However, it’s curious that there’s no mention of the Rosetta Stone, which is interesting because the French were the ones who discovered it and famously deciphered it.īut the real star of the book is Cleopatra herself. On top of that, you have all the usual jokes about pyramids, the Nile, and the sphinx. The difference is that these aren’t actual hieroglyphics, it’s just Egyptian style Pictionary. Once again, the language gags are in full effect with the Egyptians speaking in hieroglyphics. While the usual jokes and slapstick gags apply to “Asterix and Cleopatra” like all the others, the comic’s take on ancient Egyptian culture deserves special mention. It’s worth mentioning that this was the 60’s, the Second World War was still very fresh in a lot of people’s minds.Īlso, this is the story where we are introduced to Dogmatix, an adorable little puppy who becomes Obelix’s pet and one of the best companions in the entire book. On top of that, there are elements of modern satire and callbacks to the French resistance and collaborators during WW2 that are a bit droll, but still pretty funny. All of the cities the pair visit may have Roman names, but they are distinctly related to their modern day counterparts and all the foods that they collect have ties to their specific region and city. Out of all the Asterix books so far, this one is probably the most French, since it’s filled with all sorts of parodies and inside jokes that are probably really funny if you live there. The rest of the comic is a mad dash across Gaul collecting various delicacies and foods while avoiding Roman patrols and becoming folk heroes to their fellow countrymen. If he and Obelix can bring certain dishes from various parts of Gaul back to the village, then the Romans will lift the siege and go back to the status quo. In a rare moment of negotiation, Asterix makes a bet with Overanxius. While the men certainly prove the prefect wrong, they do succeed in building a massive stockade around the village, probably an homage to Caesar’s victory at the Battle of Alesia in 52 B.C. Today’s overeager achiever is prefect named Overanxius, who believes that the legionaries surrounding the village just need the proper tactics and Roman bravery to defeat the upstart Gauls.

This has led to an ever rotating cast of Roman bureaucrats and politicians who seek to conquer the village in order to gain favor back in Rome.

After all, how can Rome be expected to rule a Republic/Empire if they can’t conquer one tiny village? While Asterix and his village have no ambition to challenge the might of Rome directly and just want to be left alone and at peace, their presence on the continent has created a certain air of desperation amid the Roman government.

Asterix and cleopatra asterix