Asterix and the Great Crossing

Astérix #22

by René Goscinny, Albert Uderzo (Illustrator)

Land ho! Asterix and Obelix had been lost at sea, but they've finally reached what they think is a Roman colony. Then the Vikings turn up on a voyage of discovery, and the two Gauls realize that they've done something greater and more they've discovered a strange New World.

Genres: Comics, Bande Dessinée, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Humor, France, Historical Fiction

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

René Goscinny (1926 - 1977) was a French author, editor and humorist, who is best known for the comic book Asterix , which he created with illustrator Albert Uderzo, and for his work on the comic series Lucky Luke with Morris (considered the series' golden age).

Reviews

[Noella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omdat er geen verse vis meer is in het gallische dorpje, gaan Asterix en Obelix vissen. Ze komen echter in een storm terecht. Als ze eindelijk land in zicht hebben, denkt Obelix dat ze terug thuis zijn, maar niets blijkt minder waar. Ze zijn in een land aangekomen waar de mensen veren op hun hoofd drragen, vreemde dansen doen, en nogal oorlogszuchtig zijn, bij de Indianen in Amerika dus. Ondertussen is er een ook een schip uit Skandinavië op weg naar dit land, op ontdekkingsreis. Als Asterix en Obelix willen ontsnappen aan de Indianen, worden ze meegenomen in het schip van de Skandinaviërs. In hun thuisland aangekomen, wil hun hoofdman hen na een feestmaal offeren aan de goden. Maar er is ook een gallische slaaf aanwezig, en samen kunnen ze met diens boot aan de Skandinaviërs ontkomen en zo komen ze eindelijk terug thuis in hun gallische dorpje.

Een verhaal zonder Romeinen deze keer!

[Vigneswara Prabhu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember when I said that Asterix stories are most engaging when they are out exploring new civilizations, in a globe trotting adventures? Well, in that sense, 'Asterix and the Great Crossing' is a return to great form for the series.

Chief Vitalstatistix is in a foul, er foul-er mood. His shield bearers are out sick and the culprit is Unhygenix's unique brand of odorous marine produce. You can't blame the chief. One would question the business acumen of someone who prefers to import fish all the way from Lutetia, when he has a frigging ocean right in his backyard.

Anyways, the chief orders the duo to go out at sea and catch some fresh produce. The paid set out in Geriatrix's old boat, praying to Belenos. But the healing god doesn't appear that benevolent, as soon the pair, plus Dogmatix, find themselves in violent waters, and moving hopelessly further from land.

After encountering our favorite band of pirates, and as usual blinding them dry (sans the ship breaking this time around), they soon find themselves in the new world, hilariously trying to acquaint themselves with a queer group of ehm 'Romans'.



Featuring special for this episode, the infamous Asterix & Obelix mime theatre!



Then they encounter a shipful of Vikings, set out to find the Vinlands, and mistake the duo for inhabitants of said new world. They take them back to the Viking village. You can imagine what would transpire, when a group of battle junkie unfearing Vikings, go up against the duo enhanced with the magical potion. Yeah, things go much as expected.



The duo return home with a boatload of fish, none the wiser of being the pioneers to set foot in the Americas. You know, just another day in the village.

On a related note, I should really start taking notice of these little Latin snippets from the Romans and the Pirates, which have no business of being so profound. Seriously!

Donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos; tempora si fuerint nubila, solus eris , literally translated, means As long as you are happy you will have many friends, but if times are cloudy (in bad luck), you will find yourself alone. ( Ovid , Tristia I, 9.5)


Ira furor brevis est: anger is a brief madness

We unlocked a new civilization this time around, and you know what that means:

Huntingseassen
Herendethelessen
Steptoanssen
Haraldwilssen
Nogoodreasson
Odiuscomparissen
Catastrofix


I'm recommending it for the fun globe trotting adventure, and giving it a solid , 5 out of 5

[Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chief Vitalstatistix is in a foul mood, as his shield bearers are both out with food poisoning from bad fish, sold by village fishmonger Unhygienix (The proof is in the name alone), and so is angry, and egged on by blacksmith, and shit disturber extraordinaire, Fulliautomatix, leading to one of our famous village brawls.

Druid and voice of wisdom Getafix says this is unacceptable, as he needs "reasonably" fresh fish for the magic potion that the villagers all use to keep the Romans (and other threats) at bay.

Asterix offers to go fishing, and Obelix goes along for the ride. Of course, they're not fishermen, or sailors really, and end up blown way out to sea in a storm. They happen across a ship, of course, the pirates, and it's the Captain's birthday, so there's a sumptuous feast ready, Obelix discovers, and after pleading by the Captain, Asterix and Obelix don't sink the ship, even leaving a sausage for the crew.

Eventually things get worse, as they run out of food, have to drink rainwater, and Obelix gets loopy from lack of food, jumping out of the boat. They find a floating branch, and grab it, to swim back to the close land.
At first they think it's home, but then Obelix discovers turkeys in the woods, and later, a bear, which aren't native to Gaul at all.

We later run into native Americans who take Asterix prisoner, and Obelix manages to find him (with the help of wonder dog Dogmatix). With a communication barrier, there's lots of sign language and miscommunication, until things smooth out. Obelix is to be wed to the chieftain's daughter, which he doesn't want. They sneak out one night in a canoe, but it has a hole and they're forced to swim to an island.

Later on, they spy a ship, which we know, is full of Danes (or other Scandinavians, but given the nature of the jokes, I think Danish) looking for glory and discovery. The Norsemen have great names, like: Herendthelessen, Haraldwilssen, Nogoodreassen, and Great Dane Huntingseassen.

Asterix stands atop a cairn of stones, with a torch and a cloth painting in his hand, meant as a Statue of Liberty reference (Which I'd NEVER caught until now) and the ship finds them. There's more miscommunication, and jokes about punctuation and accents and such, but only the dogs figure each other out. They all board the ship, and end up home in the land of Vikings, where the Chief is mad at Herendthelessen for going on a jaunty cruise while the rest were raiding villages.

There's some fun Shakespeare puns, and the chief plans to sacrifice Asterix and Obelix to the Gods, until a slave discovers they're Gauls, not from the New World as thought. There's a fight, and in the ruckus, the Gauls escape and manage to catch some fish on the way home.

The ending has Asterix explaining to Getafix that they went over the sea that way, to some "Long Island" and Getafix ponderously looking out to sea.

This was a fun one, lots of puns, and jokes, also about Asterix and Obelix ending up as the first Europeans in North America, even before the Vikings.

No Romans again, unless you miss them, not a problem for me.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unmut im gallischen Dorf – die Fische des Fischhändlers Verleihnix stinken noch schlimmer als sonst. Nicht seine Schuld, sagt dieser. Er warte auf eine neue Ladung Fische aus Lutetia, die einfach nicht ankommen will. Der Druide Miraculix braucht jedoch jetzt sofort frischen Fisch, um seinen Zaubertrank zu brauen. Und so machen sich Asterix und Obelix auf den Weg, diesen zu beschaffen. Es klappt so mittel:




Nach einem heftigen Sturm ist endlich wieder Land in Sicht, doch bald darauf merken Asterix und Obelix, dass es sich dabei nicht um ihr geliebtes Gallien handelt, sondern um einen ihnen unbekannten Kontinenten, auf dem Bären, Truthähne und ganz komische Römer leben. Als sie in der Ferne ein Schiff erblicken, versuchen sie also, auf sich aufmerksam zu machen, um schnell wieder von dort wegzukommen.



Die barmherzigen Retter sind nur leider nicht ganz so harmlos wie erwartet, und so landen die beiden gallischen Krieger erst einmal im hohen Norden, bevor sie sich befreien und auf den Heimweg machen können. (Wo ihnen nicht alle ihre waghalsige Geschichte glauben können und wollen).



_______________

Ja, nett. Paar lustige Elemente waren dabei, aber im Großen und Ganzen nicht super beeindruckend. Zum Lachen gebracht hat mich vor allem, dass Verleihnix seine Fische aus Lutetia importiert und sie nicht aus dem Meer beim Dorf fischt. Erklärt Einiges hahahahaha.

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here come the Gauls, getting accidentally transatlantic! In this story, Asterix and Obelix set off to catch fish but get caught in a storm, ending up in... America. Yes, way before Columbus. They meet indigenous people, nearly cause an international incident, and somehow return with both fish and their heads intact. It’s more absurd than historical, more playful than political, and laced with clever jabs at “New World” romanticism.

I read this during a pre-internet trivia obsession phase in 2008. The idea that Asterix got to America before Columbus? My inner nerd was delighted. The cultural caricatures are dated, yes—but the story’s heart is in the right place. Obelix playing with a turkey? Unforgettable. This one felt like Goscinny and Uderzo saying, “Why not? Let’s have fun with time.” It was joyful, silly, and made me dream of adventures beyond the maps we’re given.

[Coenraad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hierdie boek is een van die reisverhale waar Asterix en Obelix ’n nuwe wêrelddeel ontdek. Hulle besef nie hoe nuut hierdie wêrelddeel egter is nie: die gebrekkige kommunikasie laat hulle effens in die duister. Maar hulle pogings om die mense wat hulle teenkom, te verstaan, verskaf die pret vir die lesers. Daarby lewer Sonya van Schalkwyk-Barrois weer ’n sprankelvertaling, met lieflike naamkeuses, soos Slånekøersen, Dihøenersen die hoofman en Sommernix die slaaf. Die strokiereeks bly ’n vreugde en die gemaklike manier waarop die karakters Afrikaans praat, is ’n pluspunt.

Asterix and Obelix don’t realise how new the world is where their journey takes them: they were just trying to get some fresh fish for a new batch of magic potion. Mayhem ensues, and creative grit and sheer good luck save the day. Their expressive Afrikaans ensures more joy in this episode of the enduringly enjoyable series.

[Amalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Asterix in America! and Denmark.

The very few things noted by me:

Romans have no part in this adventure.
Asterix's prophetic words, 'It's like a new world'
Quoting Shakespeare's Hamlet, Neil Armstrong.
A knocked down Indian sees the stars of the the American Flag
Discovery of roast turkey
Asterix stance in The Statue of Liberty to signal the boat.

Few funny moments but could've been far more better. Didn't like the fact the Native Americans were given the same stereotypical 'Red-Indian' treatment.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

First published in French in 1975 as La Grande Traversée, it was first published in English in 1976.
Asterix and Obelix volunteer to go fishing, as Getafix needs fresh fish, which Unhigienix, the fishmonger, as usual, cannot provide.
Stormy weather blows them to a strange destination where they meet up with a strange people who they cannot quite identify (of course we have the benefit of hindsight and know that this is America and these people are Native Americans.) Before the end of the voyage they also get to run into Vikings (A slightly different breed it seems, to those we met in `Asterix and the Normans').
As usual our friends voyage to interesting places and upside down. In the Asterix albums we have met parodies of figures such as Boadicea, The Beatles, Napoleon, Laurence Olivier and 007. In this one we get to meet up with a spoof of Harold Wilson, British Prime minister when this book was published.
Of course the theme of food also comes up quite a lot. It seems the authors of the Asterix albums had quite an obsession with food!

[Illiterate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I miss the Romans.

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a couple more Hamlet jokes on this re-reading than I had before.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

What else? Five stars.

Just for fun, here are some of the new words I learned this time around:

• un râleur : a grouch
• "abrège!" : I can't think how we'd say this in English exactly, but something like "give me the short version!" (cognate of "abridge")
• frêle : frail
• tire-au-flanc : shirker (lit., to shoot on the flank, I guess? I love this)
• méfie-toi : watch out, be wary

And presumably I used to know this, but I definitely noticed the parallelism between voici and voilà. Somehow we use only the latter word in English.

Et voilà! Astérix books are tons of fun and educational, too ;-)

[Elessar · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5

Los anacronismos en este álbum llegan a su máxima expresión. Esto es lo que siempre me ha convencido menos de Astérix, la ubicación de culturas en un momento que no les corresponde, dado que los cómics podrían ser perfectos para que los niños aprendiesen conocimientos de historia, sobre todo a situarse temporalmente, algo muy importante en esta disciplina. Astérix no solo no ayuda a ello, sino que puede confundir. Es una pena, porque, en cambio, los elementos culturales romanos sí que suelen estar mucho más cuidados y tienen un mayor rigor histórico.

[Krishnan Mangalath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This, like all the asterix books is a great adventurous, funny and exciting story.

[Dominick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the most slight of the Asterix adventures: Asterix and Obelix go fishing, get lost (verylost!), and end up getting taken back to Europe by Vikings who also end up in America and who think Asterix and Obelix are natives of this new land. That's it, basically, with a fair bit of typical Asterix wordplay and slapstick thrown in. One could object to the stereotypical depiction of First Nations peoples (especially the recurring joke of American symbols such as the stars from the flag appearing over their heads when they get conked), but given that the Asterix series depends fairly heavily on caricature and stereotype of every culture the protagonists encounter (even French culture), that might be ungenerous. Uderzo's art is typically expressive; he's a master of physical characterization.

[Книжни Криле · Rating 5 out of 5]

Наздраве... с глътка магическа отвара! А вместо фойерверки - всеки римски легионер ще види звезди посред бял ден! Да посрещнем Новата Година с едни любими герои от 50 години пр. Хр., които със сигурност ще продължават да векуват! :) Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле":

https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s no fresh fish left in the village.
For some reason Ordralfabetix (the fish merchant) doesn’t go out to fish. He buys his fish from Lutéce, despite the village being right next to the ocean… to me this is so ridiculous and so accurate to what happens in the current day and age.

Anyway, Asterix and Obelix set sail in Agecanonix old boat to fish some fresh fish for their Druid. But a storm hits them and a new adventure begins in a new world full of “new romans”, glouglou’s and Viking’s in search of a new land!

[Vitalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Asterix and Obelix go on a fishing trip and things go wrong, they end up in some unknown lands and have a run in with the locals.

I didn't enjoy this one as much as the others. The story seemed a bit disjointed.

[Tetty Marlinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

#116 - 2019 RC
Genre: Graphic Novel

[Ahtims · Rating 1 out of 5]

Should have read the series as a child
Reading for the first time as an adult is totally discouraged . :/

[Celdema · Rating 2 out of 5]

Je ne l'avais jamais lu celui-là. Et bien je sais pourquoi il est très moyen.

[Joost Brokamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Asterix En Obelix ontdekken Amerika! Geweldig! En dat allemaal om wat verse vis te vangen...

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wielka Przeprawa czyli wielka wyprawa na połów ryb z paroma przygodami w tle.

[looneybooks79 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een volledige review kan je lezen op http://looneybooks79.blog/2024/01/28/...

[Caitlin ⛸ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asterix and Obelix go to America and meet some native Americans.
Another classic shenanigans tale

[Sahar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ce volume là était un peu bof malgré un petit passage sympa d'Astérix et Obélix sur le continent américain.

[Santiago González · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mitos, historia e historieta

Un poco alucinada mi relectura de Asterix, ahora con la excusa de leérselo a mi hijo de casi 6 años cada noche antes de que se duerma.

Por empezar, ahora entiendo muchos chistes para grandes que de chico seguro se me escapaban. En este caso aparecen unos vikingos y hay muchos chistes relacionados a Dinamarca y Hamlet. Lo mejor es que puedo introducir a mi hijo en la historia. Una historia europea contada, paradójicamente, desde un lado perdedor a pesar de los dos héroes de la Galia que la protagonizan. Porque todos sabemos que por más que esa aldeíta sobrevivió, fueron los romanos los que se impusieron. Vamos, que si los romanos hicieron la historia, estos franceses la escribieron. Y en todo caso recién cobran relevancia con Napoléon llevándose puestas casi todas las casas reales del viejo continente.

En fin, es un placer leer de nuevo algo que en la juventud me alucinaba. Era un clásico para mí ir con mi viejo al Carrefour de Vicente López. Mientras él cumplía con la parte aburrida de llenar el changuito, yo me quedaba en la parte de libros leyendo las historietas de Asterix. Ahora, desde mis 43 años, las encuentro un poco zonzas por momentos. Pero nada grave. A mi hijo le encanta y todas las noches me pide que le lea los globitos de los diálogos mientras el sigue la acción con los dibujos.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite Asterix. It was recommended to me back in the 70's by a 12 year old
Danish girl, though she did say that it portrayed Vikings incorrectly...."They were nice farming people who liked to travel!"

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME!!! There is nothing that comes close to Asterix - I have the whole series, both on e-books and hard-copy and they are some of most treasured possessions. I grew up with them and they are simply the best!

[Biondatina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Asterix and Ovelix went for fishing and after a big storm find themselves to meet Thracians or Cretans or... Indians of new world. Ovelix is engaged to be married but they escape with a Viking ship.... Not the best story but we love these Gauls!

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love Asterix even with some problematic stereotyping. Here they set off fishing and discover a new world and, with characteristic treatment by Goscinny, a host of troubles. Lots of humour and I'm always in awe of the detail put into the images. Great fun!