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Asterix and the Class Act
Background
  • English Title: Asterix and the Class Act
  • French Title: Astérix et la rentrée gauloise
  • Asterix Book Number: 32
  • First Published: 2003
  • First Published in English: 2003
  • Written by: Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo
  • Illustrated by: Albert Uderzo
  • Translated By: Anthea Bell and Derick Hockridge
Asterix and the Class Act

 

During the 1960s, when Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo had time to spare from writing and drawing the longer Asterix Adventures... which was not very often... they produced some little masterpieces in the form of Complete short stories.

The French magazine "Pilote" published most but not all of them. Others appeared in such places as American newspapers, a women's magazine, and as part as a bid for the Olympic Games. It seemed a good idea to collect all these short stories in a special Asterix album.

So in Short: Asterix and the Class Act is a collection of 14 Asterix short stories
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What are the short stories?

The Press Conference

The Press Conference

(1966)

Vitalstatistix talks in a Press Conference about Asterix and the Class Act. This "short story" first appeared in the Magazine Pilote as a way of announcing the then upcoming Asterix story Asterix and the Chieftan's Shield.

Asterix and the Class Act

(October 1966)

At the start of the school year Asterix and Obelix have to round up all of the Gaulish children... but the kids get the last laugh!
Asterix and the Class Act

The Birth of Asterix

The Birth of Asterix

(October 1994)

Tells the story of how Asterix and Obelix were born, and where the current generation of Gaulish Villagers got their customs from...

In 50BC

(May 1977)

Intended as an introduction to Asterix for the American market, it is basically an Asterix 101.
Asterix and the Class Act
Chanticleerix

Chanticleerix

(August 2003)

When the Imperial Eagle challenges Chanticleerix the Gaulish Cockerel it is up to Dogmatix to help.

For Gaul Lang Syne

(December 1967)

Obelix tries to use the Gaulish Custom of kissing under the missletoe to his advantage.
For Gaul Lang Syne
Mini Midi Maxi

Mini Midi Maxi

(August 1971)

Tries to focus on the fashion sense of the female members of Village, but the men can't help getting in the way!

Asterix as you have never seen him before...

(December 1969)

Not strictly a short story, this features the Asterix Characters drawn in 5 different styles by Uderzo such as "Flash Gordon".

Asterix as you have never seen him before...
The Lutetia Olympics

The Lutetia Olympics

(October 1986)

The Olympic Committee has decided to host the games outside of Greece, so Lutetia (Paris) puts in a bid with the help of Asterix and Obelix... but Caesar will stop at nothing to make sure Rome hosts the event.

Springtime in Gaul

(March 1966)

Spring is late in Ancient Gaul. Could it have something to do with a small man Asterix and Obelix have found?
Springtime in Gaul
The Mascot

The Mascot

(June 1968)

The Roman Legionaries think that they should have a Mascot for their camp. Too bad they chose Dogmatix as it!

Latinomania

(March 1973)

The Asterix authors were amused by a campaign to stop French people using English words, so they decided to poke fun at the idea in an Ancient Gaulish context...
Latinomania
The Obelix Family Tree

The Obelix Family Tree

(February 1963)

Our favourite authors, Goscinny and Uderzo encounter a man who looks surprising like their creation Obelix!

How do they think it all up

(August 1993)

and

The birth of an idea

(October 1962)

Shows the process Goscinny and Uderzo go through to come up with an Asterix adventure.
The birth of an idea
Look out for...
  • The Previous Generation of Asterix characters
  • The real age of Asterix and Obelix
  • The secret to Obelix and Dogmatix's friendship
  • Where the idea for female Legionaries in Asterix and the Secret Weapon first came from
  • A villain who bears a striking resemblance to the Roman spy in the movie "Asterix and Cleopatra"
  • Obelix's family tree
  • The Asterix and the Class Act Mistakes
Review

Reading this book made me remember reading the Asterix series for the first time. You laugh out loud in surprise at delight and the humour of the stories. These short stories truly are a treasure that make you appreciate the genius of Goscinny and Uderzo. I especially recommend "For Gaul Lang Syne".

As well as containing the 14 excellent short stories, it provides interesting background information on the origins of the stories.

All the illustrations are top-notch, after having been recolered and reinked.

It is great that us English Asterix fans finally are able to read these stories in all their glory, and this book eases the wait for the next Asterix story.

This is an absolute necessity for all Asterix Collections.
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