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Albert Uderzo has died

theguardian.com

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Re: Albert Uderzo has died

#41

Post by lb1lf »

markvdb wrote: post #24
shaneos wrote: post #11

I read all of them over and over again as a child, then one more full reading in my 20s. They were even better as an adult. One of the oddities is that the names in English are actually much funnier than the original French names, e.g. Unhygienix the fishmonger, Getafix the druid, Fullyautomatix who makes the weapons. These two authors brought so many hours, days and years of joy. A life well lived

Some of the original French ones are hilariously funny. Have a look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Asterix_characters for their meaning. I especially like "Abraracourcix" and "Assurancetourix".

In Norway, the fishmonger was named Hermetix (as in, canned food), and - two of my favourites - the Greek tour operator Setopenextrabus (Schedule an additional bus) and the drunken legionnaire Sophus Antabus.

Re: Albert Uderzo has died

#42

Post by 205guy »

lb1lf wrote: post #4
davidw wrote: post #2

I loved those books as a kid. He brought a lot of happiness to a lot of people with his work.

-If you haven't reread them as an adult, do yourself a favour and get started. I, too, loved them as a kid - but have found that Asterix resonates on many levels. It is definitely a comic for grown-ups too, gently mocking the grown-up world in oh so many ways. I'll pour myself a generous helping of calvados and reread a few of the albums tonight. RIP, Albert.

It didn't just gently mock the grown-up world, some of the characters were straight-up caricatures of political figures and other famous people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Asterix_characters#Car...

Re: Albert Uderzo has died

#43

Post by lb1lf »

SuoDuanDao wrote: post #23
tombert wrote: post #8

The Asterix comics really never caught on in the US, so I sadly have not read any of them, but multiple people that I respect have told me that I really need to check them out. To someone who is almost completely unfamiliar with the material, what would be a good place to start?

I would recommend to look at the titles and choose based on a subject that interests you - the series makes very clever jokes about a lot of the history of the places they visit, and you'll get more of them if you're a little familiar with the material. A personal favourite for example is the one with the Goths, and a lot of the jokes there allude to the actual history of the Gothic tribes. If you're interested in an…

-Ah, the Goths! The west Goths (which are to the east of us...)

I find that Asterix skilfully plays on our own prejudices with regards to different nationalities, very much evident in the Goths and in Asterix in Britain. (in the latter, Asterix happens to introduce tea to the British...)

Re: Albert Uderzo has died

#44

Post by em-bee »

conchulio wrote: post #10
tombert wrote: post #8

The Asterix comics really never caught on in the US, so I sadly have not read any of them, but multiple people that I respect have told me that I really need to check them out. To someone who is almost completely unfamiliar with the material, what would be a good place to start?

Generally, most of the Asterix comics that were written by Goscinny with illustrations by Uderzo are good. The later ones only by Uderzo or nowadays even by other authors are not always as good as the original ones.

i find the last ones by uderzo were the worst sadly. the new autors are actually decent.

Re: Albert Uderzo has died

#45

Post by jeegsy »

RIP Monsieur Uderzo. Even sadder than the loss itself is the realization that there aren't really any replacements for talents like these. We'll always have the books and thats it.

Re: Albert Uderzo has died

#46

Post by MrGilbert »

DanielleMolloy wrote: post #34
irrational wrote: post #26

I've always thought that the equivalent of Albert Uderzo in the USA was Carl Barks. I'm not sure why, but the adventures Uncle Scrooge got up to remind me of the adventures Asterix got up to.

Duck comics are quite popular in Europe too and Carl Barks is honored, but I’d say he is not comparable to Uderzo / Goscinny. You could claim that Don Rosa is comparable though (looking at historical / cultural references, dedication to detail and effort that went into each panel). Can’t recommend „The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck“ enough.

"Music Inspired by the Life and Times of Scrooge" is an album by Tuomas Holopainen, which I really enjoyed listening to. And yes, it's related to the comic series. Don Rosa provided the cover artwork for the album.

Re: Albert Uderzo has died

#47

Post by em-bee »

dudul wrote: post #37
Tarsul wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

regarding going on after Goscinny's death, i just now read this passage in "The Complete Guide to Asterix" (p.21): "Following the death of his working partner of the last twenty-six years, Albert Uderzo did not have th eheart to complete Asterix in Belgium. Dargaud [publishing partner] responded by taking him to court and forcing him to draw the book. Uderzo had no choice. He completed the album, but appealed against…

"Asterix chez les Belges" is actually quite good. And while this is an interesting anecdote, it doesn't explain why he kept going after that. I'm sorry, I can't forgive introducing aliens into an Asterix story :)

that is probably the worst story of the lot. before i didn't think anyone else could continue the work on asterix. but if the new authors realize that the best way to win over the readers is by listening to them, then they will have a chance

Re: Albert Uderzo has died

#48

Post by faho »

MrGilbert wrote: post #46
DanielleMolloy wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Duck comics are quite popular in Europe too and Carl Barks is honored, but I’d say he is not comparable to Uderzo / Goscinny. You could claim that Don Rosa is comparable though (looking at historical / cultural references, dedication to detail and effort that went into each panel). Can’t recommend „The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck“ enough.

"Music Inspired by the Life and Times of Scrooge" is an album by Tuomas Holopainen, which I really enjoyed listening to. And yes, it's related to the comic series. Don Rosa provided the cover artwork for the album.

Tuomas Holopainen the Nightwish person?

Re: Albert Uderzo has died

#49

Post by conradfr »

phtrivier wrote: post #32
bvandewalle wrote: post #19

I spent hours of my childhood reading Asterix, Tintin and Gaston [0]. Each had an amazing slightly different universe. Now living in the US it always amazes me how different the Comics culture over here is. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaston_(comics)

Ever read Oumpah-Pah (the probably slighly incorrect and insensitive native american character) from their beginning ? https://www.bedetheque.com/BD-Oumpah-Pah-Tome-1-Oumpah-Pah-l...

I mean Asterix is also slightly incorrect and insensitive about a lot of European people ... and we love it.

Re: Albert Uderzo has died

#50

Post by egypturnash »

klodolph wrote: post #33
irrational wrote: post #26

I've always thought that the equivalent of Albert Uderzo in the USA was Carl Barks. I'm not sure why, but the adventures Uncle Scrooge got up to remind me of the adventures Asterix got up to.

There’s also Dave Sim, although I’d put an asterisk next to that comparison for sure.

I think the whole “went off the deep end pursuing a religious epiphany that required him to call women uncreative receptacles for male creative power” thing disqualifies Sim from being compared to Uderzo.

(And I say this as someone who leant a LOT about comics reading Cerberus.)

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