The Return of " Asterix"

[Cleopatra]

On Friday 14! Asterix will be back the same day all around the world. I am really looking forward. I even work on a piece about the kitchen of the Asterix village! :)

[Morwen]

Well, I for one will buy it; I have them all and I'm not going to stop now. But honesty makes me admit that Astérix hasn't been the same since they ran out of Goscinny's scripts. Those were wonderful. Now the stories are much weaker, although the art is still stunning.

[RSLancastr]

I don't know about "all around the world". I may be wrong about this, but I think that Asterix is virtually unknown here in the USA.

I've seen pictures of the character, but beyond that, I have no idea what he's about. And what pics I have seen aren't "stunning," just typical comic strip drawings, so I guess I haven't seen a good representation. But I'm sure a little Googling would take care of that.

[Mercutio]

I agree with RSL--I love Asterix, but that is because I had an insane roomate my first year in college, who collected them. I have seen no fanfare in local papers, in fact this thread is the very first I have heard about it.

I hope that, at least, it will be available online.

[Zep]

First I've heard of it too, but I'm excited! Love Asterix stories - I just hope the puns are still as clever as they used to be.

Cleo, who is doing them now?

[Morwen]

Not Cleo, but... Uderzo, the artist, writes the stories now. I regret to say they aren't even half as good as they were when Goscinny wrote them. Still, he and his team draw very well still and there are good moments in every album.

[burrahobbit]

I have been reading them since too long ago. Surprised that it is not popular in the US. Confirms my low opinion of popular taste (and especially taste in humour) in the US :wink:

I agree that the quality has dropped drastically since Goscinny died.

BTW does anyone still publish the other series by Goscinny- Lucky Luke and Iznogoud. I have been looking for them on the net but no luck except very fancy prices at used book stores. Guess anyone sensible enough to buy them in the first place would not sell!

[Cleopatra]

I have been reading them since too long ago. Surprised that it is not popular in the US. Confirms my low opinion of popular taste (and especially taste in humour) in the US :wink:


Maybe Americans don't like Asterix because they identify themselves with the decadent Romans! ;)

[Flo]

I have been reading them since too long ago. Surprised that it is not popular in the US. Confirms my low opinion of popular taste (and especially taste in humour) in the US :wink:

I agree that the quality has dropped drastically since Goscinny died.

BTW does anyone still publish the other series by Goscinny- Lucky Luke and Iznogoud. I have been looking for them on the net but no luck except very fancy prices at used book stores. Guess anyone sensible enough to buy them in the first place would not sell!


Everybody agreed that Uderzo is a poor scripwriter and Goscinny is sadly missed.

Lucky Luke used to be drawned by Morris, the early scenarios were by Goscinny but many more authors collaborated. Iznogoud is still written by Tabary, early ones in collaboration with Goscinny.

You can buy most French comics here : http://www.dargaud.com/front/home/default.aspx

[El Greco]

I don't know about "all around the world". I may be wrong about this, but I think that Asterix is virtually unknown here in the USA.

Aut disce aut discede

[Zep]

Maybe Americans don't like Asterix because they identify themselves with the decadent Romans! ;)Perhaps! :D Although the Roman soldiers in Asterix were always portrayed as nice but bumbling types!

[RSLancastr]

Aut disce aut discedeSemper ubi sub ubi.

[El Greco]

Semper ubi sub ubi.

Aegri somnia

[Zep]

And I should know!

[SwissSkeptic]

One of the highlights of my time at school was reading Asterix in Latin during Latin class. As a kid, I collected the Asterix comics in three languages, I'm definatly looking forward, even though I agree that they're not what they used to be. They still bring back happy childhood memories :)

[Mojo]

First I've heard of it too, but I'm excited! Love Asterix stories - I just hope the puns are still as clever as they used to be.

Cleo, who is doing them now?I assume the puns in the English versions are the work of the translators, rather than Goscinny and Uderzo.

[MRC_Hans]

Obviously, it is a must buy. I also have them all. In fact I have bought several more that once, because I wore the old ones down. I have read the one where they join the Roman Army enough times that my second speciment is in tatters, but it still makes me giggle. The story as such is a bit thin, but the dialogue :D. ...Especially if you have actually been in the military.

Of course, I'm going to be disappointed with the new one. After all Goscinny is no more :covereyes.

Speaking of post-Goscinny strips, the newer Lucky Luke ones are not at all bad.

Hans

[El Greco]

I think the main problem is not that Goscinny doesn't write the stories anymore, but that Uderzo does.

[Flo]

I think the main problem is not that Goscinny doesn't write the stories anymore, but that Uderzo does.


True. Another writer sorely missed is Greg, who collaborated on many of the best French comics. My favorite is his "Achille Talon", but it requires a good mastery of the language (and of the political context of the time) to be appreciated fully.

[Rasmus]

I assume the puns in the English versions are the work of the translators, rather than Goscinny and Uderzo.

Speaking of which, can anyone tell me if it's just the German translations that are now full of references that shall be forgotten in a few years an will no longer make sense ot readers in the near future?

Or do the later originals and/or other translations suffer from this?

(or ist it just that the old strories were written so long ago that I simply missed all those references?)

If none of this makes any sense to you: One of the recent German Asterix-Stories featured quotes from TV-commercials - with a Christmas-reference, too... in the year 50 BC!!!!eleven! (now that I think about it, there is a tad of humour in that.)

/rant

Rasmus.

[MRC_Hans]

I think the main problem is not that Goscinny doesn't write the stories anymore, but that Uderzo does.Not for Lucky Luke ;).

However, I am a bit surprised that the publisher of a strip like Asterix should have difficulty recruiting a competent storywriter. I mean, the whole basic plot is there, it shouldn't require a genious to work on with that.

Oh, well.

Hans

[Flo]

Not for Lucky Luke ;).

However, I am a bit surprised that the publisher of a strip like Asterix should have difficulty recruiting a competent storywriter. I mean, the whole basic plot is there, it shouldn't require a genious to work on with that.

Oh, well.

Hans


There's been a harsh legal battle for the rights to the strip between Goscinny's family, the publishers (Dargaud), and Uderzo. Uderzo won, unfortunately. For some times, he was the writer and editor, then he struck an arrangement with Dargaud for the diffusion of the strip only.

[Morwen]

Aegri somnia
"Oh, stop making cute word games, lad, and think of a way to get us out of this mess"

(Badly translated Astérix compulsory "sunk pirates" reference)

[Zep]

All of Gaul had been conquered. Well, not quite...

http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/g/gaulishvillage.jpg

[Cleopatra]

True. Another writer sorely missed is Greg, who collaborated on many of the best French comics. My favorite is his "Achille Talon", but it requires a good mastery of the language (and of the political context of the time) to be appreciated fully.

My favorite French comic writer who did the sketches as well is the late Jean Marc Reiser. I believe that he is my favorite in a european level as well. Many after him tried to continue his school but few succeeded in that.

[El Greco]

Speaking of Goscinny... how about this guy:


http://www.goscinny.net/lpn/livres/img/livres_visu.jpg

[MRC_Hans]

There's been a harsh legal battle for the rights to the strip between Goscinny's family, the publishers (Dargaud), and Uderzo. Uderzo won, unfortunately. For some times, he was the writer and editor, then he struck an arrangement with Dargaud for the diffusion of the strip only.Ueah, it had to be something like that. Unfortunately, artists often don't understand their own limitations. And, possibly, Uderzo would have had real difficulties working with some other writer.

Hans

[Flo]

My favorite French comic writer who did the sketches as well is the late Jean Marc Reiser. I believe that he is my favorite in a european level as well. Many after him tried to continue his school but few succeeded in that.

He was part of a bunch of extremely talented and witty political and social commentators in the 70 and 80, mostly writing and drawing for the monthly "Pilote" (Alexis, Reiser, Cavanna, Fred, Gotlib, Greg, Coucho, Pailler, etc.), all people our parents were sure would convert us into rabid, drugged, decadent, revolutionaries :D

[Oleron]

Handy Hint - Get Asterix books for your children, they will love you for it and you have an excuse to read them yourself! The stories and artwork can be appreciated on so many levels. Goscinny originals only.

While you're at it, get the TinTin series aswell - just as good.

[Cleopatra]

He was part of a bunch of extremely talented and witty political and social commentators in the 70 and 80, mostly writing and drawing for the monthly "Pilote" (Alexis, Reiser, Cavanna, Fred, Gotlib, Greg, Coucho, Pailler, etc.), all people our parents were sure would convert us into rabid, drugged, decadent, revolutionaries :D

Really? :eye-poppi I first learned about him in the student books that L'Institut Francais d'Athenes distributed to its pupils...

Now that I mentioned L'Institut Francais d'Athenes I remembered the croissants that are served in the cafe in the yard... I will have to pay a visit soon. :cool:

[Flo]

Handy Hint - Get Asterix books for your children, they will love you for it and you have an excuse to read them yourself! The stories and artwork can be appreciated on so many levels. Goscinny originals only.

While you're at it, get the TinTin series aswell - just as good.


You can also add Spirou and Gaston Lagaffe (http://www.gastonlagaffe.com/). Of course, the latter might give children ideas (the Gaffophone (http://www.cite-sciences.fr/francais/ala_cite/expo/tempo/franquin/inventions/gaffophone2.html), even at 1/10 scale, really sounds strange) ...

[Flo]

Really? :eye-poppi I first learned about him in the student books that L'Institut Francais d'Athenes distributed to its pupils...



Yes, a mere 30 years ago, comics like his were rated very, very subversive, now they're part of the basic school curriculum ...

[Shrike]

A couple of years ago, a Dutch historian and a classisict published the book 'Asterix en de waarheid' (Asterix and the truth), which explored the history behind the stories, drwaings etc.
Turned out (no surprise really), that they were fairly accurate.
Soory, links only in Dutch: http://www.geschiedenis.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=456&Itemid=147 (http://www.geschiedenis.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=456&Itemid=147)
http://www.geschiedenis.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=326&Itemid=149

[Jorghnassen]

Speaking of Goscinny... how about this guy:


http://www.goscinny.net/lpn/livres/img/livres_visu.jpg

I have to reread his adventures... and borrow the new ones from my bro at some point.

/Le petit Nicolas is a classic

[Cleopatra]

And who can forget " Asterix-Mission Cleopatre"...

http://www.25frames.org/media/screens/3194.jpg

"What a nose!

[Chaos]

You know, Cleo, I really miss your old avatar...

[Luciana]

ASTERIX!!!! My French is just good enough to read Asterix - and not much else. It's how they say, you only learn something if you need to, and everybody needs to read Asterix. :)

I can't speak for other translations, but the ones in Portuguese are pure genious. Sometimes a pun or two is lost, but sometimes they add a few clever ones, so reading in both languages is worth it.

Oh, I can't wait!!!:j1: :cs:

[MRC_Hans]

Obviously, much depends on the translation (unless you read the original wersion, obviously). The Danish translations are also mostly of excellent quality.

Hans

[Zep]

The English ones are rather good too! Obviously the editors take the effort to ensure a high standard of quality across the range. Bravo!

http://www.asterix-obelix.nl/images/albums/divers/germany-border.gif

[Zep]

And one for our Politics Forum! :D

http://www.lpfwestland.nl/TEKST%20BEWERKEN/Obelix-4.jpg

[Cleopatra]

You know, Cleo, I really miss your old avatar...


Yes me too and I realized it when I posted the image of Cleopatra on her throne. I will have her back after she returns from her spa.

[Mercutio]

There is a glitch in this thread, for me at least. Clicking on page 2 only opened up page one again.

Hmmm...it seems one cannot report one's own posts. Would someone be so kind as to report this post, so that Uppie can see if there is anything blatantly wrong (or if it is simply my computer which hates me)?

[Igopogo]

You can also add Spirou and Gaston Lagaffe (http://www.gastonlagaffe.com/). Of course, the latter might give children ideas (the Gaffophone (http://www.cite-sciences.fr/francais/ala_cite/expo/tempo/franquin/inventions/gaffophone2.html), even at 1/10 scale, really sounds strange) ...

Gaston Lagaffe is my fave BD. (Flo, what happened to your Jeanette avatar?)

As a young man I was lucky enough to work on an Asterix film in Paris. I was surprised to find that the lady answering the phones there translated my favourite books because, as she said, she was the one in the office who knew some English.

[Chaos]

Made a short trip to Frankfurt today, bought the new Asterix, and read it on the train ride home.

Somehow I can´t help but be disappointed...

[Jorghnassen]

I read a review in a local newspaper today. I think they described it as sacrilege. La rose et le glaive was the last decent Astérix.

[Jorghnassen]

And who can forget " Asterix-Mission Cleopatre"...

[***picture edited out***]

"What a nose!

Astérix-Mission Cléopâtre was the second live-action movie which was critically acclaimed (though I haven't seen it). The picture I edited out was in the animated and much older Astérix et Cléopâtre, which is possibly the best animated Astérix movie, with Les douze travaux d'Astérix. It's funny that Uderzo hated Mission Cléopâtre so much that he won't have any other live-action movie based on Astérix be made.

[Chaos]

I read a review in a local newspaper today. I think they described it as sacrilege. La rose et le glaive was the last decent Astérix.

Sacrilege covers it pretty well.

Which one is "La rose et le glaive" - English title, I mean? Or number? (I´m sorry I don´t speak French)

[Jorghnassen]

According to Wikipedia, Asterix and the Secret Weapon (weird choice for a translation).

EDIT: I just saw the Wikipedia entry for the latest album too...

[c4ts]

I don't know about "all around the world". I may be wrong about this, but I think that Asterix is virtually unknown here in the USA.

I've seen pictures of the character, but beyond that, I have no idea what he's about. And what pics I have seen aren't "stunning," just typical comic strip drawings, so I guess I haven't seen a good representation. But I'm sure a little Googling would take care of that.

No. As an American, I vaguely remember watching a cartoon with him and the fat guy Obelix, and some kind of video game. He's not unknown to the U.S, just not as big.

[Flo]

I read a review in a local newspaper today. I think they described it as sacrilege. La rose et le glaive was the last decent Astérix.


I read it Saturday in the local supermarket. Sacrilege isn't the word: totally washed-out would be a better description. :(

[Roboramma]

I still remember getting my first Asterix comic. It was my first comic book and I was somewhere around three years old. Very happy. One of my first memories. I've loved them ever since.

Asterix isn't that well known in western canada, but he's around. I devoured the collection at the local library while I was in high school. They had dozens. Felt a little weird going through the children's section, but what can you do...

[Kiless]

I love Asterix. So much that I can't spell Asterix... uh, the little * figure without saying 'Asterix!!'. :)

[El Greco]

Someone shoot Uderzo... quickly.

[Kiless]

There is a glitch in this thread, for me at least. Clicking on page 2 only opened up page one again.

Hmmm...it seems one cannot report one's own posts. Would someone be so kind as to report this post, so that Uppie can see if there is anything blatantly wrong (or if it is simply my computer which hates me)?
Done.

[malbui]

You know, I'm really in a quandary here. I've got the whole set of Asterix neatly lined up on the bookcase in my office and there's room for more, but the last couple have been average and the feedback I'm getting on the new one ranges from sad headshaking to apoplectic rage. It would be shame to stop collecting now, but if it's spending money to feel sad, I can binge out on chocolate and have some real self-loathing instead.

[Flo]

You know, I'm really in a quandary here. I've got the whole set of Asterix neatly lined up on the bookcase in my office and there's room for more, but the last couple have been average and the feedback I'm getting on the new one ranges from sad headshaking to apoplectic rage. It would be shame to stop collecting now, but if it's spending money to feel sad, I can binge out on chocolate and have some real self-loathing instead.

My advice: find a good chocolaterie (www.bonbonniere-geneve.com/)...

[LW]

You know, I'm really in a quandary here. I've got the whole set of Asterix neatly lined up on the bookcase in my office and there's room for more, but the last couple have been average and the feedback I'm getting on the new one ranges from sad headshaking to apoplectic rage. It would be shame to stop collecting now, but if it's spending money to feel sad, I can binge out on chocolate and have some real self-loathing instead.

As one of my friends put it:

I'm not sorry that I bought the new Asterix because I now have again all Asterixes. But I'm sorry that I read it.

For me, grabbing a copy in a bookshop and opening it at a random place convinced me that I don't want to read it.

[LW]

By the way, some time ago I read Asterix Legionnaire for the first time in many years. This time I noticed a place where the Finnish translator had probably lost a pun. It is in the place where Obelix fails to fit in the medium size armor and the store keeper says something about the Centurion. The Finnish speech bubble is not funny at all (I can't remember what exactly is there) but strange in the way that suggests a missed joke.

Could someone who has access to the original confirm if there should be a pun there, please?

[Flo]

Sorry, I don't have my collection at work ...

[malbui]

My advice: find a good chocolaterie (www.bonbonniere-geneve.com/)...
Oooh, I know that place. Whenever I need to go into that part of Geneva I park underground at Rive and do my best to avoid temptation as I walk past. I rarely succeed, though.

[Flo]

By the way, some time ago I read Asterix Legionnaire for the first time in many years. This time I noticed a place where the Finnish translator had probably lost a pun. It is in the place where Obelix fails to fit in the medium size armor and the store keeper says something about the Centurion. The Finnish speech bubble is not funny at all (I can't remember what exactly is there) but strange in the way that suggests a missed joke.

Could someone who has access to the original confirm if there should be a pun there, please?


OK, it goes approximately like this:

Obelix: "Vous êtes sûr que c'est un moyen ?" (are you sure it's a medium size?")

Store keeper: "Oui, mais je ne suis pas sûr que ce soit le bon moyen pour vous faire bien voir du centurion." (yes, but i'm not sure it's the best medium to endear you to the centurion)

There's a pun on "moyen": it can refer to either size or way to do something

[LW]

There's a pun on "moyen": it can refer to either size or way to do something

Thanks. There is actually one pun that the translator could have included in the Finnish one but I expect that it would have been too obscure back in 1970 when there was much less direct foreign influence in the language. The pun would have been based on the usage of "medium" as a term of either size or state of cooked meat, since "kypsä" can mean either "well-done" or "fed-up".

[Chaos]

OK, it goes approximately like this:

Obelix: "Vous êtes sûr que c'est un moyen ?" (are you sure it's a medium size?")

Store keeper: "Oui, mais je ne suis pas sûr que ce soit le bon moyen pour vous faire bien voir du centurion." (yes, but i'm not sure it's the best medium to endear you to the centurion)

There's a pun on "moyen": it can refer to either size or way to do something

:)

That pun got lost in the German translation as well. I don´t have that Asterix at hand, but IIRC the store keeper replied something like "Depends on what you consider medium."

[MRC_Hans]

Just read the new album. It sucks. It just totally and horribly sucks. The good parts are not new, and the new parts are not good. The story is silly, the plot is non-existent, the dialogue is boring, the jokes are ancient, what new ideas that are there (like the invisibility ray) are wasted.

:( :( :(

Hans

[Luciana]

I read all the reviews and thought - why do I even bother reading them, I will buy it anyway! Then I thought it couldn't really be that bad.

I was wrong.

It is a monumentally bad album. If another album ever comes after this one, I will buy it because I can't help it. But I'm forever disappointed.

[DanishDynamite]

First Asterix I've ever read in Portuguese. (Thanks, Lu :) )

As a consequence I didn't understand all of the dialog as my Portuguese is still...let's say "maturing"...but a benefit of this is that I payed more attention to the pictures. And I have to say that they are still fabulous! I still chuckle when I recall that picture where the "cricket-alien" has just had a slurp of what he thinks is the magic strength potion and assumes an arrogant posture in which to catch the ton of rock thrown to him by Obelix. Priceless.

Still, I read the previous Goscinny-only album (in Danish) and it totally sucked. And now, aliens in Asterix? Why o why can't he get a proper story writer?

[Jorghnassen]

Still, I read the previous Goscinny-only album (in Danish) and it totally sucked. And now, aliens in Asterix? Why o why can't he get a proper story writer?

You mean Uderzo only (ever noticed how that is an anagram of "du zero")...

[DanishDynamite]

You mean Uderzo only (ever noticed how that is an anagram of "du zero")...
Sorry, you are right of course. All Belgians/French sound the same to me. :)

[Flo]

You mean Uderzo only (ever noticed how that is an anagram of "du zero")...


The sad thing is that he said in an interview that he had received independent confirmation of the quality of his scenario ..... from his wife and daughter :rolleyes:

[MRC_Hans]

Yes, the cricket alien is possibly the only redeeming feature in that album, and even he is basically copied from some earlier album. He is the villain in "The Great Trench" (or whatever it's English title is, its the one where a city is divided in two). And he has the only interesting feature, the invisibility weapon, which he uses on Obelix once, making the Dog and his two wild boars invisible. Now, I can't really see the idea of such a weapon, but it could sure make for some fun scenes, but is it used? No, not really :nope:.

The drawings are well up to old standards, but Mr. Uderzo is sorely in need of a text writer. And the sad thing is that all he would need is ask, and I'm certain some of the planet's best writers would stand in line for the privilege of working with him (not to mention for the commercial potential ;)).

Hans

[dogjones]

One of the best jokes was in Asterix and Cleopatra:

Asterix (to Egyptian scribe): How did you become a scribe?
Scribe: I took a correspondence course. They said anyone who could draw, could write!

Also, when I recently re-read all my old Asterix comics, I only just got the joke on Getafix the druid's name!

[Gerard]

Speaking of post-Goscinny strips, the newer Lucky Luke ones are not at all bad.

Hans

That's true. The artist, a Belgian named Morris, took over from Goscinny when he died. Morris was the writer too before Goscinny came along. So there are also "pre Goscinny" LL stories by Morris.

Gerard