Book Review: Asterix and Obelix's Birthday The Golden Book by R. Goscinny and A. Uderzo

Asterix and Obelix's Birthday The Golden Book written by Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, illustrated by Albert Uderzo

This Asterix story celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the first publication of an Asterix story in 1959. Rene Goscinny died in November 1977, but material that he had developed prior to his death has been included in this story.

The story starts with a look at what Asterix and Obelix would be like if they actually aged and were in their retirement years. It's a comic nightmare that soon ends as a dream sequence. Their Gaulish village sends Asterix and Obelix off on a boar hunt. Meanwhile, the villagers plan a birthday party for the two. Different people come up with different presents, including Laurensolivius's film treatment of their lives!

The book is an entertaining tribute to the pair of adventurers but not a great adventure in and of itself. There's a lot of mock art, like a statue of Obelix as Rodin's The Thinker and one of the village ladies as Mona Lisa, an interesting and different thing for an Asterix comic.

Recommended for Asterix fans--you need to have a little background to appreciate this.