Asterix Marathon #24 - Asterix in Belgium

Well, we're coming to the end of the "Post-Protest Period" of Asterix, with the last story to be written by Rene Goscinny.

Asterix and Obelix notice that the Romans stationed at the fortified camps are unusually happy, and learn that after they have been fighting in Belgica, being posted to Armorica is akin to a rest cure. This was based on actual quote from Caesar, who said that the Belgae were the bravest of all the Gallic peoples he encountered during his campaigns. Anyway, this revelation hurts Vitalstatistix's pride, so he travels to Belgica with our heroes in tow. Encountering the jovial chieftains Beefix and Brawnix, he proposes a competition in which they attack the Roman fortified camps in the region to gain Caesar's attention.

Like Asterix and the Banquet and Asterix in Corsica, a lot of the humour revolves stereotypes which the French readers would be more familiar with than the international readers. One of the most notable references is a brief cameo by Thompson and Thomson from Hergé's Tintin comics. I've actually read that Hergé was not a fan of Asterix, which had surpassed Tintin as the foremost Franco-Belgian comic during the 1960s. There's also a minor character modelled after the cyclist Eddy Merckx, and Beefix's wife Bonanza was drawn to resemble actress and singer Annie Cordy.

To be honest, I think the Belgae seem a little overpowered. Unlike our Armorican friends, they don't have any magic potion, but are powered by really strong beer, a reference to the high alcohol content of some Belgian lagers. But that still kind of works for me, so it's not a glaring issue.

I think my favourite joke is a fourth wall breaking moment at the beginning when Vitalstatistix calls a village council meeting to discuss the Belgian matter. Obelix suggests that if there's nothing to really argue, they can tie up Cacofonix and start cooking the boars for the banquet held traditionally at the end of the story.

That said, there is one truly poignant moment I discovered while reading further into some of the content. A scene where it rains to reflect the Belgian weather was actually used by Uderzo to signify the point in the production where Goscinny died, and makes the skies overcast for the rest of the story. This later concludes with a rabbit looking mournfully at Goscinny's signature on the final panel.

But the show must go on. In a bid to keep the series alive, Uderzo began to write the comics as well as illustrate them. I'll begin to look at the "Solo Period" tomorrow.