At the second Gaulish University, which took place at the end of January, hordes of Asterix students were falling all over themselves in an effort to take stock of operations in 2005 and to find out about upcoming projects for the next five years. Representatives from all over the Gaulish Globe were there. I can't resist sharing a few gems with you. We were informed of the 33rd album's success in Portugal, where it has sold more than 110,000 copies in three months. Our UK partners told us about the way they exploited last September's events in Brussels by inviting their commentator friends to come and share our roast boar. The result being that Asterix had its best-ever three-month period of sales in the UK: 80,000 copies…
The delegation from Madrid (and Barcelona) described the extensive Spanish press coverage of "Asterix and the Falling Sky": an analysis of the album's underlying original ideas, from criticism of Bush's policy in Iraq to the rivalry between mangas and Franco-Belgian comic books… A sheer delight, if I may say so. The Spanish tally lives up to hopes: nearly 350,000 copies of the Castilian and Catalan versions sold.
Our Italian friends reported how they had succeeded in setting the land of the Romans on fire even though it first looked as though they would have trouble fanning the flames of enthusiasm. But, following a terrific ad campaign in two weeklies (circulation of two million) at the beginning of the summer, they really sparked interest among Italian readers - even those in Rome. The result? 70,000 copies sold in three months, a record in the peninsula…
We heard from our German friends about the Gaulish craze at the "International chat" which took place at the Frankfurt International Book Fair, where eight of our eminent translators joined Albert Uderzo. Grinning in triumph, they took advantage of the occasion to emphasise, just by the by, the album's success in both hardback and paperback - 1.5 million copies sold!
From the Finnish representatives we heard of the results of the unprecedented media campaign for the 33rd album's release. The Finns really are a particularly refined people, as demonstrated by their appreciation of the Gaulish spirit. I should point out that this friendship dates back to 50 B.C., when their ancestors first discovered the real meaning of fear on those coasts of Brittany that we all know so well… Which just happens to be the plot of the 8th animated film, released in April to break the ice! M6 Studio (producers) and SND (distributors) had the great idea of inviting the students on the university course to attend a highly exclusive screening of the film before it premieres.
Some students really told us they were really wild with delight during the classes given, as is fitting, by the Celtic druids, Stayingawayfromtherix and Marketingmix. Chief among these were Merlin the collector and Tapisdesourix, who were more than usually enthusiastic.
One thing's for sure: the Crazy Gaul's Village is going global, which we're delighted about, as you can no doubt imagine. I really must tell our master, Albert Uderzo. I came across him looking a bit down in the dumps the other day after a rather dreadful a meal in a fancy Lutetian tavern. It must have been his fish, it wasn't the freshest-looking I've ever seen. In fact, it was the kind of thing you'd expect from Unhygienix. Honestly though, it was not funny, and you 'd agree if you had seen our master's face. He asked if I wouldn't like to try my hand at reading the future in his sea bass - I declined, like the coward I am. The University, on the other hand, came to an end in a blaze of glory at the splendid final banquet.
More than five million copies of the 33rd album sold worldwide in three months, a profusion of projects for the next five years - the party had reached its climax. We mark your diaries for January 2007 for the third University, which already has the super-clones green with envy. Now that's something they wouldn't understand: "in 50 B.C…"

Last month I told you that, while only some 10,000 people in Portugal can speak or read Mirandese, 8,000 copies of the Miranda-edition of "Asterix the Gaul" had already been sold!!!
A slight tremor of the handcrafted magnifying glass that we use in the Village caused us to attribute Mirandese to the Lisbon region.
After having received a thorough verbal trouncing from a number of insulted Lusitanians, I checked in my antique atlas. And what do you know, it's in the far north of Portugal, in the country's most north-easternly corner, that you find Miranda do Douro. So there you have it, I made a mistake. Oh! No, for pity's sake, don't force me to read the complete works of Geluck again! Here's a bit of good news for collectors: on an Internet auction site, the Mirandese album is already changing hands for more than 50 euros! No hard feelings then, obrigado!

The first votes in the 2006 survey have been most informative! For starters, Obelix is leading the pack, just by a head mind you, but Asterix has still gone off in a huff nevertheless.

There have been a few surprises with regard to the covers, the main one being the excellent ranking of the 33rd album's cover! It's all up to you now: the urns are open until the end of February…

A second "teaser" is now available online. More of a trailer really, as you'll discover images of the different locations where this feature-length animation was shot: the far North and the Brittany coasts, with scenes of stormy seas and bloodcurdling sights. Just ask for the programme: ice lollies, drinks, caramels, and so on. We're already drooling in anticipation of the real cold snap that's coming to our cinemas!

Are the Belgians really the bravest?
From amongst the admiring "Oooohs"and "Aaahs" from those visitors lucky enough to have first discovered Asterix's Mirror World in Brussels (the very first exhibition worthy of that most mythical of Gauls, unveiling the many and varied aspects of his immense universe), one anguished question resounded through the corridors: so then mates, are the Belgians really the bravest or is it the little Armoricans?
Given that we Gauls are in no position to judge this thorny issue since we're part of the controversial debate, we immersed ourselves in the texts written by the only arbitrator fit to decide on the matter - Caesar himself!
On my left, the Gauls: these fearless warriors, certain of the Gods' protection, charge full-tilt into battle, shouting, singing and dancing wildly so as to frighten their adversary. Which just goes to show that there's nothing really original about those famous Kiwi rugby players and their equally-famous Haka! Yep, those Gauls will use anything to terrorise and demoralise the enemy: they show off their bloody wounds, they put their biggest and most powerful men in the front lines (proof that Caesar had to have come across Obelix in combat!) while they blow mightily into their carnyx to create an absolutely deafening racket (hence the strategic importance of Cacofonix the bard!).
On my right, the Belgians, the term used by Caesar to refer not only to the inhabitants of the country now known as Belgium, but also to those of northern France. Their assault technique is fearsome: forming a compact mass round the ramparts of a citadel, they throw a huge amount of stones, then, in tortoise formation, set fire to the various watchtowers! Caesar has no doubt about their bravery - he believes it is due in part to the remoteness of their countries, which guards them from contact with Roman civilisation, so apt to turn people soft, as well as to the flawless training they get in constant clashes with their German neighbours…
Caesar's conclusion, when asked to decide between the crazy, wild Gauls and the "barbaric" Belgians: "