Asterix and the Banquet

Asterix and the Banquet
Company type	Comic book story
Industry	Comics, Graphic novels
Founded	1963 (serialized), 1965 (album publication)
Founder	René Goscinny, Albert Uderzo
Products	Comic book, Graphic novel

Asterix and the Banquet—also referred to as "Asterix's Tour of Gaul" in English, translated from the original French title French: Le Tour de Gaule d'Astérix)—is a French comic book story crafted by writer René Goscinny and artist Albert Uderzo. This tale marks the fifth installment in the Asterix series and was initially published in serialized form by Dargaud within Pilote magazine in 1963, before its compilation into an album released in 1965.

The plot centers on Asterix and Obelix as they journey throughout Gaul, gathering specialty foods from different regions to win a wager against a Roman Prefect intent on isolating their village. The story is well-known for its satirical portrayal of various aspects of France and introduces the character Dogmatix, who quickly became a fan favorite.

Critics praised Asterix and the Banquet, and its original cover notably fetched a record-breaking price at a Paris auction held in 2017.

Plot Summary

Prefect Overanxius arrives at the Roman encampment situated in Armorica, commanding an offensive against the defiant Gaulish village. The assault fails due to the villagers’ consumption of a magical potion that grants them extraordinary strength. In response, Overanxius orders the construction of a stockade designed to cut off the village entirely.

In retaliation, Asterix proposes a challenge: if he can breach the stockade and collect a variety of Gaulish delicacies for a celebratory feast, the Romans must remove their blockade. Overanxius consents but secretly instructs Roman forces to apprehend Asterix and Obelix once they manage to escape.

Their expedition begins in Lutetia (Paris), where they are deceived into purchasing a worthless horse and chariot, forcing them to appropriate a Roman breakdown chariot instead. In Camaracum (Cambrai), although many locals support their quest, some attempt to betray them for monetary gain. Their journey continues through Durocortorum (Reims), Lugdunum (Lyon), Nicae (Nice), Massilia (Marseille), and Tolosa (Toulouse) as they gather various regional specialties.

During an unplanned stop, Roman highwaymen rob them, but in Burdigala (Bordeaux) they recover their stolen goods when thieves are mistaken for Asterix and Obelix, creating confusion that allows further acquisitions.

They then secure transportation aboard Captain Seniorservix’s vessel, assisting him against repeated pirate raids. With his aid, they sneak into Gesocribatum (Le Conquet), evade Roman pursuers, and return triumphantly to their village.

Upon arrival, Asterix presents Overanxius with the assortment of food and wine before delivering a symbolic "uppercut" in response to his dishonorable tactics. The villagers celebrate their success while Obelix discovers a small white dog—later named Dogmatix—that had silently accompanied them throughout their travels.

Characters

Asterix – The Gaulish warrior who serves as the story’s protagonist.
Obelix – A menhir deliveryman and warrior from Gaul; close companion to Asterix; this adventure introduces his recurring joke protesting being labeled "fat."
Dogmatix – A small white dog who travels with Asterix and Obelix; initially a running gag, he evolved into the series’ mascot.
Getafix – The village druid responsible for brewing the magic potion.
Vitalstatistix – The chief of the Gaulish village.
Prefect Overanxius – The Roman Inspector General assigned to oversee the Gaulish settlement.
Centurion Lotuseatus – Commander of the Camp of Compendium; internationally renamed from the French original Gracchus Nenjetépus (known as Gracchus Armisurplus in English).
Seniorservix – Captain of a Gaulish menhir trading ship.
The Pirates – Led by Captain Redbeard, these frequent adversaries often face misfortune at the hands of the Gauls.

Cultural References

Asterix and the Banquet is rich with allusions to French culture and its various regions, drawing inspiration from the Tour de France for its storyline. Notable cultural nods include:

The yellow sack carried by Obelix represents the leader's jersey worn in the Tour de France cycling race.
The comic showcases a variety of traditional French regional specialties such as Lutetian ham, bêtises from Camaracum, wines originating from Durocortum, Lyonnais sausages and quenelles, Nicae salad, fish stew from Massilia, Tolosa sausages, Aginum prunes, and oysters paired with white Bordeaux wine.
Depictions of Lugdunum’s narrow alleys reference Lyon’s traboules, historically utilized by the French Resistance during the Second World War. The story honors this with a spoof group called "The Gaulish Resistance."
Scenes set in Massilia pay tribute to filmmaker Marcel Pagnol’s celebrated films—Marius (1931), Fanny (1932), and César (1936)—who commended these parodies for preserving his cinematic legacy.
The narrative humorously addresses stereotypes linked to regions such as Normandy and Marseille, as well as Parisian traffic congestion and the holiday atmosphere in Nice.
The phrase "Je vous promets qu'on n'a pas fini d'en parler de l'affaire du courrier de Lugdunum!" alludes to a notorious 18th-century miscarriage of justice trial.

Additional cultural references include:

A legionnaire cites a line from the Roman poet Horace: "Exegi monumentum aere perennius" ("I have erected a monument more lasting than bronze") during the construction of a stockade.
A member of the pirate crew quotes from Lucan’s epic poem The Pharsalia, reciting "Victrix causa diis placuit, sed victa catoni" ("The victorious cause pleased the gods, but the lost cause pleased Cato").
A lullaby from the play Patient Grissel, known as Golden Slumbers, is featured in a scene set inside a confectionery shop.

Legacy

In October 2017, the original cover artwork for this volume, autographed by its creators, fetched a record-breaking €1.4 million at an auction held in Paris.

External links

Asterix and the Banquet Official English Website