Asterix and the Golden Sickle

And the Golden Sickle ( original French title: La Serpe d'or ) is a comic from the Asterix series. It was written by René Goscinny and drawn by Albert Uderzo.

In French, the album was first published in 1962 Dargaud as a single band. In 1966 a reprint out as a band two of the series. Was reissued La Serpe d'or in 1999 by Hachette. In the dissenting count of Ehapa publishing it appeared in 1970 as the fifth band.

Action

The Druids of the village, Getafix, breaks the mistletoe cutting its gold sickle, and he needs given the upcoming annual meeting of the Druids in Karnutenwald befitting replacement. Asterix Obelix is entrusted with the purchase of a gold sickle. They make their after Lutetia (modern Paris) where Talentix, Obelix ' cousin, a Sichelschmiede operates.

Already on the way they learn that it is currently difficult to acquire gold sickles, but the measure with little meaning. In Lutetia with its modern problems such as traffic congestion and pollution Asterix and Obelix must find that Talentix appears to have been kidnapped along with tools. You settle down in his house and start with inquiries. A arvernischer host device on the question of the sickle blacksmith in fear and hurries after Asterix and Obelix have left his shop to the shady Stupidix who pays the description of the two Gauls with hard cash.

Stupidix provoked it in the crush of the city a collision with Asterix and Obelix, they engaged in a conversation to them after they have expressed their concern to give a sickle purchase. Bossix, in the bar, the purchase should take place, requires an exorbitant price, then it comes to Handel, in which Asterix and Obelix devastate the economy. A Roman patrol is aware of the action and arrests the two.

As the prefect, whose palace is located within earshot of the dungeon, feels disturbed by the noise of the two delinquents while eating, he asks her demonstration. The prefect, whose decadence is reflected in his name Überdrus Gracchus, she dismisses out of gratitude for the little diversion into the wild. From the centurion in charge they learn in passing the existence of a Sickle gang who is allegedly responsible for the disappearance of Talentix.

Asterix and Obelix want to re- visit the Arverni, the local, however, has already changed owners and names. From the new host of the " sun of Massilia " they learn that the previous owner is hastily left for Gergovia. They give chase and ask him who by ox wagon has no chance to escape, on the Roman road, where he reveals intimidated that he was forced by Stupidix into becoming, and called its address. Irritability permeate the two later in Stupidix ' house and search it because they do not find him so violently that they will be taken up again by a patrol.

In the dungeon they refer to the mumbling drunkard that Stupidix and Bossix whose premises had apparently close, care to make an appointment at a megalithic grave, and break out. The irritated from the tumult of the fight with the Roman prefect prison staff required again to see the daredevil Gauls, and give them again, grateful for the amusing incident, freedom.

For a guide to learn that it only give a passage grave in the area. The forest toward the sunset, where it was up, but was too dangerous to be any a local expert would accompany her there. You are looking on their own, but get lost in the falling night and push until the next morning stumbled upon the grave and the underground storage of Sickle gang.

Here you will find Bossix and his gang. This itself can escape at the next fight. Stupidix put them firmly in the tunnel by closing the camp with the capstone of Megalithic tomb. Bossix they browse on the market in Lutetia. In the wheel of the chase they are arrested again by the same centurion. Now Asterix lands again in the cell of drunks, but isolated and captivated by Obelix. With difficulty he has the fellow inmate at to put him the bottle of magic potion to his lips so he can free himself. Asterix cellmate is as requested and drink even the rest bawling he leaves with Asterix and Obelix the prison.

Asterix and Obelix who want even to Überdrus in the batch with the centurion and his men find these in society Bossix ' before. Überdrus admits to be the boss of Gold Sickle gang as Asterix has been suspected. He acted out of pure boredom and looking forward to the variety that would mean the punishment for him. Talentix he can capture and locked up in the basement.

After Talentix freed and sickle stock has been managed in his house, he thanked profusely from his cousin and his friend and gives them his most beautiful golden sickle. In return, Obelix can finally be a gift, or a menhir present. Then they say goodbye and celebrate on their way back to their village after small incidents with a banquet.

Comments

Asterix and Obelix walking on a Roman road to Lutetia, which is referred to on a stone by the roadside as " N XII " - today's Route nationale 12 would be the driveway, on which one could travel from Gallierdorf to Paris. They complain go over a new-fangled aqueduct which verschandele the landscape, and cross the village Suindinum, today's Le Mans. There, just there is a large ox-cart race, a nod to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Among the oxcart drivers who sprint at the start to their companions, even a cartoon by Jean Graton is seen.

Like the Arverni in the later band Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield says the host in the " Merry Arverni " every s as beautiful.

One Roman commented on the devastation in Bossix ' pub after brawl with "Here it should look like in Pompeii " - an anachronism, since the ruinous Vesuvius eruption took place until 79 AD.

In the figure of the prefect Charles Laughton can be seen. The landlord of the inn " Zur Sonne of Massilia " is a caricature of Raimu.

Asterix and Obelix get from a passer-by the Council to walk on the Roman road towards Gergovia VII. This is an allusion to the Route nationale 7 or Autoroute A7, on which they are modern phenomena such as heavy traffic, construction sites and racers who are asked by law enforcement to checkout, confronted.

The guide is housed in a caricature of the Moulin Rouge and submit offers that come very close to the modern marketing of Parisian nightlife. With the forest in the direction of the sunset to the west of Paris city center, the Bois de Boulogne is meant, who was then known for the hustle and bustle of the underworld.

To be Überdrus ' confession, the head of the slide gang solves the centurion the seven basic questions of, with which an investigator deal must - but, of course, in Latin: " Quis, quid, ubi, quibus auxiliis, cur, quomodo, quando? " He himself commented on what happened with " Acta est fabula "-" what has happened is a fable, " which means something like " Gone is gone "means.

The drunk in jail tries again and again, flawlessly pronounce the phrase " Long live Vercingetorix " but stumbles every time about the name of the Gallic hero and spoof him in various ways.

Publication

The story was published on August 11, 1960 in Pilote issues 42-74. La Serpe d'or first appeared in 1962 Dargaud as Volume 2 of the series. In Germany and the Golden Sickle, first in the comic magazine " Lupo modern " issues 6 to 15, in 1965 printed, but alienated. Asterix and Obelix were here the Germans Siggi and Barbarras. The non- alienated story first appeared in 1968 in the stapling 38 to 42 of the magazine MV - Comix. The German edition of the book took place in 1970 in Egmont Ehapa -Verlag. 2002, this band has been reissued and was given a new title screen.

The band appeared among others in English, Spanish, Turkish as well as in Düsseldorf Rhine and Saarlännisch.