Brussels, 2005 - Next autumn, the epicentre of the known Gaulish world will be located right at the centre of the "Temple of the marshes", in other words, Brussels, as the Latin and Celtic translation of the capital of Europe would have it.
One of the main events to be held as part of the launch in the city of the 33rd Asterix album will be the Asterix exhibition, covering a surface area of almost 2,000m², the largest of its kind in the Christian era, no less!
Asterix stepped outside the confines of his genre many years ago. And it is perhaps because his authors created him as a sort of anti-hero, short, ugly and irreverent, that he became such a cultural phenomenon as early as the sixties (last century),
a symbol of France's heritage on the international scene and an unlikely hero.
Asterix is the product of the counter-culture that emerged in the fifties and sixties, and his colossal success, which is unequalled anywhere in the European publishing world, has managed to obscure the main themes that underpin the character's values.
Issues, values and, some might say, a philosophy (one that is humorous but also serious at times), which readers aged 8 to 88, in over 100 languages and dialects from around the world, have identified with for over forty-five years now. I remind you that our very own chief, Albert Uderzo, carries his 78 years lightly and, as he is now excluded from reading Tintin (ages 7 to 77), it was quite natural for Asterix to be given a wider readership! Because everybody, or almost everybody, has read, reads, or will read Asterix at some point. I refer you to Caesar's famous slogan: "veni, vidi, vici". The idea behind this exhibition was to share the essential oils of the Gaulish magic potion thanks to a totally new recipe (in any case, Albert refuses to give me the actual recipe, so, you know how it is).
Is Asterix not first and foremost a reflection of our societies, of ourselves, of our differences,
our shortcomings, our deepest aspirations and our reserved sense of humour, behind which a spark of common sense often hides?
It is this common sense that has driven the world since the dawn of time and which we would do well to exercise now in order
to preserve it and to prevent the sky from falling on our heads one day. Asterix is all this and much more for every one of us, from a child's laughter,
to a grown-up's wink of complicity, the smell of the paper when you first open a book, our madeleines de Proust (a famous cake named after the novelist and signifying a memory trigger),
the row of comic books on the bookshelf that we would never part with (unless a hefty pile of sesterces was offered, and even then, it would be hard).
The exhibition, entitled "The Mirror World of Asterix", is intended to trigger all these magical feelings to enchant visitors in the same way as Getafix enchants for a living! The visit will be designed for people with different reading levels, to satisfy children, collectors and fans (those already acquainted with our hero, and who therefore obviously have good taste) from wherever they may come. Asterix's guiding values will be staged in dramatic fashion and will be accompanied by the most beautiful and the most unusual historic objects, books from around the world (Asterix in Urdu or Mandarin, etc), documents on the Gaulish saga never before assembled together in one place, and lastly, the pinnacle of the show: 44 original plates and covers by Albert Uderzo himself, which will be exhibited for the first time.
To reach this druidic Valhalla, visitors will pass through the "Resistance", "Caricature", "Friendship", "Tolerance", "Courage", "Utopia" and "Freedom" sections, and many others, one after the other.
The Tour and Taxis site in Brussels will be hosting this world exclusive exhibition as of 22 September 2005 and, if all goes according to plan, until 15 January 2006.
Ask for the programme! Book your tickets! No Sir, you won't be able to see it before the inauguration date of 22 September, and even then you'll need to be "superquix" on that particular day! Pardon me? No, I don't particularly like raw fish… Especially if it isn't fresh… Slap! Actually, I love the sushix they serve in Japanese restaurants, no I do… but that's where I draw the line, yuk! No, Sir, you'll still have to wait until 22 September… are these people crazy or what?
Asterix stepped outside the confines of his genre many years ago. And it is perhaps because his authors created him as a sort of anti-hero, short, ugly and irreverent, that he became such a cultural phenomenon as early as the sixties (last century),
a symbol of France's heritage on the international scene and an unlikely hero.
Asterix is the product of the counter-culture that emerged in the fifties and sixties, and his colossal success, which is unequalled anywhere in the European publishing world, has managed to obscure the main themes that underpin the character's values.Issues, values and, some might say, a philosophy (one that is humorous but also serious at times), which readers aged 8 to 88, in over 100 languages and dialects from around the world, have identified with for over forty-five years now. I remind you that our very own chief, Albert Uderzo, carries his 78 years lightly and, as he is now excluded from reading Tintin (ages 7 to 77), it was quite natural for Asterix to be given a wider readership! Because everybody, or almost everybody, has read, reads, or will read Asterix at some point. I refer you to Caesar's famous slogan: "veni, vidi, vici". The idea behind this exhibition was to share the essential oils of the Gaulish magic potion thanks to a totally new recipe (in any case, Albert refuses to give me the actual recipe, so, you know how it is).
Is Asterix not first and foremost a reflection of our societies, of ourselves, of our differences,
our shortcomings, our deepest aspirations and our reserved sense of humour, behind which a spark of common sense often hides?
It is this common sense that has driven the world since the dawn of time and which we would do well to exercise now in order
to preserve it and to prevent the sky from falling on our heads one day. Asterix is all this and much more for every one of us, from a child's laughter,
to a grown-up's wink of complicity, the smell of the paper when you first open a book, our madeleines de Proust (a famous cake named after the novelist and signifying a memory trigger),
the row of comic books on the bookshelf that we would never part with (unless a hefty pile of sesterces was offered, and even then, it would be hard).The exhibition, entitled "The Mirror World of Asterix", is intended to trigger all these magical feelings to enchant visitors in the same way as Getafix enchants for a living! The visit will be designed for people with different reading levels, to satisfy children, collectors and fans (those already acquainted with our hero, and who therefore obviously have good taste) from wherever they may come. Asterix's guiding values will be staged in dramatic fashion and will be accompanied by the most beautiful and the most unusual historic objects, books from around the world (Asterix in Urdu or Mandarin, etc), documents on the Gaulish saga never before assembled together in one place, and lastly, the pinnacle of the show: 44 original plates and covers by Albert Uderzo himself, which will be exhibited for the first time.
To reach this druidic Valhalla, visitors will pass through the "Resistance", "Caricature", "Friendship", "Tolerance", "Courage", "Utopia" and "Freedom" sections, and many others, one after the other.
The Tour and Taxis site in Brussels will be hosting this world exclusive exhibition as of 22 September 2005 and, if all goes according to plan, until 15 January 2006. Ask for the programme! Book your tickets! No Sir, you won't be able to see it before the inauguration date of 22 September, and even then you'll need to be "superquix" on that particular day! Pardon me? No, I don't particularly like raw fish… Especially if it isn't fresh… Slap! Actually, I love the sushix they serve in Japanese restaurants, no I do… but that's where I draw the line, yuk! No, Sir, you'll still have to wait until 22 September… are these people crazy or what?
The Belgian Postal Service is to produce a series of magnificent Asterix stamps, with which the country's citizens and guests will be able to adorn their envelopes.
The Belgian messenger-druids are currently designing a set of stamps in the utmost secrecy.
Advance sales will take place at the Belgian Comic Book Centre (CBBD), with a special postmark that will make even the most ardent collectors green with envy.
Several million Asterix stamps will be enhancing Belgian envelopes over the year 2005/2006.
Not to be outdone, the CBBD will be making the most of this initiative to publish a range of its exceptional mini books, in which unique treasures and documents are compiled.
In total, over 8,000 of these will be produced in several different editions and languages,
expanding the already superb collection held in this Comic Book Centre, for which Belgium is envied the world over!
The launch of a new Asterix book is always a great event.
In 2001, Rennes became Condate for two days in order to celebrate the arrival of the new Asterix opus, "Asterix and the Actress".
While this gave Albert Uderzo and Asterix the chance to officially honour Brittany for services rendered, the aim this time was to choose an internationally recognised venue.
We also wanted to be at the heart of the international comic book scene, making Brussels the obvious choice.
All the more so as René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo had first met in Lutecia in 1951 thanks to a Belgian agent whose offices were located on the Champs-Elysées.
More importantly, Belgian creations were, for the first decade of their collaboration, the inspiration for their work (Bonne soirée, Spirou, Tintin, etc.). 
Its title? "Le monde-miroir d'Astérix" ("Asterix's mirror world"), an exhibition that will blow the mind of Julius and the others as the main values of the universe created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo will be revisited in an original way bringing shedding a new light on the Asterix books.
In an exceptional setting, the world's biggest collection of Asterix toys will be presented, along with the covers of the books in 110 languages and dialects.
But, best of all, for the first time, 44 original documents by Albert Uderzo, including original plates and Asterix cover drawings, will be on display. 
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