Asterix Marathon #14 - Asterix in Spain

This is another one which passed me by the first time around.

Caesar has conquered Hispania and subjugated its people, with the exception of an indomitable village in the vicinity of Munda (Montilla), ruled by Iberian chieftain Huevos y Bacon. Fortunately, he is able to pacify them after capturing the chieftain's son Pepe and holding him hostage, where he is taken to the fortified camp of Totorum in Gaul. Naturally, the escort runs into Asterix and Obelix while in the forest, who give them a thumping and shelter their hostage in The Indomitable Village. Unfortunately, their charge is a colossal pain, whose mischief annoyed the Romans so much so that they're content to let the Gauls keep him. Eventually, Vitalstatistix decides that our heroes should take him back to his home village.

A lot of the humour in this one stems from the characters having to give in to Pepe's numerous demands, with his quirk that he holds his breath until he gets what he wants. This was to do with the fact that the Romans have to treat hostages well as part of the truce they're trying to uphold. But even when he's with the Gauls, he still holds his breath (prompting Obelix to do the same at one point).

Unlike most of the stories centred around journeys abroad, our heroes don't actually set out until about halfway into the story. Once they do arrive in Spain, a lot of the humour is making fun of the country's popularity with tourists, and the state of the roads. There's also a random focus on a procession of druids in every city. It reflects the religious processions of later Spanish culture, but to me it just feels like padding.

I think my favourite joke has to do with the introduction of Unhygienix the Fishmonger. Pepe refuses to eat the boar he's been given, so Asterix sends Obelix out to get some fish. But while Obelix is out, Pepe tries the boar and likes it, eating both his and Obelix's. When Obelix tries to return the fish, he  ends up starting a brawl amongst the villagers after throwing it out. These "fish fights" would go on to be a running gag in subsequent stories.

Personally, I was a little disappointed in this one, but the humour's still there.