ASTERIX AND THE CHIEFTAIN'S DAUGHTER

Indomitable Gauls Asterix and Obelix find themselves babysitting a sullen teenager in this 38th episode of the venerable Franco-Belgian comic.

Leading the launch of new U.S. editions of the whole series, all newly translated by Johnson, this story finds the peace of the sole unconquered village in all of Roman-occupied Gaul disturbed when former brothers in arms of chief Vitalstatistix ask him to care for young Adrenalynn, daughter of their former leader, Vercingetorix. They must voyage on to Londinium to make ready a more permanent hiding place for her—both she and the torque she wears are sought after by traitor Dirtipolitix to sell to the Romans. “Be careful,” Adrenalynn’s adoptive dads warn as they depart. “She runs away.” The chief immediately summons warriors Asterix and Obelix to keep an eye on her, but it doesn’t take long, of course, before she sneaks off, throwing our heroes into a confusing sea battle that involves Dirtipolitix, some pirates, and a ship of the Roman navy. The trim of this volume is considerably smaller than the French original, and the cramping of both figures and lettering exacerbates the overall confusion. As with most Asterix stories, much of the fun is in sounding out the outlandish names and viewing the side business rather than in the actual plot; also, alas, as in many Asterix stories, the breathtakingly offensive renditions of minor characters of color (two Black characters and an Asian character) suck a good deal of that fun back out.

Unlikely to enjoy an audience beyond confirmed Asterix fans.