{"id":35616,"date":"2026-06-01T08:00:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T08:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=35616"},"modified":"2026-05-29T17:55:01","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T17:55:01","slug":"asterix-gift-edition-albums-1-5-asterix-the-gaul-asterix-and-the-golden-sickle-asterix-and-the-goths-asterix-the-gladiator-asterix-and-the-banquet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2026\/06\/01\/asterix-gift-edition-albums-1-5-asterix-the-gaul-asterix-and-the-golden-sickle-asterix-and-the-goths-asterix-the-gladiator-asterix-and-the-banquet\/","title":{"rendered":"Asterix Gift Edition: Albums 1-5: Asterix the Gaul, Asterix and the Golden Sickle, Asterix and the Goths, Asterix the Gladiator, Asterix and the Banquet"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-vol-1-frt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1141\" height=\"1500\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-35621\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-vol-1-frt.jpg 1141w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-vol-1-frt-150x197.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-vol-1-frt-250x329.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-vol-1-frt-768x1010.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><br \/>\nBy <strong>Ren\u00e9 Goscinny &amp; Albert Uderzo<\/strong>. translated by <strong>Anthea Bell<\/strong> &amp; <strong>Derek Hockridge<\/strong> (Sphere)<br \/>\nISBN: 978-1-40872-831-4 (HB)<\/p>\n<p><em>This book includes <strong>Discriminatory Content<\/strong> produced in less enlightened times. This book includes <strong>Discriminatory Content<\/strong> included for comedic effect. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Asterix the Gaul<\/strong> is probably France\u2019s greatest literary export. The feisty, wily little warrior who fought the iniquities and viewed the myriad wonders of <em>Julius Caesar<\/em>\u2019s Roman Empire with brains, bravery and (whenever necessary) a magical potion imbuing the imbiber with incredible strength, speed and vitality, is the go-to reference all we non-Gallic gallants resort to when we think of France.<\/p>\n<p>The diminutive, doughty, daring darling was created at the close of the 1950s by two of our artform\u2019s greatest masters, with his first official appearance being on October 29<sup>th<\/sup> in <strong><em>Pilote<\/em><\/strong> #1, even though he had actually debuted in a pre-release teaser &#8211; or \u201cpilot\u201d &#8211; weeks earlier. On this date in fact. <em>Joyeux anniversaire<\/em>, <em>mon petit brave!<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Ren\u00e9 Goscinny was arguably the most prolific &#8211; and remains one of the most read &#8211; writers of comic strips the world has ever known. Born in Paris in 1926, he grew up in Argentina where his father taught mathematics. From an early age Ren\u00e9 showed artistic promise. He studied fine arts and graduated in 1942. Three years later, while working as junior illustrator at an ad agency, his uncle invited him to stay in America, where he worked as a translator. After National Service in France, he returned to the States and settled in Brooklyn, pursuing an artistic career and becoming, in 1948, an assistant in a small studio which included Harvey Kurtzman, Will Elder, Jack Davis &amp; John Severin, as well as European giants-in-waiting Joseph Gillain (<em>Jij\u00e9) <\/em>and Maurice de B\u00e9v\u00e8re (<em>Morris<\/em>) with whom from 1955-1977 Goscinny produced 46 volumes of <strong>Lucky Luke<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Goscinny also met Georges Troisfontaines, head of World Press Agency, the company that provided comics for <strong><em>Le Journal de<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<strong><em>Spirou<\/em><\/strong><em>. <\/em>After contributing scripts to <em>Belles Histoires de l\u2019Oncle Paul<\/em> and <strong><em>Jerry Spring<\/em><\/strong>, Goscinny was promoted to head of World Press\u2019 Paris office. Here he met his ultimate creative collaborator Albert Uderzo. In his spare time (!), Ren\u00e9 also created <em>Sylvie<\/em> and <em>Alain et Christine<\/em> with Martial Durand (\u201cMartial\u201d) and <em>Fanfan et Polo<\/em>, drawn by Dino Attanasio. In 1955, Goscinny, Uderzo, Charlier &amp; Jean H\u00e9brad formed independent syndicate \u00c9difrance\/\u00c9dipresse, creating magazines for business and general industry like <strong><em>Clairon<\/em><\/strong> for the factory union and <strong><em>Pistolin<\/em><\/strong> for a chocolate factory. With Uderzo, Ren\u00e9 spawned <em>Bill Blanchart<\/em>, <em>Pistolet<\/em> and <em>Benjamin et Benjamine<\/em>, whilst illustrating his own scripts for <em>Le Capitaine Bibobu<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Under nom-de-plume <em>Agostini<\/em>, he wrote <strong><em>Le Petit Nicholas<\/em><\/strong> (drawn by Jean-Jacques Semp\u00e9), and in 1956 began an association with revolutionary periodical <strong><em>Le Journal de<\/em><\/strong> <strong><em>Tintin<\/em><\/strong>, writing for various illustrators including Attanasio (<em>Signor Spagetti<\/em>); Bob De Moor (<em>Monsieur Tric<\/em>); Mar\u00e9chal (<em>Prudence Petitpas<\/em>); Berck (<em>Strapontin<\/em>); <em>Globule le Martien <\/em>and <em>Alphonse<\/em> with Tibet; as well as <strong><em>Modeste et Pompon<\/em><\/strong> for Andr\u00e9 Franquin, and with Uderzo the fabulously funny adventures of inimitable Indian brave <strong><em>Oumpah-Pah<\/em><\/strong>. Goscinny also wrote for magazines <strong><em>Paris-Flirt<\/em><\/strong> and <strong><em>Vaillant<\/em><\/strong>. In 1959, \u00c9difrance\/\u00c9dipresse launched <strong><em>Pilote<\/em><\/strong> and Ren\u00e9 went into overdrive. The first issue featured re-launched versions of <strong><em>Le Petit Nicolas<\/em><\/strong>, <em>Jehan Pistolet\/Jehan Soupolet, <\/em>original serials <em>Jacquot le Mousse <\/em>and <em>Tromblon et Bottaclou <\/em>(drawn by Godard), plus a little something called <strong><em>Ast\u00e9rix le gaulois<\/em><\/strong>: incontrovertibly the greatest achievement of his partnership with Uderzo.<\/p>\n<p>When Georges Dargaud bought <strong><em>Pilote<\/em><\/strong> in 1960, Goscinny became Editor-in-Chief, still making time to add new series <em>Les Divagations de Monsieur Sait-Tout<\/em> (with Martial); <em>La Potachologie Illustr<\/em>\u00e9 (Cabu); <em>Les Dingodossiers<\/em> (Gotlib) and <em>La For\u00eat de Ch\u00eanebeau <\/em>(Mic Delinx). He also wrote frequently for television, but never stopped creating strips like <strong><em>Les Aventures du Calife Haroun el Poussah <\/em><\/strong>(for <strong><em>Record<\/em><\/strong> and illustrated by Swedish artist Jean Tabary). A minor success, it was re-tooled as <strong><em>Iznogoud<\/em><\/strong> when it transferred to <strong><em>Pilote<\/em><\/strong>. Goscinny died far too young, in November 1977.<\/p>\n<p>Alberto Aleandro Uderzo was born on April 25<sup>th<\/sup> 1927, in Fismes on the Marne, a child of Italian immigrants. As a boy reading <strong>Mickey Mouse<\/strong> in <strong><em>Le P\u00e9tit Parisien<\/em><\/strong>, he showed artistic flair from an early age. Alberto became a French citizen at age seven and dreamed of being an aircraft mechanic, but at 13 became an apprentice of the Paris Publishing Society, learning design, typography, calligraphy and photo retouching. When WWII came, he spent time with farming relatives in Brittany, joining his father\u2019s furniture-making business. Brittany beguiled Uderzo: when a location for Asterix\u2019s idyllic village was being decided upon, the region was the only choice\u2026<\/p>\n<p>In France\u2019s post-war rebuilding, Uderzo returned to Paris to become a successful illustrator in the country\u2019s burgeoning comics industry. His first published work &#8211; a pastiche of <strong>Aesop\u2019s Fables<\/strong> &#8211; appeared in <strong><em>Junior<\/em><\/strong> and, in 1945, he was introduced to industry giant Edmond- Fran\u00e7oise Calvo (<strong>The Beast is Dead<\/strong>). Young Uderzo\u2019s subsequent creations included indomitable eccentric <em>Clopinard<\/em>, <em>Belloy<\/em>, <em>l\u2019Invuln\u00e9rable<\/em>, <em>Prince Rollin<\/em> and <em>Arys Buck<\/em>. He illustrated novels, worked in animation, as a journalist, as illustrator for <strong><em>France Dimanche<\/em><\/strong> and devised vertical comic strip <em>\u2018Le Crime ne Paie pas\u2019<\/em> for <strong><em>France-Soir<\/em><\/strong>. In 1950, he drew a few episodes of the franchised European version of Fawcett\u2019s <strong>Captain Marvel Jr.<\/strong> in <strong><em>Bravo!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Another inveterate traveller, he met Goscinny in 1951. Soon fast friends, they decided to work together at the new Paris office of Belgian Publishing giant World Press. Their first collaboration was in November of that year; a feature piece on <em>savoir vivre<\/em> (how to live right or \u201cgracious living\u201d) for women\u2019s weekly <strong><em>Bonnes Soir\u00e9e<\/em><\/strong>, after which an avalanche of strips and serials poured forth.<\/p>\n<p><em>Jehan Pistolet<\/em> and <em>Luc Junior<\/em> were devised for <strong><em>La Libre Junior<\/em><\/strong> and they produced a comedy Western starring a very Red (but not so American) Indian who evolved into <strong><em>Oumpah-Pah<\/em><\/strong>. In 1955, with the birth of \u00c9difrance\/\u00c9dipresse, Uderzo drew <em>Bill Blanchart<\/em> for <strong><em>La Libre Junior<\/em><\/strong>, replacing Christian Godard on <em>Benjamin et Benjamine<\/em> before, in 1957 adding Charlier\u2019s <em>Clairette<\/em> to his bulging portfolio. The following year, he made his <strong><em>Tintin<\/em><\/strong> debut, as <strong><em>Oumpah-Pah<\/em><\/strong> finally found a home and rapturous audience. Uderzo also drew <em>Poussin et Poussif<\/em>, <em>La Famille<\/em> <em>Moutonet<\/em> and <em>La Famille Cokalane<\/em>. When <strong><em>Pilote<\/em><\/strong> launched in October 1959, Uderzo was its major creative force, limning Charlier\u2019s <em>Tanguy et Laverdure<\/em> and a comedy historical strip about Romans\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Although <strong>Asterix<\/strong> was a massive hit from the start, Uderzo continued with Charlier on <em>Michel Tanguy<\/em>, (subsequently <strong><em>Les Aventures de Tanguy et Laverdure<\/em><\/strong>), but soon after that first comedy history was collected in a single volume as <strong><em>Ast\u00e9rix le gaulois<\/em><\/strong> in 1961, it was clear the series would demand most of his time &#8211; especially as the incredible Goscinny never seemed to require rest or run out of ideas (after the writer\u2019s death, the publication rate of Asterix tales dropped from two per year to one volume every 3-to-5).<\/p>\n<p>By 1967, <strong>Asterix<\/strong> occupied all Uderzo\u2019s time and attention. In 1974 the partners formed Id\u00e9fix Studios to fully exploit their inimitable creation, and when Goscinny passed away three years later, Uderzo had to be convinced to continue the adventures as writer and artist. Happily, he gave in and produced a further 10 tomes before retiring in 2009. According to UNESCO\u2019s <em>Index Translationum<\/em>, Uderzo is the 10<sup>th<\/sup> most-often translated French-language author in the world and 3<sup>rd<\/sup> most-translated French language comics author &#8211; right behind his old mate Ren\u00e9 and the grand master Herg\u00e9.<\/p>\n<p>So what\u2019s it all about?<\/p>\n<p>Like all the best entertainments the premise works on two levels: as action-packed comedic romps of sneaky and bullying baddies coming a-cropper for younger readers and as pun-filled, sly and witty satire for older, wiser heads, transformed here by the brilliantly light touch of master translators Anthea Bell &amp; Derek Hockridge (who played no small part in making the indomitable little Gaul so very palatable to the English tongue).<\/p>\n<p>Originally seen in <strong><em>Pilote<\/em><\/strong> #1-38 (29<sup>th<\/sup> October 1959 &#8211; 4<sup>th<\/sup> July 1960, with the first page appearing a week earlier in a promotional issue #0 distributed from June 1<sup>st<\/sup> 1959), the story is set in the year 50 BC (never BCE!) on the outermost tip of Uderzo\u2019s beloved Brittany coast. Here a small village of redoubtable warriors and their families frustrate every effort of the immense but not so irresistible Roman Empire to complete the conquest of Gaul.<\/p>\n<p>Unable to defeat these Horatian hold-outs, the Empire resorts to a policy of containment, leaving the little seaside hamlet hemmed in by heavily fortified permanent garrisons &#8211; <em>Totorum<\/em>, <em>Aquarium<\/em>, <em>Laudanum<\/em> and <em>Compendium<\/em>. The Gauls don\u2019t care: they daily defy the world\u2019s greatest military machine by just going about their everyday affairs, protected by a magic potion provided by the resident druid and the shrewd wits of a rather diminutive dynamo and his simplistic best friend\u2026<\/p>\n<p>In <strong>Asterix the Gaul<\/strong>, this immaculate comedy-drama scenario is hilariously demonstrated when Centurion <em>Crismus Bonus<\/em> &#8211; fed up with his soldiers being casually beaten up by the fiercely free pre-Frenchmen &#8211; sends reluctant spy <em>Caligula Minus<\/em> to ferret out the secret of their incredible strength. The affable insurgents take the infiltrator in and, soon dosed up with potion, the perfidious Roman escapes with the answer &#8211; if not the formula itself&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Soon after, wise, wily Druid <em>Getafix <\/em>is captured by the invaders and the village seems doomed, but crafty Asterix is on the case. Breaking into Compendium and resolved to teach the Romans a lesson, he drives them crazy for ages by resisting all efforts at bribery and coercion, until abruptly wizard and warrior seemingly capitulate. They make the Romans a magic potion &#8211; but not the one the rapacious oppressors were hoping for&#8230;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2082\" height=\"1319\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-35622\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-1.jpg 2082w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-1-150x95.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-1-250x158.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-1-768x487.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-1-1536x973.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-1-2048x1297.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><br \/>\nAlthough comparatively raw and unpolished, the good-natured, adventurous humour and sheer energy of the yarn barrels along, delivering barrages of puns, oodles of insane situations and loads of low-trauma slapstick action, all marvellously rendered in Uderzo\u2019s seductively stylish bigfoot art-style. From the second saga on, the unique and expanding cast would encroach on events, especially the unique and expanded, show-stealing sidekick <em>Obelix<\/em> &#8211; who had fallen into a vat of potion as a baby &#8211; and became a genial, permanently superhuman, eternally hungry foil to our little wise guy&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Asterix and the Golden Sickle<\/strong> originally unfolded in <strong><em>Pilote<\/em><\/strong> #42-74, recounting disastrous consequences after Getafix loses his ceremonial precious metal blade just as the grand <em>Annual Conference of Gaulish Druids<\/em> is beginning. Since time is passing and no ordinary replacement will suffice to cut ingredients for magic potion, Asterix offers to go all the way to Lutetia (you can call it Paris if you want) to find another one.<\/p>\n<p>Since Obelix has a cousin there &#8211; <em>Metallurgix the Smith<\/em> &#8211; he volunteers for the trip too and the punning pair are swiftly away, barely stopping to teach assorted bandits the errors of their pilfering ways, but still finding a little time to visit many roadside inns and taverns serving traditional roast boar. There is concurrently a crisis in Lutetia: a mysterious gang is stealing all the Golden Sickles and forcing prices up. The Druid community is deeply distressed and, more worrying still, master sickle-maker Metallurgix has gone missing too. When Asterix and Obelix investigate the dastardly doings in their own bombastic manner they discover a nefarious plot that seems to go all the way to the office of the local Roman Prefect&#8230;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2086\" height=\"1226\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-35617\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-2.jpg 2086w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-2-150x88.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-2-250x147.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-2-768x451.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-2-1536x903.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-2-2048x1204.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><br \/>\nThe early creative experiment was quickly crystallizing into a supremely winning format of ongoing weekly episodes slowly building into complete readily divisible adventures. The next epic cemented the strip\u2019s status as a popular icon of Gallic excellence.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Asterix and the Goths <\/strong>ran from 1962-1963 and followed a dangling plot-thread of the Druid Conference as Getafix, brand new sickle in hand, sets off for the <em>Forest of the Carnutes<\/em> to compete. However, on Gaul\u2019s Eastern border savage Goths &#8211; fierce barbarians who remain unconquered despite the might of the Empire &#8211; have crossed into pacified Roman territory. These hairy louts are intent on capturing the mightiest Druid and turning his magic against the rule of <em>Julius Caesar<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Although non-Druids aren\u2019t barred from the forest, Asterix &amp; Obelix had accompanied Getafix to its edge, and as the Conference competition round ends in victory for him and his power-potion, the Goths strike, abducting the old boy in his moment of triumph. Alerted by fellow Druid\u00a0<em>Prefix<\/em>, our heroic duo track the kidnappers, but are mistaken for Visigoths by Roman patrols, allowing the Goths to cross the border into Germania. Although Romans are no threat, they can be a time-wasting hindrance, so Asterix &amp; Obelix disguise themselves as Romans to invade the Barbarian lands\u2026<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2127\" height=\"1277\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-35618\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-3.jpg 2127w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-3-150x90.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-3-250x150.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-3-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-3-1536x922.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-3-2048x1230.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-3-2000x1200.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><br \/>\nBy now well-used to being held prisoner, Getafix is making himself a real nuisance to his bellicose captors and a genuine threat to the wellbeing of his long-suffering Goth-appointed translator. Thus when Asterix &amp; Obelix are captured dressed as Goths, they concoct a cunning plan to end the ever-present threat of Gothic invasion &#8211; a scheme that continues successfully for almost two thousand years\u2026<\/p>\n<p><strong>Asterix the Gladiator<\/strong> ran across <strong><em>Pilote<\/em><\/strong> #126 to 168 (1963) with the canny rebel and increasingly show-stealing pal despatched to the heart of the Roman Empire on an ill-conceived mission of mercy. When Prefect <em>Odius Asparagus<\/em> seeks to give Julius Caesar a unique gift, he decides upon one of the indomitable Gauls giving his occupying forces such a hard time. Thus, he has village Bard <em>Cacofonix<\/em> abducted and bundled off to Rome. Although in two minds about losing the raucous harpist, pride wins out and the villagers mount a rescue attempt, but after thrashing the Romans again they discover that their lost comrade is already en route for the Eternal City&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Assigned to retrieve the missing musician, Asterix &amp; Obelix hitch a ride on a Phoenician galley operated under a bold new business plan by captain\/general manager <em>Ekonomikrisis<\/em>. On the way to Italy the boys first encounter a band of pirates who would become frequent guest-stars and perennial gadflies. The pirates were a creative in-joke between the close-knit comics community: <strong><em>Barbe-Rouge<\/em><\/strong>\/<strong>Redbeard<\/strong> was a buccaneering strip created by Charlier &amp; Victor Hubinon also appearing in <strong><em>Pilote<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0at the time.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2132\" height=\"1249\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-35619\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-4.jpg 2132w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-4-150x88.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-4-250x146.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-4-768x450.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-4-1536x900.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-4-2048x1200.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><br \/>\nAs Asterix &amp; Obelix make friends among the cosmopolitan Roman crowds, Caesar has already received his latest present. Underwhelmed by his new Bard, the Emperor re-gifts Cacofonix to the Circus Maximus, to be thrown to the lions just as his chief of Gladiators <em>Caius Fatuous<\/em> is \u201ctalent-spotting\u201d two incredibly tough strangers who would make ideal arena fighters&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Since it\u2019s the best way to get to Cacofonix, our heroes join the Imperial Gladiatorial school; promptly introducing a little Gallic intransigence to the tightly disciplined proceedings. When the great day arrives, the lions get the shock of their lives and the entertainment-starved citizens of Rome experience a show they will never forget&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>As always, the good-natured, comedic situations and sheer finesse of the yarn rattles along, delivering barrages of puns, oodles of insane situations and loads of low-trauma slapstick action, marvellously rendered in Uderzo\u2019s expansive, authentic and continually improving big-foot art-style.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Asterix and the Banquet <\/strong>comes from <strong><em>Pilote<\/em> <\/strong>#172-213 (also 1963), inspired by the <em>Tour de France<\/em> cycle race. After being continually humiliated by the intractable Gauls coming and going as they please, Roman Inspector General <em>Overanxius<\/em> instigates a policy of exclusion, building a colossal wall around the little village, determined to shut them off from their country and the world. Modern world leaders might get a clue from this book, here &#8211; if they read books. Even books with pictures&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Incensed, Asterix bets the smug Prefect that Gauls can go as and wherever they please and to prove it invites the Romans to a magnificent feast where they can sample fresh culinary delights from various regions. Breaking out of the stockade and through the barricades, A &amp; O gather produce from as far afield as Rotomagus (Rouen); Lutetia (Paris, where they also picked up a determined little mutt who would eventually become a star cast-member); Camaracum (Cambrai) and Durocortorum (Rheims), whilst easily evading or overcoming the assembled patrols and legions of man-hunting soldiers. However, the heroes don\u2019t reckon on the corrupting power of the huge &#8211; and growing &#8211; bounty on their heads and some Gauls are apparently more greedy than patriotic&#8230;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2121\" height=\"1268\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-35620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-5.jpg 2121w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-5-150x90.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-5-250x149.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-5-768x459.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-5-1536x918.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Asterix-Gift-Edition-illo-5-2048x1224.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><br \/>\nEven with Asterix held captive and all the might of the Empire ranged against them, Gaulish honour is upheld and Overanxius, after some spectacular fights, chases and close calls, is made to eat his words (and a few choice Gallic morsels) in this delightful, bombastic and exceedingly clever celebration of pride and whimsy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ast\u00e9rix<\/strong> is one of the most popular comics in the world, translated into 111 languages, with a host of animated and live-action movies, games and even his own theme park (<strong>Parc<\/strong> <strong>Ast\u00e9rix<\/strong>, near Paris). Approaching 400 million copies of 41 Asterix books and spin-off volumes have been sold worldwide, making Goscinny &amp; Uderzo France\u2019s bestselling international authors. This is sublime, supremely enjoyable comics storytelling and you\u2019d be as Crazy as the Romans not to increase those statistics by finally getting around to acquiring your own copies of this fabulous, frolicsome French Folly. This collection is a great way to enjoy that legacy of legends but be aware that &#8211; weighing over a kilo &#8211; you might want to top up on magic potion before picking it up&#8230;<br \/>\n\u00a9 1961-1965 Goscinny\/Uderzo. Revised English translation \u00a9 2004 Hachette. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n<p>Today in 1907, Disney animator\/Gold Key artist &amp; scripter <strong>George Waiss<\/strong> (<strong>Uncle Scrooge<\/strong>, <strong>Donald Duck<\/strong>, <strong>Junior Woodchucks<\/strong>, <strong>Looney Tunes<\/strong>, <strong>Porky Pig<\/strong>) was born, followed in 1919 by Argentinean Golden Age artist <strong>Arturo Cazeneuve<\/strong> (<strong>Seven Soldiers of Victory<\/strong>, <strong>Newsboy<\/strong> <strong>Legion<\/strong>, <strong>Blue Beetle<\/strong>).<\/p>\n<p>Despite ushering in the age of Immortal <strong>Asterix<\/strong> this day in 1959, we lost cartoonist\/writer\/artist and creator of <strong>Millie the Model<\/strong> <strong>Ruth Atkinson<\/strong> in 1997 and pioneering strip cartoonist <strong>Martha B.<\/strong> \u201c<strong><em>Marty<\/em><\/strong>\u201d <strong>Links<\/strong> (<strong>Emmy Lou<\/strong>, <strong>Bobby Sox<\/strong>) in 2008.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Ren\u00e9 Goscinny &amp; Albert Uderzo. translated by Anthea Bell &amp; Derek Hockridge (Sphere) ISBN: 978-1-40872-831-4 (HB) This book includes Discriminatory Content produced in less enlightened times. This book includes Discriminatory Content included for comedic effect. Asterix the Gaul is probably France\u2019s greatest literary export. The feisty, wily little warrior who fought the iniquities and &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2026\/06\/01\/asterix-gift-edition-albums-1-5-asterix-the-gaul-asterix-and-the-golden-sickle-asterix-and-the-goths-asterix-the-gladiator-asterix-and-the-banquet\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Asterix Gift Edition: Albums 1-5: Asterix the Gaul, Asterix and the Golden Sickle, Asterix and the Goths, Asterix the Gladiator, Asterix and the Banquet&#8221;<\/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":[191,183,113,63,122,125,97,242,230],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adventure","category-asterix","category-comedy","category-european-classics","category-historical","category-humour","category-kids-all-ages","category-pirates","category-travelogue"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4AFj-9gs","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35616","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=35616"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35616\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35623,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35616\/revisions\/35623"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35616"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}