still a joy to behold.
The book serves as a wonderful introduction to the cast of characters we would
come to know so well although some of them (like Fulliautomatix the
blacksmith in particular) look slightly different than they appear later. The basic
plot - Romans attempt to destroy the village from within and use subterfuge
instead of force - would be one that the Asterix series returned to several times
but it often produced some of the very best books in the series. Here it works
well enough although perhaps this debut adventure is a little too frantic at times.
The later books would have more nuance and cultural and classical references
but by any standards this is an admirable first effort and one can see why Asterix
became so popular. The characters are engaging and inventive, the jokes are
amusing, the historical setting is an inspired piece of genius, and Uderzo's art is
fantastic. Some of his panels here are gloriously surreal and bizarre, reminding
one of Herge in one of his more Dali-esque moods. There is the first appearance
by Julius Caesar and right from the start we learn how important Getafix is to the
village, both for guidance and for the magic potion he brews.
Quotes:
The year is 50 B.C...
Asterix and the Golden Sickle
Year of Publication: 1962
Synopsis:
Getafix has broken the golden sickle he uses to cut mistletoe for the magic
potion that he brews to make the Gaul village invincible and able to resist
Roman rule. Without a golden sickle there can be no magic potion so Asterix
and Obelix must journey to Lutetia to purchase a new one from Obelix's
sicklesmith cousin Metallurgix. But when they get there they find that
Metallurgix appears to have disappeared...
Is it any good?:
Yes, Asterix and the Golden Sickle displays a sense of progression from the first
book and has much more of a story for the characters to grapple with. Obelix
comes into his own more and is established as someone who will always be a
salient part of any adventure Asterix is engaged in and it's fun to be with the
characters on their first journey outside the village. There are wonderful forest
panels and many wry jokes within the art. The Roman Prefect of Lutetia
resembles Charles Laughton and look out for the sozzled prisoner with the red
nose who follows Asterix and Obelix around in comic fashion. Once again
Uderzo's comic panels are a delight - especially those of a more surreal bent like
the ones where the prisoner samples some of the magic potion. The panels
depicting the city of Lutetia are also a delight with much detail and character.
The central mystery is always interesting and the injection of more plot into the
series here generally works well and allows the reader to become more drawn
into the story in addition to enjoying the rich art.
The only real criticism of Asterix and the Golden Sickle would be some harsh
treatment Asterix and Obelix use to pacify some wolves who they meet in the
forest. Yes, wolves are dangerous (although attacks by wolves on humans are
very rare) but it still seems rather distasteful, especially as the animals are no
real threat to the magic potion enhanced Asterix and Obelix.
Quotes:
By Belenos, Toutatis and Belisama!
Asterix and the Goths
Year of Publication: 1963
Synopsis:
Getafix competes in the annual druids' conference in the Forest of Carnute where
there is a competition to see which druid has created the best magic potion. What
he doesn't know is that the Goths are planning to kidnap the winner of the
competition to aid their invasion of Gaul and Rome. When they snatch the
venerable druid while a distracted Asterix and Obelix are relaxing in the forest, it
is up to our heroes to save him...
Is it any good?:
As delightful as the annual druids' conference in the Forest of Carnute is, Asterix
and the Goths eventually loses its way and becomes a trifle wearing with identity
confusion and much to and fro between the Gauls, Goths and Romans until you
can hardly remember who everyone is and what is going on. There is just too
much packed into the fifty or so pages and one wishes that they would just slow
down after a while and allow more time for the characters to come through.
An obvious criticism here is the depiction of the Goths as militaristic and laced
with German (and even Nazi) imagery from the two World Wars. There is
always something about this that feels wrong and pandering to a German
stereotype that has been banished to history. Asterix gently plays on national
stereotypes for comic effect but always in an affectionate fashion and so the
depiction of the Germans here feels somewhat mean spirited and out of place in
what is essentially a comic book aimed primarily at younger readers.
The best part of the book is the annual druids' conference in the Forest of
Carnute with some inventive flourishes by by Goscinny and Uderzo. One druid
even invents powdered soup! The illustrations of the Goth homeland are
wonderful at times but can never quite overcome the repetitive nature of the
story with the book descending into Asterix and Obelix chasing around the forest
and belting Romans as they search for the Goths and Getafix.
A fun read but not one of the very best of the Asterix stories. Look by the way
for the first ever panel Cacofonix being bound and gagged at the big celebration
banquet which closes most of the Asterix stories.
Quotes:
I picked up this sickle in a little shop in Dariorigum. Look, it's got a safety-
catch!
Asterix the Gladiator

Year of Publication: 1964
Synopsis:
Odius Asparagus - the Prefect of Gaul - is visiting the fortified camp of
Compendium before returning to Rome. He must present Julius Caesar with a
novel and important gift on his return and decides that one of the local invincible
Gauls would be perfect. This of course is almost impossible as the Gauls do not
have a reputation for being invincible for nothing. However, Compendium's
Centurion Gracchus Armisurplus suggests that it might not be such an
impossible task. There is a Gaul who seems more gentle and less prone to
violence than the others and he often walks alone in the forest. This is none other
than Cacofonix the terrible bard. The Romans take Cacofonix during one of his
walks but Caesar is not terribly impressed with the gift and decides to throw the
bard to the Lions. Chief Vitalstatistix sends asterix and Obelix to Rome to rescue
their friend...
Is it any good?:
Yes, a breezy and entertaining entry in the series and the encounters Asterix and
Obelix have in Rome are both inventive and enjoyable as they encounter various
Roman customs and habits for the first.
Great panels set in a gladiator school and sauna and a larger than usual role for
Cacofonix (the unfortunate Romans resort to putting parsley in their ears to
escape from his terrible singing) serves as a good McGuffin for which to get our
heroes out of the village.
Look for the first appearance by the Barbe Rouge pirates and an early and
waterlogged encounter with the Gauls and also the first utterance of Obelix's
catchphrase - "These Romans are crazy!" Obelix also begins his habit of
collecting the helmets of legionnaires in order to keep track of how many
Romans he has biffed.
Some nice humour too at the start of the adventure when Gracchus Armisurplus
is alarmed by the notion that one of the local Guals would make a suitable gift
for Caesar. "But, Prefect, about these invincible Gauls. There's just one snag!
They happen to be invincible!"
We also meet Ekonomikrisis the Phoenician merchant and look for a cameo
from Brutus, someone who Caesar is clearly going to have trouble with in the
future!
The most enjoyable aspect to the book is the rich and colourful art of Uderzo,
here given full reign by being set at large in Rome. The illustrations of interiors,
Roman buildings and ships at sea are all superb. Asterix the Gladiator is an
above average Asterix book and an entertaining and funny read.
Quotes:
These Romans Are Crazy!
Asterix and the Banquet

Year of Publication: 1965
Synopsis:
General Overanxious arrives at the fortified camp of Compendium determined to
vanquish the Gaul village on behalf of Caesar. After his military assault is dealt
with in no uncertain terms by the magic potion enhanced Gauls he comes up
with an alternative plan of action. He will confine them to their village by
building a huge wall around it. Once the wall is in place, an irritated Asterix
shouts out to Overanxious that Gaul is their country and they will go where they
want. He announces that he will breach the wall and travel all all over the
country collecting rare food for a banquet. Overanxious accepts the wager and
says that if Asterix does indeed escape and return with food indigenous to the
regions of Gaul he will end the blockade and go back to Caesar and declare he
has failed him. As ever it will be up to Asterix and Obelix to complete this
culinary mission...
Is it any good?:
Yes, Asterix and the Banquet is a wonderful entry in the series and consistently
amusing and inventive with superb art. The story is inspired and the brisk pace
works much better here than it did in Asterix and the Goths.
It's great fun to travel through Gaul with Asterix and Obelix as they collect all
they need for the banquet and their triumph over Overanxious. Our heroes go to
Camaracum (Cambrai) for humbugs, Tolosa (Toulouse) for sausages, and
Burgidala (Bordeaux) for the oysters and white wine amongst many other
destinations the length and breadth of Gaul. It's a clever device to have the
mission this time one of a food related nature and enables one to learn what each
region is famous for. The joy of the story comes from racing around Gaul with
Asterix and Obelix as they comandeer boats and vehicles and try to stay one step