{"id":34122,"date":"2025-10-28T12:09:26","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T12:09:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=34122"},"modified":"2025-10-28T12:09:26","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T12:09:26","slug":"asterix-in-lusitania-asterix-volume-41","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2025\/10\/28\/asterix-in-lusitania-asterix-volume-41\/","title":{"rendered":"Asterix in Lusitania (Asterix volume 41)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nBy Fabcaro & Didier Conrad<\/strong>, coloured by Thierry M\u00e9barki<\/strong>, translated by Adriana Hunter<\/strong> (Sphere)
\nISBN: 978-1-4087-2499-6 (Album HB) 978-1-4087-2502-3 (Album TPB)\u00a0 eISBN: 978-1-4087-2501-6<\/p>\n

Win\u2019s Christmas Gift Recommendation: Celebrate a Simmering Saturnalia in Classical Style\u2026 9\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ast\u00e9rix le Gaulois<\/em> debuted in 1959 and has since become part of the fabric of French life. His exploits have touched billions of people around the world ever since, and for almost all of that time his astounding adventures were the sole preserve of originators Ren\u00e9 Goscinny & Albert Uderzo.<\/p>\n

After nearly 15 years dissemination as weekly serials (subsequently collected into book-length compilations), in 1974 21st<\/sup> saga Asterix and Caesar\u2019s Gift<\/strong> was the first to be released as a complete, original album prior to serialisation. Thereafter each new tome was an eagerly anticipated, impatiently awaited treat for legions of devotees. The eager anxiety hasn\u2019t diminished even now as Ast\u00e9rix<\/em> en Lusitanie <\/em><\/strong>sees physicist\/novelist\/musician Fabrice Caro – AKA comics writer \u201cFabcaro\u201d (Like a Steak Machine<\/strong>, Les Marseillais<\/em><\/strong>, Mars<\/strong><\/em>) rejoin in situ illustrator Didier Conrad (Les Innomables<\/em><\/strong>, Tatum<\/em><\/strong>), for a spot of traditional European travel fun in the grand manner.<\/p>\n

Although divided by its Roman conquerors into provinces Celtica<\/em>, Aquitania <\/em>and Armorica<\/em>, the very tip of the last-named land stubbornly refuses to be properly pacified. The otherwise supreme overlords, utterly unable to overrun this last little bastion of Gallic insouciance, are reduced to a pointless policy of absolute containment – even though the irksome Gauls come and go as they please. Thus, a tiny seaside hamlet is permanently hemmed in by heavily fortified garrisons Totorum<\/em>, Aquarium<\/em>, Laudanum<\/em> and Compendium<\/em>: packed with seasoned and terrified soldiers who would rather be anywhere else on earth than there\u2026<\/p>\n

Those supposedly contained couldn\u2019t care less: daily defying and frustrating the world\u2019s greatest military machine by going about their everyday affairs, bolstered by magic potion brewed by resident druid Getafix<\/em> and the shrewd wits and strategic aplomb of diminutive dynamo Asterix<\/em> and the stopping power of his simplistic, supercharged best pal Obelix<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n

As always, action, suspense and comedy are very much in evidence. There\u2019s much satirical lampooning of generation gaps, fads and trends as well as traditional regional\/national leitmotifs. Whether as a comedic romp with sneaky, bullying baddies getting their just deserts or as a sly and wicked satire for older-if-no-wiser heads, these new yarns are just as engrossing as the established canon.<\/p>\n

As you already know, half of the intoxicating epics take place in various exotic locales throughout the Ancient World, whilst the alternatives are set in and around Uderzo\u2019s adored Brittany of long, long ago. This one\u2019s another voyage away as we find it\u2019s spring in 50 BC. It is always 50 BC…<\/p>\n

When Phoenician trader Ekonomikrisis<\/em> arrives with his fabulous sea-borne wares, he also brings an old friend not seen since the affair of The Mansion of the Gods<\/strong> please link to Omnibus 6: Asterix in Switzerland, The Mansions of the Gods, Asterix & the Laurel Wreath <\/strong>April 25th<\/sup> 2019. However, weary Lusitanian Randomaxess<\/em> is not here for a chinwag about old times. Rather, he\u2019s on a mission of mercy due to his keen understanding of Gaulish adventure-seeking and taste for justice. His tale of skulduggery in the billion-sesterce fish sauce market is just what bored heroes want to hear…
\n\"\"
\nThe entire Roman empire runs on savoury additive Garum, and the big suppliers are playing dirty now that Caesar has expressed his personal love of a small, artisanal brand made with love in very small quantities by Randomacess\u2019 dear pal Umaminess<\/em>. Now, that humble sauce-meister is condemned to be main course for the lions after being accused of poisoning the emperor with his favourite condiment…<\/p>\n

As with so many of these yarns, the real proof of the pudding is the villains. In in this case that\u2019s nasty 1-per-center Croesus Lupus<\/em> – who wants a total monopoly for his cheap \u2018n\u2019 nasty mass-produced, Lupus Garum\u00ae and his cousin the Lusitanian Governor. Upwardlimobilus <\/em>wants to be Caesar…<\/p>\n

They cunningly employed professional traitor Fethermyness<\/em> to arrange the culinary stitch-up and are already parcelling up the empire between their fellow disastrous capitalists, but never reckoned on the flavour-wizard having such dedicated friends. After all, there\u2019s no profit in loyalty or friendship…<\/p>\n

Mere days later, Asterix, Obelix & canny canine Dogmatix<\/em> are wide-eyed, irretrievably provincial tourists again, having gone through all the rituals: pirates, food Obelix doesn\u2019t like, shared folk-tales of old heroes and more. The big man never stops griping about the local food (nothing but cod!), but the wines are great and so are the towns and villas. Any lingering semblance of reluctance fades once he meets captive Umaminess\u2019 delightful daughter Oxala.<\/em>..<\/p>\n

With heaping helpings of sharp gags about the imaginatively dour, passionately fatalistic Lusitanians (aka Portuguese) and their poetic tongue winningly interspersed with a boatload of fresh Latin jests and grammatical tomfoolery, this is very much an old fashioned funny travelogue. As our heroes track down the taste-maker, they meet many odd folk and befriend a garrulous population always happy to take a pop at the uninvited Roman guests. Particularly useful is prison cook Bouillabess<\/em>, who is delighted to spite his Roman employers…<\/p>\n

Along the way the Gauls consider revolutions and organised labour, take a hard look at marketing and explore focus groups, but never miss an opportunity to sample the mettle of the local soldiery…
\n\"\"
\nImpressionable Obelix may be distracted by trying to impress delicious Oxala, but does not falter or stir, even after having to embracing the dark side of the mission by going undercover and in disguise to expose the Governor\u2019s plot. The job was always going to be tough, but everything goes well south when man-of-action Julius Caesar<\/em> opts to personally investigate his attempted murder, culminating in a spectacular revelatory conclusion as Caesar\u2019s state power smashes face-first into unchecked adventure capitalism during a do-or-die (possibly both) ceremonial banquet…<\/p>\n

Thankfully, old adage in vino veritas**<\/em> proves as potent as Getafix\u2019s magic potion and all secrets are inescapably revealed, leading to a great deal of feasting, both at home and away with tasty happy endings all around…
\n\"\"
\nWith scathing pops at billionaire malfeasance, overstepping, rules for ruling, what you CAN\u2019T buy, literary lunacy and ongoing challenges to AI, computer and culinary culture, Asterix in Lusitania<\/strong> is a fabulous look back and step forward dedicated devotees and fresh fans can share together, and another triumphant addition to the mythic canon for laugh-seekers of every age in every age.
\n\u00a9 2025 HACHETTE LIVRE\/GOSCINNY-UDERZO. English translation: \u00a9 2025 HACHETTE LIVRE\/GOSCINNY-UDERZO<\/p>\n

** In wine there is truth. You should absolutely read more old books after you get this through this new one, OK?<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s a grand day for cats in comics. In 1913 George Herriman<\/strong>\u2019s Krazy Kat<\/em> first appeared as an independent strip. We think you might enjoy purr-rusing Krazy & Ignatz 1916-1918: The George Herriman Library volume 1<\/a><\/strong>, whilst in 1983 Felix the Cat <\/em>cartoonist Otto Mesmer<\/strong> died. Oddly, other than Nine Lives to Live – A Classic Felix Celebration<\/a> <\/strong>there\u2019s remarkably little available on what was once a true global phenomenon…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Fabcaro & Didier Conrad, coloured by Thierry M\u00e9barki, translated by Adriana Hunter (Sphere) ISBN: 978-1-4087-2499-6 (Album HB) 978-1-4087-2502-3 (Album TPB)\u00a0 eISBN: 978-1-4087-2501-6 Win\u2019s Christmas Gift Recommendation: Celebrate a Simmering Saturnalia in Classical Style\u2026 9\/10 Ast\u00e9rix le Gaulois debuted in 1959 and has since become part of the fabric of French life. His exploits have … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Asterix in Lusitania (Asterix volume 41)”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[191,183,113,63,125,97,230],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adventure","category-asterix","category-comedy","category-european-classics","category-humour","category-kids-all-ages","category-travelogue"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4AFj-8Sm","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34122"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34122\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34130,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34122\/revisions\/34130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}