Time for a new Asterix review. We’re up to Asterix and the Chieftain’s Shield. The story starts out with a narration of the defeat of Vercingetorix, the mighty chieftain who united Gaul but ultimately succumbed to the Roman forces. In the comic’s next scene, the chieftain’s shield is shown lying forgotten at the place where Vercingetorix dropped his arms in front of Caesar. A legionary absconded with the icon, loses it to a legionary in a game of chance, who in turn loses it to centurion, who in turn trades it for some Gaulish wine in a pub. This is the prelude.
Vercingetorix is an actual historical figure. He was a member of the Arverni tribe which occupied the southeastern portion of Gaul. The Arverni tribe was powerful and was able to successfully repulse the Romans on several occasions. There was significant drama in the community as part of the nobility of the tribe preferred to avoid conflict with the Romans and subject themselves to Caesar, and those that opposed the territory grab from Rome.
Vercingetorix Throws Down his Arms at the Feet of Julius Caesar (1899) by Lionel Royer.
Here’s Uderzo’s version. High art, suck it.
Vercingetorix’s father was king of the region and ruled from the ancient fortified city of Gergovia (you’ll see that location pop up on various occasions in the Asterix books). Celtillus, the father, was put to death for his ambitions to take over all of the Gaulish tribes. The Avernian nobles apparently feared that the king’s motives would create a greater risk of motivating the Romans to attack. Vercingetorix assumed the leadership role, but was expelled from Gergovia. He did next what his father was unable to do by rallying the other tribes to take on Caesar. They attacked Gergovia and defeated the Romans in 52 BC, successfully warding off a Roman siege. However, the victory was short lived. That same year, Caesar engaged Vercingetorix in Alesia, an ancient Gaulic city that no longer exists and is actually lost to history because experts are not able to agree on its precise location. There have been recent discoveries that lead many to believe they’ve found the ancient battlefield because of buried fortifications that look like those Caesar described. Here’s an image at the supposed location. Apparently, Asterix is now a time traveller.
The defeat of the Gauls at Alesia was historically significant on a broad scale. It positioned Caesar to consolidate his power in Rome, created a wealth of resources for the Roman empire, and eventually created what became in essence modern day France.
There is a recurring joke in the Asterix books that even in ancient time, the Gauls have no idea where Alesia is. This Gaulish pride plays into the antics of the hold-outs in our favorite little Armorican village.
So, now let’s go on to the actual review…
… or take me to a list of other Asterix reviews.
… or how about the cover gallery?
Time for a new Asterix review. Today we take a look at Asterix the Legionary. In this installment, our heroes sign up for service in the Roman army in an attempt to save a beautiful Gaulish girl’s fiancé. Panacea, the daughter of one of the villagers, has returned from Condatum (ancient Rennes) to visit her family. Obelix develops a heady crush on her but when he learns that she is betrothed because she in turn learns that her beau has been conscripted to the Roman legion, Obelix is crushed. Nonetheless, in spite of his disappointment, Obelix swears to return her man safely and soundly. This act of gallantry may seem odd given that she has given herself to another man, but there is precedence for this sort of behavior.
Which leads to another bizarre practice from the Dark Ages. If leaving his home for a period of time, a husband might make his lady wear a chastity belt. Chastity belts are inhumane devices created to keep wives from wandering into lustful territory while their husbands were away killing Moors and getting syphilis from their own untoward escapades. The devices were cruel objects made of iron that fit around the woman’s pelvis and could only be removed by unlocking them (or disassembling them if one was resourceful). These belts were most likely extremely uncomfortable and undoubtedly unhygienic since a woman had no easy way to evacuate her bladder or colon. Some of the more sinister versions had inward pointing prongs that ensured anything entering the hole that was directed towards the woman’s nether regions would be impossible to extract without damaging the member. Ew. And ouch.
The ninth installment of Asterix comic book series, Asterix and the Normans, brings an outsider to the village for a change. Others have visited briefly, but in this tome, Justforkix (the nephew of Vitalstatistix) has come to stay with the tribe for a while.
The fiction couldn’t write itself any better, but in the end Goscinny and Uderzo felt that the story was too dark and didn’t focus enough on Asterix’s and Obelix’s attempts to rescue the Normans. Instead, the story was completely re-written with a humorous stab at Vikings. Incidentally, in 1966 (the year this album was published), Fran Tarkenton played the last season of his first stint with the Minnesota Vikings. 
The star quarterback spent the next several years helping the New York Giants improve their competitive position until being traded back to Minnesota in 1972. Hitting his stride in the 1970′s, Tarkenton had successful seasons with the Vikings, leading them to three Super Bowls. Sadly, the Vikings lost all three. Combined with one other Super Bowl appearance (in 1969 without Tarkenton), the Vikings have never won a Super Bowl.
Not all things are created equal and the albums in the Asterix series are no different. We’ve added a section in the website dedicated to the antics of our favorite Gaulish warrior and his pals. We’ll review each adventure to give you a synopsis and perhaps some interesting side tidibts, and then we’ll rate them based on our view of what ones are worth cuddling up with for several re-readings and which ones are worth a only a cursory single reading (or none at all).
One of the things that makes the Asterix series so much fun are the blatant cultural stereotypes. Most of the stuff is innocuous and we appreciate that the authors don’t bother trying to spare anyone of a bit of good old fashioned lampooning. The Romans almost always end up with the worst of it. They were the hated enemy after all. But Goscinny and Uderzo didn’t shy away from poking good-natured fun at the British. After all, they are cousins, aren’t they? Now how about a spot of hot water?
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