You know I think my most favourite thing about Axterix comics were the names. Not just of the main characters( Cacophonix, Vitalstatitix) but also of the ones they met on various journeys, like the Normans(Autograf)and the Corsicans ( Raviolix) just to name a few.
I’ve loved Asterix ever since I was really young, and my cousin lent me his three volume, bound edition of three comics. There was Asterix the Gaul, Asterix and the Goths and a third one which I can’t remember.
But I think I infinitely appreciate them more as I grow older. First of all, the literary allusions, which crop up every now and then are hilarious. For instance, Ceaser making Brutus clap by saying ’’Et tu, Brute.’’
And the puns!There are at least five on every page, stuff you only see in a second or third reading. Asterix fans might remeber the appearnce of Thomson and Thompson, and Laurel and Hardy.
I’ve read the newest one as well called Asterix and Obelix All At Sea. But after Goscinny’s death I think the comics have lost a little something. The dialogue just isn’t so sharp. I don’t reccomend that comic at least to other Asterix fans.
For the unintiated, Asterix is a gaul, part of the only little village in Gaul that has stood out against Caeser. How did they do this? Well, ’’with a little help from their friends’’ and their druid Getafix( I love their names!). Asterix’s best friend is Obelix, whose one complaint in life is that he can’t get any magic potion(brewed up by Getafix) because he fell into the pot as a little boy.(Incidenatlly thats what the newest comic is about, Obelix drinking the magic potion and its dire consequences.) Obelix also has the sweetest little dog called Dogmatix, who loves trees.
By the way, DON’T take the lazy way out and watch the movie, its awful!horrible! an insult to Asterix fans!. I’d personally recommend Obelix and Co., ASterix and Son and Asterix and the Banquet as my top favourites. But they’re all fun, so you can start anywhere I guess.
Happy Reading!