Asterix and the Picts
Asterix at the Picts ( original French title: Astérix chez les Pictes ) is the 35th volume of the Asterix comic book series. He is the first band to which neither of the two series creator René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, was involved as an author. It was written by Jean -Yves Ferri and drawn by Didier Conrad. The album was released on 24 October 2013.
Action
In a winter beach walk Asterix and Obelix discover a frozen man who, though red-haired, strongly reminiscent of the Indian Oumpah -Pah, a cartoon character, Uderzo and Goscinny developed the 1951. The druid Getafix finds out that it is a Picts from Caledonia, now Scotland is. Thawed by the fire in the house of the Druids, he first language difficulties. There come to him only known English song title of the 20th century on the lips. So it is difficult for the villagers to obtain more detailed background of the Caledonian guest. However, the women of the village like the pict mainly from external reasons. This means that the village - undergoes a gradual transformation, for example through new fashion tartans - to the chagrin of the male villagers. After the Pict has engraved his place of origin to a menhir in the quarry of Obelix ( an allusion to the Pictish symbol stones), it is clear from which region he comes Caledonia. Asterix and Obelix are now opting to accompany the guest of returning to his homeland.
With the arrival of spring, the three take a boat to the north. On this trip the Pict gained back in the face of a dispute with the known from previous episodes pirate his language ability, also because a recovery drink Getafix makes an impact. He now presents itself as a Mac Aphon before ( a play on words from aphonia = voicelessness and megaphone = mouthpiece ), and tells how he has come to Gaul: Between the Pictish clans since the death of the last king Mac Nifizenz discord and a power vacuum. The head of the enemy clan " on the other side ," Mac Abberh ( a pun on ' macabre ' ), Mac Aphon chained to a tree, and threw him into the "hole Endroll " ( a pun on Rock ' n' Roll), by where he was held to drown, pushed to the Gallic coast.
In Caledonia arrived, the Gauls make first with the playful sea monster Fafnie, an ancestor of the monster of Loch Ness, acquaintance that lives in the hole Endroll and is a friend of the local clan of Mac Aphon. Fafnie takes them at this meeting of the medicine bottle from which they had received from Getafix for Mac Aphon. Shortly after, they learn the village and the clan of their Pictish friend together with their cultural peculiarities to know (for example the sport of tossing the caber ). To welcome party and smoked salmon " Malzwasser " are served as a Bard Trio, one of which bears the features of French singer Johnny Halliday, playing bagpipes rock music. Here, learn the new arrivals, what has happened since the absence of Mac Aphon: The rival Mac Abberh would be proclaimed from the other clan chiefs to the king of the Picts. To achieve this goal, he has Camilla, the daughter of the late king, captured in order to make her his wife, and so to be considered a legitimate contender for the throne. As Mac Aphon hears of it, he solidifies and takes on the attitude he had at the beginning in the ice, because he wanted to make it before his disappearance a marriage proposal. In addition, it has once left him speechless.
In the meantime, the Romans are on the way to Caledonia to form an alliance with Mac Abberh. The power-hungry Pict - he has the face of the actor and well-known movie villain Vincent Cassel - hopes to be by this alliance with Rome as king of the Picts and to secure power in Caledonia. The Romans want to simultaneously have an ally in the north of the British Isles. Both parties meet and forge a pact: If, in the above king choice the Los failing on Mac Abberh, then the Roman troops would attack the various Pictish clans in order to secure the crown for Mac Abberh.
Asterix and Obelix want to help its former strength Mac Aphon again. So they set out to search for the sea monster Fafnie to retrieve from him the medicine for Mac Aphon. During her things they get into the cave of the water creature. Passages in the cave they lead underground to the residence of Mac Abberh and to the dungeon of Camilla. There they liberate the young Pictish princess, and make their way back to friendly communities, however, to have found without the medicine bottle.
Meanwhile, gather the clan leaders to choose a king. Of the candidates, especially Mac Abberh could highlight. But while he keeps his candidacy speech, he is interrupted by Mac Aphon. Since the majority of these had considered lost, those present initially not believe their eyes. Mac Mac Aphon Abberh accused of fraud. If prompted, to explain himself, Mac Aphon fails again the voice. At this moment, Asterix, Obelix and Camilla emerge. Camilla and Mac Aphon fall into his arms, while Mac Abberh moved the Roman allies to attack. With small boats, the Romans come to the meeting and will be met by Obelix. The other clan chiefs ally themselves together against the Roman invaders then and Mac Abberh. In the ensuing battle wins the piktisch - Gallic alliance against the Romans and Mac Abberh. After the battle, the clan chiefs Mac Aphon proclaimed king and Camilla from the Queen, who is now also engaged. Mac Aphon conjures up in the following words the unity of the Picts.
After the battle, the Gauls be on their way to their homes. There they will joyfully expected by the villagers and celebrate the obligatory big banquet. The village itself has added further elements of Pictish culture in the meantime.
Background and origins
The Asterix series was originally created by Goscinny ( lyricist ) and Uderzo ( artist) written and continued after the death of Goscinny in 1977 by Uderzo alone, said by Uderzo alone authored volumes in terms of action, humor and wit often no longer written to the Goscinny texts ranged zoom. 2008, Uderzo decided to post new books more and adjust the series. After he had but then together with Goscinny 's daughter sold the rights to the publisher Hachette in the same year, he began to plan a sequel. In a secret competition Jean -Yves Ferri was determined as a new author, while Frédéric Mebarki who had made templates since 2001, the final drawings of Asterix volumes based on Uderzo, should act as a draftsman. However Mébarkis independent drawings do not match the aspirations of Uderzo and Hachettes, therefore, a new artist was determined in a further secret competition. The choice fell on Didier Conrad, who then completed it together with Ferri and supervised by Uderzo within nine months Astérix chez les Pictes.
As a marketing strategy, both PR people and booksellers about the contents of the tape were sworn to secrecy. If you do not respect this, they were threatened with a fine of 5000 euros.
The tape was released simultaneously on October 24, 2013 in 15 languages in 23 countries with a total initial print run of 5 million copies, including spending in Gaelic and Scots ( Scots ). The original French edition had 2.2 million copies, the largest first printing followed by German with 1.5 million copies. The French-language original edition was published by Editions Albert Rene and the German translation in Egmont Ehapa.
Reception
The German -language press tended despite some critical notes to a more positive assessment of the new writing team. In particular, a significant improvement compared to the volumes written by Uderzo alone it has been certified in terms of wit and humor.
So writes Andrew Platt House ( Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung) that Ferri joy reviving the pun and the new characters are likeable. He sees Didier a successor by Uderzo, whose drawings reached the quality of Uderzo's best works from the 1960s and 1970s. Mark Lippold ( n-tv ) believes that Asterix a significant improvement over the (albeit generally regarded as completely wayward ) predecessor Gaul band performing at the Picts in danger of 2005. In his view, the new band skillfully linked to old traditions and provides an " extremely vital life signs " that the starting offset succeed in a new era. Matthias Heine (The World ) speaks of the best Asterix since the death of Goscinny. He holds the series with a new writer and artist for 'compatible to the present " and sees it as crucial for the future that this new band possess the potential for " eight year old children [ ... ] that previously never had a ' Asterix ' booklet in hand had " to be able to arouse the taste for these comics. Lars von Törne ( Der Tagesspiegel ) notes that it had succeeded, " pointed dialogues and slapstick to connect with a big suspense ," and writes, even minor characters have " enough room to liven up the action." Rupert Kopp (Stuttgarter Zeitung) thinks that everything was "very familiar - and yet fresh and alive ." And Jens Balzer and Christian Schlüter ( Frankfurter Rundschau) certify Ferri and Conrad that they had " struck the right tone ," and judge: " An extension of the staff tableaux together with increased cuteness: That could be the future. "
Fritz Göttler (Süddeutsche Zeitung ) thinks that the new Asterix old strengths from the time Goscinny recollect, but sees it more perfect imitation as a real novelty, which is why he considers the necessary balancing act between tradition and innovation succeeded as not really. Ralf Trommer ( taz ) holds the new band for a handmade, solid work, which was seeking recognizable to socialize with subtle humor to the tradition Goscinny. He thinks, however, that the quality of Goscinny volumes from the 1960s and 1970s is not achieved in terms of both the drawings and the lyrics, and makes it the high time pressure of production. Marc cancer (days a week) finds that the new band was a clear improvement over the volumes written by Uderzo alone though. But he also thinks that the quality of the resulting composed Goscinny volumes would clearly missed. Even Eric Facon ( SRF) looks similar to this and found that, despite some successful gags new authors, not Goscinny eye for the zeitgeist and timing possessed and which the wealth and subtleties of allusions not reached. Christian Bos (Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger ) is the view of the band was " fundamentally sound " and that it was Ferri and Didier managed to make "sound, look and spirit of the series ," at the same time he misses " the sharpness of the early adventures ".
Significantly negative Ralf Döhring ( New Osnabrück newspaper ), which expresses Asterix at the Picts with Asterix in Britain compares, is significantly worse for him and speaks of a total disappointment. Draw Risch he sees Conrad, however, as a reasonably worthy successor by Uderzo; the drawings were " acceptable", although " vergröbernd ". Sebastian Hammelehle ( Spiegel Online ) criticizes the "flat punch lines " and finds that the " uncomplicated " humor aimed primarily at children. He also expressed the hope that the two authors are the future of " unfortunate implications presence " as Mac Aphons lyric variations can quite freely make. This is pulling through the album allusions Hammelehle referred to as " pop culture Tourette Syndrome" of the Picts.