Asterix and the Chariot Race
(Astérix et la Transitalique)
SeriesAsterix
Creative team
WritersJean-Yves Ferri
ArtistsDidier Conrad
Original publication
Date of publication19 October 2017
LanguageFrench
ISBN978-2-86497-327-0
978-2-86497-328-7 (Version luxe)
Translation
PublisherOrion Children's Books
Date2017
ISBN978-1-5101-0401-3
TranslatorAdriana Hunter
Chronology
Preceded byAsterix and the Missing Scroll
Followed byAsterix and the Chieftain's Daughter

Asterix and the Chariot Race (French: Astérix et la Transitalique, "Asterix and the Trans-Italic") is the 37th book in the Asterix series, and the third to be written by Jean-Yves Ferri and illustrated by Didier Conrad. The book was released worldwide in more than 20 languages on 19 October 2017 with an initial print run of 5 million copies.[1][2]

Plot

Responding to criticism of the “deplorable” condition of Roman roads in the regions, Senator Lactus Bifidus proposes a chariot race across the Italic Peninsula to showcase the “excellent” roads. The race is open to all people of the known world. Julius Caesar endorses the race but insists that a Roman must win for the sake of unity across the Italic Peninsula. Otherwise, Bifidus will be banished and exiled to Cyrenaica (now Libya).

In Gaul, Asterix and Obelix are taking Geriatrix to a dentist at a market in Darioritum, when a sibyl predicts Obelix will become a champion charioteer. Obelix then buys a sports chariot on credit, quits his menhir business and joins the trans-Italic race, accompanied by Asterix and Dogmatix. Over the course of the race, they encounter a range of competitors from other lands, as well as the people and cuisines of Ancient Italy. Their most important rival is the masked Coronavirus.

Only five teams manage to complete the race, with the two Gauls narrow victors over Julius Caesar, who had secretly joined the race as a replacement masked Coronavirus in an effort to save Rome's honor. Weary of the frantic pace of chariot racing, Obelix gives the trophy to Asterix, who hands it over to the Kushite team, who in turn give it to the Sarmatians. The trophy ends up with the perennially late Lusitanian team, who request the equivalent in sesterces. Obelix then declares he wants to return home and resume making menhirs.

Competitors

Team Drivers Chariot motif Result Additional information
Gauls Obelix and Asterix Gallic rooster 1st – Winners Horses stolen from Romans in return for four menhirs.
Bretons Madmax and Ecotax Lions Retired Chariot sabotaged on leaving Parma.
Lusitanians Bitovamess and Undaduress Fish 5th Although always late due to chariot maintenance, and despite finishing fifth, they end up with the trophy.
Kushites Princesses Nefersaynefer and Kweenlatifer Cheetah hieroglyph 2nd Zebras pull their chariot. Kweenlatifer falls in love with Dogmatix.
Romans Coronavirus and Bacillus; Julius Caesar Aquila Retired The favorite, Coronavirus (real name Testus Terone), quits the race upon learning his co-driver cheated. Replaced by Julius Caesar, who almost wins but is immobilized by a pot-hole.
Pirates Redbeard and Lookout Jolly roger Retired They sink in marshes of Venexia.
Cimbri Zerogluten and Betakaroten Moose skull and antlers Retired Slaves of Bifidus, they sabotage many other chariots with the aim of ensuring victory for the Roman team. Eliminated when Obelix crushes their chariot.
Sarmatians Tekaloadov and Wotaloadov Bear 3rd
Greeks Yudabos and Attalos Golden fleece 4th
Normans Skinnidecaf and Gamefralaf Shields Retired Quit the race because of homesickness due to good weather and civilization.
Persians[3] Unnamed Bull Retired Eliminated due to sabotage.

There are several other teams, including a Belgian named Outinthastix and his compatriot, two competitors who resemble Hells Angels, two Goths in a wolf-motif chariot, as well as Helvetians, Ligurians, Etruscans, and Calabrians. There is even an Arab team with dromedaries and a Nordic team on a sled.

Caricatures and references

Reception

On Goodreads, Asterix and the Chariot Race has a score of 3.48 out of 5.[7]

Comics Review said the book is "furiously funny and hilariously jam-packed with timeless jibes and cracking contemporary swipes"[8]

The book received renewed media attention in 2020 amid the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) pandemic because the charioteer favored to win the race goes by the name Coronavirus[9] and wears a face mask.

Notes

References

  1. ^ "Asterix creator Albert Uderzo turns 90". Deutsche Welle. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  2. ^ Johnston, Rich. ""Asterix" Sets A 5 Million Print Run For Its First Printing". No. 20 July 2017. Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  3. ^ Jort, Marion (9 October 2017). ""Astérix et la Transitalique": le méchant du nouveau tome est un virus". Le Huffington Post SAS. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  4. ^ Asterix et la Transitalique : Ferri et Conrad toujours attendus au tournant, Le Figaro 20 October 2017 (in French). Accessed on 27 October 2017.
  5. ^ Younès, Monique (19 October 2017). ""Astérix et la Transitalique" : le nouvel album des irréductibles Gaulois". RTL. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  6. ^ Potet, Frédéric (19 October 2017). "" Astérix et la Transitalique " : le voyage en Italie d'Astérix et Obélix". Le Monde. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Astérix et la Transitalique (Astérix, #37)". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2018-09-27.
  8. ^ "Asterix and the Chariot Race". Now Read This!. 2017-11-06. Retrieved 2018-10-01.
  9. ^ Lupini, Michele (28 February 2020). "Coronavirus and Alain Prost: Fact and fiction". grandprix247.com. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  10. ^ Jean-Yves Ferri (2 November 2017). Asterix: Asterix and the Chariot Race: Album 37. Hachette Children's Group. pp. 47–. ISBN 978-1-5101-0402-0.

External links

Asterix
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