Asterix Omnibus #1: Collects Asterix the Gaul, Asterix and the Golden Sickle, and Asterix and the Goths

by René Goscinny, Albert Uderzo

Overview

Asterix is celebrating 60 sensational years as an international comics superstar, and in the first collected edition from Papercutz, the stories are newly translated into American English for a new generation of fans! The story of Asterix starts here. These are the first three adventures of Asterix as he defends his tiny village from the overwhelming forces of the Roman Empire. Join the short, spunky, and super-powerful warrior from Gaul and his faithful friends—including the boar-eating delivery man Obelix and the ecologically-minded canine, Dogmatix—as they battle to protect their village against impossible odds. Asterix Omnibus volume one collects “Asterix the Gaul,” “Asterix and the Golden Sickle,” and “Asterix and the Goths.” Three classic adventures in one great volume.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781545805664
Publisher:	Papercutz
Publication date:	07/14/2020
Series:	Asterix
Pages:	152
Sales rank:	72,519
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	7 - 12 Years

About the Author

Rene Goscinny was born in Paris in 1926. After growing up in Argentina, he came to America where he shared a studio with future Mad magazine co-founder Harvey Kurtzman and collaborators Will Elder and Jack Davis. In 1959, he founded the magazine Pilote which premiered what was to become the most successful comic series anywhere: Asterix. He died suddenly cardiac arrest in 1977 at the age of 51.

Albert Uderzo was born in France 1927 to Italian Immigrants. In 1959 Goscinny and Uderzo became editor and artistic director (respectively) of Pilote magazine. Their creation, Asterix became a runaway success. After Goscinny's death in 1977, 26 volumes of Asterix were complete, Uderzo continued to write and illustrate the Asterix books on his own, publishing 8 volumes. The cover credits still read "Goscinny and Uderzo.” He retired in 2011 but still oversees Asterix and the current publications by Jean-Yves Ferri and Didier Conrad.

Editorial Reviews

"That’s the real reason for its continuing appeal across decades and national boundaries: It’s a masterpiece of cross-cultural borrowing and reinvention"

NPR

"When I was 6 or 7, around 1972, my father used to fill up in his car at a nearby petrol station. If you had enough fuel many times you got points to redeem for a special Asterix album. After reading the first book we got, I pestered my father for him to go and refuel ONLY at this location. There were four to collect: Astérix The Gaul, Asterix and the Big Fight, Asterix the Gladiator and Asterix the Legionary. It was my introduction to the world of Asterix and I never stopped to buy the albums from then on ... It was also the beginning of my addiction to the incredible world of comics."

Charles Adlard (Artist of The Walking Dead)

Totally silly and weird...really great for kids... if you read them as a kid, I think you will really enjoy revisiting them

Slate “Mom and Dad Are Fighting” Podcast

"I was ten years old on my first trip to Europe, where I discovered Asterix. The comics, with their incredible and vivid colors, stood out on the display. I loved the clever little warrior and his faithful companions, Obelix and Dogmatix. There were so many adventures, and I loved it!"

Terry Moore (Creator of Rachel Rising

Totally silly and weird…really great for kids… if you read them as a kid, I think you will really enjoy revisiting them”
-Slate “Mom and Dad Are Fighting” Podcast
"When I was 6 or 7, around 1972, my father used to fill up in his car at a nearby petrol station. If you had enough fuel many times you got points to redeem for a special Asterix album. After reading the first book we got, I pestered my father for him to go and refuel ONLY at this location. There were four to collect: Astérix The Gaul, Asterix and the Big Fight, Asterix the Gladiator and Asterix the Legionary. It was my introduction to the world of Asterix and I never stopped to buy the albums from then on … It was also the beginning of my addiction to the incredible world of comics."
– Charles Adlard (Artist of The Walking Dead)
I was ten years old on my first trip to Europe, where I discovered Asterix. The comics, with their incredible and vivid colors, stood out on the display. I loved the clever little warrior and his faithful companions, Obelix and Dogmatix. There were so many adventures, and I loved it!
– Terry Moore (Creator of Rachel Rising, Strangers In Paradies, and Motor Girl)
"That’s the real reason for its continuing appeal across decades and national boundaries: It’s a masterpiece of cross-cultural borrowing and reinvention"
- NPR

From the Publisher

07/24/2020

Gr 4–6—In the year 50 AD, the territory of Gaul is under occupation by Romans. Asterix and Obelix, a pair of Gauls empowered by a magic potion, defend their peaceful lives from Roman centurions with relative ease. Trouble arrives in the form of spies, intimidation, and the need to venture to other towns and countries for specialty goods. Asterix's cleverness keeps him one step ahead of his enemies, often leading them through one gag after another. No matter how loony the plot becomes, from searching for a golden sickle to concocting a hair-growth formula, the dust always settles with Asterix and his friends on top. The plot of any given arc in these new omnibus editions is merely a setup for oodles of slapstick anarchy and lighthearted reversals of fortune. Humor is sewn into every aspect of the cartooning, including name gags, puns, linguistic footnotes, historical references, and the sort of childish violence that results in stars spinning over people's heads. Despite an updated translation and some changes to the original artwork, the depiction of characters is rooted in the biases and stereotypes prevalent during their creation in the 1960s. Female characters are few and far between. Various nations and their peoples are caricatured, with the most racist stereotypes evident in the representation of Africans. Appearances of beer and wine, including a dopey drunk character, are the most mature scenarios. VERDICT While clever wordplay and wit are abundant in this historical romp, like many cartoons produced in the last century, it is also ripe with racist stereotypes and offensive visuals. For adult collectors and collections; not appropriate for school or public library collections serving young readers.—Thomas Maluck, Richland Lib., SC

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