Asterix and Obelix All at Sea

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Asterix and Obelix All At Sea
(La Galère d'Obélix)
Asterix All At Sea.png
Date1996
Series Asterix
Creative team
Writers Albert Uderzo
ArtistsAlbert Uderzo
Original publication
Date of publication1996
LanguageFrench
Chronology
Preceded by Asterix and the Secret Weapon
Followed by Asterix and the Actress

Asterix and Obelix All at Sea (French : La Galère d'Obélix, "Obelix's galley [ship]") is the thirtieth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by Albert Uderzo. The album was dedicated to Uderzo's grandchild, as well as to the American actor Kirk Douglas. [1] [2]

Plot summary

A band of slaves led by Spartakis (a parody of Spartacus) has taken over Julius Caesar's personal galley, prompting Caesar to send his Admiral Crustacius to recover the vessel.

After some arguing about a safe place to disembark, the slaves set sail for the only place safe from the Romans: the village of indomitable Gauls. The four outlying Roman camps rehearse a parade to welcome Crustacius, who is pursuing the slaves. Believing the Romans are about to attack, the Gauls prepare for battle. Obelix is (as usual) denied Getafix's magic potion and sulks off. When Asterix asks Getafix why he denies Obelix a serving, Getafix replies that too much of the potion may incur side effects beyond his knowledge. As the Gauls return victorious, they find Obelix has turned to stone after drinking a remaining cauldron of magic potion.

The former galley slaves are granted refuge, while Getafix tries to revive Obelix. Ultimately Obelix returns to life, but as a child and deprived of his usual strength. He is kidnapped by Roman soldiers and put on a ship bound for Rome, where Crustacius intends to use him as a bargaining counter for the return of Caesar's galley. Asterix, Dogmatix, Getafix and the former slaves set out in pursuit and rescue Obelix at sea. Crustacius and his adjutant Vice-Admiral Nautilus, as well as Caesar's galley, are handed over to the pirates, who plan to ransom them to Caesar. Spartakis and his crew take the Gauls to Atlantis (the Canary Islands), but the Atlanteans, despite having the secret of eternal youth, cannot restore Obelix's adulthood. The Gauls head homeward, while the freed slaves remain on Atlantis as children forever.

On Caesar's galley, the pirates unwittingly give Crustacius a dose of magic potion from a barrel inadvertently left behind by Getafix. He expels the pirates and plans on using his new strength to usurp Caesar; however, he makes the same mistake as Obelix and becomes a statue. Nautilus's ambition of obtaining a promotion for bringing back the galley is dashed when he forgets to remove the Jolly Roger flag upon approaching Rome's harbour and the vessel is attacked and sinks. On their way back, the Gauls are intercepted by another Roman galley and Asterix is knocked unconscious by a catapult stone. Seeing his friend about to be thrown to the sharks, Obelix recovers his strength and size, and rescues him. Obelix then propels the galley into the Roman camp of Aquarium, before returning to the village for a feast. The statue of Crustacius is installed in the Circus Maximus, while Nautilus and his crew are reduced to sweeping the arena. Asked by Cleopatra why he has erected a statue to commemorate his incompetent admiral, Caesar replies that although lions do not eat granite, things may change some day.

Notes

In other languages

Reception

On Goodreads, it has a score of 3.85 out of 5. [3]

See also

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References

  1. "Asterix and Obelix all at Sea – Asterix – The official website". www.asterix.com. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
  2. Goscinny, René; Uderzo, Albert (14 May 2019). Albert Uderzo – Asterix and Obelix All at Sea – Hachette Children's Group. Hachette Children's. ISBN   9780752847788.
  3. "Asterix and Obelix All at Sea (Asterix #30)" . Retrieved 2018-10-04.