How many American students can recall the adventures of Asterix the Gaul when learning French in elementary or college? I know I am one of them!
Created by Rene Goscinny & Albert Uderzo, Asterix debuted in the pages of the French comic mag Pilote in 1959. The series takes place around 50 B.C. during the Roman occupation of Gaul (now modern day France). Only Asterix's village remains unconquered by the Roman Empire. That's all thanks to a special potion that gives Asterix and his kinsmen tremendous strength and resilience.
The Roman Empire will do anything to get their hands on this secret and that's the subject of the first Asterix story. Titled 'Asterix the Gaul', readers are introduced to a tiny Gaul powerhouse that looks like a cross between Marvel Comics' Thor and a Smurf.
Asterix's best friend is the gentle giant Oberlix. As a tot, Oberlix fell into a vat of the potion and thus never needs a power up. With his massive strength, the dimwitted Oblerix always carries with him a menhir, a gigantic oblong stone carving.
The other main character of this series is the Druid Panoramix, sometimes known as Getafix in American translations. Panoramix is responsible for creating the potion that gives Asterix his strength. The Druid uses a golden scythe to properly harvest the mistletoe and other ingredients for the mighty elixir.
In the second Asterix adventure, 'Asterix and the Golden Sickle', Panoramix's blade is damaged. Needing a new one right away, least his potions lack their oomph, Asterix and Oblerix travel to another town in hopes of buying a new blade. The pair wind up mixed up in a racket to make counterfeit blades involving the Gaulish black market, petty thugs and corrupt Roman officials.
The third story, titled 'Asterix and the Goths' takes place immediately after story #2. Panoramix is able to make his special potions and attends an annual meeting of Druids. At the convention, Panoramix is kidnapped by Goths (modern day Germany) and it's up to Asterix and Oblerix to rescue their magical friend.
As of 2021, there have been 39 official stories starring Asterix. Since 2020, American kids publisher Papercutz obtained the rights to publish the tales to English audiences. So far the first 15 stories have been collected in omnibus form with a couple of modern adventures being released individually.
I feel like there are a lot of influences on adventures of Asterix. The rapid-fire dialogue is straight out of 1930s Hollywood comedies. The goofy characters invoke thoughts of Herge's TinTin. The swashbuckling aspects remind me of the Uncle Scrooge tales of Carl Barks and Don Rosa. The fluid artwork has touches of Disney and Peyo. And the name puns and inside jokes usually involving creative fonts is all very British. So I felt very at home with this book.
The irony of Asterix is that the real hero of Gaul is Oberlix. He never has to refill on the magic potion. So, Oberlix could just wipe all the Romans off the face of Gaul and be done with it. If he was vindictive enough, Oberlix probably could become the new village chieftain. But deep down all Oberlix wants is to fill his belly with boar and beer. Is that all of us, really?
The tales of Asterix are fun reads for all with a little something for everyone. There's adventure, magic and humor. And maybe even a little educational what with the phrases in Latin and encounters with historical figures like Caesar and Cleopatra. Sometimes the plot seems to go in circles. Especially with the main 3 characters winding up in prison a lot. But there's enough creativity to keep those running jokes from getting stale.
Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo hit upon a magic formula in Asterix. Could it be in the art?Is it the storytelling? Heck, it might be the Druid's mistletoe! Regardless, these stories are a timeless delight that will enchant any reader!
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
Completing this review completes Task #15 of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge. 'Translated from another language.'
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