asterix returns for italy chariot race caper
Saturday 22 February 2025
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Asterix returns for Italy chariot race caper

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleAsterix returns for Italy chariot race caper

Didier Conrad
Paris - AFP

Asterix, the plucky Gaul with the rotund sidekick, has come charging back in the 37th book in the legendary comic series, which went on sale across Europe on Thursday.

"Asterix and the Chariot Race" recounts the adventures of the shrewd Gallic hero and his perennial partner in mischief Obelix during a mad dash down the length of the Italian peninsula.

Five million copies of "Asterix et la Transitalique", as it's titled in the original French, have been printed for the first edition, with two million alone reserved for France and 1.7 million for Germany.

In a sign of the enduring global appeal of France's favourite comic duo, it has been translated into 16 languages.

In keeping with tradition the Albert Rene publishing house has kept the details of the story under wraps, releasing just the bare outline of the only Asterix story set entirely on the Italian peninsula.

The action takes place in 50 BC with Julius Caesar trying to prove "that all of Italy is in thrall to Rome" even though "many regions are determined to maintain their independence."

To burnish Roman glory and showcase the "dazzling excellence of Roman roads", Caesar invites teams from all over the known world to compete in the race.

There is only one catch -- "the Roman competitor must absolutely cross the finishing line first," the publishers said.

Caesar's charioteer and the latest Asterix baddie is a masked villain called Coronavirus, named after the bug that caused SARS, the respiratory disease at the centre of a worldwide health alert in 2002.

Writers Jean-Yves Ferri and Didier Conrad, who have penned the last three Asterix stories, said this time they wanted Obelix to take the limelight.

"It's very much Obelix driving the chariot and the story," Conrad said after the new book was announced.

Apart from the two Gauls, the book also features Bretons, Picts (Scots), Goths and Phoenicians.

Albert Uderzo, now 90, who created the characters in 1959 with Rene Goscinny, told reporters in a video message that the "story really touched me because as well as cartoons I love cars."

More than 370 million Asterix books have been sold since Goscinny and Uderzo first brought him to life in the Franco-Belgium comic magazine Pilote.

source: AFP

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

asterix returns for italy chariot race caper asterix returns for italy chariot race caper

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 06:48 2010 Tuesday ,21 September

Along came a Spyder

GMT 09:57 2017 Saturday ,09 December

Minister receives Shura committee chairman

GMT 10:22 2017 Wednesday ,13 December

World Bank to stop financing oil, gas projects from 2019

GMT 13:46 2015 Friday ,06 February

South Sudan fighters carried out a 'month of rape'

GMT 14:33 2011 Saturday ,10 December

We Need to Talk About Kevin

GMT 13:30 2011 Tuesday ,13 December

Young Adult

GMT 11:39 2014 Wednesday ,05 November

Karbala via Glasgow

GMT 12:21 2016 Monday ,27 June

Paris thieves steal 3m euros in luxury watches

GMT 08:49 2017 Tuesday ,31 January

Asia markets extend losses on Trump worries

GMT 07:43 2016 Sunday ,11 December

Japan, US, Hungary win gold in wrestling worlds

GMT 12:16 2015 Monday ,02 March

UNHCR: South Sudanese refugees hit 121,400

GMT 12:06 2017 Friday ,21 April

Kheir inspects Ain Helwe camp

GMT 10:01 2014 Tuesday ,25 February

2 policemen killed in armed attacks in Darfur

GMT 10:02 2017 Tuesday ,18 April

Working with Assad to do what?

GMT 08:19 2018 Wednesday ,03 January

2017 safest year for post-war civil aviation

GMT 21:42 2017 Sunday ,29 October

Slick City beat West Brom as Liverpool bounce back

GMT 07:08 2017 Thursday ,21 December

Erdogan rebukes UAE minister over tweet

GMT 14:29 2016 Thursday ,22 December

China launches carbon dioxide

GMT 09:47 2017 Sunday ,29 January

Serena Williams claims title of women's singles

GMT 10:36 2017 Thursday ,16 February

Isner fires 26 aces to beat Nishioka at Memphis

GMT 15:20 2017 Friday ,03 February

Davis Cup returns to victorious Pakistan
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle