In the case of the unnamed Gaul village which Asterix calls home, the collaborationists are often more trouble than the Romans, never mind history. Back in the day, independent-minded Gauls didn’t have recourse to a magic potion that made them indomitable.
For a long stretch of Asterix And The Big Fight, neither does Asterix. That departure from formula is one big reason this seventh entry in the classic comic series is so much fun.
It all begins, as so much does in the series, with a misaimed menhir tossed by Obelix, the strongest and least mentally agile villager. When it lands on Getafix, the village druid, instant amnesia follows.
Chief Vitalstatix delivers the news:
Vitalstatistix: Friends, Gauls, countrymen! I have a serious announcement to make! Our druid has lost his memory and can no longer make the magic potion, the secret of our strength… Our stocks of potion are exhausted, so now we are vulnerable. We must keep this disaster secret, and hope no one challenges us before our beloved druid is cured!
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| Recovering the lost indomitability potion from Getafix's fractured memory proves difficult, even with a captured Roman to test different formulas on. Image from https://theslingsandarrows.com/asterix-and-the-big-fight/ |
This
begs a serious question: Why hasn’t Getafix up to this point designated an apprentice
with whom to entrust his secret formula? With his flowing white beard and thin
frame, he is getting on years. The actuarial tables aren’t in the village’s
favor. But never mind.
The Romans meanwhile plan to take over the village by using a Gallic tradition called the Big Fight. This is explained by Felonius Caucus, scheming lieutenant of Nebulus Nimbus, who commands the Roman fort of Totorum: “When the chief of a Gaulish tribe wants to become the chief of two Gaulish tribes, he challenges another chief to single combat. The loser and his whole tribe submit to the winner.”
The specific chief Felonius has in mind is Cassius Ceramix, a brawny village leader who is unfailingly obsequious to Rome. So much so that we see him in an early panel telling an underling to build an aqueduct, even though his village has an ample-enough supply of water from a river running through it.
Cassius Ceramix: Then we'll divert the course of the river! Aqueducts are more ROMAN!
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| In 1989 Asterix And The Big Fight became a cartoon movie released to video, though key story elements were added from a later book in the series, Asterix And The Soothsayer. Image from https://vhs-openings.fandom.com/wiki/Opening_to_Asterix_and_The_Big_Fight_1989_VHS_(UK)_(retail) |
In 1966 the subject of collaborationists was still relatively fresh and sore on the French consciousness. World War II had been evoked in the series before, with Asterix And The Goths, in a way that at times clashed with the friendly spirit of the series. Here, what could have been even heavier material is lightened significantly by the way Goscinny plays up Ceramix’s Roman affectations for laughs.
The whole book is developed that way very effectively. The central scenario is not only clever but complemented by amusing side stories. Romans especially deliver in this aspect. Nebulus Nimbus is one of the best commanders, whether complementing a grove of trees on demonstrating the art of Roman camouflage or strongarming volunteers to investigate what is going on at the Gaul village.
Uderzo draws him in a distinctive way. I read a comment on Reddit comparing him to Mussolini, but he really suggests more a French game-show host with a balding pate, closed eyes, and a wide mouth that always seems to be in mid-shout.
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| Nebulus Nimbus inspects the troops at the outset of Asterix And The Big Fight. He and Felonius Caucus are a well-paired duo, each egging the other on while simultaneously plotting some act of underhanded treachery. Image from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122404.Asterix_and_the_Big_Fight |
The Roman soldiers are also fun. Disguised as a tree, one of them attracts the attention of an owl who is entertained to see it walk and talk: “This really is a most entertaining tree… An entirely new variety!” The owl hangs around this soldier for the rest of the book.
What makes the book particularly special is the way it involves the entire village for what seems the first time in the series. It’s not just up to Asterix and Obelix here. Instead we see Getafix in a bad way, while Vitalstatistix must face the daunting Cassius Ceramix without human or chemical aid.
Vitalstatistix’s training leaves much to be desired. He has his shield-bearers do the running while he stands on top of them, arms folded, being carried about. Asterix has to explain this is not the correct approach to physical fitness.
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| Asterix at center, with his fellow villagers. By the time of Big Fight, we only have met about five of them, but in time Goscinny would surround them with many other vivid personalities. Image from https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/Asterix |
Cassius Ceramix is readier for this sort of trial, but not without his own hang-ups. For one thing, after being reliably informed Getafix is out of commission, he visits the village to deliver his challenge in person to Vitalstatistix, only to see Getafix walking about, his mind altered to the point of delirious merriment.
This understandably throws him:
Cassius Ceramix: You told me Getafix the druid had been disposed of! Not only has he not been disposed of, he’s in a very good mood! He can’t stop laughing!
Eventually, the truth comes out, and while Asterix and the village try to work out a way to restore Getafix’s memory, Cassius and the Romans rush to seal the village’s doom. It’s a literal race to the finish line, as Obelix takes his own approach to curing Getafix while Vitalstatistix runs around the ring to avoid Cassius’s sledgehammer fists.
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| A 2025 adaptation of Asterix And The Big Fight incorporated 3D animation and a Netflix series release. It was praised for both its look and its faithfulness to the original comic book. GIF from https://tenor.com/view/asterix-and-obelix-the-big-fight-getafix-panoramix-dance-gif-2887163852290066692 |
Things look bad indeed, enough to generate a bit of enjoyable suspense:
Soldier: O Centurion, we don’t want to be awkward, but every time we attack these savages, they start laughing and they make mincemeat out of us…
Felonius Caucus: They’ll laugh the other side of their faces this time, legionnaires! Their druid has gone mad, they have no magic potion and we outnumber them a hundred to one!
Asterix And The Big Fight has enough energy, action, and laughs to entertain children and adults equally. The focus on the village, after so many adventures far away, gives the series a jolt of fresh energy at a time when it was already humming along quite nicely.
You don’t get the many secondary players that in time would give the Asterix series so much depth and texture. What you do have is Uderzo drawing some of his best illustrations without calling attention to them.
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| Cacofonix the village bard discovers in the mind-altered Getafix a rare fan of his music. I always feel bad for Cacofonix, who never gets any respect despite being so dutiful about his job. Image from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122404.Asterix_and_the_Big_Fight |
In Cassius’s home village, for example, where residents build villas with unnecessary Roman columns, we get a splendid aerial shot of Cassius’s very Roman-looking residence. Inside, a Dutch angle reveals how closely the interior resembles exterior, with thick roof beams and sturdy masonry. These are the type of settings a reader can luxuriate in.
Visual gags include a Roman sent floating by one of Getafix’s failed potion attempts. We see his perspective from the air, accompanied only by his owl companion. Cassius tells him not to worry; the potion will wear off eventually, which it does in a nice one-panel joke.
The
puns in this volume are a bit much at times. Many of them relate to British
terms of varying aptness and probably suffer from clumsy translation. Yet in
other places, the translation team of Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge are in
typical top form. One of the best books in the series, Asterix And The Big
Fight sets the stage for even more splendid moments still to come.
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