Asterix the Gladiator

Asterix the Gladiator ( original French title: Astérix gladiateur ) is a comic of 1964 and the fourth volume of the Asterix series. In Germany he published in 1969 as the third volume of the series. The drawings are by Albert Uderzo, the texts by René Goscinny. The 1985 published Cartoons Asterix - victory over Caesar, based in part on this comic and partly on Asterix the Legionary.

Action

The Roman prefect of Gaul, Caligula Alavacomgetepus would make Julius Caesar one of the invincible Gauls to the present. Legionaries from the nearby Roman camp Compendium therefore begin in the forest the Bard Troubadix, which is brought to the galley of the prefect to Rome. The residents of the village, raided the camp to rescue their bard come too late. Asterix and Obelix set off to Rome to retrieve Troubadix.

In Rome, Caesar takes his gift counter, but has no real interest in it and decides to leave Troubadix thrown to the lions at the next circus games. Asterix and Obelix, meanwhile, arrived in Rome, set out to search for the bard. They can be trained as gladiators, to get access to the circus, in which the bard is being held.

On the day of the games in the circus Caesar is personally present. Troubadix to be thrown to the lions, keeps the whole for an appearance before a large audience, in which he can show his skills. Given his singing talent but lions and audience alike to take flight. The subsequent gladiatorial ask Caesar not satisfied because Asterix and Obelix have the gladiators taught guesswork instead of bloody battles to the death. After the brawl following a cohort of Caesar's legionaries best but the audience is satisfied, and Caesar gives the Gauls their freedom.

Back in the Gallic village, there is the traditional feast, in which the bard is, as always, bound and gagged to prevent him singing.

Comments

In this album Obelix Asterix offers for the first time at the helm Bet: Those who beat most Romans ( and proof their helmets collects ), has won. In addition, the white-haired old man Geriatrix has his first appearance in the series: Obelix asks him to take over the delivery of its standing stones during his absence. Furthermore encounter on the way to Rome aboard a Phoenician galley Asterix and Obelix first time the pirates who still often run them in future adventures on the road, where there home is already on the way back the next meeting. Also worth mentioning is the Phoenicians Ekonomikrisis who takes the Gauls on board his galley on the round trip; he has in later adventures still several appearances. In addition, the Gauls appeared Plaintcontrix, who runs a Gallic restaurant in Rome, in the band Asterix in Corsica again and the final banquet will be held on the day.

Publication

In France, the story first appeared in 1962 as a series in the French magazine Pilote in issues 126-168 and was released in 1964 as an album in the publishing house Dargaud. In the German translation of a modified version in the editions 16 bis 26/1965 of the magazine was " Lupo modern " reprinted with the title " Struggle for Rome ". Asterix and Obelix were called there " Siggi " and " Babarras ". The original story was in 1968 in the magazine MV - Comix ( books 31/1968 bis 38/1968 ) first published by Ehapa Publishing and released in 1969 as a fourth band in the Asterix series. 2002, this band has been reissued and was given a new title screen.

The band appeared among others in English, Spanish and Turkish as well as in the dialects Kölsch, Carithia, " Saarlännisch " and " Bavarian ".