Asterix and the Black Gold
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Asterix and the Black Gold (L'Odyssée d'Astérix) |
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| Date | 1982 |
| Series | Asterix |
| Creative team | |
| Writers | Albert Uderzo |
| Artists | Albert Uderzo |
| Original publication | |
| Date of publication | 1981 |
| Language | French |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Asterix and the Great Divide |
| Followed by | Asterix and Son |
Asterix and the Black Gold (original title: L'Odyssée d'Astérix) is the twenty-sixth volume of Asterix comic book series, originally published in 1981. It is the second book to be published after the death of René Goscinny and is thus both written and drawn by Albert Uderzo.
The book describes Asterix's and Obelix's voyage to the Middle East. It is mainly inspired by James Bond films and biblical tales.
The book begins with Asterix and Obelix hunting wild boar, until one boar leads them straight into a Roman patrol, which the Gauls vanquish while the boars escape. In Rome, Julius Caesar hears of this, and orders M. Devius Surreptitius, the head of M.I.VI, the Roman Secret Service, to send an agent to infiltrate the Gauls. This agent is a Gaulish-Roman druid known as Dubbelosix, who travels in a folding chariot full of secret devices. Dubbelosix and Surreptitius communicate via a carrier fly, who develops a crush for Dubbelosix. In the Gaulish village, Getafix is frustrated and depressed, because he has run out of rock oil, which he requires to make the magic potion enabling the Gaulish resistance to Rome.
The next day, Ekonomikrisis the Phoenician merchant arrives in Gaul; and Getafix, cheered until he hears that Ekonomikrisis forgot to bring rock oil, suffers a stroke at the news. When Chief Vitalstatistix tells Asterix and Obelix to fetch another druid to treat him, they discover Dubbelosix, who successfully revives Getafix with an alcoholic tonic. Asterix determines to go with Obelix and Dogmatix to obtain rock oil from Mesopotamia; Dubbelosix insists on coming, and they set off on Ekonomikrisis' ship. Along the way, they defeat pirates and Roman warships, while Dubbelosix secretly corresponds with the Romans, to arrange a blockade. The Phoenician ship finally lands at Judea, where Asterix, Obelix, Dogmatix, and Dubbelosix disembark for Jerusalem, where some sympathetic traders help the Gauls to enter secretly, in spite of an attempt by Dubbelosix to alert the city guards. Leaving him behind, Asterix and Obelix make contact with Ekonomikrisis' supplier, Samson Alius, who directs them to Babylon on grounds that the rock oil in Jerusalem has been destroyed by the Romans.
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