Customer Reviews

Asterix Versus Caesar: the book of the film (Book 29)

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It is important to note that this book is based on the film ASTERIX VERSUS CAESAR which, in turn, is based on an adaptation of the books ASTERIX THE GLADIATOR and ASTERIX THE LEGIONARY. So it is three levels of abstraction from "original." Also, the format is a linear text supplemented by many really beautiful reproductions of cells from the movie. Although it is beautiful to look at, and possible to read, it lacks much of the essential pacing and timing that Goscinny and Uderzo are such masters of when working in the traditional "panels with word balloons" format of "comic" books. I imagine it's a good companion to the film, and it certainly is lovely to look at, but it strikes me as less "essential" than most of the other Asterix books. Buy it if you are a completist... or even if you just happen to have and love a bunch of the others. Save it for later if you're just getting acquainted with our friends from the small village of indomitable Gauls.

Good-ish book, but lacks the charm of the comics. Asterix doesn't lend itself to narrative form, and that is how this book is presented - with passages told by Asterix and by one of the Roman Officers. It is a transcription of a cartoon movie, more or less, and so is not as creative as the comics or the movie.

As a child, I read all of the "classic" Asterix books in Swedish. As an adult living in the U.S., I am reading them again to my children, but this time in English. In addition, this time I am also reading the new ones, like this one, and I am still enjoying it.

This should not be your first Asterix book, even though it is still entertaining. The story is an adaptation of two great books "Asterix the Legionary" and "Asterix the Gladiator", but it is not as good as any of those two stories. Negative aspects of this album is; Obelix falls in love (unhappily); Asterix is telling the story instead of it being a story (narrative); the wordiness; lower pun frequency. It also feels less "Asterix-like" for other reasons. However, it is still worthwhile and I have read it several times to my kids (upon request).

In my opinion the best Asterix albums are: Asterix and the Normans; Asterix in Corsica; Obelix and company; Asterix the Gladiator; Asterix the Legionary; Asterix and Cleopatra; Asterix and the Goths; Asterix in Belgium; Asterix and the big fight; and Asterix all around Gaul. The last title is a translation from Swedish and might be wrong.

I find that in general, children the age 5-13 usually really enjoy these books, not just my children. These comic books are a great way to teach children ancient history. Naturally, the adult needs to help with the differentiation between fiction and history. From these books, my kids have learned about the Roman Empire, the ancient Greeks, the Vikings, the Goths, the Phoenicians, ancient Gaul, ancient Egypt, and the ancient Mediterranean world in general.