The indomitable Gauls Asterix und Obelix are off again on a new adventure. Volume 37 takes the two best friends into the lion's den - to ancient Italy, where their arch enemy Julius Caesar rules in Rome.
Image: Reuters/P. Wojazer
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News from Gaul: Volume 37 of the Asterix comic series hits the bookstores on October 19, worldwide and in 20 languages! In "Asterix and the Chariot Race," shrewd Asterix and his superhumanly strong buddy, Obelix, travel to ancient Italy.
Along the way, they meet proud locals all over the country who want nothing to do with Rome – just like the two Gallic travelers.
Image: Orion Children's Books
"All of Italy is occupied by the Romans. All of Italy? No! While Caesar dreams of a united Italy, many of the peninsula's regions value their independence and make life difficult for his Roman legionaries" is the motto that revives the famous introduction beginning every Asterix comic book.
The new comic is the third volume created by authors Jean-Yves Ferri and Didier Conrad, who continued in the footsteps of Asterix creators Albert Uderzo and the late Rene Goscinny.
The very first Asterix comic was published in 1959 in the French "Pilote" youth magazine – decades later, more than 370 million Asterix comic books have been sold worldwide, and the stories have been translated into 110 languages and dialects.
2017 is a special anniversary year for the founding fathers of the Asterix and Obelix comics: Uderzo, the artist, turned 90 in April, and writer Goscinny died 40 years ago on November 5.
Perhaps Uderzo is particularly pleased to see the two indomitable Gauls travel across Italy: he is the son of Italian immigrants.
New adventure for Asterix and Obelix
The indomitable Gauls Asterix und Obelix are off again on a new adventure. The new volume takes the friends into the lion's den - to ancient Italy, where their arch enemy Julius Caesar rules in Rome.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/P. De Poulpiquet
Off for Italy
Italy? Only Romans, right? But that's not quite true, as ancient Italy is also populated by a tribe called the Italics who are doing their level best to maintain their independence in the face of Caesar's efforts to unify the country. Reason enough for Gallic heroes Asterix and Obelix to embark on a whirlwind tour...
Image: picture-alliance /dpa/Egmont Ehapa
The father of Asterix and Obelix
The inhabitants of a tiny village somewhere on the coast of Brittany are basically all crazy. They love to beat each other up with stinky fish, devour entire boars and gag their bards. And they all hate the Roman occupiers. A magic potion gives them supernatural powers. The most famous Gauls are Asterix and Obelix, who were created by graphic artist Albert Uderzo.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/P. De Poulpiquet
Dream team
For almost six decades, Asterix and Obelix have embarked on numerous adventures in far-away countries with their little dog Dogmatix, including the Americas and the Middle East. Their baggage mainly consists of a lot of courage and a small bottle of magic potion. Obelix can do without it, as he once fell into the liquid as a child. The first Asterix edition was published in French in 1961.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/United Archives
Resisting the Romans with supernatural powers
When wild Gauls encounter the Romans, you'd better get out of the way. Of course, Obelix would love nothing more than to battle an entire garrison all by himself. While the adventures of the death-defying and oppressed Gauls are highly popular in European countries, they never really became as successful in the US.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/KPA
Changing of the guard
Originally, Uderzo's long-term partner, René Goscinny, was the author of the witty texts. Following his death in 1977, Uderzo wrote them himself and founded his own publishing house. The first Asterix volume written by Uderzo, "Asterix and the Great Divide," was published in 1980. He continued writing the stories until, finally, a new team took over who also authored the two latest volumes.
Image: Reuters
A successful new team
Jean-Yves Ferri and Didier Conrad succeeded in reviving the tales of the Gauls, which had become a bit worn. While retaining Uderzo's drawings and keeping up Goscinny's sense of humor, they have added some contemporary stylistic aspects. Here, Uderzo, Goscinny's daughter Anne, Ferri and Conrad (from left to right) present the volume "Asterix and the Missing Scroll" in 2015.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/V. Isore
A short-lived character
Uderzo and Goscinny also created other characters, including Ompa-pa the Redskin - which would be considered inappropriate today. The story about the warrior with the big heart was not successful and, since they were becoming increasingly busy with the Asterix stories, the duo gave up Ompa-pa after five volumes. However, he made a cameo appearance in "The Twelve Tasks of Asterix."
Image: 2017 Les ÉDITIONS ALBERT RENÉ / GOSCINNY-UDERZO
Illustrated condolences
After staff members of the French satirical magazine "Charlie Hebdo" - among them four illustrators - were brutally assassinated by Islamist terrorists in January 2015, Uderzo paid homage to his dead colleagues with this drawing. The gesture was particularly moving since these figures usually bring laughter instead of tears.
