Chapter 23. Obelix and Co

Rene Goscinny

Albert Uderzo

English Translations: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge

Abstract

Caesar sends a strange Roman to start buying menhirs off Obelix. When his business booms overnight, it isn't long before the whole village is into the menhir industry and greed takes over...
The other book without Asterix in the title. And Obelix does pretty much star in this one. More political satire.

Table 23.1. Obelix and Co - Annotations

Page, Panel Comment
Page 2, Panel 5 The two carrying the drunk are Uderzo and Goscinny. The person being carried is modeled after Pierre Tchernia.
Page 8, Panel 7 LSE = London School of Economics; Apparently this is young Jacques Chirac. Twenty years on, Glen F Koorey can see the resemblance. Credit here goes to Finn Bjorklid's excellent article on Asterix in the Norwegian magazine about the comic - Tegn (4/94)
Page 8, Panel 10 The guy on the right has gout
Page 17, Panel 6 Veni, vidi, vici: I came, I saw, I conquered (Julius Caesar)
Page 19, Panel 3 Sign is equivalent to the modern "Caution! Trucks Turning."
Page 19, Panel 7 "You savvy" = You understand
Page 23, Panel 5 Laurel and Hardy
Page 29, Panel 6 Redde Caesar...: Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's. (Matt 22:21).
Page 29, Panel 8 Si vis pacem, para bellum = If you want peace, prepare for war. (Vegetius, 4th-5th cent. AD)
Page 31, Panel 4 Alea jacta est = the die is cast (Julius Caesar)
Page 34, Panel 9 That symbol is Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome, being suckled by a she-wolf
Page 35, Panel 6 See 'Appian Way' in Geography
Page 36, Panel 7 Modeled on an Egyptian obelisk (like Cleopatra's needle)
Page 36, Panel 9 Uti, non abuti = Use, don't abuse.
Page 37, Panel 7 Brutus murdered Caesar in 44 BC.

Table 23.2. Obelix and Co - Names

Name (in order of appearance) Comment
Scrofulus Scrofulous: Morally corrupt
Ignoramus Ignoramus: ignorant and stupid
Caius Preposterus Preposterous: unbelievable. A caricature of Jacques Chirac.
Larcenus Larcenous: inclined to theft
Analgesix Analgesics: rub-on medicines to ease pain
Monosyllabix Monosyllabic: speaking in single syllables
Polysyllabix Polysyllabic: speaking in big words
Pacifix Pacific Ocean
Atlantix Atlantic Ocean
Baltix Baltic Sea
Adriatix Adriatic Sea
Woolix Wooly. Or Woolworths?
Incongruous Incongrous: something out of place
Meretricius Meretricious: like a prostitute, false showy charms