Asterix and the White Iris
| Industry | Comic book publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | October 26, 2023 |
| Products | Comic book (Asterix series) |
Asterix and the White Iris (), the 40th installment in the Asterix collection, represents the first narrative crafted by Fabcaro and the sixth visualized by Didier Conrad. Its publication date was October 26, 2023.
Upon its debut, Rich Johnston from Bleeding Cool acclaimed it as his preferred Asterix volume since the time of co-creator Rene Goscinny.
Plot
Julius Caesar is confronted with widespread rebellion within the Roman legion. His lead medical officer, Isivertuus, suggests a psychological tactic called "White Iris" aimed at elevating troop morale, and is tasked with implementing it in Armorica. Caesar demands tangible results by instructing him to subdue the Gaulish village.
Isivertuus sets up Camp Totorum and employs poetry alongside persuasion to pacify the villagers, significantly diminishing their hostility. The Gauls’ unusually calm demeanor alarms Asterix, Getafix, and Vitalstatistix, leading them to expel Isivertuus. Meanwhile, he manages to charm Impedimenta into traveling to Lutetia, intending to use her as leverage for Gaulish capitulation. Asterix, Obelix, and Vitalstatistix give chase.
The group confronts Isivertuus and Impedimenta during a staged rendezvous with Caesar at a theater in Lutetia. A confrontation ensues; Caesar sentences Isivertuus to death but relents after Asterix's intervention, instead condemning him to serve as a galley slave. The Gauls return to their village, reinstating their usual way of life free from Isivertuus’ influence.
Commentary
- The figure of Isivertuus bears resemblance to French thinker Bernard-Henri Lévy, although Fabcaro cited Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho, often satirized for his "kitschy mysticism," as his true inspiration.
- This edition marks the comeback of Impedimenta’s wealthy brother Homeopathix and his spouse Tapioca, characters last seen in Asterix and the Laurel Wreath.
- Lutetia features early versions of contemporary transport: the West Armorica Great Northern (WAGN) chariot line, a nod to the rebranded TGV train service, alongside a rudimentary kick scooter.
- A museum sequence includes four vibrantly colored busts of Caesar, playfully alluding to Andy Warhol’s style.