Asterix and the Chariot Race
| Company type | Comic book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | October 19, 2017 |
Key people | Jean-Yves Ferri (writer), Didier Conrad (artist) |
| Products | Comic book |
| Website | www |
Asterix and the Chariot Race (original French title: Astérix et la Transitalique) represents the 37th installment in the Asterix comic series, and marks the third collaboration between writer Jean-Yves Ferri and artist Didier Conrad. Published on 19 October 2017, it debuted globally in more than 20 languages with an initial print volume of five million copies.
Plot
To counter complaints about the deteriorating state of Roman roads, Senator Lactus Bifidus proposes organizing a chariot race spanning the Italic Peninsula as proof of their superior quality. Backed by Julius Caesar, the event stipulates that a Roman must emerge victorious to uphold imperial unity; failure would result in Bifidus’ exile to Cyrenaica.
Meanwhile in Gaul, Asterix and Obelix escort Geriatrix to a dentist in Darioritum, where a sibyl foretells Obelix’s rise as a champion charioteer. Motivated by this prophecy, Obelix acquires a sports chariot on credit, abandons his menhir business, and enters the Trans-Italic race alongside Asterix and Dogmatix. Throughout their journey, they encounter a variety of international adversaries while traversing Ancient Italy’s diverse regions and sampling local cuisines. Their principal competitor is the enigmatic masked figure known as Coronavirus.
Only five teams complete the race, with the Gauls narrowly defeating Julius Caesar—who had secretly competed as Coronavirus to safeguard Rome’s prestige. Exhausted by the contest, Obelix awards the trophy to Asterix, who then passes it to the Kushite team; ultimately, it is claimed by the Lusitanians, who request payment in sesterces. Following these events, Obelix chooses to return home and resume his menhir crafting.
Competitors
| Team | Drivers | Chariot motif | Result | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gauls | Obelix and Asterix | Gallic rooster | 1st – Champions | Horses stolen from Romans in exchange for four menhirs. |
| Bretons | Madmax and Ecotax | Lions | Retired | Chariot sabotaged after departing Parma. |
| Lusitanians | Bitovamess and Undaduress | Fish | 5th | Despite finishing fifth after delays, they receive the trophy. |
| Kushites | Princesses Nefersaynefer and Kweenlatifer | Cheetah hieroglyph | 2nd | Their chariot is drawn by zebras; Kweenlatifer develops affection for Dogmatix. |
| Romans | Coronavirus and Bacillus; Julius Caesar | Aquila | Retired | Favorite Coronavirus withdraws due to co-driver cheating; Julius Caesar substitutes but is halted by a pothole. |
| Pirates | Redbeard and Lookout | Jolly roger | Retired | Sunk in Venexia marshes. |
| Cimbri | Zerogluten and Betakaroten | Moose skull and antlers | Retired | Sabotaged rival chariots supporting Romans; eliminated by Obelix. |
| Sarmatians | Tekaloadov and Wotaloadov | Bear | 3rd | |
| Greeks | Yudabos and Attalos | Golden Fleece | 4th | |
| Normans | Skinnidecaf and Gamefralaf | Shields | Retired | Withdrew due to homesickness triggered by favorable weather and civilization. |
| Persians | Unnamed | Bull | Retired | Eliminated through sabotage. |
Additional participants feature a Belgian named Outinthastix; two riders resembling members of the Hells Angels; Goths with a wolf-themed chariot; as well as teams from the Helvetians, Ligurians, Etruscans, Calabrians, an Arab group riding dromedaries, and a Nordic team competing on a sled.
Caricatures and allusions
- Several figures in the story are exaggerated portrayals of actual personalities: the innkeeper in Parma is reminiscent of opera legend Luciano Pavarotti, the Roman chariot driver Coronavirus draws inspiration from racing icon Alain Prost, and the garum magnate Lupus mirrors former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. French press outlets observed that Nefersaynefer and Kweenlatifer bear likenesses to tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams. Additionally, a server at the roadside tavern in Tibur evokes the image of Italian film star Sophia Loren.
- Remarkably, the character Coronavirus is depicted wearing a mask well before face coverings became widespread during the global coronavirus pandemic starting in 2019.
- On page 24, an individual sketching the race closely resembles Leonardo da Vinci. Various statues and the enigmatic smiling figure in Florencia (Florence) pay tribute to the city's Renaissance legacy. The scenes set in Sena Julia, where competitors circle while searching for an inn, allude to the Palio di Siena festival and the famous Piazza del Campo.
- During their journey through Pompeii, Obelix momentarily halts a devastating eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
Critical response
Comics Review praised the volume as "intensely humorous and packed with enduring satire alongside sharp modern-day critiques."
The publication experienced a resurgence in public interest during 2020 amid the COVID-19 crisis, largely due to its prominent charioteer named Coronavirus who sports a protective face mask.
Additional information
- The English translation marks the first Asterix album rendered by Adriana Hunter, succeeding veteran translator Anthea Bell, who retired. The publisher's note expresses gratitude for Bell’s exceptional contributions to Asterix translations over many years.
- On page 24, Asterix and Obelix encounter Gaulish tourists traveling with a "house-wagon", a vehicle previously featured in Asterix in Spain (1969).
- The race map highlights Parma with an illustration of a ham leg, referencing its renowned export, Prosciutto.
- Page 40 includes a cameo appearance by a Helvetian friend from Asterix in Switzerland.
- Beyond the Roman checkpoint, Asterix and Obelix meet "two indomitable Umbrians," Italic counterparts to the Gauls, who were subdued by Rome in 260 BC.
- The Kushite princesses communicate solely through hieroglyphs, likely symbolizing the ancient Egyptian empire’s dominance over Kush.
External links
- Asterix and the Chariot Race Official Website