Asterix and the Falling Sky
| Company type | Comic book volume |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing, Comics |
| Founded | October 14, 2005 |
| Founder | Albert Uderzo |
| Products | Comic book |
Asterix and the Falling Sky (, "The Sky Falls On His Head") represents the thirty-second installment in the Asterix comic series and marks the ninth volume both written and illustrated solely by Albert Uderzo. It stands out as the only entry in the historically comedic franchise to incorporate science fiction themes. Published on October 14, 2005, this edition serves as both a homage to Walt Disney and a critique of the French comic book industry. Although it achieved notable commercial success, critical reception was largely unfavorable. This volume was Uderzo’s last contribution before handing over creative control to a new team.
Plot summary
An extraterrestrial spacecraft suddenly appears over the Gaulish village, rendering nearly all residents immobile except for Asterix, Obelix, Getafix, and Dogmatix, who remain unaffected thanks to the magic potion. An alien named Toon arrives from the planet Tadsilweny accompanied by "superclone" security forces intent on seizing Getafix’s potion—referred to as a "secret weapon" recognized across the galaxy—to prevent it from falling into the hands of malevolent aliens known as Nagmas.
At the same time, a Nagma lands at the nearby Roman camp of Compendium with the same objective. The Roman centurion Polyanthus directs this alien visitor toward the village. A conflict breaks out between Toon's superclones and Nagma's robotic "cyberats." Asterix and Obelix step in to stop an attempt to kidnap Getafix. In the end, Nagma is defeated; Toon calls off his mission upon realizing that the potion only temporarily enlarges aliens. Before departing, Toon erases all memories of his visit from both the village inhabitants and Roman soldiers.
Reception
Despite strong sales, Falling Sky attracted mixed reviews from critics. Ian Rankin of the Guardian suggested it had "jumped the shark," possibly leading to an eight-year pause before new authors assumed responsibility.[1] St Mag described it as a "disappointment" riddled with numerous shortcomings.[2] Roy Boyd of Sling's and Arrows characterized it as a "confused and pointless tale."[3] Splinter called it "polarising" and highlighted it as one of the most unconventional Asterix stories due to Uderzo’s inclusion of external narrative elements.[4] Conversely, Wales Online offered some praise, acknowledging that while purists might be dissatisfied, the story retained classic Asterix qualities.[5]
Commentary
- The cover art pays homage by echoing that of Asterix the Gaul, the series’ inaugural adventure.
- The volume is dedicated to Uderzo’s brother Bruno (1920–2004), who played a significant role in nurturing his artistic abilities.[6]
- Contains a nod from Uderzo honoring Walt Disney’s creations.[7]
- The narrative satirizes the 2003 US-led Iraq invasion, using alien characters to lampoon American cultural dominance.[8][9]
- Toon bears resemblance to Mickey Mouse; his homeworld’s name, Tadsilweny, is an anagram of Walt Disney. The character Hubs is an anagram referencing then-US President George W. Bush. Uderzo acknowledged that US politics under Bush inspired parts of the story.[10]
- Toon's "superclones" evoke Arnold Schwarzenegger portrayed as Superman; meanwhile, the insectoid Nagma parodies Japanese manga, reflecting Uderzo’s critical view of manga alongside his tribute to Disney.[11][12]
- The name Nagma is an anagram of manga; likewise, the wise figure Akoaotaki alludes to Takao Aoki, creator of Beyblade manga.
- Despite speculation fueled by cover design, Uderzo maintained this was not intended as the final Asterix album.[13]
- Although criticized for its science fiction approach,[14] this edition set sales records in 2005 with 2.4 million copies sold in French within just two months.[15]
Awards
- 2006 Eagle Award recognizing Best European Comic