One of the reasons I stood in the store drooling at the shiny fondue set last weekend was my love of Asterix comics. When I was younger, I was an enormous fan of Asterix comics - and still am, I guess. Although I haven’t re-read them for years, I still reckon myself a fan of anything that made me roll on the floor in tears of laughter. Brother shared my enthusiasm, as far as I remember, and once went to a costume party at school dressed as Obelix, complete with little orange plaits made of painted rope.
Anyway, the fondue. In Asterix in Switzerland, Asterix and Obelix are (unsurprisingly) in Switzerland, being pursued by Roman soldiers (not an uncommon occurence), and they are introduced to fondue. The Swiss are dipping their little bits of bread in the cheesy mixture, and then Obelix grabs the pot, gulps down the fondue in one go, and charges off the attack the soldiers, or something like that.
The fondue is the part of that story I remember most clearly - I thought it looked like one of the most delicious foods in existence. And given my intense passion for cheese of all kinds, I’m surprised that I didn’t seek out a fondue experience years ago. Of course, despite my fondue pot acquisition, I still haven’t had cheese fondue, given that I had chocolate in it the other night. But this weekend, my fondue dreams will be fulfilled. I hope I enjoy it, after all these years of anticipation.
Last night I was flicking past the movies on Foxtel (given that we only have a few days left of them), and happened upon a French live-action movie adaption of Asterix and Cleopatra , called Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatre, with Gerard Depardieu as Obelix. Asterix and Cleopatra was one of my favourite Asterix books - I loved the scenes where Cleopatra stomps around her palace smashing vases. I had a bit of an Egypt thing at the time, and rather coveted a black wig and kohl-rimmed eyes. The few moments I watched of the movie seemed to have recreated the visuals of the comic beautifully - I set it to tape and went to bed, but I can’t wait to see the whole thing.
Both these things have awakened an urge to find and re-read all the Asterix comics. And perhaps acquire some of my favourites for my Childhood Nostalgia book collection. Ebay, here I come.
9 Comments
11 July, 2006 at 10:49 am
Ebay = heaven.
11 July, 2006 at 10:53 pm
Man, do I love Asterix … the only one I still have is Asterix Chez Rahazade … I hadn’t heard of the movie .. sounds a little scary, but I’ll have to seek it out
12 July, 2006 at 1:33 am
My favourite Asterix comic was Asterix and Son
I really love the nomenclature in Asterix, like Cacophonix the bard, Unhygenix the fish monger and Fullyautomatix the mechanic(?).
12 July, 2006 at 2:33 am
Be-Zen - oh, I know. So addictive
Reel Fanatic - after watching the movie, I would classify it as rather weird (and I’ve decided that Obelix and Asterix are very hard to portray as actual people), but it was good fun.
Mela - oh yeah, I loved that one - mostly for the brief reappearance of Cleopatra. And the names are fabulous - I really admire the translators who had to work out similar puns in English as they were in French. I’ve actually decided I’m going to get the comics out of the library and re-read them, in order. Because I’m a complete dork
12 July, 2006 at 10:37 am
Oh no, your birthday friend. How long is she going for? Indefinitely? I guess if it is something that makes her happy, you should try and be happy for her, although that is so hard I know.
I am going to get them from the library too. I have never read any. Which should I start with?
12 July, 2006 at 11:43 pm
Be-Zen - well, I’m going to start with Asterix the Gaul, which is the first one, but I think they improve later in the series. I really liked Asterix in Switzerland and in Britain - maybe try one of those.
She’s got a contract over there for 6 months, and she’ll be coming back for the wedding, but I think it’s kind of an indefinite stay - she wants to find more work after her 6 months.
15 July, 2006 at 9:38 am
When my now 34 year old son was about 8 he was run over and had severe gravel rash on his legs: so severe that even at this age when you know where to look you can find the scars. He was hospitalised and in a great deal of pain. The most effective pain-killer was the beloved Asterix even if they were read and re-read. I remember the family budget was well-stretched keeping up the the steady supply of Asterix books but it was well worth it to keep one little boy going.
15 July, 2006 at 9:57 pm
Miss Eagle - I bet he has wonderful memories of the comfort those comics brought him.
2 August, 2006 at 9:29 am
each and every char in the comic is wonderful. i love all the comics and u guys r doin a wonderful job.
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