We’re continuing our charge into the heart of the Asterix and Obelix books. If you’re reading these reviews and think you’d like to pick up the books yourself (as you should, they are famously good) they are currently being published by Hachette Book Group. You can also find them at almost any self respecting book store, comic book store, or Amazon.
Written and illustrated by Albert UderzoArt by Albert Uderzo
This week we look at “Asterix and Son”, “Asterix and the Magic Carpet”, “Asterix and the Secret Weapon”, and “Asterix and Obelix all at Sea”.
We are now deep into the Albert Uderzo era of the Asterix books, an era that has divided fans and been the topic of some debate. There are some people who think that Uderzo’s books weren’t as well written when Goscinny was alive and the series should have stopped with “Asterix in Belgium”.
For my money, there are some definite and noticeable differences in the quality and complexity of the writing, but the books are still pretty good and there’s a lot to celebrate about them.
Asterix and Son
While Asterix and Obelix have had many varied adventures, one thing that has remained very consistent is the fact that they are both confirmed bachelors. The two men have enjoyed the single life for most of their days and would have little to no idea on how to raise a family.
So when a baby suddenly appears on Asterix’s doorstep in “Asterix and Son”, hilarity and hijinks ensue as the two men not only struggle to care for a baby, but also try to figure out who the baby actually belongs to. To make matters worse, the Romans seem especially interested in the child and attempt to move heaven and earth to get him back. They even go so far as to actually burn the village down and are only saved by the timely intervention of Caesar himself…along with a surprise guest.
“Asterix and Son” is a classic Mr. Mom slapstick comedy that has some very good running gags and actual history behind it. There is a funny running gag involving the baby and accidentally drinking Getafix’s magic potion, something that ties him to Obelix’s childhood, and while I’m not going to spoil who the baby actually is, I will say that he is based off an actual child who would have very good reason to avoid being found by the Romans. There are some awkward plot beats concerning the women of the village (all of whom would be better at raising a baby than Asterix), but it’s still a good story.
Asterix and the Magic Carpet
You know who’s been getting a bad rap in the Asterix books? The bard Cacofonix. Sure, he’s vain, pompous, and a terrible singer, but he always winds up getting beaten and tied up by the end of each book. Well not today, because in “Asterix and the Magic Carpet” Cacofonix actually gets to go to a place where his talents will be appreciated: India.
“Asterix and the Magic Carpet” is the first book where it is revealed that the village bard has a voice so bad it makes the weather turn to rain. While this is annoying for the village, it is exactly what an Indian fakir named Watziznehm has been looking for. It turns out that Watziznehm is from a kingdom that is suffering a drought, and the evil vizier to the rajah has proposed that the rajah’s daughter be sacrificed to appease the gods unless the rain comes. The heroes literally swoop in to save the day, and the princess is saved from the executioner’s block.
“Asterix and the Magic Carpet” focuses most of its story on the journey to India, where we get to see all the places our heroes have traveled to and a few more besides. While the book is very respectful towards India and its many cultures, there are several hints of Medieval and modern history sprinkled throughout the book. With that being said, it’s definitely an ambitious story and takes the time to showcase many of the actual cultures and people who inhabited the ancient world very well.
Continued belowAsterix and the Secret Weapon
“Asterix and the Secret Weapon” takes us back to the village and onto another Roman plot to capture the Gaulish village, but before that we’re introduced to a new character. A female bard named Bravura has been summoned by the women of the village to replace Cacofonix in order to better educate their children. It turns out that Bravura has some rather forward thinking and interesting ideas about a woman’s role in Gaulish society, something that the women like while the conservative men don’t take very kindly to. Bravura winds up dividing the village and most of the men move to the forest.
Meanwhile, Caesar has developed a secret weapon: a crack team of female legionaries who will be able to fight the Gauls, but Gaulish chivalry won’t allow them to fight back.
“Asterix and the Secret Weapon” is a book with some pretty unfortunate things to say about things like feminism and gender equality, and the way that the book says it will probably make some readers a bit uncomfortable. Still, it has a happy ending and shows that the women of the village are more than just background eye candy.
Asterix and Obelix All at Sea
In “Asterix and Obelix All at Sea” Julius Caesar has a problem. His favorite boat has been stolen by rebellious slaves, lead by a charismatic slave named Spartakus who looks suspiciously like Kirk Douglas from the movie of the same name. Since Rome holds sway over half the ancient world, the slaves on the boat decide to make their way to a small Gaulish village that is still resisting Roman rule.
When the ship reaches the village, the Gauls prepare to fight off the Roman Navy, and Obelix is yet again upset that he is not given a drink of magic potion. He winds up drinking the remaining cauldron and is turned back into a child. Asterix and the slaves then spend the rest of the book on a rescue mission to get Getafix back from the Romans. The usual cavalcade of errors happens, the group travels to Atlantis for some reason, and the day is eventually saved with everything going back to normal.
“Asterix and Obelix All at Sea” is a story that has some good character moments and a solid plot, although the inclusion of Atlantis is a little bit rushed and weird. The issue is notable for giving the reader an explanation for what happens if you drink too much magic potion and it allows the pirates that have been a running gag for most of the series a chance to be a little more fleshed out and have more involvement with the plot.
Next week we enter the new millennium with “Asterix and the Actress”, “Asterix and the Falling Sky”, “Asterix and the Picts”, and “Asterix and the Missing Scroll”.
