A scoop from our special correspondents in Germany reveals the following facts. On Sunday, June 13, a man in a blue suit was about to step through the lovely metal arch that serves as a metal detector at the airport in Nuremberg, Germany. Having deposited his small knapsack on the conveyor belt, he boldly started across the threshold of the modern portal when he was stopped short by a gasp of apprehension from the uniformed German official. The abnormally spherical, voluminous item visible on the X-ray display was triggering beeps of distress from both the system and the official. The man in the blue suit couldn't believe that his beloved knapsack was causing such a panic. A frenzy of panic and gesticulation erupted…
Fortunately, Miss Flo, one of the two Albert's Angels on assignment from the Village, had the presence of mind to utter just the right magic spell (her excellent reflexes are no doubt a legacy of her Celtic roots far to the East of Lutetia): "Max und Moritz prize!" she declared. Instantly, the faces of the Goth officials lit up broke into wide smiles. No doubt they were recalling the marvellous welcome the city of Erlangen had given the man in the blue suit, Albert Uderzo, when he was a special guest at their great International Comic Book Salon from June 10-13, 2004.
The fervent welcome reserved for him by the entire city, the comics profession and thousands of fans was doubtless due to their astonishment at seeing a living legend in their midst. Imagine the joy of the good people of Erlangen at being able to contemplate Albert Uderzo himself, in flesh and blood. This must be a dream, they were thinking; it must be a clone, for I am convinced that I have seen him reigning in the celestial Pantheon of great folk heroes and their authors… And yet it was true. Invited by the organisers of the 2004 Salon, and thanks to a pincer formation (unknown to the Romans who preferred the more aesthetic tortoise formation) cooked up by strategists at Ehapa and Editions Albert René, Albert Uderzo had arrived to quaff a bit of ale and exchange witty remarks with his friends, the Goths.
This photo album presents the high points of a weekend unlike any other! Offered the red-carpet treatment by a Mayor, an expert at creating value (principally with regard to his visitors' book and personal library of Asterix albums), Albert faced the various German media with grace and humour. At the age of 77, he proved to still have plenty of stamina and that the world will have to contend with him for some time to come. In fact, he was delighted to engage in an artistic duel with Vicar, Donald's cartoonist, who had returned to Erlangen especially to see Uderzo. Together, they illustrated an encounter between Asterix and Donald on a paperboard backing. The highest bidder cleverly pocketed the priceless article for a mere 2,500 euros, to the benefit of the Stiftung Lesen media foundation!
The evening's festivities were marked by the presentation of the Max und Moritz prize, the very object that was later to cause such a furore at the airport. At Erlangen's Markgrafentheater, the announcement of the award triggered a ten-minute standing ovation - a moving and memorable moment for Albert Uderzo. Especially since his two famous facetious characters, who had been itching to travel while awaiting the new album's publication, had decided to pay him a surprise visit by joining the festivities. One question remains: how did Obelix get through the metal detector without crushing it?