First in a series of recompilations of the Asterix adventures; this one has the first three, including one outright classic, Asterix and the Goths, and the first one, a good one. A lot of the artwork is cleaned up -- a problem with previous printings in English was that the artwork could get a bit muddy. So good to have. ( )

Very enjoyable funny read with very good installations. Goscinny and Uderzo were very cleaver in making the different nationalities (only Gauls, Romans, and Goths in this volume though). It can be a bit difficult to read because unlike several American omnibus graphic novel collections each part is about 50 pages. ( )

1- Asterix the Gaul

The year is 50BC. Gaul is entirely occupied by the Romans. Well, not entirely ... One small village of indomitable Gauls still holds out against the invaders. And life is not easy for the Roman legionaries who garrison the fortified camps of Tortorum, Aquarium, Laudanum and Compendium ...

The inhabitants of the village go about their daily activities unconcerned about the Romans camped outside their walls because they know they can defeat them easily. How? That's what Crismus Bonus wants to know, so he sends a volunteer spy into the village, who discovers that their druid mixes a magic potion that can give the drinker the strength of ten men for a limited time. Of course then he wants to get his hands on that potion.

Wonderfully silly with ridiculous puns on Latin (meet Crismus Bonus, the commander of Compendium, for example, or his second in command, Ginandtonicus). I love the little details in the background of the panels and the footnotes in some panels (one says 'this is an example of Latin grammar' followed a few panels later by 'this is bad grammar'). Or, when defeated enemies throw their weapons at Caesar's feet, they drop them on his toes.

For those acquainted with the series already the world building may be a little stilted but, as the first publication, necessary.

So much fun and a good (and easy) way to revisit childhood.

4.5*****

ETA: I found this site with cameo appearances in the Asterix comics.

2- Asterix and the Golden Sickle

(1962)

All is well in the village - until Getafix the Druid breaks his golden sickle, without which he cannot imbue mistletoe with magic, just before he has to leave for the Druid conference. The only golden sickles worth having are made in Lutetia by Metallurgix - who happens to be Obelix’s cousin - and so our two heroes volunteer to make the dangerous journey. But when they hit the big city, they find things not as easy as they were expecting- for one thing, Metallurgix has disappeared.

As ever, there's a lot of fun in the punny names; the Gaulish names tend to end with X while the Roman names tend to end with -US and they all give us a clue as to the owners' characteristics. And, once you've enjoyed the story, come back and read it again for the jokes in the background drawings as our heroes go about their adventures.

3.5***

Translated by Anthea Bell.

Volume collects the first three volumes of the long running series. If you wonder how it all started, this is a good place to start. A nice collection with good humor for all ages.

(Full review on my blog later) ( )

Reading and enjoying the pun-ladened adventures of Asterix the Gaul has been an essential part of the European pop-culture landscape for decades. Now with this new translation from the original source material done specifically for the US market Papercutz hope to finally open up those adventures to a new audience. This volume presents the first three stories and serves as a great introduction to the series. The new translation works well preserving the tone and humor of the original while allowing a narrative flow that’s more welcoming for the modern reader. ( )