8.2 /10 1 Votes
Series Asterix Artists Albert Uderzo Language French Date 1978 | 4.1/5 Goodreads Writers Rene Goscinny Date of publication 1976 Originally published 1976 Genre Speculative fiction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Preceded by Asterix and Caesar's Gift, Asterix and the Great Crossing Followed by Obelix and Co, Asterix in Belgium, Asterix in Corsica, Asterix and the Banquet Similar René Goscinny books, Asterix books | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Obelix and Co. is the twenty-third volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny (stories) and Albert Uderzo (illustrations). The book's main focus is on the attempts by the Gaul-occupying Romans to corrupt the one remaining village that still holds out against them by instilling capitalism. It is also the last volume released before Goscinny's death in 1977; his next and last volume, Asterix in Belgium, was completed after his death.
Contents
Plot summary
After Obelix single-handedly defeats the newly arrived Roman reinforcements to celebrate his own birthday, Caesar once again questions the possibility of annexing the rebellious Gaulish village; whereupon the Roman economist 'Caius Preposterus' proposes to introduce capitalism, by which to reduce the Gauls' interest in war. For that purpose, he moves into the camp of Totorum; and upon encountering Obelix, buys a menhir every day for increasing sums of money. When Preposterus demands more menhirs in exchange for more money, Obelix hires other villagers to help him make menhirs, and an equal number to hunt boar for him and his sculptors. This corporation later includes a cart-and-oxen with which to deliver half-a-dozen menhirs at once, and an ostentatious costume. Obelix's increasing wealth alienates Asterix and Dogmatix, and causes problems for the village men, whose wives reproach them for not matching his success. To reprimand Obelix, Asterix encourages the other villagers to build menhirs, sell them to the Romans, and put their subsequent wealth on display. Complicit therein, Getafix supplies them with magic potion. Because the menhir makers can no longer spend time hunting wild boar, they hire the other half of the male village populace to hunt for them. Only Asterix, Getafix, Cacofonix, and Vitalstatistix take no part. Upon the accumulation in Totorum of excess menhirs, Preposterus returns to Rome, where he sells them to the patricians as a symbol of great wealth and high rank. Before long, a Roman businessman arranges the manufacture and sale of menhirs at a cheaper rate. Anxious to recover the money paid to the Gauls, Caesar imposes a ban on the sale of Roman menhirs; but the ban is lifted in the face of a possible civil conflict and Preposterus suggests a price war to replace it; but this provokes Egypt, Greece, and other peoples to sell menhirs to Rome. Soon, even free menhirs are unwanted. Facing financial ruin, Caesar orders Preposterus to stop the menhir trade, on pain of death.
The Gaulish village meanwhile is unaffected by the Menhir Crisis, because the centurion of Totorum has continued buying their menhirs to keep the peace; but Obelix is demoralized and asks Asterix for a return to his customary habits: a request Asterix grants, in exchange for Obelix's abandonment of ostentation. Preposterus, on return to Totorum, refuses all the menhirs offered him. When the men of the village notice that Obelix has desisted selling, they accuse him of Insider trading, and thus provoke a fight, which Asterix terminates by the suggestion that they turn their anger on the Romans. When this is accepted, the Gauls ransack Totorum, and stun Preposterus himself. When Asterix enquires into the fate of his neighbors' money, Getafix tells him that the sestertius has been devalued, and is therefore of no use to the villagers. At the subsequent victory celebration, a menhir holds Cacofonix down, to prevent his discordant singing.