Obelix and Co.
| Industry | Comics, Graphic novels |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1976 |
| Founder | René Goscinny, Albert Uderzo |
| Products | Comic book |
Obelix and Co. represents the twenty-third installment in the Asterix comic series, authored by René Goscinny with illustrations by Albert Uderzo. The narrative explores the Romans' strategy to subdue the last defiant Gaulish village through the introduction of capitalism. Remarkably, this is the sole album in the series that does not include “Asterix” in its title and stands as the second-to-last volume penned by Goscinny before his passing in 1977; his final contribution, Asterix in Belgium, was released posthumously in 1979.
Plot summary
Following Obelix’s defeat of a newly arrived Roman legion, Julius Caesar devises an alternative approach to conquer the Gaulish village. His young advisor, Preposterus, proposes an economic strategy aimed at assimilating the villagers into capitalist practices. Caesar consents and dispatches Preposterus to a nearby Roman encampment. Encountering Obelix carrying a menhir, Preposterus offers to purchase it, assuring Obelix of wealth and influence should he supply more. Obelix accepts and begins delivering one menhir each day.
As Preposterus raises demand for menhirs, Obelix recruits fellow villagers—some provide assistance while others continue boar hunting. The increased workload strains Obelix’s personal relationships, especially with Asterix, who declines involvement due to concerns over these transformations. With Obelix growing affluent and ostentatious, village men face pressure from their wives to emulate his success, leading many to produce menhirs for sale with Getafix providing magic potion. Apart from Asterix, Getafix, Cacofonix, and Vitalstatistix, most villagers capitalize on this economic surge; however, Asterix remains skeptical about its long-term viability.
Preposterus delivers surplus menhirs to Caesar, who expresses dissatisfaction over escalating debts. Preposterus plans to promote menhirs as a status symbol among patricians, but other provinces begin producing menhirs as well, triggering a Menhir crisis that disrupts the Roman economy and threatens civil disorder. Caesar commands Preposterus to cease trade with the Gauls under penalty of execution.
Meanwhile, Obelix becomes discontented with his newfound wealth and status, yearning for simpler days spent with Asterix and Dogmatix. Asterix proposes returning to boar hunting if Obelix abandons his current lifestyle. When Preposterus declares he will no longer buy menhirs, villagers accuse Obelix of insider trading and confront him. Asterix convinces them to direct their anger toward the Romans instead; while Obelix abstains from violence, the villagers destroy the camp and Preposterus. The ensuing menhir crisis devalues the village’s currency, culminating in a traditional feast that celebrates a return to normal life.
Economic issues
- The story satirizes capitalism:
- Obelix transitions from freely hunting boar to laboring excessively just to purchase them along with unnecessary clothing, highlighting a futile monetary cycle he fails to comprehend—contrasting with his previously simple existence.
- Capitalism is further criticized as ineffective since menhirs have no practical application beyond being large stones.
- When Roman menhir producers are prohibited from selling their goods, they blockade roads in protest against unemployment.
- The London School of Economics is parodied as the Latin School of Economics where Preposterus receives his training, mirroring the real-world École Nationale d'Administration (ENA).
Cultural references
- The character Preposterus serves as a satire of French statesman Jacques Chirac, who was Prime Minister during President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing’s tenure and later held the presidency from 1995 until 2007.
- On page 27, the comedic duo Laurel and Hardy are depicted as Roman soldiers unloading menhirs from Obelix’s wagon.
- Page 2 features two legionaries transporting an intoxicated individual on a shield—this figure represents Goscinny and Uderzo themselves, with their companion Pierre Tchernia portrayed as the inebriated man.
- The portrayal of Roman camp life in this volume shows a lack of discipline and a relaxed atmosphere, attributed to the absence of conflict with the Gauls during the menhir business, which contrasts sharply with their usual depiction as highly alert and orderly; the guards progressively appear more untidy.
- Page 36 commemorates Asterix’s 1000th page milestone, illustrating Preposterus outlining menhir marketing tactics to Caesar using stone tablets—this scene is recognized as a significant commentary on trade and advertising. Included on this page is a panel displaying the authors’ names alongside the Roman numeral M (1000), accompanied by a purposely misspelled Latin phrase playing on the word "footnote," emphasizing the importance of this achievement.
- Getafix’s comment on page 30 about the unknown function of menhirs reflects actual archaeological ambiguity surrounding these structures.
- The "Egyptian menhir" promoted in Rome is actually an obelisk, comparable to Cleopatra’s Needle.
In other languages
- Catalan: Obèlix i companyia
- Croatian: Obelix d.o.o.
- Czech: Obelix & spol.
- Danish: Obelix & Co. ApS
- Dutch: Obelix & co.
- Estonian: Ärimees Obelix
- Finnish: Obelix ja kumpp.
- German: Obelix GmbH & Co. KG
- Greek: Οβελίξ και Σία
- Hebrew: אובליקס וחבורתו
- Hungarian: Obelix és társa
- Indonesian: Obèlix dan Kawan-kawan
- Italian: Asterix e la Obelix SpA
- Norwegian: Obelix & Co. A/S
- Polish: Obeliks i spółka
- Portuguese: Obélix e Companhia
- Turkish: Oburiks ve Şirketi
- Serbian: Obeliksovo preduzeće
- Spanish: Obélix y compañía
- Swedish: Obelix & Co.
References
- Peter Kessler’s comprehensive guide to Asterix