Asterix and the Secret Weapon

Astérix #29

by Albert Uderzo, René Goscinny

A woman bard? That’s unheard of in Ancient Gaul. So, when the mothers in Asterix’s town want to replace Cacofonix with Bravura, the men are horrified. But, Bravura hits the right notes musically, and she proves very valuable when Julius Caesar sends in his secret weapon: a group of female legionnaries. Caesar thinks the Gauls will be too noble to fight the women...but Bravura has no such scruples! And, even Cacofonix succeeds in coming into his own.

Genres: Comics, Bande Dessinée, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Humor, Graphic Novels Comics, France

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Albert Uderzo (1928 - 2020) was a legendary French comic book artist and scriptwriter. The son of Italian immigrants, he is best known as the co-founder and illustrator of the Asterix series in collaboration with René Goscinny. He also drew other comics such as Oumpah-pah, again with Goscinny.

Reviews

[Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, that was rather sexist.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

First published in French in 1991 as La Rose et Le Glaive and in English the same year.
The cohesion of the village we know so well is thrown into disarray, when a radical feminist Bard moves into the village to replace Cacofonix. This results in the men of the village moving out!
Meanwhile Julius Caesar. Has come up with his latest plan to defeat the village, a garrison of beautiful female legionnaires arrives in the local Roman camp. The Gauls cannot hit them, covered as they are by the code of Gaullish gallantry. Bravura, luckily, together with Asterix, with whom she has been at loggerheads come up with a plan to save the day.
This one deals head on with the gender debate, in a charming and fun way. Even if a lot of the humour has been recycled from previous Asterix books.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

me @ uderzo: that is so embarrassing for your life and your soul

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the point where Uderzo's solo run of Asterix begins to dip in quality, and where we begin to miss Goscinny at our earnest. It's heavy-handed, tonally-blind social commentary on a subject matter that never seemed to be a concern in the village before now, many of the jokes coming at the expense of this newfound conflict that should not exist. Almost no character came out looking very good.

Still gets a half-star for a couple good jokes, for the fact that I've seen the subject matter be handled even worse, and for the fact that Asterix itself is going to slide further downhill after this. If this story got just one star, then what would The Falling Sky be left with?

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has all the Classical (geddit?!) elements of an Asterix story; violence, boar, pirates, Caesar's latest plan to conquer the last outpost of Gaul that still resists the Empire and so forth. It also shows the more whimsical tone and more meandering plotting evident in the other volumes written by Uderzo. Feminism comes to ancient Gaul in the form of a female bard who wears breeches and teaches the women of the village to question accepted gender roles. Unsurprisingly, chaos ensues, and that's before Caesar's Secret Weapon arrives to add to the mayhem!

This isn't out there in the stellar regions with Asterix in Britain, Asterix in Corsica or Obelix and Co. but it's still funny and full of surprises.

[Adi Rocks Socks · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of Asterix, but this installment has me reconsidering Goscinny and Uderzo. It was super sexist and filled with jokes at the expense of women in general. As a female, I found the “humor” disgusting.

This was super disappointing, and I regret buying the book.

[M. P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, this issue is among my least favourite ones. Does it include that dry, simple humour Asterix is often enjoyed for? To an extent. What gnawed on my enjoyment the most was how much of the story's humour revolved around sexist stereotypes regarding women. Not to mention the trite idea of feminism being about female dominance, and thus a menace to men and the normal societal order. However, even when the tiring play with stereotyping is deducted from the equation, the punchlines remain rather weak in comparison to what could be found in many of the older issues. It gives off the feeling of Uderzo having run out of material to work with.

All in all, a very disappointing installation to the series. I'm not surprised this issue didn't leave an impression even to my younger self.

[Gordon Macleod · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always thought this was one of the funnier efforts from Uderzo, it’s certainly an improvement on his previous book ‘The Magic Carpet’. The accusations of sexism directed at this one though are just ridiculous, surely people realise these books are caricatures? That the appearance and behaviour of most groups and individuals in them are exaggerated for comic effect, that stereotypes are gleefully embraced and that it’s all in good fun?

Does this book depict female characters in an exaggeratedly sexist way? Yep and the results are pretty amusing. I don’t know about other people but most women I know can get quite distracted by shopping, they also tend to follow the latest fashions. Nagging and/or spoiling the males in their life wouldn’t be unheard of either.

Throughout the series male characters are depicted as quick tempered, silly, pompous, gluttons, with fragile egos. Nobody seems to have a problem with that and rightly so, it’s hilarious. I reckon people who get offended by anything in an Asterix book (let’s be honest, usually Americans) would be better off reading Superhero comics, it’s probably more their thing.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasure to read Asterix, Obelix, and the other indomitable Gauls from 50 BC. I loved this and the Tintín series growing up. Bravura, the bard, comes to the village to teach the children and the women. The men quickly take to the forest to escape the woman’s demands. Meanwhile, Caesar has a secret weapon in play to overthrow the Gauls once and for all. Who will win?

[Helmut · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unterhaltsam, aber die Uderzo-Alleinwerke kommen trotz unzweifelhafter zeichnerischer Qualitäten einfach nicht an den Charme der Goscinny-Uderzo-Kollaborationen heran. Bei weitem nicht.

[Illiterate · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s sad how much the series declines after Goscinny’s death. This volume is the worst yet.

[Jeena Papaadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had seemed so much funnier twenty years ago. But now I see it in a different light.

[Vigneswara Prabhu · Rating 2 out of 5]

After all the cultural stereotypes and literal blackfaces, can't believe this is what actually makes me uncomfortable. This might be the first Asterix story that didn't tickle my senses, the way it was intended at least.

Unlike usual, the humor seems a bit too heavy handed and on the nose. Not to mention the blatant chauvinism and borderline stereotypical sexist portrayal of women. As well as making fun of feminist movements of the time. It is not just that they did it, but did so not quite artfully. There is not quite the usual satirical punch to the jokes.

The story is all over the place, with too many things being thrown around, all leading to a generic and not at all satisfying conclusion.

I'm giving it 2 out of 5 and recommend prospective readers to stay away from this version of the series.

[Ευθυμία Δεσποτάκη · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Είναι ανακρεόντιος ωδή, που έχει υπερβεί τον βερμπαλισμό, γεγονός για το οποίο είμαι ιδιαίτερα υπερήφανος".

[Luis Tormento · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story begins when a female bard named Bravura is being hired by the women of the village, who think that Cacofonix is giving their children a poor education. Upon hearing this, Cacofonix secludes himself in the forest nearby. When Bravura arrives, the women are stunned by her singing and the men laugh at it; much to her annoyance. Over the next few days, Bravura exhorts Impedimenta (and later other village women) to resist the authority of her husband. Impedimenta then quarrels with Vitalstatistix, who joins Cacofonix in the forest. Impedimenta is then made chief by the women, while the men do not dare vote against their wives.

Meanwhile, Julius Caesar, to take over the village, sends his agent Manlius Claphamomnibus, with orders to bring the "secret weapon" over the ocean discreetly. At the village, Bravura's reforms spread discord among all the locals. Asterix, troubled by all of this from the start, is approached by Bravura, who offers to marry him and assume joint chieftainship; whereupon Asterix accuses her of coming to the village to seize power. When she kisses him, Asterix hits her reflexively, but feels shame and regret immediately after. For striking a woman, Impedimenta expels Asterix from the village; when Getafix objects to this, Bravura insults him. Immediately, Getafix and the other village men join Vitalstatistix in the forest.

Claphamomnibus's ship lands at Gaul, and he reveals the secret weapon: female legionaries, whom the Gaulish men would refuse to fight for fear of being dishonored. Asterix, when he learns of this, is sent to warn the village women of the threat. Bravura suggests making peace, and goes to meet the female legionaries herself. However, she is refused, and Claphamomnibus insults her. At this, Asterix approaches Bravura with a plan. His initial step is to have Cacofonix sing onomatopoeia in the forest, causing rain and scaring all animals (in one scene exposing a dragon), which in turn terrifies the female Roman scout parties and delays their assault. When the Roman women eventually attack the village, they find that Bravura has converted the village into a shopping mall where the women can buy clothes and get their hair and makeup done. In the meantime, the men of the village defeat the male soldiers stationed around the village; and finally, Cacofonix sings again to expel the women. Julius Caesar is made the laughing stock of Rome, and Bravura leaves for Lutetia, reconciled with Asterix.
Text extracted from Wikipedia

[Caitlin ⛸ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is an album that exists… i get where the criticism is coming from tbh. Which sucks cuz I really wanted to like this one

My fav parts were the first 10 pages and the last 5 pages.

[Emilie · Rating 4 out of 5]

L'arrivée d'une nouvelle venue sème la discorde au village, pendant que César tente une nouvelle fois de faire plier nos irréductibles. Heureusement nos héros gaulois n'ont pas dit leur dernier mot et ils ont toujours plus d'un tour dans leur sac. Un tome intéressant abordant un sujet assez inattendue de façon plutôt humoristique.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for child and adult alike. I once read this series as a child and enjoyed the story but now I am older I notice all the hilarious nuances and wordplay. While this may not be the. Est book in the series it is still a fantastic read.

[Biondatina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feminism in ancient world by the form of a woman bard in Gaul village and female Roman legionnaries in the Roman Army. It reminds me a bit of Lysistrata (a ancient comedy by Aristophanes) all the men leave the village and the woman take more male roles...

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kalo Asterix bacanya entah beberapa kali. Sampe bukunya lecek dan akhirnya di bundel supaya gak ilang2an. Komik terkeren sepanjang masa setelah Tintin.

[Martyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I miss René Goscinny's writing so much right now.

[Nabha Kulkarni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have rated all Asterix books 5 stars so far. Technically this is also an equally fun read. But I'm just sad at the portrayal of women in this book. It's all about women empowerment and inclusion, but ends up being just a stereotypical mockery of female preferences. I wish they would have actually stuck with real feminism instead of having sexist descriptions of the women in the book.

[Tetty Marlinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

#140 - 2019 RC
Genre: Graphic Novel

[Tatiana]

Yikes...

[Francesco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feroce critica del femminismo, giochi di parole non esattamente memorabili ma la scena col drago è spettacolare

[Joost Brokamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gelijkheid versus gelijkwaardigheid. Super diep verhaal deze.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historyjka z żonami Galów przejmującymi na chwilę rządy w wiosce.

[Rachel (Sfogs) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very sexist.

[laplumed_Aurore]

pitié il me faut une réécriture où les femmes sont aussi des guerrières

[Elessar · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5

Una barda llega a la aldea e infunde un espíritu feminista entre las mujeres de la villa. Los hombres, ante tal situación, deciden abandonar el pueblo. Graciosa situación muy actual. Imposible leerla con la mente cerrada.