Asterix and the Great Crossing
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| Asterix and the Great Crossing | |
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| French Title: | La Grande Traversee |
|---|---|
| Story: | Rene Goscinny |
| Illustrations: | Albert Uderzo |
| French Edition: | 1974 |
| English Translation: | 1977 |
| Preceded by: | Asterix and Caesar's Gift |
| Followed by: | Obelix and Co. |
Asterix and the Great Crossing is the twenty-second volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny (stories) and Albert Uderzo (illustrations).
[edit] Plot Summary
Unhygienix is out of fresh fish (as always), and Getafix says that he needs some for his potion. Asterix and Obelix borrow a boat from Geriatrix and go fishing. After a storm, they get lost - Obelix shrieks, thinking they will reach the edge of the world. Soon, they arrive on an island (North America), with delicious birds the gauls call "gobblers" (turkeys), bears and "romans" with strange facial paintings (Indians). Soon they earn the "Romans"' affection, but they decide to leave after the "centurion" chooses Obelix as his rather rubenesque daughter's fiancée. They go to a small island. Seeing a boat coming, Asterix climbs a cairn of rocks holding a torch and a book to attract it. The crew are anachronistic vikings (with names like Herendethelessen, Steptøänssen, Nøgøødreässen, Häräldwilssen, Odiuscomparissen, Irmgard, Firegärd and their great dane, Huntingseassen) - and take the Gauls to their homeland as proof that there are continents beyond Europe. They plan a celebration, then attempt to sacrifice the "natives" (much to the chagrin of the other Norsemen ("Why? They haven't done anything!").
Before this can be carried out, a Gaulish prisoner called Catastrofix, who can understand both Gallic and Norse, stirs up Odiuscomparissen's suspicion that Herendethelessen is a liar, causing a fight between the Vikings. Meanwhile, the Gauls escape.
This escape is conducive to their original purpose, since Catastrofix is a fisherman and hence able to procure some fish for the magic potion. Unhygenix, however, prefers the scent of his own stock, which is "shipped" overland in ox-drawn carts from Lutetia (Paris); a preference that explains why his product is such a delicate and filthy topic.
[edit] Trivia
- When Obelix punches one of the attacking Native Americans K.O. the warrior sees stars which resemble the American Star Spangled Banner.
- Asterix' idea for getting the attention of the nearby Viking ship by holding up a torch references the Statue Of Liberty (which was a gift from France). In response Obelix states "I value my liberty".
- When the vikings set foot on American ground Herendethelessen paraphrases Neil Armstrong's famous quote: "It's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind."
- The nationality of the vikings in this story is Danish (vikings from the earlier album, Asterix and the Normans, were Norse).
- This is made clear by several references to William Shakespeare's play about the Danish prince Hamlet. Odiuscomparissen at one point says: "There something rotten in my kingdom." while holding a skull in his hand. In the play, the character Marcellus claims "something is rotten in the state of Denmark", and Hamlet delivers a monologue on death while holding the exhumed skull of his childhood playmate, the court jester Yorick. Towards the end of the comic Herendethelessen is seen wondering if he is a discoverer or not? He concludes by quoting Hamlet: "To be or not to be that's the question."
- When the viking's village is in sight, Herendethelessen tells his crewmembers to get ready to be covered with honors. The next panel shows a bubble by yelling village chief Odiuscomparissen. When Herendethelessen is told that they are greeted by their chief, he responds that of course, they were going to be greeted that way, that they shouldn't expect a mermaid — a reference to the statue The Little Mermaid in the port of Danish capital Copenhagen.
- Herendethelessen's dog, Huntingseåssen, is a Great Dane.
