Asterix the Legionary
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Asterix the Legionary | |
 |
|
| French Title: | Asterix Legionnaire |
|---|---|
| Story: | Rene Goscinny |
| Illustrations: | Albert Uderzo |
| French Edition: | 1967 |
| English Translation: | 1970 |
| Preceded by: | Asterix and the Normans |
| Followed by: | Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield |
Asterix the Legionary, the tenth Asterix book in the comic book series by Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It was first published as a serial in Pilote issues 368-389 in 1966.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
The book begins with a now familiar scene of the indomitable Gauls' village. Asterix and Obelix have just returned from a fruitful hunt, when at the entrance to the village they pass a beautiful blond young lady by the name of Panacea who has returned to the village after studying in Condatum. Obelix immediately falls in love. After a few days of Obelix embarrassing himself, Panacea receives word that her fiancé Tragicomix has been conscripted into the Roman army and shipped to North Africa. Asterix and Obelix promise Panacea that they will return Tragicomix to her.
Asterix and Obelix head for Massilia, the Mediterranean port from which the soldiers departed. Upon their arrival, they enlist in the Roman army after finding out that Tragicomix's unit has already left for Africa. They train with a Goth, a Briton, a Belgian, a Greek, and an Egyptian tourist who thinks he is on holiday.
After completing training (which is rather relaxing for the conscripts while very stressful for the Centurions) the newly formed unit sets off to reinforce Caesar who is fighting a losing campaign against a rival Roman faction headed by Caecilius Metellus Scipio in alliance with Afranius and King Juba I of Numidia. Asterix and Obelix soon find out that Tragicomix has gone missing in action after a skirmish.
Asterix and Obelix desert and set out to search for him. They raid the camp of Scipio's forces and rescue the young man. But due to their actions, Caesar and Scipio both believe the respective adversary is attacking and prepare for battle. In the confusion that follows, Caesar achieves a great victory (the historical Battle of Thapsus, 6 February 46 BC). The Gauls are cornered by Caesar, but released and sent home for the service they provided — Panacea is reunited with Tragicomix and everybody (except Obelix) is overjoyed.
[edit] Notes
- Panacea's kiss can instantly tame the jealous & antagonistic Dogmatix, knock down the unstoppable Obelix, and leaves a smitten Asterix sitting out the final banquet in a love-struck daze
- In this story Obelix begins to refer to bashing Romans as "being polite"
- When the pirates are first sunk the ship's remains parody the 19th century painting "The Raft of the Medusa"
- Throughout the story the Egyptian (named 'Ptenisnet') makes comments in hieroglyphics about hairy body parts — this is in fact a child's (annoying) game in France: to repeat back a rhyme of whatever was last said in the form of "old hairy (body part)".
[edit] Film Adaptation
Elements of the plot of this story were blended with Asterix the Gladiator for the animated movie Asterix Versus Caesar.
[edit] In other languages
- Dutch: Asterix als legioensoldaat, formerly Asterix en het 1ste legioen
- Finnish: Asterix legioonalaisena
- German: Asterix als Legionär
- Spanish: Astérix legionario
- Swedish: Asterix drar i fält
