Asterix and the Chariot Race explained

Asterix and the Chariot Race
Foreigntitle:Astérix et la Transitalique
Writers:Jean-Yves Ferri
Artists:Didier Conrad
Translator:Adriana Hunter
Origdate:19 October 2017
Origlanguage:French
Previssue:Asterix and the Missing Scroll
Nextissue:Asterix and the Chieftain's Daughter
Origisbn:978-2-86497-327-0
Origisbn2:978-2-86497-328-7
Origedinfo2:Version luxe
Transisbn:978-1-5101-0401-3
Transpublisher:Orion Children's Books
Transdate:2017

Asterix and the Chariot Race (French: Astérix et la Transitalique, "Asterix and the Trans-Italic") is the 37th book in the Asterix series, and the third to be written by Jean-Yves Ferri and illustrated by Didier Conrad. The book was released worldwide in more than 20 languages on 19 October 2017 with an initial print run of 5 million copies.[1] [2]

Plot

Responding to criticism of the “deplorable” condition of Roman roads in the regions, Senator Lactus Bifidus proposes a chariot race across the Italic Peninsula to showcase the “excellent” roads. The race is open to all people of the known world. Julius Caesar endorses the race but insists that a Roman must win for the sake of unity across the Italic Peninsula. Otherwise, Bifidus will be banished and exiled to Cyrenaica (now Libya).

In Gaul, Asterix and Obelix are taking Geriatrix to a dentist at a market in Darioritum, when a sibyl predicts Obelix will become a champion charioteer. Obelix then buys a sports chariot on credit, quits his menhir business and joins the trans-Italic race, accompanied by Asterix and Dogmatix. Over the course of the race, they encounter a range of competitors from other lands, as well as the people and cuisines of Ancient Italy. Their most important rival is the masked Coronavirus.

Only five teams manage to complete the race, with the two Gauls narrow victors over Julius Caesar, who had secretly joined the race as a replacement masked Coronavirus in an effort to save Rome's honor. Weary of the frantic pace of chariot racing, Obelix gives the trophy to Asterix, who hands it over to the Kushite team, who in turn give it to the Sarmatians. The trophy ends up with the perennially late Lusitanian team, who request the equivalent in sesterces. Obelix then declares he wants to return home and resume making menhirs.

Competitors

Team Drivers Chariot motif Result Additional information
Gauls Obelix and Asterix 1st – Winners Horses stolen from Romans in return for four menhirs.
Bretons Madmax and Ecotax Lions Retired Chariot sabotaged on leaving Parma.
Bitovamess and Undaduress Fish 5th Although always late due to chariot maintenance, and despite finishing fifth, they end up with the trophy.
Princesses Nefersaynefer and Kweenlatifer Cheetah hieroglyph 2nd Zebras pull their chariot. Kweenlatifer falls in love with Dogmatix.
Romans Coronavirus and Bacillus; Julius Caesar Retired The favorite, Coronavirus (real name Testus Terone), quits the race upon learning his co-driver cheated. Replaced by Julius Caesar, who almost wins but is immobilized by a pot-hole.
Pirates Retired They sink in marshes of Venexia.
Zerogluten and Betakaroten Moose skull and antlers Retired Slaves of Bifidus, they sabotage many other chariots with the aim of ensuring victory for the Roman team. Eliminated when Obelix crushes their chariot.
Tekaloadov and Wotaloadov Bear 3rd
Greeks Yudabos and Attalos 4th
Skinnidecaf and Gamefralaf Shields Retired Quit the race because of homesickness due to good weather and civilization.
Persians[3] Unnamed Bull Retired Eliminated due to sabotage.
There are several other teams, including a Belgian named Outinthastix and his compatriot, two competitors who resemble Hells Angels, two Goths in a wolf-motif chariot, as well as Helvetians, Ligurians, Etruscans, and Calabrians. There is even an Arab team with dromedaries and a Nordic team on a sled.

Caricatures and references

Reception

On Goodreads, Asterix and the Chariot Race has a score of 3.48 out of 5.[7]

Comics Review said the book is "furiously funny and hilariously jam-packed with timeless jibes and cracking contemporary swipes"[8]

The book received renewed media attention in 2020 amid the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) pandemic because the charioteer favored to win the race goes by the name Coronavirus[9] and wears a face mask.

Notes

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Asterix creator Albert Uderzo turns 90. 20 July 2017. Deutsche Welle. 25 April 2017.
  2. News: Johnston. Rich. "Asterix" Sets A 5 Million Print Run For Its First Printing. 22 July 2017. 20 July 2017. Bleeding Cool.
  3. News: Jort. Marion. "Astérix et la Transitalique": le méchant du nouveau tome est un virus. 27 December 2017. Le Huffington Post SAS. 9 October 2017.
  4. http://www.lefigaro.fr/bd/2017/10/20/03014-20171020ARTFIG00018--asterix-et-la-transitalique-ferri-et-conrad-toujours-attendus-au-tournant.php Asterix et la Transitalique : Ferri et Conrad toujours attendus au tournant
  5. News: Younès. Monique. "Astérix et la Transitalique" : le nouvel album des irréductibles Gaulois. 4 January 2018. RTL. 19 October 2017.
  6. News: Potet. Frédéric. " Astérix et la Transitalique " : le voyage en Italie d'Astérix et Obélix. 6 January 2018. Le Monde. 19 October 2017.
  7. Web site: Astérix et la Transitalique (Astérix, #37). www.goodreads.com. 2018-09-27.
  8. News: Asterix and the Chariot Race. 2017-11-06. Now Read This!. 2018-10-01. en-US.
  9. News: Lupini . Michele . Coronavirus and Alain Prost: Fact and fiction . 24 March 2020 . grandprix247.com . 28 February 2020.
  10. Book: Jean-Yves Ferri. Asterix: Asterix and the Chariot Race: Album 37. 2 November 2017. Hachette Children's Group. 978-1-5101-0402-0. 47–.