Asterix in Belgium
| Asterix in Belgium (Astérix chez les Belges) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date | 1980 |
| Series | Asterix |
| Creative team | |
| Writers | René Goscinny |
| Artists | Albert Uderzo |
| Original publication | |
| Date of publication | 1979 |
| Language | French |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Obelix and Co. |
| Followed by | Asterix and the Great Divide |
Asterix in Belgium (French: Astérix chez les Belges, lit. 'Asterix among the Belgians/Belgae') is the twenty-fourth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny (story) and Albert Uderzo (illustrations).[1]
It is noted as the last Asterix story from Goscinny, who died during its production.[2]
Plot summary
After fighting the Belgians in the northern part of Gaul, Caesar states that they are the bravest enemies he has ever faced (historically claimed by Caesar). His soldiers agree with him, to the point when they consider being posted to the camps outside Asterix's village as a period of leave.
Chief
After crossing the border, they encounter a village of Belgians who rely on brute strength (and a regular diet of meat and beer) to successfully scare off Caesar's troops. These Belgians are led by two chiefs, Beefix of the Nervii and Brawnix of the Menapii (though Brawnix comes across mainly as a second-in-command).
To prove that the Gauls are the bravest, Vitalstatistix proposes a competition. The contest consists of raiding and destroying Roman camps on either side of the village. The Belgians and Gauls destroy the camps, telling the soldiers who they are. By the end they have destroyed an equal number of camps. Meanwhile,
Upon Caesar's arrival, Asterix and Obelix go to meet him under a flag of truce. Asterix proposes that Caesar meet both parties at an arranged meeting point and tell them they are equally brave so they can all go home. Outraged at being reduced to a mere
With the battle lost, Caesar decides to leave for Rome. On his way he comes across the Gaulish and Belgian chiefs. Caesar proudly announces that he will lay down his life, but the chiefs only want to know who is the bravest. Caesar angrily declares them simply all "crazy" and leaves Vitalstatistix and Beefix laughing the incident off. They have to face the fact that they are all equally brave and, after a victory feast, part on good terms.
Commentary
- Goscinny died halfway through writing this album; as a homage to him, Uderzo drew darkened skies and rain into the comic for the rest of the album, to mark the point at which Goscinny died. This also serves as a spoof on the Belgian weather.
- A further tribute to Goscinny appears in the very last panel of the album: beneath the banquet scene, to the left of the panel, a rabbit glances mournfully at Goscinny's signature.
- Beefix's wife, Bonanza (Nicotine in the French version), is a caricature of Walloon actress and singer Annie Cordy.[3]
- Beefix suggests to Bonanza about trying to cook french fries, and, after seeing a pile of mussels, wonders how fish would go with chips (potatoes were actually only introduced in Europe some 1600 years later).
- This album features a small cameo on page 31 from the two detectives Thomson and Thompson from the world famous Belgian comic strip Tintin, who characteristically mispronounce the name of Julius Caesar. The scene is even drawn in a ligne claire style similar to that of Hergé, the author of the Tintin comics.
- On page 39, it also features the famous cyclist Eddy Merckx as a messenger.
- The entire final battle between the Gallo-Belgian and Roman sides is a parody of the Grouchy's army to arrive at the battle, only to encounter the forces of the Prussian general Blücher.
- Of all the Asterix books, this one contains the most literary references to earlier works, including Plutarch's Lives, Caesar's own Gallic Wars, and (in the English translation) Shakespeare's Tragedy of Julius Caesar.
- The picture of the victory feast at the Belgian village is a parody of the Flemish painting The Peasant Wedding (De Boerenbruiloft) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. It was painted by Albert Uderzo's brother Marcel Uderzo.[4]
- Botanix's young son is seen running to urinate, a reference to the iconic statue of Manneken Pis in Brussels.
In other languages
- Catalan: Astèrix a Bèlgica
- Croatian: Asterix u Belgiji
- Czech: Asterix u Belgů
- Danish: Styrkeprøven
- Dutch: Asterix en de Belgen
- Finnish: Asterix Belgiassa
- Galician: Astérix na terra dos belgas
- German: Asterix bei den Belgiern
- Greek: Ο Αστερίξ στους Βέλγους
- Icelandic: Ástríkur í Belgíu
- Italian: Asterix e i Belgi
- Norwegian: Styrkeprøven (The test of strength)
- Polish: Asteriks u Belgów
- Portuguese: Astérix entre os Belgas
- Serbian: Asteriks među Belgijancima
- Slovenian: Asterix pri Belgih
- Spanish: Astérix en Bélgica
- Turkish: Asteriks Belçika'da
- Indonesian: Asterik Di Belgia
- Swedish: Asterix i Belgien
Reception
On Goodreads, it has a score of 4.09 out of 5.[5]
External links
- Astérix chez les Belges annotations (in French)
- Official Website
References
- ^ "Astérix chez les Belges – Astérix – Le site officiel". www.asterix.com (in French). 10 April 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
- ISBN 9780752866499.
- ^ "Annie Cordy, Nini la chance". Focus on Belgium. Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
- ^ "Marcel Uderzo".
- ^ "Asterix in Belgium (Asterix, #24)". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2018-10-04.