Asterix 34. Le livre d'or d'Astérix (Astérix (34)) (urspr publ 2009; utgåvan 2009)

It's the 50th Anniversary of Asterix and Obelix, so they get their own Birthday Book! What would our heroes be like in the year 1 AD? It's amusing to find out, but let's face it, the perpetual 50 BC they are stuck in is more fun, so let's return there after out glimpse of the future...

How old are our heroes, anyway? Why aren't they married? What should they get as Birthday Gifts? How many characters from previous adventures will show up to celebrate? How will Caesar try to ruin the party? How many artistic styles and famous paintings can Uderzo parody (amazingly well)? Just how surreal can one Asterix book get???

This has to be the most bonkers Asterix book of them all - by some considerable stretch! Best appreciated by those most familiar with the entire history of the village of Indomitable Gauls still holding out against the invaders... ( )

Um livro que procura sintetizar algumas das ideias por detrás dos personagens com 50 anos de história. A forma como o faz é através de fragmentos de ideias, momentos, com recurso a diferentes técnicas de ilustração. Difícil extrair sentido de tanta fragmentação, quando nem a própria estética ajuda. ( )

This one is an oddity. Written to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Asterix chronicles it is a succession of 'short stories', flashbacks, 'what-ifs' and other scenarios even I struggled with. Whether it is lost in translation, localised humour, or just the machinations of a man (Uderzo) still smarting at the critique of his previous book (The Falling Sky) it was lost on me in part, but also some very clever humour in others.

It starts interestingly with the village about 50 years after the time all other books are set, so everyone looks older except for Geriatrix. Then we jump back to the present (of you can call it that) and as Asterix and Obelix head out to hunt boar the village plans something special for their birthdays - both share a birthday, however those who follow the series will note that there was some confusion over this in a previous album.

Characters from previous stories are welcomed in as well and share stories and ideas of old including a play, statues, and of course, the women (including their mothers) marriage.

It all gets confusing somewhat, but as I said, there are some very clever moments with reference to modern-day pop culture mixed with older Asterix stories. ( )

Nun ja, eine Zusammenstellung von Zitaten mit einzelnen neuen Ideen - aber keine zusammenhängende Geschichte. Muss man haben? Vielleicht der Vollständigkeit halber. ( )