Continuing my trip down memory lane with Asterix comics, I managed to read a few more of them last week. The first one was Asterix in Belgium.
I can remember bits of this comic since I read it several times as a child.
The story starts off with Asterix and Obelix coming across a group of legionnaire that have been transferred to the camp, Laudanum (next to A and O’s village). These legionnaires march exuberantly and cheerfully joke around... what could be wrong, wonders Asterix and Obelix. They shouldn’t be that happy considering they’ve moved next to one of the most feared villages in all of Europe (I’m sure it wasn’t called Europe back then...).
The dynamic duo decides to investigate things and after beating a cheerful legionnaire (he’s still cheerful after the beating), he gives A and O some eye opening news. The big news is that the Belgians are the bravest according to Julius Caesar. Getting out of Belgium is a kind of “rest cure” for these legionnaires.
This news doesn’t sit well with the chief of Asterix’s village, Vitalstatisix, who is infuriated. He knows that the bravest warriors are the people from his village. After a brief village council meeting, Vitalstatisix leaves for Belgium by himself... to prove who the bravest warriors really are.
Well, this wouldn’t be a story without A and O and they tag along. The adventure begins.
The rest of the story is fairly straight forward. The three Gauls meet many Belgians and discover that they really aren’t that different from each other. There are some amusing conflicts with Vitalstatistix and the Belgian chief. There are some wild fight sequences and in the end ol’ Julius Caesar blatantly admits that both races are “equally crazy”...
This is a great story and worthy of being read over and over. There’s tons of humor in this book and the added presence of the chief Vitalstatistix on this journey makes it all the more entertaining.
Julius Caesar is hilarious in this story. The chances of Asterix actually getting the chance to meet with Julius Caesar is probably implausible but it’s amusing how Asterix converses and treats him just like any old person.
The Belgian women it this story seem very pretty, witty and intelligent... maybe I need to visit Belgium in the near future.
Also, the full page drawing on the second last page is quite breathtaking to look at. A friend of mine introduced me to Bruegel’s drawings/paintings a few years ago and Albert Uderzo shows some mighty fine illustration skills with this drawing (a tear actually started to ooze out in my eye).
I’m sure children who read this book can realize that while you are competitive with the people living next to you, be it in your neighborhood or another town or country... it’s best to laugh it all of off and enjoy each other’s strength together.
