Asterix and the Black Gold

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Asterix and the Black Gold
(L'Odyssée d'Astérix)
Date1982
SeriesAsterix
Creative team
WritersAlbert Uderzo
ArtistsAlbert Uderzo
Original publication
Date of publication1981
LanguageFrench
Chronology
Preceded byAsterix and the Great Divide
Followed byAsterix and Son

Asterix and the Black Gold (French: L'Odyssée d'Astérix literally "Asterix's Odyssey") is the twenty-sixth volume of Asterix comic book series, originally published in 1981. It is the second book to be both written and drawn by Albert Uderzo.[1][2][3]

The book describes Asterix's and Obelix's voyage to the Middle East. It is mainly inspired by James Bond films and biblical tales.

Plot summary

The book begins with Asterix and Obelix hunting

Getafix is depressed because he has run out of rock oil
, which he requires to make the magic potion enabling the Gaulish resistance to Rome.

The following day, Getafix is cheered by the arrival of Ekonomikrisis the

pirates and Roman warships, while Dubbelosix secretly corresponds with the Romans, to arrange a blockade. The Phoenician ship finally lands at Judea, where Asterix, Obelix, Dogmatix, and Dubbelosix disembark for Jerusalem, where some sympathetic traders help the Gauls to enter secretly, in spite of an attempt by Dubbelosix to alert the city guards. Leaving him behind, Asterix and Obelix make contact with Ekonomikrisis' supplier, Samson Alius, who directs them to Babylon
as the Romans have destroyed rock oil supplies in Jerusalem.

In the

Akkadians, Hittites, Assyrians, and Medes, much to Asterix's frustration. In the ensuing arrow battles, their waterskin is pierced, but they find a source of rock oil in the ground and carry some back to Jerusalem in the repaired waterskin. There, the two Gauls capture Caesar's personal ship, as well as Surreptitious and Dubbelosix. Near the coast of Gaul, Dubbelosix seizes the waterskin of rock oil and, as he tries to force it open, Obelix leaps upon him, spilling the oil into the sea. Asterix has lost all hope, but when they come back to the village, they find the Gauls fighting Romans as merrily as ever, and learn Getafix has replaced the rock oil in his potion with beetroot juice. Out of dismay, Asterix has a stroke, but after being cured with the new potion, convinces Getafix to perform experiments before testing him. Thereafter, the Gauls send Dubbelosix and Surreptitius to Caesar in a gift-wrapped box. Caesar sends them to the Circus Maximus as punishment for failure, where they are covered in honey and chased by bees
, with the lovesick carrier fly following behind.

Commentary

In other languages

  • Catalan: L'odissea d'Astèrix
  • Croatian: Rimski druid (Roman druid)
  • Czech: Asterixova odysea
  • Dutch: De odyssee van Asterix
  • Finnish: Asterixin harharetket
  • German: Die Odysee
  • Greek: Η οδύσσεια του Αστερίξ
  • Hebrew: אסטריקס וירושלים של זהב שחור
  • Indonesian: Perjalanan ke Mesopotamia (Journey to Mesopotamia)
  • Italian: L'Odissea di Asterix
  • Latin: Odyssea Asterigis
  • Norwegian: Asterix' Odysse
  • Portuguese: A odisseia de Astérix
  • Polish: Odyseja Asteriksa
  • Serbian: Asteriksova Odiseja
  • Spanish: La odisea de Astérix
  • Turkish: Asteriks ve Kara Altın
  • Swedish: Asterix på irrvägar

Reception

On Goodreads, Asterix and the Black Gold has a score of 4.01 out of 5.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Asterix and the Black Gold – Asterix – The official website". www.asterix.com. Retrieved 2018-10-01.
  2. ^ "L'Odyssée d'Astérix – Astérix – Le site officiel". www.asterix.com (in French). Retrieved 2018-10-04.
  3. ^ "Asterix: Asterix and the Black Gold: Album 26 by Albert Uderzo – Books". Retrieved 2018-10-04.
  4. ^ "Jerusalem Model". Archived from the original on August 24, 2006. Retrieved September 4, 2006.
  5. ^ "Asterix and the Black Gold (Asterix, #26)". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2018-10-01.

External links