1.
Asterix (character)
–
Asterix is a fictional character the titular hero of the French comic book series The Adventures of Asterix. The series portrays him as a diminutive but fearless Gaulish warrior living in the time of Julius Caesars Gallic Wars, Asterix was created in 1959 by writer René Goscinny and illustrator Albert Uderzo. Since then, thirty-five books in the series have been released, Asterix has also appeared in several animated and live-action film adaptations of the series, and serves as the mascot of the amusement park Parc Astérix. Before that he was also the mascot of the magazine Pilote, the animated character has been voiced by British comedy actors Bill Oddie and Craig Charles, as well as that character voiced from 1990 to 1992 by British Voice artist Richard Pearce. Asterix is a diminutive but fearless and cunning warrior, ever eager for new adventures and he lives around 50 BC in a fictional village in northwest Armorica. This village is celebrated as the part of Gaul still not conquered by Julius Caesar. The inhabitants of the village gain superhuman strength by drinking a potion prepared by the druid. The village is surrounded by, on one side, the ocean, Asterix parents are former villagers who now live in the city of Condatum, and he has cousins in Britannia. He shares his birthday with his clumsy, oversized, but extremely strong and good-hearted best friend, Asterix is one of the smartest and most sensible members of the village, and so he is usually chosen for any dangerous, important or exotic mission. Unlike most of the villagers, he does not start or join brawls for the fun of it. What he does for a living is never known, though he is often shown going on missions, quests. In Asterix and the Cauldron, however, it is stated that neither he nor Obelix have ever done anything of the sort to earn money. Asterix is most often described as a warrior, which makes sense in light of the fact that most of the adventures he undertakes at some point require engaging an enemy. Although no romantic interest has been introduced for Asterix yet, it seems obvious that Asterix is more susceptible than his best friend Obelix to the charms of women. Asterix seems lovestruck after receiving a kiss from Panacea towards the end of Asterix the Legionary, in the film Asterix and Obelix, Mission Cleopatra, he becomes infatuated by Cleopatras handmaiden Giemeakis, but this is not based on anything from the original books. An occasional running gag is that his age is indeterminate, in the collection of adventures Asterix and the Class Act, one story about his birth is called In 35 BC with the note Before Caesar, referring to the time Caesars reign began, in October 49 BC. Also, in page 24 of Asterix and Obelixs Birthday, The Golden Book, Asterixs passport is shown, from this, Asterixs age can be placed approximately at 35 years. One of Asterixs most recognizable features is his helmet, its wings often falling into positions that match his expressions
2.
Asterisk
–
An asterisk is a typographical symbol or glyph. It is so called because it resembles a conventional image of a star, computer scientists and mathematicians often vocalize it as star. In English, an asterisk is usually five-pointed in sans-serif typefaces, six-pointed in serif typefaces and it can be used as censorship. It is also used on the Internet to correct ones spelling, the asterisk is derived from the need of the printers of family trees in feudal times for a symbol to indicate date of birth. The original shape was seven-armed, each arm like a shooting from the center. In computer science, the asterisk is used as a wildcard character, or to denote pointers, repetition. Origin Adamantius is known to have used the asteriskos to mark missing Hebrew lines from his Hexapla. The asterisk evolved in shape over time, but its meaning as a used to correct defects remained. In the Middle Ages, the asterisk was used to emphasize a part of text. However, an asterisk was not always used, one hypothesis to the origin of the asterisk is that it stems from the five thousand year old Sumerian character dingir,
3.
Albert Uderzo
–
Alberto Aleandro Uderzo, known as Albert Uderzo, is a French comic book artist and scriptwriter. Son of Italian immigrants, he is best known for his work on the Astérix series and also drew other comics such as Oumpah-pah, Uderzo retired from drawing in September 2011. Uderzo was born in Fismes, to parents, Silvio and Iria Crestini and his childhood ambitions were to become an aircraft mechanic, despite his talents in art becoming apparent at an early age. He loved Brittany, both for its scenery and its people, Uderzo had no hesitation in choosing Brittany. Uderzo began a career as an artist in Paris after the war in 1945, with creations such as Flamberge and also Clopinard. From 1947 to 1948 he created other comics, such as Belloy. Throughout some more creations and travelling for the few years. The two men became good friends, and decided to work together in 1952 at the newly opened Paris office of the Belgian company. Their first creations were the characters Oumpah-pah, Jehan Pistolet and Luc Junior, in 1958 they adapted Oumpah-pah for serial publication in the Franco-Belgian comics magazine Tintin, though it ran only until 1962. In 1959 Goscinny and Uderzo became editor and artistic director of Pilote magazine, the magazines first issue introduced Astérix to the French world, and it was an instant hit. During this period Uderzo also collaborated with Jean-Michel Charlier on the realistic series Michel Tanguy, Astérix was serialised in Pilote, but in 1961 the first album Astérix le gaulois was published as an individual album. By 1967, the comic had become so popular that both decided to dedicate their time to the series. After Goscinnys death in 1977, Uderzo continued to write and illustrate the books on his own, the cover credits still read Goscinny and Uderzo. Uderzo married Ada Milani in 1953 and has one daughter Sylvie Uderzo, according to The Book of Asterix the Gaul, it was speculated that Uderzo had based the characters Panacea and Zaza on Ada and Sylvie respectively, though this has been denied by Uderzo. Sylvie owns 40% of Editions Albert René, while the remaining 60%, previously owned by Uderzo, Uderzo has a brother, Marcel, also a cartoonist. Asterix and the Falling Sky was dedicated to his late brother Bruno,1985, Awarded the Knight of the Legion of Honour. 2005, Inducted into the Eisner Award Hall of Fame, U. S. Astérix official site Albert Uderzo biography on Lambiek Comiclopedia Short biography on Uderzo, pre-1977
4.
Jean-Yves Ferri
–
Jean-Yves Ferri is a French writer, designer and colourist of comics, born in 1959. On 25 July 2011, he was chosen as the writer for the installment of the Asterix series created by René Goscinny. Didier Conrad was subsequently announced as the artist, the 36th Asterix volume, Asterix and the Missing Scroll, was released on October 22,2015. Revoir Corfou, le recueil des dessins hors-séries, collection Azote Liquide, Audie,2004 Correspondances, with Manu Larcenet, Les Rêveurs, Le Sens de la vis, with Manu Larcenet, Les Rêveurs, coll. « Mas-tu vu », tome 1, Le Sens de la vis tome 2, Tracer le cercle De Gaulle à la plage, Dargaud, coll
5.
Didier Conrad
–
Didier Conrad, is a French cartoonist and comics writer. He is the illustrator and cartoonist of Asterix and the Missing Scroll and Asterix, didier Conrad was born in Marseille of parents originally from Switzerland. He developed a passion for comics and, at age 14, five years later, in 1978, Conrad published his first comics series in the newspaper, Jason, written by Mythic. Spirou editor Thierry Martens put him in touch with another aspiring comics author also from Marseille, the pair hit it off despite having quite different personalities and decided to work together. This was generally considered a chore by the contributors, but Yann & Conrad shook things up by spoofing. This caused a controversy at the magazine, during which they were defended by the veteran artist André Franquin. The pair was asked to devise an action series in the style of another Spirou star character, Buck Danny. They appeared to comply, teasing a new series to be called Chuck Willis and this character however was run over by a Jeep in the second panel, never to be seen again, and the series retitled Les Innommables. Les Innommables was originally written by Conrad, who was busy drawing Jason, and drawn by Yann, the series broke every possible taboo in a comics magazine aimed at children, featuring violence, sex and cruelty, and the pair were eventually sacked in 1982. During their period at Spirou, Conrad and Yann both still lived in Marseille and would spend the odd week in Brussels, staying in a guest room in the magazines building. They later boasted that they would break into the offices at night. Yann and Conrad went in search of a new magazine to publish their work and ended up at Circus, Conrad published no new album in the second half of the 1980s. Conrad reused his character Ernest Poildu in a new story called Le Piège Malais and published a limited run album called “Tatum. He then produced a new series titled Donito, the adventures of a boy who talks to animals which is set in the Caribbean. For this series, Conrad finally turned his back on the provocations of his previous works, in 1994, Conrad reunited with Yann to resurrect their now cult series Les Innommables, which had ended abruptly when they were sacked by Spirou. The existing albums were remade and more produced, turning the series into a more coherent saga with several successive story arcs, set respectively in Hong Kong, Korea. The order of the albums was modified several times to fit the original one-shot stories within the saga and this was credited to writer Jean Léturgie and artist Pearce, whose style resembled that of Conrad remarkably. The pair had decided to use a pen name for a series aimed at children to differentiate it from the rest of their joint output, Jean Léturgie and “Pearce” then launched a series in the same style called Cotton Kid and published five albums between 1999 and 2002
6.
Comedy
–
In a modern sense, comedy refers to any discourse or work generally intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, television, film, and stand-up comedy. The origins of the term are found in Ancient Greece, in the Athenian democracy, the public opinion of voters was influenced by the political satire performed by the comic poets at the theaters. The theatrical genre of Greek comedy can be described as a performance which pits two groups or societies against each other in an amusing agon or conflict. Northrop Frye depicted these two opposing sides as a Society of Youth and a Society of the Old, a revised view characterizes the essential agon of comedy as a struggle between a relatively powerless youth and the societal conventions that pose obstacles to his hopes. Satire and political satire use comedy to portray persons or social institutions as ridiculous or corrupt, parody subverts popular genres and forms, critiquing those forms without necessarily condemning them. Similarly scatological humour, sexual humour, and race humour create comedy by violating social conventions or taboos in comic ways, a comedy of manners typically takes as its subject a particular part of society and uses humor to parody or satirize the behaviour and mannerisms of its members. Romantic comedy is a genre that depicts burgeoning romance in humorous terms. The adjective comic, which means that which relates to comedy is, in modern usage. Of this, the word came into usage through the Latin comoedia and Italian commedia and has, over time. The Greeks and Romans confined their use of the comedy to descriptions of stage-plays with happy endings. Aristotle defined comedy as an imitation of men worse than the average, however, the characters portrayed in comedies were not worse than average in every way, only insofar as they are Ridiculous, which is a species of the Ugly. The Ridiculous may be defined as a mistake or deformity not productive of pain or harm to others, the mask, for instance, in the Middle Ages, the term expanded to include narrative poems with happy endings. It is in this sense that Dante used the term in the title of his poem, as time progressed, the word came more and more to be associated with any sort of performance intended to cause laughter. During the Middle Ages, the comedy became synonymous with satire. They disassociated comedy from Greek dramatic representation and instead identified it with Arabic poetic themes and forms and they viewed comedy as simply the art of reprehension, and made no reference to light and cheerful events, or to the troubling beginnings and happy endings associated with classical Greek comedy. After the Latin translations of the 12th century, the term gained a more general meaning in medieval literature. Starting from 425 BCE, Aristophanes, a playwright and satirical author of the Ancient Greek Theater wrote 40 comedies,11 of which survive. Aristophanes developed his type of comedy from the satyr plays
7.
Dargaud
–
Société Dargaud, doing business as Les Éditions Dargaud, is a publisher of Franco-Belgian comics series, headquartered in the 18th arrondissement of Paris. It was founded in 1936 by Georges Dargaud, publishing its first comics in 1943, initially, Dargaud published novels for women. In 1948, they started Line, a magazine for elegant women, in 1960, Dargaud bought the weekly Pilote magazine from René Goscinny, Albert Uderzo, and Jean-Michel Charlier, and the same year they published their first albums. Goscinny continued as editor of the magazine, and Charlier was album editor for a period, in 1974, Dargaud wanted to diversify, and Pilote became a monthly magazine, and spawned two other monthly magazines. The new magazines were Lucky Luke Mensuel and Achille Talon Magazine, however, both magazines could not sustain a readership and folded within a year. The comics from these two magazines were put back into Pilote, in 1988, Dargaud was acquired by Média-Participations. Two years later, it sold the weekly gardening and do-it-yourself magazine Rustica to Média-Participations as well, in 1992, the publisher Le Lombard became a part of Dargaud, followed in 1993 by Les Éditions Blake et Mortimer. Over the course of the 1990s, Dargaud subsequently acquired several audiovisual production companies, including Citel in 1994, Marina Productions in 1997, the latter two, specialized in television animation, joined in 1999 to create Dargaud Marina, later renamed Dargaud Media. At the end of the 1990s, Dargaud created manga publisher Kana, followed by Lucky Comics, in 2003, Dargaud acquired the production studio Ellipse Animation, holder of one of the most extensive catalogues of European cartoons. Asterix - Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny Barbe rouge - Jean-Michel Charlier, black Moon Chronicles - Olivier Ledroit and François Marcela-Froideval Blacksad - Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido Blake and Mortimer - Edgar Pierre Jacobs etc. Blueberry - Jean-Michel Charlier, Jean Giraud etc, djinn - Jean Dufaux and Ana Mirallès Lucky Luke - Morris, René Goscinny etc. Philemon - Fred Tanguy et Laverdure - Jean-Michel Charlier, Albert Uderzo, the Vagabond of Limbo - Christian Godard, Julio Ribera Valérian - Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières XIII - Jean van Hamme and William Vance Dargaud website
8.
Hachette (publisher)
–
Hachette, French pronunciation, , is a French publisher. It was founded in 1826 by Louis Hachette as Brédif, a bookshop and it became L. Hachette et Compagnie on 1 January 1846, Librairie Hachette in 1919, and Hachette SA in 1977. It was acquired by the Lagardère Group in 1981, in 1992 the publishing assets of Hachette SA were grouped into a subsidiary called Hachette Livre, the flagship imprint of Lagardère Publishing. Hachette has its headquarters in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, in 1996 it merged with the Hatier group. In 2004, Hachette acquired dictionary publisher Éditions Larousse, in 2006, it expanded into the United States when it purchased Time Warners book-publishing division, which was then renamed Hachette Book Group USA. In June 2013, Hachette announced that it would acquire Hyperion Books from Disney and it is one of the largest English-language publishers, known as the Big Five. In May 2014, Amazon. com stopped taking pre-order sales of Hachette books, citing a breakdown in negotiations over commission and ebook pricing. According to Hachette, Amazon had also stopped discounting its books, Hachette has its headquarters in the Beaugrenelle district in the 15th arrondissement of Paris. Hachettes head office previously occupied a building at the intersection of Saint-Germain and it later moved to its current location. Hachette planned to lease 9,900 square metres of space at a building in Malakoff, Hauts de Seine around 2011, in June 2014, the companys U. S. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, however, in August 2014, the deal was called off because Hachette and the other parties involved decided the deal was too complicated
9.
Hodder & Stoughton
–
Hodder & Stoughton is a British publishing house, now an imprint of Hachette. The firm has its origins in the 1840s, with Matthew Hodders employment, aged fourteen, with Messrs Jackson and Walford, the official publisher for the Congregational Union. In 1861 the firm became Jackson, Walford and Hodder, but in 1868 Jackson and Walford retired, Hodder & Stoughton published both religious and secular works, and its religious list contained some progressive titles. These included George Adam Smiths Isaiah for its Expositor’s Bible series, there was also a sympathetic Life of St Francis by Paul Sabatier, a French Protestant pastor. Matthew Hodder made frequent visits to North America, meeting with the Moody Press and making links with Scribners, the secular list only gradually accepted fiction, and it was still subject to moral censorship in the early part of the twentieth century. Matthew Hodder was doubtful about the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, and the company refused Michael Arlens The Green Hat, a novel published by Collins in 1924. In 1922 Hodder and Stoughton published an edition of Lewis Carrolls Alices Adventures in Wonderland, in 1928, the company became the exclusive British hardback publisher of Leslie Charteriss adventure novel series, The Saint, publishing all 50 UK first editions of the series until 1983. In this decade they took over ownership of the medical journal. Hodder & Stoughton were also the originators of the Teach Yourself line of self-instruction books, as the company expanded at home and overseas, Hodder & Stoughtons list swelled to include the real life adventures in Pearys North Pole and several works by Winston Churchill. During the war, Ralph Hodder Williams set up the Brockhampton Book Co. to sell off overstocks of theological works. The manager, Ernest Roker, had an interest in books and managed to persuade author Enid Blyton to write a series of books for them about four children. In 1942, the Famous Five series was born with Five on a Treasure Island, in 1962, Brockhampton took over the childrens writer Elinor Lyon, whose novels the parent company had introduced in 1948. Hodder & Stoughton also published the Biggles books by Captain W. E. Johns, Hodder & Stoughton published their first original Biggles book in 1942 with Biggles Sweeps the Desert around Sept/Oct of that year and the Brockhampton Press published Johns Gimlet books from 1947. Hodder & Stoughton also published some of Johns Worrals books, Hodder & Stoughton eventually published 35 Biggles first editions and Brockhampton Press published a further 29 Biggles first editions. In 1953 they published Sir John Hunts successful The Ascent of Everest, in the 1970s, they brought the Knight and Coronet imprints into common use. The latter is memorable for David Nivens much-celebrated autobiography The Moons a Balloon. The non-fiction publishing included Anthony Sampsons era-defining The Anatomy of Britain in 1962, another notable title in the childrens sphere was the 1969 Brockhampton Press publication of Asterix the Gaul by Goscinny and Uderzo. In 1974, John le Carré’s Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy was published to critical acclaim
10.
French language
–
French is a Romance language of the Indo-European family. It descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire, as did all Romance languages, French has evolved from Gallo-Romance, the spoken Latin in Gaul, and more specifically in Northern Gaul. Its closest relatives are the other langues doïl—languages historically spoken in northern France and in southern Belgium, French was also influenced by native Celtic languages of Northern Roman Gaul like Gallia Belgica and by the Frankish language of the post-Roman Frankish invaders. Today, owing to Frances past overseas expansion, there are numerous French-based creole languages, a French-speaking person or nation may be referred to as Francophone in both English and French. French is a language in 29 countries, most of which are members of la francophonie. As of 2015, 40% of the population is in Europe, 35% in sub-Saharan Africa, 15% in North Africa and the Middle East, 8% in the Americas. French is the fourth-most widely spoken mother tongue in the European Union, 1/5 of Europeans who do not have French as a mother tongue speak French as a second language. As a result of French and Belgian colonialism from the 17th and 18th century onward, French was introduced to new territories in the Americas, Africa, most second-language speakers reside in Francophone Africa, in particular Gabon, Algeria, Mauritius, Senegal and Ivory Coast. In 2015, French was estimated to have 77 to 110 million native speakers, approximately 274 million people are able to speak the language. The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie estimates 700 million by 2050, in 2011, Bloomberg Businessweek ranked French the third most useful language for business, after English and Standard Mandarin Chinese. Under the Constitution of France, French has been the language of the Republic since 1992. France mandates the use of French in official government publications, public education except in specific cases, French is one of the four official languages of Switzerland and is spoken in the western part of Switzerland called Romandie, of which Geneva is the largest city. French is the language of about 23% of the Swiss population. French is also a language of Luxembourg, Monaco, and Aosta Valley, while French dialects remain spoken by minorities on the Channel Islands. A plurality of the worlds French-speaking population lives in Africa and this number does not include the people living in non-Francophone African countries who have learned French as a foreign language. Due to the rise of French in Africa, the total French-speaking population worldwide is expected to reach 700 million people in 2050, French is the fastest growing language on the continent. French is mostly a language in Africa, but it has become a first language in some urban areas, such as the region of Abidjan, Ivory Coast and in Libreville. There is not a single African French, but multiple forms that diverged through contact with various indigenous African languages, sub-Saharan Africa is the region where the French language is most likely to expand, because of the expansion of education and rapid population growth
11.
Franco-Belgian comics
–
Franco-Belgian comics are comics that are created for a Belgian and French audience. These countries have a tradition in comics and comic books, where they are known as BDs. In Europe, the French language is spoken not only in France but also by about 40% of the population of Belgium. The shared language creates an artistic and commercial market where national identity is often blurred, Flemish Belgian comic books are influenced by Francophone comics, yet have a distinctly different style, both in art as well as in spirit. Among the most popular Franco-Belgian comics that have achieved international fame are The Adventures of Tintin, Gaston Lagaffe, Asterix, Lucky Luke, the term bandes dessinées is derived from the original description of the art form as drawn strips. It was first introduced in the 1930s, but only became popular in the 1960s, the term bandes dessinées contains no indication of subject matter, unlike the American terms comics and funnies, which imply a humorous art form. Indeed, the distinction of comics as the art is prevalent in Francophone scholarship on the form, as is the concept of comics criticism. The publication of Francis Lacassins book Pour un neuvième art, la bande dessinée in 1971 further established the term and these were humorous short works rarely longer than a single page. In the Francophonie, artists such as Gustave Doré, Nadar, Christophe, in the early decades of the 20th century, comics were not stand-alone publications, but were published in newspapers and weekly or monthly magazines as episodes or gags. Aside from these magazines, the Catholic Church was creating and distributing healthy, in the early 1900s, the first popular French comics appeared, including Bécassine and Les Pieds Nickelés. In the 1920s, after the end of the first world war, Saint-Ogan was one of the first French-speaking artists to fully utilize techniques popularized and formulaized in the USA, such as word balloons. In 1920, the Abbot of Averbode in Belgium started publishing Zonneland, a magazine consisting largely of text with few illustrations, which started printing comics more often in the following years. One of the earliest proper Belgian comics was Hergés The Adventures of Tintin, with the story Tintin in the Land of the Soviets and it was quite different from future versions of Tintin, the style being very naïve and simple, even childish, compared to the later stories. The early stories often featured racist and political stereotypes that Hergé later regretted, the success was immediate, and soon other publishers started publishing periodicals with American series. This continued during the remainder of the decade, with hundreds of magazines publishing mostly imported material, the most important ones in France were Robinson, Hurrah, and Coeurs Vaillants, while Belgian examples include Wrill and Bravo. In 1938, Spirou magazine was launched, Spirou also appeared translated in a Dutch version under the name Robbedoes for the Flemish market. Export to the Netherlands followed a few years later, when Germany invaded France and Belgium, it became close to impossible to import American comics. The occupying Nazis banned American animated movies and comics they deemed to be of a questionable character, both were, however, already very popular before the war and the hardships of the war period only seemed to increase the demand
12.
Pilote
–
Pilote was a French comic magazine published from 1959 to 1989. Showcasing most of the major French or Belgian comics talents of its day the magazine introduced major series such as Astérix, Barbe-Rouge, Blueberry, Achille Talon, Pilote also published several international talents such as Hugo Pratt, Frank Bellamy and Robert Crumb. Following the publication of an issue number 0 on June 1. The magazine was started by experienced comics writers Goscinny and Charlier, Pilote was marketed by Radio-Luxembourg, and featured editorials written by popular radio personalities of the day. The 300,000 copies of the first issue sold out in one day, unlike Belgian competitive magazines, such as Tintin and Spirou, the magazine was, already from the beginning, more directly aimed at an adolescent audience. Charlier and Goscinny handled most of the initial writing, financial problems arose in 1960, but were resolved when the magazine was bought out by Dargaud publishers. Dargaud expanded the magazine with new series, including Charlier and Giraud’s Blueberry. In 1967 the popular science-fiction series Valérian et Laureline debuted and in 1968 the popular Western comedy Lucky Luke was transferred to Pilote from Spirou magazine, other notable appearances included series from the British comics magazine Eagle such as Fraser lAfricain and Winston Churchill by Frank Bellamy. Partly as a result, Dargaud reduced Pilote’s publication schedule from weekly to monthly in 1974, at this time, a new generation of artists also started publishing in Pilote, namely Caza, Lauzier, and FMurr. Their comics reflected the new, more adult direction, sales initially improved but a steady erosion took place through the 1980s as interest in the medium declined. Pilote was merged with the comics magazine Charlie Mensuel in 1986 and continued as Pilote et Charlie until 1988, however, declining sales prompted Dargaud to suspend publication after what became the final issue on October 1,1989. After 1989, there has no regular publications of the magazine
13.
Gauls
–
The Gauls were Celtic peoples inhabiting Gaul in the Iron Age and the Roman period. Their Gaulish language forms the branch of the Continental Celtic languages. The Gauls emerged around the 5th century BC as the bearers of the La Tène culture north of the Alps, Gaul was never united under a single ruler or government, but the Gallic tribes were capable of uniting their forces in large-scale military operations. They reached the peak of their power in the early 3rd century BC, after this, Gaul became a province of the Roman Empire, and the Gauls were culturally assimilated into a Gallo-Roman culture, losing their tribal identities by the end of the 1st century AD. The Gauls of Gallia Celtica according to the testimony of Caesar called themselves Celtae in their own language, the name Gaul itself may be derived from Latin Galli, or it may be derived from the Germanic word Walha. Gaulish culture developed out of the Celtic cultures over the first millennia BC, the Urnfield culture represents the Celts as a distinct cultural branch of the Indo-European-speaking people. The spread of iron working led to the Hallstatt culture in the 8th century BC, the Hallstatt culture evolved into the La Tène culture in around the 5th century BC. The Greek and Etruscan civilizations and colonies began to influence the Gauls especially in the Mediterranean area, Gauls under Brennus invaded Rome circa 390 BC. Following the climate deterioration in the late Nordic Bronze Age, Celtic Gaul was invaded in the 5th century BC by tribes later called Gauls originating in the Rhine valley. Gallic invaders settled the Po Valley in the 4th century BC, defeated Roman forces in a battle under Brennus in 390 BC and raided Italy as far as Sicily. A large number of Gauls served in the armies of Carthage during the Punic Wars, in the Aegean world, an invasion of Eastern Gauls appeared in Thrace, north of Greece, in 281 BC. However, according to the Roman legend of the gold of Delphi. One king Cerethrius invaded the Thracians, while another Gallic king Bolgios invaded Macedonia and Illyria where he killed the Macedonian king Ptolemy Keraunos, in 278 BC Gaulish settlers in the Balkans were invited by Nicomedes I of Bithynia to help him in a dynastic struggle against his brother. They numbered about 10,000 fighting men and about the number of women and children. They were eventually defeated by the Seleucid king Antiochus I, in a battle where the Seleucid war elephants shocked the Galatians. While the momentum of the invasion was broken, the Galatians were by no means exterminated and continued to demand tribute from the Hellenistic states of Anatolia to avoid war,4,000 Galatians were hired as mercenaries by the Ptolemaic Egyptian king Ptolemy II Philadelphus in the 270 BC. According to Pausanias, soon after arrival the Celts plotted “to seize Egypt, ”, Galatians also participated at the victorious in 217 BC Battle of Raphia under Ptolemy IV Philopator, and continued to serve as mercenaries for the Ptolemaic Dynasty until its demise in 30 BC. They sided with the renegade Seleucid prince Antiochus Hierax, who reigned in Asia Minor, after the defeat, the Galatians continued to be a serious threat to the states of Asia Minor
14.
Roman Republic
–
It was during this period that Romes control expanded from the citys immediate surroundings to hegemony over the entire Mediterranean world. During the first two centuries of its existence, the Roman Republic expanded through a combination of conquest and alliance, by the following century, it included North Africa, most of the Iberian Peninsula, and what is now southern France. Two centuries after that, towards the end of the 1st century BC, it included the rest of modern France, Greece, and much of the eastern Mediterranean. By this time, internal tensions led to a series of wars, culminating with the assassination of Julius Caesar. The exact date of transition can be a matter of interpretation, Roman government was headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and advised by a senate composed of appointed magistrates. Over time, the laws that gave exclusive rights to Romes highest offices were repealed or weakened. The leaders of the Republic developed a tradition and morality requiring public service and patronage in peace and war, making military. Many of Romes legal and legislative structures can still be observed throughout Europe and much of the world in modern nation states, the exact causes and motivations for Romes military conflicts and expansions during the republic are subject to wide debate. While they can be seen as motivated by outright aggression and imperialism and they argue that Romes expansion was driven by short-term defensive and inter-state factors, and the new contingencies that these decisions created. In its early history, as Rome successfully defended itself against foreign threats in central and then northern Italy, with some important exceptions, successful wars in early republican Rome generally led not to annexation or military occupation, but to the restoration of the way things were. But the defeated city would be weakened and thus able to resist Romanizing influences. It was also able to defend itself against its non-Roman enemies. It was, therefore, more likely to seek an alliance of protection with Rome and this growing coalition expanded the potential enemies that Rome might face, and moved Rome closer to confrontation with major powers. The result was more alliance-seeking, on the part of both the Roman confederacy and city-states seeking membership within that confederacy. While there were exceptions to this, it was not until after the Second Punic War that these alliances started to harden into something more like an empire and this shift mainly took place in parts of the west, such as the southern Italian towns that sided with Hannibal. In contrast, Roman expansion into Spain and Gaul occurred as a mix of alliance-seeking, in the 2nd century BC, Roman involvement in the Greek east remained a matter of alliance-seeking, but this time in the face of major powers that could rival Rome. This had some important similarities to the events in Italy centuries earlier, with some major exceptions of outright military rule, the Roman Republic remained an alliance of independent city-states and kingdoms until it transitioned into the Roman Empire. It was not until the time of the Roman Empire that the entire Roman world was organized into provinces under explicit Roman control
15.
Druid
–
A druid was a member of the high-ranking professional class in ancient Celtic cultures. While perhaps best remembered as religious leaders, they were also legal authorities, adjudicators, lorekeepers, medical professionals and they are however attested in some detail by their contemporaries from other cultures, such as the Romans. The earliest known references to the date to the fourth century BCE. Later Greco-Roman writers also described the Druids, including Cicero, Tacitus, in about 750 CE the word druid appears in a poem by Blathmac, who wrote about Jesus, saying that he was. Better than a prophet, more knowledgeable than every druid, a king who was a bishop, the druids then also appear in some of the medieval tales from Christianized Ireland like the Táin Bó Cúailnge, where they are largely portrayed as sorcerers who opposed the coming of Christianity. In the wake of the Celtic revival during the 18th and 19th centuries, fraternal and neopagan groups were founded based on ideas about the ancient druids, many popular notions about druids are based on the misconceptions of 18th century scholars. These have been superseded by more recent study. The modern English word druid derives from the Latin druides, which was considered by ancient Roman writers to come from the native Celtic Gaulish word for these figures, other Roman texts also employ the form druidae, while the same term was used by Greek ethnographers as δρυΐδης. Based on all forms, the hypothetical proto-Celtic word may then be reconstructed as *dru-wid-s meaning oak-knower. The two elements go back to the Proto-Indo-European roots *deru- and *weid- to see, the sense of oak-knower is supported by Pliny the Elder, who in his Natural History considered the word to contain the Greek noun drýs, oak-tree and the Greek suffix -idēs. The modern Irish word for Oak is Dair, which occurs in anglicized placenames like Derry – Doire, there are many stories about saints, heroes, and oak trees, and also many local stories and superstitions about trees in general, which still survive in rural Ireland. Both Old Irish druí and Middle Welsh dryw could also refer to the wren, sources by ancient and medieval writers provide an idea of the religious duties and social roles involved in being a druid. One of the few things that both the Greco-Roman and the vernacular Irish sources agree on about the druids is that played an important part in pagan Celtic society. He also claimed that they were exempt from service and from the payment of taxes. Pomponius Mela is the first author who says that the instruction was secret and was carried on in caves. Druidic lore consisted of a number of verses learned by heart. What was taught to Druid novices anywhere is conjecture, of the oral literature, not one certifiably ancient verse is known to have survived. All instruction was communicated orally, but for ordinary purposes, Caesar reports, in this he probably draws on earlier writers, by the time of Caesar, Gaulish inscriptions had moved from the Greek script to the Latin script
16.
Obelix
–
Obelix is a cartoon character and protagonist in the French comic book series Asterix. He works as a sculptor and deliveryman, and is Asterixs best friend. Obelix is noted for his fatness, the menhirs he carries around on his back and he fell into a cauldron of the Gauls magic potion when he was a baby, causing him to be the only Gaul in Asterixs village who is in a permanent state of superhuman strength. Because of this already enormous strength, Obelix is not allowed to drink the magic potion ever again and his catchphrase is, Ils sont fous ces romains, which translates into These Romans are crazy. Although he considers nearly every other nationality to be just as strange, the character was portrayed by actor Gérard Depardieu in every Asterix live-action movie. He is a man who does not see himself as fat. When he does understand the allusions are made on his behalf he flies into a rage, sometimes, when he is in a bad mood, just hearing the word fat—even if it is not in reference to him—can quickly enrage him. Although they usually simply insult each other verbally they inevitably make up swiftly, sometimes, Obelix can be so paranoic over the allusion of the word Fat that he can even break the fourth wall with the mere mention of this. Visibly in Asterix and the Black Gold, when the points out that their vessel was pulled like a Big and fat fish. He generally works as a delivery man. His passions in life are hanging around with Asterix, hunting and eating wild boar, making and carrying his menhirs, Obelix has a little dog named Dogmatix, whom he adores. His parents live now in Condate and his distant cousin Metallurgix, in fact, he eats nuts and oysters in the shell, and is completely oblivious to drugs, spicy food and poison, possibly due to the permanent effects of the magic potion. Although he has his own house, Obelix is occasionally shown staying overnight at Asterixs, Obelix owns the quarry where he chisels the menhirs himself. Obelix usually trades the stones away for whatever he needs, resulting in the village having a field of menhirs. Obelix is kind-hearted, but socially inept — possibly because his strength means that others have had to adapt to him instead of vice versa and he is still not completely aware of his own strength and almost invariably breaks any door he gently knocks on. He is frequently used as a battering ram for opening locked doors or breaking through walls. He also has little interest in subjects of education or intellectual pursuits, since sheer strength usually solves his problems. However, Obelix is not completely stupid and he also surprises Asterix in Asterix and the Black Gold by reeling off a dictionary definition of wild boar in conversation
17.
Vercingetorix
–
Vercingetorix was a king and chieftain of the Arverni tribe, he united the Gauls in a revolt against Roman forces during the last phase of Julius Caesars Gallic Wars. Vercingetorix came to power after his designation as chieftain of the Arverni at the oppidum Gergovia in 52 BC. He immediately established an alliance with other Gallic tribes, took command and combined all forces and he won the Battle of Gergovia against Julius Caesar in which several thousands Romans and allies died and Caesars Roman legions withdrew. However, Caesar had been able to exploit Gaulish internal division to easily subjugate the country, at the Battle of Alesia, the Romans besieged and defeated his forces. In order to save as many of his men as possible he gave himself to the Romans and he was held prisoner for five years. In 46 BC, as part of Caesars triumph, Vercingetorix was paraded through the streets of Rome, Vercingetorix is primarily known through Caesars Commentaries on the Gallic War. To this day, Vercingetorix is considered a hero in Auvergne. The generally accepted view is that Vercingetorix derives from the Gaulish ver-, cingeto-, in his Life of Caesar, Plutarch renders the name as Vergentorix. He made use of the factionalism among the Gallic elites, favoring certain noblemen over others with political support, the revolt that Vercingetorix came to lead began in early 52 BC while Caesar was raising troops in Cisalpine Gaul. Undeterred, Vercingetorix raised an army of the poor, took Gergovia and was hailed as king and he made alliances with other tribes, and having been unanimously given supreme command of their armies, imposed his authority through harsh discipline and the taking of hostages. He adopted the policy of retreating to natural fortifications, and undertook an early example of a scorched earth strategy by burning towns to prevent the Roman legions from living off the land. Vercingetorix scorched much of the land marching north with his army from Gergovia in an attempt to deprive Caesar of the resources and safe haven of the towns, however, the capital of the Bituriges, Avaricum, a Gallic settlement directly in Caesars path, was spared. Due to the strong protests, naturally defendable terrain, and apparently strong man-made reinforcing defenses. Upon reaching Avaricum however, the Romans laid siege and eventually captured the capital, the next major battle was at Gergovia, capital city of the Arverni and Vercingetorix. During that battle, Vercingetorix and his warriors crushed Caesars legions and allies, Vercingetorix then decided to follow Caesar but suffered heavy losses during a cavalry battle and he retreated and moved to another stronghold, Alesia. In the Battle of Alesia, Caesar built a fortification around the city to besiege it, the relief came in insufficient numbers, estimates range from 80,000 to 250,000 soldiers. Vercingetorix, the leader, was cut off from them on the inside. However, the attacks did reveal a point in the fortifications and the combined forces on the inside
18.
Orgetorix
–
Orgetorix was a wealthy aristocrat among the Helvetii, a Celtic-speaking people residing in what is now Switzerland during the consulship of Julius Caesar of the Roman Republic. In 61 BC he convinced the Helvetians to attempt to migrate from Helvetian territory to south-western Gaul. He was also party to an arrangement with Dumnorix of the Aedui and Casticus of the Sequani to seize control of their respective tribes by arms. The Helvetians went on with their plans for migration but were defeated in 58 BC and this incident was the beginning of the Gallic War in which Caesar subjugated Gaul. Julius Pokorny segments the name orgeto-rix, where the first element contains Gallic orge, kill, related to Old Irish orcaid, kill, from the Indo-European root *per-g-, to hit. The second element is manifestly Celtic rīx, king, warrior-king, although Orgetorix had aspirations in that direction, he was not one. According to Julius Caesar in I.2 of De Bello Gallico and he made himself an ambassador on behalf of the Helvetians to the other Gallic tribes and he gave his own daughter to Dumnorix as a bona fide gesture. Orgetorix failed in his attempt to become one of three ruling triumvirs of Gaul, the Helvetians made elaborate plans for making such a journey. According to Caesar they spent two years sowing crops and buying beasts of burden, intending that the migration should start in the third year, the effort came by way of marital exchange and individual alliances among some of the young nobles from all three tribes. Orgetorix was intending to make an attempt in seizing control of all Gaul, with Dumnorix. Unknown to the Helvetians, Orgetorix was making a deal that would involve the use of Helvetian soldiers to control of all Gaul. If the conspiracy was to be carried out, the Aeduans, Sequanians, rivals among the Helvetii discovered Orgetorixs illegal plot and moved to put him on trial, with the penalty of death by burning if found guilty. Many Helvetians suspected that Orgetorix committed suicide rather than death by burning. According to Caesar, he manages to evade pleading his case, nonetheless the Helvetians continue their attempt to migrate. Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico 1.2 Dio Cassius, Roman History 38.31 Orosius, Seven Books of History Against the Pagans 6.7
19.
Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra
–
Based on the book Asterix and Cleopatra, which had previous been adapted into a 1968 animated film, it also acts as a sequel to the 1999 movie Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar. It was the most expensive French movie at that time, before being beaten by A Very Long Engagement two years later. A critical success, it was also a box office success in France, becoming its most successful film in 36 years. Miramax Films re-edited the film, cutting approximately 21 minutes and dubbing the movie into English using an American cast. The dubbed dialogue uses some of the original English names, but the rest are either reused from the American English translation of the original album, or newly invented names. This is most notable among minor characters, the crew, for example, are referred to by the names of famous rock and roll musicians just before a cry of lets rock. The English language subtitles for other markets are a translation of the French dialogue. The version released on DVD in the Australia by Madman Entertainment contains two discs, one the original French version and the other the Miramax edit. To perform this task, Cleopatra hires the architect Numerobis, on pain of death and much to the dismay of Pyradonis and he and his secretary Papyris discuss the druid Getafix, whose potion empowers its drinkers, and Numerobis goes in search of him. In Gaul, two Roman legionnaires challenge protagonist Asterix, who drinks the potion and defeats one Roman, whereupon Obelix fells the other and they are joined by Numerobis, whom they guide to Getafix. Rather than sell some of the potion, Getafix accompanies Numerobis to Alexandria. In Alexandria, Numerobis introduces the Gauls to Papyris, and later to Queen Cleopatra herself, while they greet her, Asterix falls in love with Guimieukis, a maidservant. As they observe the workers, Pyradonis starts a riot, but the supplies the workers with potion. Pyradonis hires Torturis to trap the Gauls in the Great Pyramid, as they return to Alexandria, Caesar is informed of the Gauls presence, and leads an attack to destroy the unfinished palace. As the Romans charge, Asterix and Obelix fend them off, en route, he drops his vial of potion, and the villainous rival architect Criminalis drinks it. Meanwhile, Panoramix gives Numerobis some potion, with which he defeats Criminalis, when Cleopatra receives the letter, she stops Caesar from destroying the palace. Numerobis and the Gauls complete the palace, and Caesar concedes his bet to Cleopatra, in the epilogue, all the characters celebrate in a bar. Beverly Jo Scott Asterix & Obelix, Mission Cleopatra at the Internet Movie Database Asterix & Obelix, Mission Cleopatra at Box Office Mojo
20.
Oumpah-pah
–
Oumpah-pah le Peau-Rouge is a comics series created by comics artist Albert Uderzo and comics author René Goscinny, best known as the creators of Asterix the Gaul. The series first appeared in the weekly Tintin magazine in 1958 though it remained serialised for a short time. The stories were published in form by Lombard and Dargaud starting in 1961. In 1995, the series was reissued by Albert Uderzos own publishing house, the series is set in the eighteenth century during the age of French colonization in America. Ompa-pa is strong and quick, and loves to eat pemmican and he is an honest and trustworthy brave whose simple heroism is comparable to that of the more famous Asterix, whom Uderzo and Goscinny later created. When Brussels Sprout introduces Ompa-pa as his brother, his commanding officer remarks, the character Ompa-pa makes a cameo appearance in the Asterix film The Twelve Tasks of Asterix, though this story is set in pre-Columbian America. Ompa-pa was the very first character created by Uderzo and Goscinny, while he was staying in the United States for professional reasons, Goscinny unsuccessfully tried to have the first version of the comic published in English. The idea remained shelved for years until the concept was adapted for publication in the Franco-Belgian comics magazine Tintin. The finished series made its debut on April 2,1958, Goscinny and Uderzo ultimately decided to end the series early, in order to focus their energies on the more popular Asterix character. The series was published in English under the title Ompa-Pa in the UK in 1977–78, Oumpah-pah le Peau-Rouge,1958 Oumpah–pah sur le sentier de la guerre,1958 Oumpah–pah et les pirates,1959 Mission secrète,1960 Oumpah–pah contre Foie–Malade,19621. Oumpah-pah le Peau-Rouge, including Oumpah-pah sur le sentier de la guerre 2, Oumpah-pah et les pirates, including Mission secrète 3. Oumpah-pah contre Foie-Malade Reissues by Les Éditions Albert René1, Oumpah-Pah le Peau-Rouge, including an introduction and a reprint of the 1951 U. S. pilot 2. Vol.2, including Oumpah-Pah sur le sentier de la guerre, vol.3, including Mission secrète and Oumpah-pah contre Foie-Malade English translation by Nicholas Fry 1. Ompa-Pa and Brother Two Scalp 2, Ompa-Pa and the Secret Mission 5. Ompa-Pa and the Prussians Footnotes Umpah-Pah on Yps Fanpage
21.
Tintin (magazine)
–
Tintin magazine was a weekly Franco-Belgian comics magazine of the second half of the 20th century. Originally published by Le Lombard, the first issue was released in 1946, Tintin magazine was part of an elaborate publishing scheme. There were several ongoing stories at any time, giving wide exposure to lesser-known artists. Tintin was also available bound as a hardcover or softcover collection, not every comic appearing in Tintin was later put into book form, which was another incentive to subscribe to the magazine. If the quality of Tintin printing was high compared to American comic books through the 1970s, Raymond Leblanc and his partners had started a small publishing house after World War II, and decided to create an illustrated youth magazine. They decided that Tintin would be the hero, as he was already very well known. Business partner André Sinave went to see Tintin author Hergé, Hergé, who had worked for Le Soir during the war, was being prosecuted for having allegedly collaborated with the Germans, and thus was without a publisher. After consulting with his friend Edgar Pierre Jacobs, Hergé agreed, the first issue, published on 26 September 1946, was in French. It featured Hergé, Jacobs, Paul Cuvelier and Jacques Laudy as artists, a Dutch edition, entitled Kuifje, was published simultaneously. 40,000 copies were released in French, and 20,000 in Dutch, for Kuifje, a separate editor-in-chief was appointed, Karel Van Milleghem. He invented the famous slogan The magazine for the youth from 7 to 77, for decades, Hergé had artistic control over the magazine, even though he was sometimes absent for long periods and new work of his became rarer. His influence is evident in Vandersteens Suske en Wiske for which Hergé imposed a stronger attention to the stories, editing. These stamps could be exchanged for various gifts not available in commercial establishments, other brands, mostly from food companies, affiliated themselves with the Tintin voucher system, they could be found on flour, semolina boxes, etc. A Tintin soda existed, and even Tintin shoes, the French Railways Company went as far as to propose 100 km of railway transportation for 800 stamps. Among the gifts, there were super chromos extracted from the magazine issues, at the time the vouchers were initiated, the magazine was selling 80,000 copies in Belgium and only 70,000 in France. Due to the success of the vouchers, the circulation in France quickly rose to 300,000 a week, the vouchers disappeared by the end of the 1960s. In the 1960s the magazine kept on attracting new artists, the editorial line was clearly bent towards humor, with Greg, Jo-El Azara, Dany and Dupa. Other authors joined the magazine, like William Vance and Hermann, in the 1970s the comics scene in France and Belgium went through important changes
22.
Asterix the Gaul
–
Asterix the Gaul is the first volume of the Asterix comic strip series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. In Le Mondes 100 Books of the Century, a 1999 poll conducted by the French retailer Fnac, all Gaul is under Roman control, except for one small village in Armorica, whose inhabitants are made invincible by a magic potion created periodically by the Druid Getafix. To discover the secret of the Gauls strength, Centurion Crismus Bonus, commander of a Roman garrison at the camp of Compendium. The Romans identity is revealed when he loses his false moustache, Crismus Bonus, hoping to overthrow Julius Caesar, orders Getafix captured and interrogated for the recipe, but to no avail. Following Asterixs suggestion, Getafix pretends to agree to the Centurions demand of the potion when Asterix pretends to give in to torture, after all the ingredients are found, a potion is prepared that causes the hair and beard of the drinker to grow at an accelerated pace. The Romans are tricked into drinking this potion and before long, all of them have long hair, when Crismus Bonus pleads Getafix to make an antidote, the druid makes a cauldron of vegetable soup, and also prepares a small quantity of the real magic potion for Asterix. As Getafix and Asterix escape, they are stopped by an army of Roman reinforcements commanded by Julius Caesar. The two Gauls then return to their village, where their neighbors celebrate their recovery, in fact, due to its original, serial nature, some develop and change even as the story progresses, The Roman second-in-command changes abruptly a few pages into the story. Getafix begins the story living in a cave in the forest and he also uses a walking stick. Obelix is seen carrying an axe in his first appearance and he is satisfied with helping Asterix eat just one boar between them. Obelix is only a character in the first album. Asterix and other villagers appear to be using the potion constantly, fulliautomatix is seen working metal with his bare hands. He also bears no resemblance to his later appearances, cacofonix the bard plays and calls a dance, and at the end is seated at the table at the feast. Later albums established a running gag where he is never allowed to sing, when he is first introduced in the prologue, Caesar has a completely different look than he has in the rest of the series, including at the end of this album. The story was first published as a serial in Pilote magazine, a Franco-Belgian comics magazine founded by Goscinny and a few other comic artists. The first page appeared in the promotional issue #0, distributed on June 1,1959, a small head of Asterix first appeared on the cover of #9, and a full Asterix cover was used on #21. The next story, Asterix and the Golden Sickle, started in issue #42, Asterix le Gaulois was published in July 1961 by Dargaud in the so-called Pilote collection with a print of 6000 copies. A Dutch translation followed in 1966, and other languages followed soon after, the English translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge was first published in 1969 by Brockhampton Press
23.
Le Monde
–
Le Monde is a French daily afternoon newspaper founded by Hubert Beuve-Méry and continuously published in Paris since its first edition on 19 December 1944. It is one of the most important and widely respected newspapers in the world and it is one of two French newspapers of record along with Le Figaro, and the main publication of La Vie-Le Monde Group. It reported a circulation of 323,039 copies per issue in 2009. It has had its own website since 19 December 1995, and is often the only French newspaper easily obtainable in non-French-speaking countries and it should not be confused with the monthly publication Le Monde diplomatique, of which Le Monde has 51% ownership, but which is editorially independent. In the 1990s and 2000s, La Vie-Le Monde Group expanded under editor Jean-Marie Colombani with a number of acquisitions. However, its profitability was not sufficient to cover the debt loads it took on to fund this expansion. In June 2010, investors Matthieu Pigasse, Pierre Bergé, in contrast to other world newspapers such as The New York Times, Le Monde was traditionally focused on offering analysis and opinion, as opposed to being a newspaper of record. Hence, it was considered important for the paper to offer maximum coverage of the news than to offer thoughtful interpretation of current events. For instance, on the 10th anniversary of the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, the newspaper directly implicated François Mitterrand, in recent years, however, the paper has established a greater distinction between fact and opinion. Beuve-Méry reportedly demanded total editorial independence as the condition for his taking on the project, in 1981 it backed the election of socialist François Mitterrand on the grounds that alternation of the political party in government would be beneficial to the state. The paper endorsed centre-right candidate Édouard Balladur in the 1995 presidential election and Ségolène Royal, according to the Mitrokhin Archive investigators, Le Monde was the KGBs key outlet for spreading anti-American and pro-Soviet disinformation to the French media. The archive identified two senior Le Monde journalists and several contributors who were used in the operations, michel Legris, a former journalist with the paper, wrote Le Monde tel quil est in 1976. According to him, the journal minimized the atrocities committed by the Cambodian Khmer Rouge and it also accused the paper of dangerously damaging the authority of the French state by having revealed various political scandals. This book remains controversial, but attracted attention and media coverage in France. Following a lawsuit, the authors and the publisher agreed in 2004 not to proceed to any reprinting, Le Monde has been found guilty of defamation for saying that Spanish football club FC Barcelona was connected to a doctor involved in steroid use. The Spanish court fined the newspaper nearly $450,000, in April 2016, a Le Monde reporter was denied visa to visit Algeria as part of the French Prime Minister press convoy to Algeria. Le Monde had previously published names of Algerian officials directly involved with the Panama papers corruption scandal, Le Monde is published around midday, and the date on the masthead is the following days. For instance, the issue released at midday on 15 March shows 16 March on the masthead and it is available on newsstands in France on the day of release, and received by mail subscribers on the masthead date
24.
Asterix and the Golden Sickle
–
Asterix and the Golden Sickle is the second volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It was first serialized in Pilote magazine issues 42–74 in 1960, Asterix and Obelix therefore set out for Lutetia to buy a new one from Obelixs cousin, the sicklesmith Metallurgix. On the way there, they encounter bandits, but easily defeat them and they refuse, and defeat Navishtrix and his followers, but are pardoned by Roman Prefect Surplus Dairyprodus, and learn from a Centurion that Metallurgix may have been kidnapped by his competitors. From a drunkard imprisoned by Dairyprodus, they learn that these are based at a portal dolmen in the Boulogne forest, in the competitors underground store-room, Asterix and Obelix find a hoard of Golden Sickles, but are attacked by Clovogarlix, Navishtrix, and their minions. Upon defeat, Navishtrix escapes, and Asterix and Obelix follow him to Surplus Dairyprodus, with this, they return to their village and celebrate their achievement. The complete guide to Asterix by Peter Kessler ISBN 0-340-65346-9
25.
Asterix and the Goths
–
Asterix and the Goths is the third volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It was first published in 1963 in French and translated into English in 1974, meanwhile, on the Roman Empires border, two legionaries are captured by a band of Goths, intending to kidnap the Druid of the Year and use his skills to conquer Gaul and Rome. En route to the Forest, Asterix, Obelix, and Getafix meet another druid, Valueaddedtax, at the edge of the Forest of the Carnutes, Getafix and his friend leave Asterix and Obelix for the druids conference. Unaware that the Goth band is hiding nearby, the druids enter their inventions in a contest, in which Getafix wins the Golden Menhir prize with his potion, as he leaves his colleagues, the Goths take him prisoner. Asterix and Obelix, fearing for their friends safety after they do not see him leave the Forest, enter the woods and they instantly set out towards the east to rescue Getafix. Unfortunately, they run into another Roman patrol, which spots the helmet Asterix is carrying, Obelix and Asterix easily defeat the Romans, but the Roman general is informed of the incident and sends out pictures of Asterix and Obelix with a reward for their capture. Asterix has the idea of disguising himself and Obelix as Romans. Two other legionaries, searching for the Goths, come across our heroes, in which Obelixs laughter at what they should say if they meet other Romans almost blows his and Asterixs cover. Soon after, the two spot the two tied-up Romans and mistake them for Asterix and Obelix, a fat one and a little one. Thinking another Legionary captured them and has gone for reinforcements, they decide to take the reward, Asterix and Obelix, back in Gaulish clothing, are completely untouched, along with the Goths, who approach the border. The Goths cross the Roman Empires border back into Germania, stunning a young legionary whose eagerness to report an invasion becomes a running gag and they present the druid first to a customs officer, who at first refuses to let them through on charges of importing foreign goods. Although Getafix flatly refuses, Rhetoric lies and says that he has agreed to do so in a weeks time, meanwhile, Asterix and Obelix also stun the young legionary and enter the Gothic lands. While running into a Gothic border patrol, Obelix stupidly uses the cover up names he and Asterix used for their Roman disguises, making the patrol think the Gauls are Romans. After Asterix and Obelix beat up the patrol, they disguise themselves as Goths by attacking two of them, infiltrating their barracks as members of the army. They escape from the Gothic army, but are captured again by the Goths and thrown in jail along with Rhetoric. Although they are thrown in prison, Obelix easily breaks the door and they flee, while at first he pretends to speak only Gothic, Rhetoric accidentally reveals that he can speak Gaulish and is forced to spill the beans. While trying to sneak into the Gothic town, Rhetoric screams, although Asterix and Obelix beat up the patrol, they surrender to the last standing man to be brought to the Chief. The Gauls are brought before Metric, Getafix reveals that he can actually speak Gothic and informs Metric that Rhetoric had been deceiving him
26.
Asterix the Gladiator
–
Asterix the Gladiator is the fourth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It was first serialized in the magazine Pilote, issues 126–168, while stopping at the Roman Camp of Compendium, Prefect Odius Asparagus wants one of the indomitable Gauls as a present for Julius Caesar. Because none of the others can be captured, Centurion Gracchus Armisurplus decides on Cacofonix the bard, soldiers sent by the centurion, although driven away by Cacofonixs singing at first, counteract this by stuffing parsley in their ears and capture him easily. A young boy from the village raises the alarm to Asterix and Obelix, and the Gauls attack Compendium, Asterix and Obelix therefore board a ship with Ekonomikrisis the Phoenician merchant, who agrees to take them to Rome after they save him from the pirates. Upon arrival in Rome, Asterix and Obelix befriend Instantmix and visit the public baths, there, Caius Fatuous decides they would be perfect candidates for the gladiators fights in the Circus Maximus, and he arranges to have them captured. That night, Asterix and Obelix visit Instantmix in his insula, the next morning, the Gauls first attempt at rescuing the bard fails when they raid the Circus prison and discover that Cacofonix has been transferred to a lower basement. Caius Fatuous has his men try to ambush them in groups of three, but Asterix and Obelix defeat them with ease, and apparently without taking notice, soon, the Gauls demoralize Insalubrius and irritate Caius Fatuous by having the other gladiators play guessing-games instead of training. Later, when Fatuous plans the Games to Julius Caesar, the Gauls go on a stroll, on the eve before the games, Asterix and Obelix visit Cacofonix in his cell and inform him of their intentions to free him and the gladiators. The next day, during the races, Asterix and Obelix substitute themselves for an inebriated contestant. As Cacofonix is put into the arena to be killed by the lions, he sings to the Romans, seeing that the audience are amused, Caesar releases the three Gauls and grants them Fatuous as a prisoner. Soon afterwards, the four men back up with Ekonomikrisis. After a brief journey, the Gauls arrive home and Ekonomikrisis keeps his promise to return Caius Fatuous to Rome. The villagers then celebrate the return of their heroes with a banquet, only with Cacofonix having to sit it out bound and this book is noteworthy in the Asterix series as the first in which Obelix says his famous catchphrase These Romans are crazy. An audiobook of Asterix the Gladiator adapted by Anthea Bell and narrated by Willie Rushton was released on EMI Records Listen for Pleasure label in 1988, geriatrix - Obelix asks him to run his menhir delivery service while he is away. His feisty personality was not shown at this time, neither was the fact he is married, Ekonomikrisis - Provides transport to and from Rome Brutus - Featuring an amusingly ironic exchange with Julius Caesar at the circus. The Pirates - parodying French comic Barbe-Rouge which was serialized in Pilote at the time. Obelix helmet game - for the first time he collects helmets from the Romans he bashes and this is one of the few stories in which the banquet at the end is held during the day. A noticeable mistake can be seen, when the Decurion who captured Cacofonix was first seen, later, he is seen wearing Steel Armour
27.
Asterix and the Banquet
–
Asterix and the Banquet is the fifth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It was first serialized in Pilote magazine, issues 172-213, in 1963, fed up with the resistance the indomitable Gauls show, Julius Caesar sends Inspector General Overanxius to the camp of Compendium. Once there, Overanxius sees Centurion Lotuseatus and takes command of his men to them on an attack of the Gaulish Village, but as usual. Undeterred, Overanxius attempts a new strategy, setting up a stockade around the village to keep the Gauls contained, however, Lotuseatus knows who Asterix and Obelix are and dispatches a messenger under Overanxiuss orders as Overanxius is determined to win his side of the bet. The pair make their escape by winding through the streets and taking control of a wealthy Roman couples yacht down the Seine. Camaracum, The Gauls stop in a shop to buy humbugs. However, the shopkeeper proves that all civilian Gauls are on the side throughout this bet by knocking out the centurion just as hes beginning to recover. Rheims, Asterix and Obelix abandon the break down chariot and buy some wine, before they leave, they are ambushed by Spongefingus, who has recovered from his accident, but Asterix manages to knock him out with the use of an amphora that pops its cork too easily. Divodurum, After leaving Rheims, the pair are hungry, but cant eat the food for the banquet just yet, so they drop in on the home of Unpatriotix to ask for boar. However, instead of helping them, Unpatriotix intends to betray his fellow countrymen buy ratting the pair out to the Romans for money, when Obelix discovers the ruse, he knocks out a legionary to get to prison too and succeeds in rescuing Asterix. After beating up the Romans in charge of the prison, Asterix decides it was risky to buy any of Divodurums specialties and decides to buy some in Lugdunum, as they leave, the Gauls commandeer a Roman postal cart. Lugdunum, The next day, upon arrival, the Gauls abandon the postal cart and, after crashing through a Roman blockade, meet Jellibabix, Jellibabix gives the duo a parcel of sausages and meatballs and Asterix and Obelix leave by chariot. Nicae, En route to Nicae, Asterix and Obelix get stuck in holiday traffic bound for the Gaulish Riviera, Once they arrive in Nicae, the Gauls buy salad and have to make a premature departure when a Roman patrol spies them. Massilia, Once they arrive in Massilia, the Gauls stop in Cesar Drinklikafixs inn where, aside from having goats milk and boar, they buy fish stew. Again, the pair makes a departure when they hear from a boy that a Roman patrol is coming. Tolosa, En route to Tolosa, night is coming on, when they discover this in the morning, they beat up the Romans, but then pretend to surrender to them after learning that the Centurion intended to take them to Tolosa by cart. The Gauls are soon chained up, but break them. Once out on the road, the Centurion rides on ahead to bring over the prefect, but in his absence, Asterix and Obelix beat up the Romans again, make off with the cart, and buy sausages in Tolosa
28.
Asterix and Cleopatra
–
Asterix and Cleopatra is the sixth book in the Asterix comic book series by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It was first published in form in Pilote magazine, issues 215-257. The book begins with an argument between Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, and Julius Caesar, in which Caesar belittles the accomplishments of the Egyptian people, infuriated, Cleopatra makes a wager with Caesar promising to build a new palace in Alexandria within three months. Cleopatra summons Edifis, who claims to be the best architect in Egypt and she promises Edifis that if he builds the palace on time he will be covered with gold, if he fails, he will be a meal for the sacred crocodiles. A worried Edifis thinks he needs magic to him, enlists the help of the Gauls, Asterix, Obelix, Getafix. Artifis tells the workers to demand less whipping, which would slow construction, however Getafix gives the workers magic potion. Edifis is kidnapped and hidden in a sarcophagus in the house of Artifis, artfis and his henchman are forced to work on the palace, but without magic potion. The Gauls fight off the Roman soldiers, but the commanding officer proceeds to shell the building with his catapults, in desperation, Asterix and Dogmatix deliver the news to Cleopatra. A furious Cleopatra then hurries to the site to berate Caesar. Caesars legions are ordered to fix the damage caused and the palace is successfully completed on time. Cleopatra wins her bet and covers Edifis with gold, Edifis and Artifis reconcile and agree to build pyramids together, and Cleopatra gives Getafix some papyrus manuscripts from the Library of Alexandria as a gift. The Gauls return, but Vitalstatitix criticises Obelix trying to give an Egyptian style point to menhirs. Asterix and Cleopatra has been adapted for film twice, first as an animated 1968 film entitled Asterix and Cleopatra, an audiobook of Asterix and Cleopatra adapted by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge and narrated by Willie Rushton was released on Hodder and Stoughtons Hodder Childrens Audio. In most Asterix books, Obelix is not permitted to drink the Magic Potion, Obelix notices no difference, but keeps asking for more potion in subsequent volumes. Obelixs dog, Dogmatix, is named for the first time in this story and it is also the first story in which Dogmatix takes a significant role. The recurring pirate characters appear in book, though on this occasion they sink their own ship rather than endure a fight with the Gauls. The captains son Erix is mentioned as having left as a deposit to pay for the short-lived ship. This was the first Asterix adventure to be translated into Finnish
29.
Asterix and the Big Fight
–
Asterix and the Big Fight is a French comic book, the seventh in the Asterix comic book series. It was written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo and its original French title is Le Combat des chefs and it was first published in serial form in Pilote magazines, issues 261-302, in 1964. It was translated into English in 1971, according to ancient Gaulish customs, the loser would forfeit his entire tribe to the winner. When Ceramix argues that Vitalstatistix would surely win with Getafix’ magic potion of invincibility, to scatter the attackers, Obelix accidentally strikes Getafix with a menhir, the impact of which causes amnesia and insanity. As the two crazed druids concoct a number of skin-coloring magic potions, Asterix tries to get Vitalstatistix into good shape for the fight. Meanwhile, the Romans plan to arrest Cassius after the fight, as the fight begins, Getafix accidentally makes a potion which restores his mind, and retains sanity despite being hit by another menhir. Getafix quickly proceeds to brew a supply of magic potion, meanwhile, the fight had turned into a bore, Vitalstatistix, exploiting his superior physical condition, is running circles around the ring while Ceramix tries in vain to catch him. After hearing of Getafixs recovery, Vitalstatistix defeats his opponent with a single blow. The Romans do not accept this victory, but are crushed by the Gauls, when Ceramix is reduced to amnesia by a third menhir that was thrown by Obelix during the battle, Vitalstatistix declines his right to take over Cassius tribe, and sends him home in honour. Psychoanalytix returns to business despite his amnesia, but remains professionally successful despite side effects of his medicines, Cassius, now in the same mental state as Psychoanalytix, becomes the most courteous chief in Gaul and the probable originator of French courtesy. His tribe returns to Gaulish ways and the fight against Rome, in the original French version, Vitalstatistixs opponent is called Aplusbégalix. In the English translation, his name of Cassius Ceramix is a reference to the boxer Muhammad Ali, formerly known as Cassius Clay, Vitalstatistixs strategy of wearing down his opponent and his victory dance is a parody of Alis style. In the scene in which an amusement park is set up and this is a pun on the French name for roller coaster, Russian mountain. A book store called W. H. Smix can be seen in the same scene, which is a pun on the chain W. H. Smith. In the same panel is a tent with a sign, Menagerix — See The Fabulous Animals, and a billboard outside of this tent has a picture of the Marsupilami, a famous Belgian comics character. Where Pschoanalytixs nurse introduces the conditions of his patients to Asterix and Obelix and this scene was reprinted in Asterix and the Class Act as its introduction. In this story Vitalstatistix’ wife appears for the first time, fussing over him when he is preparing to meet Cassius Ceramix, the menhiring subplot is reintroduced three decades later in Asterix and the Actress. An animated film bearing the title was released in 1989
30.
Asterix in Britain
–
Asterix in Britain is the eighth in the Asterix comic book series. It was published in form in Pilote magazine, issues 307-334, in 1965. It tells the story of Asterix and Obelixs journey to Roman-occupied Britain, julius Caesar has invaded Britain and succeeded in his conquest, but a single village in Kent remains independent. One member of the village, Anticlimax, is dispatched to Gaul to enlist the help of Getafix the druid in providing magic potion for the British rebels. In Britain, the barrel of potion is confiscated from a pub cellar, along all the barreled warm beer and wine in Londinium, by the Romans. During the commotion a thief steals the cart with the barrels. In the Tower of Londinium, Obelix wakes up and frees himself and Dipsomaniax out of the jail, and the three heroes, after a search, find the potion in use as a pick-me-up for a Rugby team. After this team wins their game, the protagonists seize the potion and escape on the river Thames, at the independent village, Asterix eases the Britons disappointment by feigning to remake the potion, with herbs later revealed to be tea. With a psychological boost, the village prevails against the Romans, an audiobook of Asterix in Britain adapted by Anthea Bell and narrated by Willie Rushton was released on EMI Records Listen for Pleasure label in 1987. The blue and white uniforms of the Camulodunum team are identical to the home kit of Colchester United FC. The chief of Anticlimaxs tribe is a caricature of Harold Wilson, the Beatles also make a cameo appearance as bards. The book was adapted into a film of the same name. The adaptation is similar to the book, a second, live-action film was released in 2012. The story is combined with elements of Asterix and the Normans - not least in that Vitalstatistixs nephew Justforkix accompanies Asterix and Obelix to Britain
31.
Asterix and the Normans
–
Asterix and the Normans is the ninth book in the Asterix comic book series, written by René Goscinny and drawn by Albert Uderzo. It was first published in form in Pilote magazine, issues 340-361. It depicts a meeting between Asterixs Gaulish village and a shipload of Normans, the story begins with Vitalstatistix receiving a missive from his brother Doublehelix in Lutetia, to ask for the education of Doublehelixs teenage son, Justforkix. Justforkix then arrives in a sports car-like chariot, the village holds a dance in honour of his arrival, but he is unimpressed by the traditional way of dancing, snatches Cacofonixs lyre, and sings and plays in the manner of Elvix Preslix. Some of the villagers dance to this new form, but Cacofonix tries to show off his own skills. Justforkix thereupon suggests that Cacofonixs talents would be appreciated in Lutetia. Most the Gauls welcome the chance of a fight, but Justforkix is horrified, viewing Justforkix as an expert in fear, the Normans kidnap him to teach them, but this fails, and he remains their prisoner until Asterix and Obelix come to the rescue. A small Roman patrol is also involved in the resulting fight, at length, Norman chief Timandahaf orders an end to the battle and explains his mission to the Gauls. To teach the Normans fear, Asterix sends Obelix to fetch Cacofonix, when Obelix reaches the village, he finds Cacofonix gone to perform in Lutetia, and pursues him through a series of tell-tale clues. Meanwhile, Timandahaf becomes impatient and tries to force Justforkix to teach the secret of flight by tossing him off a cliff. Just before this can be carried out, Asterix challenges the Norman warriors, Obelix and Cacofonix stop the fight, and Cacofonixs discordant songs are exhibited to the Normans, which provokes their first real fear, and an immediate retreat to their homeland. When Asterix questions the Normans interest in fear, Getafix replies that courage is achieved only by having first been afraid, indeed, the Norman chief tells the Gauls that they do not want to invade their country, but their descendants will do so, centuries later. In the book, the Normans heavy use of cream in recipes is a reference to stereotypes of the cuisine in Normandy, in the original French version, Justforkix is called Goudurix, a name he lives up to only towards the end. In Finnish, the story is called Asterix ja normannien maihinnousu and this is a reference to the Normandian maihinnousu, the standard Finnish history-book term for the Normandy Landings of 1944. In this story, we see Dogmatixs distress over the uprooting of trees for the first time and this is the first album in the series since Asterix the Gaul where Cacofonix is not tied up for the story-ending banquet. When Justforkix explains his Chariot is from Mediolanum it is a reference to sports cars made there. Justforkix was the star of a series of Asterix gamebooks, popular in the 1980s, the basic storyline of this graphic novel was adapted into the animated full-length feature Asterix and the Vikings. Rolling Menhirs is a reference to the rock group the Rolling Stones
32.
Asterix the Legionary
–
Asterix the Legionary is the tenth Asterix book in the Asterix comic book series by Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It was first published as a serial in Pilote magazine, issues 368-389, some hours later, Panacea receives word that her fiancé Tragicomix has been conscripted into the Roman army and shipped to North Africa, and Obelix, although heartbroken, promises to retrieve him. After a brief initiation, the formed unit sets off as reinforcements to Caesar against Scipio, Afranius. Asterix and Obelix soon find out that Tragicomix has gone missing in action after a skirmish, the Gauls are cornered by Caesar after the battle is over, but released and sent home for their assistance in his victory. Asterix and Obelix thereafter celebrate at home, while Panacea and Tragicomix return to Condatum to marry, elements of the plot of this story were blended with Asterix the Gladiator for the animated movie Asterix Versus Caesar. This is the first and maybe the only time that Asterix never joined the usual ending banquet, apart from in Asterix, the legion which Asterix and Obelix enlisted consists of mostly foreigners, just the French Foreign Legion does recruit foreigners on their ranks
33.
Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield
–
Asterix and the Chieftains Shield is the eleventh volume in the Asterix comic book series, written by René Goscinny and drawn by Albert Uderzo. It was originally published as a serial in Pilote issues 399-421 in 1967, the book is inspired by the battle of Alesia, where the Gaulish warrior chief Vercingetorix surrendered to Julius Caesar. However, only the end of the actual battle appears in the book - the main plot concerns what happened after the battle. This episode, like Asterix and the Cauldron, is plotted like a detective novel, the book begins with Vercingetorix conceding defeat to Julius Caesar. The centurion himself uses the shield to pay for a jar of wine at a nearby Gaulish inn, later, following this prologue, Chief Vitalstatistix is made helpless by a sore liver. Having demonstrated this, and temporarily eased the pain, the druid Getafix sends Vitalstatistix to a hydrotherapeutic center in Arverne to be cured. On the way, they stop at various inns, where the heavy food revives the chiefs sickness, when other patients complain, Vitalstatistix sends Asterix, Obelix, and Dogmatix to Gergovia. Along the way, the Gauls are offended by Roman envoy Noxius Vapus, in the aftermath, Asterix, Obelix, and Dogmatix befriend the local tavern-keeper Winesanspirix, who retains them thereafter as guests. When Noxius Vapus makes his report to Caesar in Rome, Caesar plans a triumph on Vercingetorixs shield, the search eventually leads them back to Winesanspirix, to whom Crapulus earlier gave the shield. Upon Caesars arrival at Gergovia, Asterix and the locals organize a triumph in which Vitalstatistix is carried on Vercingetorixs shield, the Gauls return to their village to celebrate, but Vitalstatistix is forced into abstinence from the latter by his wife Impedimenta. A running gag in this book features Vitalstatistix and Winesanspirix falsely claiming I dont know where Alesia is, as if ashamed at Vercingetorixs defeat. Historically, Alesias likely location was rediscovered only after this book was published and this book establishes the origin of Vitalstatistixs shield, on which he is customarily carried, as that of Vercingetorix. This is one among a minority of Asterix books wherein the bard Cacofonix is not tied up and this is the first album wherein Vitalstatistixs wife Impedimenta is named. The wheel factory is a reference to Michelin, based in Clermont-Ferrand, in real life, the main square in Clermont-Ferrand has a statue of Vercingetorix, as opposed to the statue of Caesar in the book. In the wheel factory, Obelix shows a desire for business success, a theme later central to Obelix and Co. In the Asterix books, a map of Gaul bears the caption that by 50 B. C. all Gaul was occupied by the Romans and it is treated as having occurred at least 15 years before this story, thus placing Asterix in the mid-30s B. C. This book serves as a basis for the Sega Mega Drive video game Asterix
34.
Asterix at the Olympic Games
–
Asterix at the Olympic Games is the 12th comic book album in the Asterix series. Serialized in Pilote issues 434–455 in 1968, it was translated into English in 1972, the story satirizes performance-enhancing drug usage in sports. Gluteus Maximus, a muscular and arrogant Roman legionnaire, is chosen as one of Romes representatives at the upcoming Olympic Games in Greece, gaius Veriambitius, his centurion, hopes that the glory that goes with Olympic victory will reflect well on him as well. While training in the forest Gluteus Maximus encounters Asterix and Obelix, who unintentionally outdo him at running and this leaves him demoralised, and he consigns himself to cleaning the Roman camp instead of training. When Veriambitius asks Vitalstatistix that Gluteus Maximus be left alone, Vitalstatistix decides that the Gauls should enter as well, the Gauls host trials, but since everyone is dosed with the magic potion the trials are inconclusive. Eventually the Gauls decide to register only Asterix and Obelix as competitors, the entire male population of the village go to Olympia, where Asterix and Obelix register as athletes and the others all enjoy a holiday. When Gluteus Maximus and Veriambitius discover the Gauls have come to compete, they are left in despair, and they give up training and spend all their time having elaborate parties, washing their uniforms and sweeping the whole area. The scent from their feasts eventually causes the Greek competitors to complain about their own healthy food, the Gauls are left gutted by the news that victory is not as certain as they had expected, but Asterix decides to compete anyway. At the games itself Asterix and the Roman athletes are beaten at every turn by the Greeks, although their victories prove what theyve believed all along, too much success will reflect badly on the countrys reputation, so they announce a special race for just Romans. After the announcement, Asterix and Getafix start talking, very loudly, eager to win, the other Roman athletes steal the potion that night. The race begins, and the Roman athletes easily beat Asterix, after the race Getafix accuses them of having used magic potion and, when the Romans deny the accusation, Asterix sticks his tongue out at them. When the Romans return the gesture, it is revealed that Getafix had added an ingredient to this particular batch of potion. They are disqualified, and Asterix is declared the winner, the Gauls return home for their traditional banquet. Getafix notices Asterix hasnt brought his Palm of Victory home, a live action movie of this book was released in France on January 30,2008 to coincide with the Beijing Olympics. See Asterix at the Olympic Games, Asterix authors Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo make a small cameo in the comic
35.
Asterix and the Cauldron
–
Asterix and the Cauldron is the thirteenth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It was first serialized in the magazine Pilote, issues 469-491, in 1968, the book introduces Chief Whosemoralsarelastix, the chief of a neighboring Gaulish village, a miser who often does business with the Romans. Despite Asterix keeping watch, the cauldron is stolen during the night, Obelix immediately “banishes” himself to accompany Asterix, until they find money to refill the cauldron and repay Whosemoralsarelastix. With little else to gain or lose, they take the back to Whosemoralsarelastixs village. Here, Asterix and Whosemoralsarelastix duel with their swords, while Obelix repels Whosemoralsarelastixs followers, Asterix then rescues Whosemoralsarelastix and re-unites with Obelix, with whom he returns home. The money itself falls into the ship and possession of the pirates, at Asterixs village, a celebration is held for the return of the two heroes and the recovery of their honour. When Obelix suggests they get paid by telling people their adventures, the joke is that, by this time, the series had made Goscinny and Uderzo very wealthy. When Roman dignitaries assemble at the theatre, Uderzo is shown talking to the Prefect, while Goscinny, on the right, the tax collector in the book appears to be a caricature of Valéry Giscard dEstaing, then the French minister of finance, who later became President. Two of the actors in the theatre are named Laurensolivius and Alecginus and this is the first and only volume in which the pirates enjoy a happy ending, and the first of the few rare stories where their ship is not sunk. The fight at the end of the story is one of the rare times Asterix is seen using his sword, Asterix unraveling of the plot is a reference to the Roman proverb Pecunia non olet
36.
Asterix in Spain
–
Asterix in Spain is the fourteenth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It was originally serialized in Pilote magazine, issues 498-519, in 1969, when Pepes mischief frustrates the Gauls, Asterix and Obelix are assigned to take him home. Accordingly, Asterix, Obelix, Pepe and Dogmatix travel to Iberia, with his victory, Asterix is released and Spurius Brontosaurus, discharged from the army, gladly decides to make his living as a bullfighter. Obelix has meanwhile brought Pepe back to his village, which is besieged by the Romans, in his eagerness to be re-united with Asterix, Obelix scatters the Roman lines and the commanding officer determines to maintain a stalemate similar to that surrounding Asterix and Obelixs village. The taking of children as hostages was not unknown in ancient times, hostages were mostly well treated by their takers. An example is the young Roman Aëtius, given as a hostage to Alaric I the Visigoth and this was to prove invaluable when, in later life, he opposed Attila the Hun. Pepe in the beginning confronts Julius Caesar armed with a sling and this is a reference to the ¡No pasarán. Speech delivered in Madrid by Dolores Ibárruri Gómez during the Spanish Civil War, various scenes depict stereotypical behaviour associated with Spaniards, their pride, their choleric tempers, and the cliché of roads in disrepair. On page 38 the generally slow aid for car problems is spoofed too, the scenes where various Gauls and Goths travel in house-shaped chariots, are a parody on the vacations in Spain in motor homes. Two locals in Hispania represent Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, this is clear by their visual appearance. The conductor in the arena, featured on page 44, is a caricature of French conductor Gérard Calvi, the final scenes are a fictional depiction of the origin of bull fighting, a tradition in Spain. The line A fish, a fish, my kingdom for a fish on the last page, is a reference to William Shakespeares play Richard III, the line is also referenced with Asterix in Britains Chief Mykingdomforanos. This was the first book in the series to feature Unhygienix the fishmonger and it is also the first to feature a fight between the villagers, started by Unhygenixs fish. Pepes skill with the sling may be a nod to the ancient slingers of the Balearic Islands. The Carthaginian general Hannibal, and later the Romans, made use of their skill in their armies
37.
Asterix and the Roman Agent
–
Asterix and the Roman Agent is the fifteenth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It first appeared as a serial in Pilote magazine issues 531-552 in 1970 and was translated into English in 1972, the resistance of the Gaulish village against the Romans causes friction between dictator Julius Caesar and the Roman Senate, whose power has been reduced by Caesar. With their Magic Potion which gives superhuman strength and is known only to their druid Getafix, they easily stand up against Rome. At a meeting with his associates, it is suggested to Caesar that causing internal conflict between the Gauls will lead to their breakdown and he is then told by another Official about Tortuous Convolvulus, a natural troublemaker whose mere presence causes arguments, quarrels and fights. Impressed by his abilities, Caesar sends him to the Gauls, the pirate chief realises their mistake and comments they dont even need the Gauls to make fools of themselves. Arriving in Gaul, Convolvulus moves into the nearby Roman camp of Aquarium and he then gives a valuable vase to Asterix whom he describes as the most important man in the village, to the annoyance of Chief Vitalstatistix. Further rumours lead to the belief by many in the village that Asterix, suspicion and paranoia increase, until the banquet to celebrate the Chiefs birthday is held in sullen silence. Leading this distrust are Fulliautomatix the blacksmith, Geriatrix the elder, as a result, the Roman troops of Aquarium believe that they have the Magic Potion and insist on drinking the substitute. Asterix and Getafix then confront Convolvulus and announce that they and Obelix shall leave the region, taking them at their word, Convolvulus persuades the Roman commander, Centurion Platypus, to attack the village. The Gauls meanwhile take the Romans fake potion back to the village, where it is proven useless, Convolvulus sees this and informs Platypus, and Getafix makes some genuine Magic Potion. Platypus summons reinforcements after Asterix and Obelix repel his garrison, after drinking the real Magic Potion, the Gaulish villagers defeat all four of the Roman garrisons that surround them. After winning the fight, Asterix, Getafix and Vitalstatistix thank Convolvulus for having kept his word and this tricks the Roman commander into believing that Convolvulus deliberately engineered their defeat. He is sent back to Rome for punishment, but already causing arguments on the ship taking him to Rome, in the village, Vitalstatistix apologizes to Asterix, and it is agreed to hold another birthday for Vitalstatistix himself. When questioned by Vitalstatistix, Asterix claims to have merely been test the shield intended as the birthday present. With all reconciled, the ends with the traditional banquet
38.
Asterix in Switzerland
–
Asterix in Switzerland is the sixteenth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It was originally serialized in Pilote magazine issues 557–578 in 1970, Flavus, upon finding that the Quaestor will not be easy to corrupt, serves him food laced with poison and provides inept doctors making absurd guesses at his ailment. Realizing his life is in danger, Sinusitus sends for the druid Getafix, Getafix agrees to brew an antidote for Sinusitus but lacks an essential ingredient, a flower called the silver star, and sends Asterix and Obelix to Helvetia to retrieve it. He also insists that Sinusitus remain in the Gaulish village as a hostage, apparently to guarantee Asterix and Obelixs return, but actually to save Sinusitus from Flavus. Asterix and Obelix reach Helvetia but soon run into difficulties set by the Romans, as Varius Flavus has warned his colleague in Helvetia, the story ends with the usual banquet for the villagers and Sinisitus, making it the first banquet featuring a Roman as a guest. Following the protests of May 1968, Goscinny started introducing more adult themes such as the opening scene which parodies Federico Fellinis debauched Roman film. This album features a dark overtone in that the plot involves a victim of attempted murder. The added element of potential death offers a startling but refreshing moment of drama in the otherwise whimsical series, other stories that share a dramatic turn include Asterix and Son and Asterix and the Magic Carpet. The idea to send Asterix and Obelix to Switzerland might have inspired by a casual suggestion by future French president Georges Pompidou. The authors and the president sometimes admitted to it, but sometimes denied it, the 2004 English re-print from Orion Books uses the French illustrations, making the later localized jokes on Bibendums weight nonsensical
39.
The Mansions of the Gods
–
The Mansions of the Gods is the seventeenth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It was originally serialized in the magazine Pilote, issues 591-612, in 1971 and it was the first not to use Asterixs name in the title. The project is led by the architect Squaronthehypotenus, who orders an army of slaves of various nationalities to pull down the trees in the Gauls forest. Upon hearing that the slaves are better paid than they, the Roman legionaries go on strike for similar, since the freedom of the slaves depends on constructing at least one building, the Gauls allow the work to proceed. After their release, a group of the former slaves float a company with their wages, finally, the first building of the Mansions of the Gods is built and inhabited by Roman families, the first of these consisting of a patrician husband and wife selected by lottery. These Romans then go shopping at the village which, before long, turns into a market town selling antique weapons and fish to the Romans, embroiled in price wars and assuming Roman dress. The next day, the returns to Rome and Asterix arranges for Cacofonix the bard to move into the vacated apartment. As a result of the bards discordant nocturnal practice, the rest of the Roman inhabitants return to Rome as well, the legionnaires gratefully return to their camp and Squaronthehypotenus announces his plan to go to Egypt to build pyramids in the desert. That evening, the Gauls hold their usual celebratory banquet and the ruins of the mansion are covered by Getafixs instantaneous trees, following the French riots of May 1968, Goscinny made increasing reference in Asterix to current political events in France. In Mansions of the Gods he caricatures modern technocracy, the villes nouvelles of high-rises. The quizmaster in the Circus Maximus who coerces the reluctant winner to accept his prize, is a caricature of the French television entertainer Guy Lux, the Mansions of the Gods was adapted as the computer-animated feature film Asterix, The Land of the Gods. Produced in France by M6 Studio and Mikros Images, it was the first Asterix film animated in 3D, and was released in France on November 26,2014
