Ah, the nostalgia that comes with reading Asterix and Obelix again! Like Calvin and Hobbes and Tintin, these comic books were my entire childhood!

A Franco-Belgian comic written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo, Asterix and Obelix follows the escapades of a defiant little Gaul village during the Roman Empire. I loved each and every new adventure that Asterix and his friends went on as a child, and would delight as they explored Gaul together and triumphed over the Roman soldiers that strived to bully them into submission. Rereading these was like a sucker punch to the gut like no other.

I think a big part of why I felt such strong sentimentality reading these books again, was because of the art. I have distinct memories of getting as close to the page as possible to better see the colourful and vibrant world that Uderzo had brought to life.

Regarding the art, it was so fun seeing the gradual progression in Uderzo’s talent. His mastery of emotional expression is so subtle, yet superb, and as someone who wants to improve their own art ability, it was a joy to see. I realised that I was acting like my childhood-self again, and peering closely at each page. Only, this time, I was trying to pick up the fine lines and ticks of detail that were added to bring the whole image together.

In particular, Uderzo’s ability to convey comedy and laughter was brilliant. Every line stroke is controlled and meaningful, and even in the earlier books, like Asterix and the Golden Sickle, his understanding of art is expert.

Uderzo’s art went hand-in-hand with Goscinny’s talent at clever wordplay, writing puns, and terribly funny jokes. The combination of both made for a very fun and easy reading experience; much needed after some of the crazy January days that we’ve had going on recently.

Although, these books didn’t shy away from their criticisms. As we progress, it becomes all the more apparent that Goscinny and Uderzo used their depiction of Romans, and of their civilisation, as a reflection of our own lived experience. The Roman’s bureaucracy; the excessiveness and rigidity that comes hand-in-hand with the term, is looked down upon and often critiqued by the more free-spirited Gauls.

And at the core, a message of resilience and anti-imperialism. It’s quite blatant in this regard: a small, unassuming village resisting the all-consuming behemoth that is the Roman Empire. This resistance against oppression only becomes more pronounced in each new story, with added themes of modernisation and globalisation, as well as environmentalism and development.

I think that my favourite story on my reread; one that I have a distinct memory of also having been my favourite even as a child, is Asterix and the Banquet. It features Asterix and Obelix going up against Roman Inspector General, Overanxius, who has been tasked by Julius Ceaser to lead the local garrison against the Gaul’s village. Even in the earliest releases, there were themes of resisting oppression. After the General ordered for a stockade to be built around the village, Asterix makes a bet that he and Obelix will break free, tour around Gaul, and bring back regional delicacies to serve in the finest bankquet of all, therefore winning their village’s freedom and proving a point.

Asterix and the Banquet is fast-paced and hectic, mirroring the nature of the mission at hand; a race against time and unfairly interfering Romans, as Asterix and Obelix set out to save their village. Despite the high stakes, the adventure is still filled with humour and slapstick comedy, making for a very gripping adventure through Ancient Gaul.

As I understand it, the Asterix comics, like most other comics, had a serial run in newspapers and was later collected into complete books. Even though this was the case, the books impressively read seamlessly, from one panel to the other. Keeping that coherency and consistency in such a fast-paced narrative is notable, and speaks of Goscinny’s grasp of effective storytelling. Nothing ever felt rushed, or out of place, or as though it was wasting page space.

I also think that Asterix and the Banquet is my favouirite because, in this book, Dogmatix makes his first appearance. Ohmygod I love that little dog. He’s the tiniest wee thing and just oh-so-cute. He’s fiercely loyal and defiant, despite his size, and he shows up randomly in Lutetia. He’s as much a main character as Asterix and Obelix after that and, certainly, is a firm favourite to read about, too. Like with Tintin and Snowy, I longed for the life lead by Asterix, Obelix and Dogmatix: travelling around and having adventures with my best friend at my side is still the dream, even as an adult!

With each of these comics that I have read over Christmas, Calvin and Hobbes, Tintin, and now Asterix and Obelix, it’s amazing to see just how well they’ve stood the test of time. It speaks of great storytelling and artwork, and of being unafraid to deal with some poignant themes and issues that we still face today.

So, yes, 100/10 would reccommend Asterix and Obelix.