Asterix and the Chariot Race

Asterix and the Chariot Race ; (Astérix et la Transitalique)
Date	2017
Series	Asterix
Creative team
Writers	Jean-Yves Ferri
Artists	Didier Conrad
Original publication
Date of publication	2017
Language	French
ISBN	978-2-86497-327-0; 978-2-86497-328-7 (Version luxe)
Translation
Publisher	Orion Children's Books
Date	2017
ISBN	978-1-5101-0401-3
Translator	Adriana Hunter
Chronology
Preceded by	Asterix and the Missing Scroll

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.

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.

Only five teams manage to complete the race, with the two Gauls narrow victors. 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. Victors.
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. 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.

Reception

On Goodreads, Asterix and the Chariot Race has a score of 3.48 out of 5.^[4]

Comics Review said the book is "furiously funny and hilariously jam-packed with and timeless jibes and cracking contemporary swipes"^[5]

Notes

The English edition is the first Asterix book to be translated by Adriana Hunter, following the retirement of long-time translator Anthea Bell. At the end of the book, there is a message of thanks to Bell from the publishers for "her wonderful translation work on Asterix over the years".^[6]
Some of the characters in the book are obvious caricatures of real-life people. The innkeeper in Parma resembles opera singer Luciano Pavarotti, while the famous Roman masked charioteer Coronavirus is modeled on racing driver Alain Prost, and the garum tycoon Lupus is modeled on former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.^[7] French media noted that Nefersaynefer and Kweenlatifer resemble Venus and Serena Williams.^[8] Reviewers also noted a waitress at the roadside inn in Tibur resembles Italian actress Sophia Loren.^[9]
The statues and the mysterious beauty with the charming smile which Asterix and Obelix encounter in Florencia (Florence) are a clear nod to the city's later significance as the center and birthplace of the Italian Renaissance.
The scenes in Sena Julia, where the racers are going in a circle searching for an inn, are a pun on the Palio di Siena and the Piazza del Campo.
While passing Pompeii, Obelix temporarily forestalls a catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
At one point, Asterix and Obelix pass a group of Gaulish tourists with a "house-wagon". This type of mobile convenience appeared for the first (and until this issue, last) time in Asterix in Spain (1969).

External Links

Asterix and the Chariot Race Official Website

References

↑ "Asterix creator Albert Uderzo turns 90". Deutsche Welle. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
↑ Johnston, Rich. ""Asterix" Sets A 5 Million Print Run For Its First Printing" (20 July 2017). Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
↑ 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.
↑ "Astérix et la Transitalique (Astérix, #37)". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2018-09-27.
↑ "Asterix and the Chariot Race". Now Read This!. 2017-11-06. Retrieved 2018-10-01.
↑ 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.
↑ Asterix et la Transitalique : Ferri et Conrad toujours attendus au tournant, Le Figaro 20 October 2017 (in French). Accessed on 27 October 2017.
↑ Younès, Monique (19 October 2017). ""Astérix et la Transitalique" : le nouvel album des irréductibles Gaulois". RTL. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
↑ Potet, Frédéric (19 October 2017). "« Astérix et la Transitalique » : le voyage en Italie d'Astérix et Obélix". Le Monde. Retrieved 6 January 2018.

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[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" (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] "Astérix et la Transitalique (Astérix, #37)". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2018-09-27.

[5] "Asterix and the Chariot Race". Now Read This!. 2017-11-06. Retrieved 2018-10-01.

[Ferri2017-6] 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.

[7] Asterix et la Transitalique : Ferri et Conrad toujours attendus au tournant, Le Figaro 20 October 2017 (in French). Accessed on 27 October 2017.

[8] Younès, Monique (19 October 2017). ""Astérix et la Transitalique" : le nouvel album des irréductibles Gaulois". RTL. Retrieved 4 January 2018.

[9] Potet, Frédéric (19 October 2017). "« Astérix et la Transitalique » : le voyage en Italie d'Astérix et Obélix". Le Monde. Retrieved 6 January 2018.