Resumo de Asterix

Another of the famous Asterix series of books by Goscinny (text) and Uderzo
(drawings), Asterix the Gladiator is a prime example of just why these
books are so popular ? not just among children but with adults, too. The opening scene gives a classic example of the humour in this series of books; Odius Asparagus, the Prefect of Gaul, pays a visit to the Roman
camp of Compendium, situated just outside the little village where
Asterix and chums, thanks to the magic potion that gives them
superhuman strength, brewed by their Druid. The camp Centurion,
Gracchus Armisurplus (these names were completely lost on me what I
first enjoyed the books many years ago!), is well aware of the need to
avoid conflict with these Gauls, who represent the only place in Europe
not to succumb to Roman rule. However, the Prefect wants to give Caesar a gift? a valuable gift? in fact, he wants to give Caesar one of the Invincible Gauls! ?But, Prefect, about these invincible Gauls ? There?s just one snag!? moans the Centurion. ?Well, what is it?? asks the Prefect, sipping some wine. The Cenurion paces around. ?They happen to be invincible!? But the Prefect is undeterred. ?That?s what makes them so valuable! Get me one of these Gauls and you won?t regret it!?
The Centurion then remembers that one of the Gauls seems a bit more
harmless than the others? the village Bard, who often goes walking in
the forests by himself (as no-one can stand his sining.) Cut to the Gaulish village, where Cacofonix, the Bard, is waving goodbye and off on a walk in the forest?
No, Cacofonix! Don?t go into the forest!? shouts Obelix, the fat Gaul
who fell into a cauldron of magic potion when he was a baby and thus
has permanent superhuman strength. ?I?m touched by your solicitude, Obelix!?, gushes Cacofonix. ?It?s not that! Only when you sing in the forest you scare the wild boars away!? Cacofonix gathers his cape. ?Boor! The boars appreciate my music better than you!? Asterix joins in at this point, ?That?s only natural. You sing like a pig!? As Asterix and Obelix laugh heartily, Cacofinx storms off, muttering ?Barbarians! Philistines! Savages!?
Having given you a good example of just why you should never try to
describe a cartoon in words, I?ll leave you to guess what happens next.
Yup? Cacofonix gets kidnapped by the Romans (though they
need the aid of parsley in their ears to get near him). A young boy
named Picanmix gives the news to Asterix, who rushes to tell the
village chief, Vitalstatistix, that their bard has disappeared. ?You?re
just saying that to please me?.? When he realises that it?s the Romans
who?ve taken him, of course they must avenge this insult (?even if it
is a funny idea of the Romans?). And we have a typical
Asterix story full of Roman-bashing, corrupt officials, gladiators, bad
jokes (bad, but still funny! :-D), sight gags, and the trademark
energetic drawing style of Uderzo. The Phoenician Traders make a
welcome re-appearance (they?re part-time regulars in the series), and
many of the running jokes (such as Obleix insisting that he?s not
really strong at all, sometimes while holding up a house etc), and fans
of the series definitely won?t be disappointed. One particularly
memorable moment is in the Colleseum, while the other gladiators
are saying ?Ave Caesar! Morituri te Salutant!? (Latin for ?Hail Caesar!
We who are about to die salute you!), Asterix and Obelix say ?Hi
Julius, old boy!?? Caesar is not impressed, and when the games start
with the gladiators all throwing down their weapons, he?s even less
pleased. Then the gladiators all sit in a circle, and the one in the
middle asks questions, the answer can?t contain the words yes, no,
black, or white, else the answerer is out. The fighting only begins
when soldiers are sent in to make them fight? but they end up fighting
the soldiers instead. Cacofonix wants to sing a song to inspire them to
courage, but he is quickly and decisively silenced! Whengoing to an
inn, Obelix knocks on the door? in the nex scene, Asterix is angrily
reaching for his money as they are charged 20 sestertii for the night?
and 40 sestertii for the door! There isn''t much in the way
of subtle humour in this one to be honest, but the non-subtle humour
comes thick and fast, and is easily funny enough to make up for the
lack of subtelty. Despite the Roman-bashing, the story is (like most
other Asterix books) actually quite moralistic, teaching some good
values such as loyalty and the wrongness of exploiting others.
Well, it?s always tough reviewing an Asterix book, and this was no
exception. I guess you?ll already either love or loathe the series and
the humour. Personally I love these books, perhaps even more than when
I was a child. And yes, there really are as many exclamation marks in
the book as suggested by this review! !!!! Asterix the Gladiator has always stood out to me as one of the most enjoyable in the series. Top stuff.

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