Asterix

[El Unicornio, mang]

The film was rubbish but I recall not liking the book much either, mostly due to it being the first one and the artwork looking all wrong (similar thing with early Garfield)

[The Culture Bunker]

Yeah, the first book isn't all that - definitely a "feeling characters out" vibe. My main memory of seeing the film on BBC2 one morning is the bod driving the cart who becomes a plot point singing his song of misery that I'm sure (ie didn't happen) had the line "I'm so sad that I could die".

[idunnosomename]

the first album looks wrong yeah but they didn't know they were creating France's Mickey Mouse did they. the next few like and the Goths don't have the final look down either. some of the cleaner look would be down to printing technology advances too.

When I reread the first one I still hear Willie Rushton on practically every line. "PULL HIS MOUSTACHE?"

[jobotic]

Love the bit in the first one when they keep breaking their chains to help the bloke who chaining them up.

[idunnosomename]

there's loads of great bits in the first one, like when Crismus Bonus picks up the pebble and declares himself a superman. and the torturer who is so disappointed he doesn't get to do anything.

interesting how the English one called him the obvious pun Crismus Bonus. In every other language he's just Caius/Gaius Bonus, which is just a standard Roman prenom (indeed that of Gaius Julius Caesar). and im struggling to see how it's a pun in French

[mothman]

I'd never realised the U.K. order was different from the French original. I guess I'd never really thought about it - I certainly clocked that Banquet must have been out of sequence, when it introduces Dogmatix as a new character.

[bakabaka]

When I first read them in 1969, my favourite was Tour de Gaule d'Astérix (I was staying in Marseille and loved the piss-take of the local accent). It wasn't published in English for another 10 years (as Asterix and the Banquet) so it was obvious something was wrong with the publication order over here. I think that was the worst example, presumably because they thought it was too parochial to work in the UK.

[Keebleman]

When I first read them in 1969, my favourite was Tour de Gaule d'Astérix (I was staying in Marseille and loved the piss-take of the local accent). It wasn't published in English for another 10 years (as Asterix and the Banquet) so it was obvious something was wrong with the publication order over here. I think that was the worst example, presumably because they thought it was too parochial to work in the UK.

They weren't wrong - it's always been one of my least favourites because there are so many jokes that just seem random if you're not familiar with France.  Same goes - even more so perhaps - for Asterix in Corsica.

[The Culture Bunker]

'Asterix in Corsica' still had the exploding cheese, though, which I found hilarious as a child, plus pretty much all the Romans on the island being completely not arsed about everything was funny too.

[Phoenix Lazarus]

The film was rubbish but I recall not liking the book much either, mostly due to it being the first one and the artwork looking all wrong (similar thing with early Garfield)

When I got Asterix and the Golden Sickle, a few years after Asterix the Gaul, I can tell that they had been written in close sequence, because Sickle has that same early artwork that's different to the style that became prevalent in the series.

[Phoenix Lazarus]

Which was the one who had the invading Vikings?  It was the same one where they have that obnoxious young man staying with them as a guest in the village.

[The Culture Bunker]

Which was the one who had the invading Vikings?  It was the same one where they have that obnoxious young man staying with them as a guest in the village.

That was 'Asterix and the Normans' - the kid (Justforkix) was the Chief's nephew from the big city, complete with sports chariot and ability to play the latest hits (and impress the local young ladies) on Cacofonix's little harp thing.

[Phoenix Lazarus]

That was 'Asterix and the Normans' - the kid (Justforkix) was the Chief's nephew from the big city, complete with sports chariot and ability to play the latest hits (and impress the local young ladies) on Cacofonix's little harp thing.

I remember Asterix tells Obelix that Justforkix has been sent here by his father 'to knock some of the rough edges off him.'  He then has to tell Obelix he wasn't speaking literally when they meet him.  'You live out here in the styx?  How quaint,' says Justforkix in a patronising manner, whereupon Asterix tells Obelix 'I'm not sure if you weren't right about thumping him after all!'

[Poirots BigGarlickyCorpse]

Literally re-read Asterix and the Normans earlier this evening. I love the Normans coming to Gaul because they literally don't know the meaning of fear and Normans should know everything.

[willbo]

I used to love the Asterix platform game on the Master System - it was one of the best Mario type games you could get on Sega IMO.

I had the 12 Tasks book - I remember the animated film coming on TV and me watching it to try and make sense of some of the tasks from the book, like them being lost in the Metro subway.

[Alternative Carpark]

I just happened to be reading the Inside No 9 thread before this one, hence it occuring to me that Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton could probably do a decent job of voicing Asterix and Obelix - respectively - in a cartoon. Especially Obelix.

[touchingcloth]

We were very lucky in having English translators who a) 'got' the humour of the originals, and b) managed to translate it and/or create more humour themselves. For instance the genius to translate the dog's name from Idéfix ('fixed idea' or obsession) into Dogmatix to convey a similar pun.

This blog post has some excellent examples:

https://auntymuriel.com/2012/12/23/asterix-in-translation-the-genius-of-anthea-bell-and-derek-hockridge/

I used to read the books in the school library as having the blessing to look at cartoons felt like a hack of the system. I didn't realise how much care had gone into the translations - it's the kind of treatment usually given to Homer.

[The Culture Bunker]

I used to love the Asterix platform game on the Master System - it was one of the best Mario type games you could get on Sega IMO.

It was a lot of fun, though I don't think I ever got round to finishing it.

In contrast, there was an Asterix game on Spectrum that I got for my birthday one year that was absolute crap.

[Kankurette]

I just happened to be reading the Inside No 9 thread before this one, hence it occuring to me that Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton could probably do a decent job of voicing Asterix and Obelix - respectively - in a cartoon. Especially Obelix.

Asterix speaking in a slightly camp Yorkshire accent? That would work. (I'm assuming Steve is Obelix)

We had a Game Gear game where you had to search for some plants to make medicine and Asterix and Obelix had slightly different routes. Asterix could jump higher but needed potion, whereas Obelix could just smash stuff. He was like a less rubbish Knuckles. His levels were more fun too.

[stonkers]

There's a new Asterix beat-em-up coming out that looks fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pFMCroa1qs

I played a bit of the Konami one in the arcade back in the day, unfortunately it doesn't work too well on MAME for whatever reason.

[mothman]

Fun fact: growing up, I always associated the magic potion with my mum's chicken soup.

[Poirots BigGarlickyCorpse]

There's a new Asterix beat-em-up coming out that looks fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pFMCroa1qs

I played a bit of the Konami one in the arcade back in the day, unfortunately it doesn't work too well on MAME for whatever reason.

Ooooh.

[idunnosomename]

Asterix speaking in a slightly camp Yorkshire accent? That would work. (I'm assuming Steve is Obelix)

We had a Game Gear game where you had to search for some plants to make medicine and Asterix and Obelix had slightly different routes. Asterix could jump higher but needed potion, whereas Obelix could just smash stuff. He was like a less rubbish Knuckles. His levels were more fun too.

christ. i think I had a bit of a meltdown in the back of the car over a double jump in the caves on the way down to the Dordogne. I got up to the Roman bit after the pirate sea sequence, but I remember it just kept going through the same halls over and over.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTSPxHDGVSM

I guess I didn't get the sword switches right. man counterpoint in old video game soundtracks is wild isn't it

[idunnosomename]

anyway, I read my omnibus of the 1980s post Goscinny albums the other day, and really, they aren't that bad.

Great Divide is only really very superficially about the Berlin Wall. There's some dialogue between the chiefs that has socialist rhetoric to it, but otherwise it's more about slavery and how Codfix (French: Acidenitrix, viz, nitric acid, so I'm not sure if originally there were all the fish puns) sells out half the village to the Romans. The Romans getting the potion makes it genuinely high stakes for a bit. The finale where the Romans all inflate and shrink is pretty silly but well signposted and perfectly fine in a world where you have magic potions. Nah I liked it as a kid and I like it now.

Asterix and the Black Gold is Uderzo taking them to the Levant so he can do big fancy archaeological views for the most part. In fact so is Magic Carpet. Black Gold has by far the better story, and the Sean Connery Roman agent is rather amusing (again yes I think I didn't get this as a kid). Magic Carpet is like a good third about the ride to India, and really could be accused of being mostly filler, but on the other hand, it does look gorgeous throughout. The worst thing about Magic Carpet is the whole conceit that Cacofonix's singing makes it rain. This has never been established before and it's a bit jarring to see it taken for granted by everyone.

Asterix and Son in between is really a bit shit. Oh haha baby is strong and swings people about. that's it. and then he turns out to be Cleopatra's son Caesarion, which has no bearing on anything. ok the Roman cross-dressing and doing the falsetto is kinda funny I suppose.

Asterix in Belgium before these though, bit depressing. There's a distinct lack of backgrounds beyond the whole "Belgium is flat lol" joke. I think the production on the comic was a bit upset by Goscinny's early death, hence all the dull panels in the latter part, and why it's worth reading at least up to Magic Carpet I think. Secret Weapon can fuck off of course.

I also just want to bring up my favourite album, Obelix and Co (1976). Preposterous (French: Caius Saugrenus) is a caricature of the 1974-6 pro-business PM under President Giscard d'Estaing: a certain Jacques Chirac. Sort of thing you'd never fucking get as a kid. I posted in the other thread the desperate billboard attempts to market the menhirs in Rome, but also the villagers getting their menhirs rejected is hilarious (HE DOESN'T EVEN WANT MINE ANYMORE!!). After like twenty years of making the "Breton menhirs are pointless" joke, this one just slams the gag out the park really

[mothman]

Ha, never spotted that before. But once you think in terms of a young Chirac, it's obvious.

[Kankurette]

Obelix & Co is my favourite too. Loved it as a kid, even though I didn't get the critique of capitalist culture.

[Phoenix Lazarus]

Asterix and the Roman Agent is good, the one in the Romans get that dwarf to try and sew dissension within the hold-out village.  It's funny how he causes chaos and arguments wherever he goes, among the Romans too and even among the pirates.

[idunnosomename]

I mean that's also a bit of great character-based writing throughout. the green speech bubbles are a great touch. little cunt reminded me a bit of Dominic Cummings.

oh and im currently dying to know what the original French was for the "big heap money real quick: you savvy?" running joke in Obelix and Co is. I've had a bit of a look about but can't find the French dialogue. also the satire about state intervention in job creation goes deeper than you would think, it's really very clever. from what I can tell it was Uderzo's idea but Goscinny made it work as a story.

[mothman]

I've read and re-read Asterix for 45 years now, I'm not sure I could ever pick a favourite. I feel fond of In Switzerland but I couldn't tell you why. I have a vivid memory of being unable to sleep on an India to UK flight aged seven, reading And The Chieftain's Shield, my reading light the only one on in a darkened cabin.

[chveik]

oh and im currently dying to know what the original French was for the "big heap money real quick: you savvy?" running joke in Obelix and Co is. I've had a bit of a look about but can't find the French dialogue. also the satire about state intervention in job creation goes deeper than you would think, it's really very clever. from what I can tell it was Uderzo's idea but Goscinny made it work as a story.

missed all the Chirac subtext when i was a kid.

some of the dialogue:

"si toi pas pouvoir faire plus de menhirs, moi y en a donner moins de sesterces, toi y en a compris?"

"je te donnerais des tas et des tas de sesterces, parce que si toi et moi y en a faire des menhirs, l'offre va y en être beaucoup demandée. toi y en a compris?"

"moi y en a croire que toi y en a pouvoir vendre beaucoup menhirs facile"

etc.

the ad campaign is hilarious btw

hope it helps :)