| Title | : | Asterix the Legionary (Asterix, #10) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0752866214 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780752866215 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 48 |
| Publication | : | First published November 10, 1966 |
Asterix the Legionary (Asterix, #10) Reviews
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This is the seventh volume in the “Asterix” comics, I haven’t read the first six ones but I will start soon because this comic absolutely dazed me!
The Roman empire has invaded most of the areas in their reach but surprisingly they haven’t been able to conquer the little Gaulish village. The Gauls are extremely strong thanks to the magic potion brewed by Getafix, the village druid! Let me now introduce the two most prominent Gauls.
Asterix
He’s the protagonist of all the adventures and the most perilous tasks are entrusted to him. He’s a shrewd person and gets furious pretty often! He gets his superhuman strength from the magic potion brewed by Getafix!
Obelix
Obelix is Asterix’s inseparable friend. He fell into a magic potion when he was a baby and that explains his strength. He loves boars and knocking Romans out every now and then! He’s my personal favorite character in the comic!
In this volume Asterix and Obelix go on an adventure to get Tragicomix back. Tragicomix is Panacea’s boyfriend. Panacea lives in their village and Obelix is determined to do anything as long as it makes Panacea happy. But to do this they have to join the Roman Army and get trained and travel all the way to Africa and the adventure is excessively amusing and I found myself laughing quite often!
You all have to read this! What are you waiting for? Want to have a good laugh? Dive straight into these comics! -
The plot of this one will likely appeal to romantics, but it’s a bit silly, on the face of it, to be fair. I can’t see the “last holdouts” against the Roman invaders sending their two best warriors away to look for the boyfriend of a young Gaulish girlon a whimjust because Obelix is infatuated. (The poor sod in question, one Tragicomix, was drafted into the Roman Legion).
Fortunately, despite the rather thin premise that kicks off the main narrative, Goscinny and Uderzo pull this one off with maneuvering space to spare. Asterix and Obelix (actually) join the Roman Legion, along with a motley and delightful bunch of other recruits (from other Roman occupied countries such as Egypt, Greece, Britain et al). There is lots of room for comedy and the authors exploit it mercilessly. After basic training, which is a treat, the troops set off for Africa, where Tragicomix was sent as well.
It’s a grand adventure too, with the backdrop being Caesar’s civil war against Pompey, and particularly the African conflict with Metellus Scipio and the Battle of Thapsus (in Tunisia).
There’s a bit of an epic sweep to this entry, which brings something new to the series. There is some scathing satire on the nature of civil war, and of course some bittersweet comedy pertaining to Obelix being in love.
Good stuff! -
I would venture to guess that the vast majority of European children from the early 1960s through today have read some, if not all, Asterix comic books. Probably many times over. The first 24 editions are, in my opinion, the best comics ever written. These French comics were written by Rene Goscinny, who died in 1977, and illustrated by Albert Uderzo. They were translated into virtually every language in the world. Uderzo continued to illustrate and write through his retirement in 2011, keeping Goscinny’s name on the cover. While good, the later volumes lacked Goscinny’s sharp humor and plot development.
As a native German who attended American schools, I learned to read German by devouring the stories of Asterix, his best friend Obelix, and their friends whose magic potion gave them the strength to make their village in Gaul the only place in Europe the Romans could not conquer. I can trace my love of history back to these stories. I laughed as they constantly thwarted Julius Caesar, I loved traveling with them to every corner of Europe and north Africa (and when Uderzo took over both duties, as far away as America and Persia), as they competed in the Olympics in Greece, and built the great pyramids. The rudimentary Latin phrases occasionally used by Roman soldiers and one of the hapless pirates they always seemed to encounter helped me out in my grammar classes. Indeed, I can’t image my childhood without them. Or my adulthood.
So picking a favorite is kind of like choosing your favorite child. But I will venture to say that if I had to pick one, it would be Asterix als Legionär (Asterix the Legionary). By the time this was written in 1967, Goscinny and Uderzo were peaking as a creative team. I've read this volume at least once a year since 1971.
Asterix is the wiliest of the Gauls. Obelix, his best friend, fell into a vat of the magic potion as a child, making him invincible. Obelix is notoriously innocent and not too bright. He falls in love with Falbala, only to have his heart broken when he learns her fiancé has been drafted into the Roman legion. Asterix decides that they will join the Roman legion to find and bring him back. They end up being a part of a company made up of ragtag individuals from around the Roman empire—including a Belgian, Goth, Greek, Brit, an Egyptian who thinks he’s part of a tour group, a snarky interpreter, a seemingly stubborn company cook, and two exasperated commanding officers. Their adventures take them from Gaul to the Mediterranean to a “battle” in North Africa and back. Before the inevitable happy ending, the combination of the story, jokes and art work flow together perfectly.
In Germany, a separate industry of Asterix volumes has developed that are also incredible fun. They are the same stories, but the dialogue is translated into a wide variety of German dialects. I have a number, including this volume in Schwäbisch (Swabian) dialect. They are incredible. Even native speakers need the glossaries to understand many of the dialects, which cover every corner of the country.
Americans generally know nothing about Asterix. If you have children or grandchildren, there are volumes that include three editions in English. Get some as Christmas or birthday gifts. You will be very popular and then you won’t have to think too hard about which future gifts to get. You’ll learn why the rest of the world has been laughing for the past few decades. -
Asterix the Legionary (Asterix, #10), René Goscinny
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Don't get me wrong -I enjoyed this very much- but not with the same abandon as Asterix usually delivers. There's a choppiness to it that slows the plot flow and many jokes that don't really deliver. I blame the co-cast of fellow legionaries that were recruited with them and especially the translator that traveled with them.
BUT DO NOT AVOID THIS! It's a great read that only gets such criticism based on the highest of standards. I could go on for much longer about how great it is but that is not necessary- if you have read more than one Asterix you know all the goodies to expect and they are all present. -
First published in French in 1967 as Astérix légionnaire , it was first published in English in 1970.
Beautiful , young , Panacea returns to the village , after two years studying in Condatum (Rennes) , and Obelix falls head over heels in love with her.
Panacea,however , is engaged to Tragicomix , who has been forcibly conscripted into the Roman army , as part of Julius Caesar' s war effort against the Romans who support Pompey.
Despite Obelix heart being broken by the news of Panacea's engagement,he nonetheless is enough of a gentleman to offer to bring Tragicomix back .
Asterix and Obelix set off for Condatum where they join the Roman army, and after having driven their commanding officers crazy, and having changed protocol in the Roman Army , they embark on the journey to North Africa , where things really become interesting.
Once more this is an interesting commentary on Europe at the time of writing , with the Roman Empire being something like the EU today.
In their regiment there is a Greek , a Briton , a Goth (German) , and An Egyptian , as well as a translator , much to the distress of the two Centurions.
This makes for a lot of fun.
Once more we get to see a guest appearance by Julius Caesar. -
Obelix is in love! He falls for Panacea, who unfortunately is already in love with Tragicomix. When the duo catch her crying after she received a letter from Tragicomix that he had been conscripted into the Roman army, they promise to go and rescue her lost love. This results in Asterix and Obelix joining the Roman army as legionaries!
I think this might be my favourite book so far as far as the story is concerned. Obelix in love is a beautiful thing, and it was extremely amusing to see Asterix and Obelix eager to join the Roman army. My favourite character is the Egyptian who talks in hieroglyphics and does not understand a thing!
The book is, however, lacking in puns that otherwise fill the pages. Even the names are not as brilliantly evocative as usual. -
"The trouble with you Romans is, you aren't delicate or poetic. And the trouble with me is, I'm so shy and retiring."
"Hear what that mastodon said?"
Probably my favourite Asterix ever. -
..ima li išta gore za rimskog centuriona nego biti poslan u borbu protiv Gala iz bezimenog galskog sela...ooooo da..imati Gale u svojim redovima.Mnogi centurion oplakao je ovaj susret sa svojeglavim Asterixom i Obelixom..i ja sam oplakao..ali od smijeha...definivno najbolja epizoda do sada
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The best Asterix story? I think so. Flawless
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Synopsis:
Obelix, the big thundering refrigerator (except refrigerators haven't been invented, yet) can knock whole legions of Roman soldiers into the stratosphere. With his little finger he can collect wild boar for the Gaullist feasts. He fears nothing and no one.
Except a gorgeous woman. Then he's weak as a kitten.
The name of this beautiful woman is Panacea. I love these names pregnant with tongue in cheek meaning.
Unfortunately, Panacea has a fiancé, Tragicomix (see what I mean?) who has been conscripted into the Roman army and shipped to northern Africa. Obelix is heartbroken, but he is determined to save Tragicomix for the sake of Panacea.
That's all you have to know, because then it's the usual formula of Asterix and Obelix beating up Roman soldiers, meeting the pirate ship on their way to Africa and, you guessed it, obliterating all the pirates, eventually retrieving Tragicomix and returning him to his love, Panacea. Before, during and after this adventure, lots of puns, dry wit and very expressive illustrations accompany this basic plot.
No one reads Asterix and Obelix biting their nails, wondering how things are going to work out. We read it for the comic language and illustrations. I wonder if Italians read Asterix and Obelix?
One thing stood out to me. All the characters are so cartoonish and buffoonish in their drawing that Panacea and Tragicomix look almost boring compared to the rest of the cast.
I wrote this as a part of a link up to my blog. I've never done this before, so I hope I did it correctly. -
Τρίχες στη μύτη
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Uno de mis favoritos. Obelix se enamora de una chica de la aldea, Fabala, cuyo novio ha sido reclutado a la fuerza por los romanos. Los galos se embarcarán hacia Roma para meterse en la legion y rescatar al chico.
Los gags donde los diferentes soldados de diversas nacionalidades interactuan, el cocinero de la legion y la desesperación de los generales romanos son para partirse de risa. -
Note to self: stick to reading these in French or Dutch... The English translation sort of ruins most of the word puns, taking them from clever to downright silly.
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Asterix and Obelix in the Army
18 August 2013
Poor Obelix, he meets a girl with whom he falls in love only to discover that she has been engaged to somebody else and he has been drafted into the Roman Army to go and fight Ceaser's civil war against Pompey. Well, any love sick individual would probably sit back, wait until he is killed, and then make his move, but not Asterix and Obelix – they are too noble and honourable to do that, so they do what any good and noble person would do in such a situation – they join the Roman army to go off and rescue him.
Like the Asterix books before this one, I was in in stitches, particularly with the Egyptian, who, throughout the entire album, believed he was on some tour. Also, despite the strict discipline that is expected of those in the army, Asterix and Obelix managed to pummel their way through training and get off to North Africa, on their own terms, to rescue Tragicomix from the civil war and bring him back to his fiancée.
The civil war aspect is rather amusing because the whole idea of the Roman army fighting the Roman army is quite farcical, especially how they actually don't know who is fighting whom because they are all wearing the same uniform. I suspect that in reality (and this is not reality – this is Asterix) one could easily define who the enemy was, but then if they had done that it would not have been so amusing.
The other rather amusing aspect was how they had Obelix burst into tears when he discovered that the love of his life (or the latest one) was engaged to be married, and then from that point on whenever somebody burst into tears it had to be because their heart had been broken. Obviously there was no connection with the original one, though I do think it was because Asterix and Obelix first indicated that this was why they had burst into tears, and thus the other legionaries, who had the good chance of landing up in Asterix and Obelix's cohort, had picked up off of them.
So, another Asterix album finished, and one that is still up there with the others. There are still quite a few more to go, and at this stage I am still waiting for another two compendiums to arrive from the United States (and I do hope they get here because I am really stressing out about these latest Amazon orders), so I will hopefully manage to get through all of them sometime soon. -
My favorite of the Asterix books. I particularly like the clueless Egyptian who speaks in hieroglyphs, and the repeated recitation of the unit designation. Possibly my favorite Asterix in which he and the lovely Obelix enlist in the Roman army, along with various other misfits, Goths, etc. Can't think of anything else in fact this one is cool because Asterix and Obelix actually enlist with the roman army
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This is the masterpiece.
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Forse non uno degli albi più memorabili del piccoletto gallo, ma la scena del rancio ogni volta mi stende.
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- C’est un drôle de nom, HCL
- C’est son immatriculation d’espion. Son vrai nom, c’est Acidcloridrix -
Book Group Challenges can be wonderful things - sometimes I end up reading something that I would never normally read just to shoe-horn it in to a task: That's usually a painful experience but does occasionally throw fabulous books that I would never have read off my own bat onto my path. They also sometimes prod me to take nostalgic walks down memory lane, visiting old friends.
This was one of those sorts - the incredibly clever Asterix and Obelix series so wonderfully translated into English. All of the humour and the puns haven't lost any of their charm even 20 years or so after last reading them, in fact I think I picked up a few more references that sailed over my head last time.
In this, one of the best of a very good set of books, Asterix and Obelix join the Roman Legion and head off to Africa on a search and rescue mission. If you know anything about those two you won't be surprised to hear that they blithely ignore all army rules and regulations and drive their commanding officers quite insane with their antics.
If your reading life so far hasn't included any of these gems I would recommend rectifying that as soon as may be. -
Recruiting new members for Caesar's army!
The most memorable character of the book is Ptenisnet the Egyptian volunteer who believes that he is actually on a package holiday!!! :D Ptenisnet forever complains about the accommodation and asking to see the menu. Ptenisnet mistakes Julius Caesar for a holiday-camp redcoat. Read this for Ptenisnet.
Gastronomix the Belgian volunteer shares a barber with Tintin.
Due to the good-natured interplay of the medley band of recruits whose multiple language barriers conspire to break the morale of every Roman authority figure they encounter.
One of the best! -
Storia semplice, gli spunti di comicità più brillanti nascono dal carattere “multiculturale” del gruppetto di soldati in cui Asterix e Obelix vengono inquadrati e dalla loro interazione con la disciplina dell’esercito romano. Memorabili: l’egiziano che si arruola credendo di entrare in un villaggio vacanze e resta di questa idea fino alla fine e i siparietti fra l’interprete e i legionari che non parlano latino.
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Aquilo que eu sinto pelas BD do Asterix do Goscinny e do Uderzo é bastante comparável com avós em geral. A minha avó é mesmo boazinha para mim, faz da melhor comida de sempre e aí vai e diz a frase mais racista que alguma vez ouvi. É igualzinho a estas BD. Apesar desta última não ser o caso mais notório, volta e meia aparece um detalhe ou outro que deixam qualquer um desconfortável. É um desperdício, porque fora isso elas são maravilhosas. As histórias em formato viagem são extremamente cativantes e o facto deles, frequentemente irem a sítios diferentes acaba por criar um mundinho interessante. Comédia no ponto certo (exceto quando descamba né), e um duo de personagens que é impossível não amar.
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Normalerweise führe ich hier keine Comics auf, es sei denn es sind Buchausgaben. Aber heute las ich diesen Band, bestimmt das erste Mal nach fünfzig Jahren. Und insgesamt fand ich das nicht mehr so lustig wie vielleicht damals (wogegen ich zum Beispiel Groo noch immer genial finde).
Toll fand ich aber, dass sich die Piraten, die im running gag, im Vorübergehen versenkt werden, auf dem Floß der Medusa retten. Da sieht man mal, dass man sich seine solide Halbbildung nicht umsonst angeeignet hat. Denn diese Anspielung habe ich damals sicher nicht verstanden. -
3,5/5
En busca de Tragicómix, el amante de Fabalá, Astérix y Obélix se alistan en la legión romana. Tras superar unas pruebas que les resultan, evidentemente, demasiado fáciles, consiguen entrar en ella y buscar al sujeto en cuestión, de quien Obélix siente celos. Buen número. -
I still think it is extremely witty... in a French way!
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J'ai un énorme parti de mon coeur réservé aux histoires d'Astérix et Obélix.
Cela étant dit, ceci est probablement une de mes histoires préférée de ces deux Gaulois.
J'ai ri aux larmes sur certaine des planches... pas bon pour la préservation, mais très bon pour le moral... poils à l'occipital? -
Pour recuperer l'un des leurs, enrole de force (qui plus est le fiance de Falbala !), nos amis Asterix et Obelix s'engagent dans la legion : ils vont y semer une belle pagaille !
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Muchas risas con la 1ª legión, 3ª cohorte, 2ª manípula, 1ª centuria.
Creo que en este tomo nos encontramos con los secundarios más divertidos de los cómics de Astérix. -
Obelix actually falls in love and does all he must to keep his love happy.
Our brave hero's actually join the Roman army!
Another funny adventure to enjoy!
