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vigneswara_prabhu's review against another edition
3.0
I've noticed a dip in quality, be it regarding the biting humor, satire or puns in the past few Asterix stories, glaring as it was in [b:Asterix and the Secret Weapon|122443|Asterix and the Secret Weapon (Asterix #29)|Albert Uderzo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1433012721l/122443._SX50_.jpg|117885].
As before, the story lacks a clear direction, mixing and matching elements such as a slave revolt aboard Caesar's ship with the discovery of the mythical Atlantis. These elements just don't seem to mesh well. Taken separately, 'Asterix & the slave revolt' & 'Asterix in Atlantis' could have been great standalone stories in its own right. Especially when you consider how topically the mythical island is described in the story.
It lacked the satirical core, which made the initial Asterix stories entertaining. Anyway, onwards to the plot.
There is a slave revolt aboard Caesar's flagship; The Greek Spartakis, has freed a band of multiethnic slaves and are currently fleeing from the Roman flotilla. In crisis, they decide to sail to the indomitable Gaelic village, to seek refuge from Caesar's fleet.
Meanwhile in the village, a cauldron of magic potion left unattended, is consumed by Obelix, against Getafix's stringent warning, turning him into granite. Getafix's antidote to bring him back, turns the gentle giant into a child, as well as depowering him.
Now, captured by the Romans, Asterix, with the help of the released slaves, must rescue his lifelong friend, and give Caesar a stink eye in the process.
I'm giving it a 3 out of 5
As before, the story lacks a clear direction, mixing and matching elements such as a slave revolt aboard Caesar's ship with the discovery of the mythical Atlantis. These elements just don't seem to mesh well. Taken separately, 'Asterix & the slave revolt' & 'Asterix in Atlantis' could have been great standalone stories in its own right. Especially when you consider how topically the mythical island is described in the story.
It lacked the satirical core, which made the initial Asterix stories entertaining. Anyway, onwards to the plot.
There is a slave revolt aboard Caesar's flagship; The Greek Spartakis, has freed a band of multiethnic slaves and are currently fleeing from the Roman flotilla. In crisis, they decide to sail to the indomitable Gaelic village, to seek refuge from Caesar's fleet.
Meanwhile in the village, a cauldron of magic potion left unattended, is consumed by Obelix, against Getafix's stringent warning, turning him into granite. Getafix's antidote to bring him back, turns the gentle giant into a child, as well as depowering him.
Now, captured by the Romans, Asterix, with the help of the released slaves, must rescue his lifelong friend, and give Caesar a stink eye in the process.
I'm giving it a 3 out of 5
jadejade's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Full disclosure, I grew up on this series so my opinion is necessarily biased.
I'm of the view that there is no such thing as a bad Asterix book ... but some volumes, like this one, go a bit off the rails. In comparison to stories penned by Goscinny, Uderzo's efforts lean heavily into the fantastical.
I remember getting a grandparent to take me to the shops to buy this after school, as I had fully expected that no new adventures would ever be written again and was extremely excited that a new one was now in my hands. Even then, I was taken aback by the inclusion ofAtlantis, land of eternal youth . I actually really like how Asterix's and Obelix's friendship is portrayed in this volume, so when I pick up this book I tend to just flip to those pages.
I'm of the view that there is no such thing as a bad Asterix book ... but some volumes, like this one, go a bit off the rails. In comparison to stories penned by Goscinny, Uderzo's efforts lean heavily into the fantastical.
I remember getting a grandparent to take me to the shops to buy this after school, as I had fully expected that no new adventures would ever be written again and was extremely excited that a new one was now in my hands. Even then, I was taken aback by the inclusion of
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery