2006 is nigh on end and if I look closely, it has been rich in Gaulish happenings - near at hand but also on the other side of the planet. A new blockbuster animation film Asterix and the Vikings, with its French
DVD format enhanced recently by the Justforkix Code a book of the film that has been at the top of book sales since this spring. The crazy filming of the next live movie Asterix at the Olympic Games.
And let's not forget to mention the Atari video game for portable consoles, which has proven a big time hit
(see below), a new collection of games from Atlas, a chess game from Hachette (soon to become a collector's item), plenty of new
magnificent toyz and, and, and... The Grand Collection! The one that's leading our Gauls into the XXIst century with a giant palette and over-sized inkpots, and which
bears witness to the extraordinary talent of our unique authors! |
 Here, you know what, these authors of ours are so unique that I am preparing our candidacy for Stockholm... the Nobel Prize is all we need now for a full house, don't you agree? That would be really swell for 2007, wouldn't it? The first Nobel prize for comic strips! What do you think? Shall we bet on it? You're on!
Meanwhile, if we are to judge by the number of requests for reorders coming into the offices of our friends at the Hachette publishing house, this Grand Collection seems to be both to your satisfaction and to delight all new readers.Nonetheless, despite
this year's terrific success, I can assure you, 2007 will not let you down. |
 As from January this GC, (Grand Collection) will be enriched with 2 new titles:
Asterix and the goths + Asterix and Obelix all at sea.
Regarding The Goths, the shock will be terrific: the original colouring job on this album had been "a rushed job" back in the beginning of the 60s! We have now gone over each plate, one by one, for an absolutely incredible result.
As for the rejuvenation job on All at sea, the plates suddenly appear in a new light, down to a light fog over Atlantis: Albert Uderzo's drawing is more of a masterpiece than ever before. |
 In March, the Editions Albert René will publish the album Asterix and the Magic Carpet simultaneously in Hebrew and Arabic as a way to come down clearly on the side of tolerance, an essential value for our Gauls.
In honour of the Paris Book Fair, we will be publishing these two albums for the French market.
In order to make sure to get your hands on the language you want, don't hesitate to harass our friends from the Hachette tribe, either by phone or by a visit to 43 quai de Grenelle, Lutetia, Paris 15. They'll be on the "peace path" starting in early March. |
 We have a lovely surprise in store for you in April, on the occasion of the LXXXth
anniversary (you have absolutely got to revise your Roman numerals!) of our great Druid Albert UDERZO! To put it plainly, as Albert was born on April 25th, the event will take place at the very heart of the political debate, i.e. three days after the 1st rounds of the Presidential
elections in 2007!
As for us, we will be voting Uderzo, of course and moreover, I will be asking the candidates to wish Albert Uderzo a very Happy Birthday.
We will also be inviting you to take part in the homage we wish to pay him.
But I'll bring up the subject again at the beginning of February, right before you all decide to go break a leg (in the ... figurative sense!) on the frozen slopes! |
 Now stop your whining, my friends! You who, like me, have held Latin in contempt ever
since some professor handed out marks that defied the freezing point! Even when the Top of the Class had - 5, they were thrilled. But, these
days, I have seen entire classes, throughout Europe at least, professors and students alike, taking delight in the Latin (Germanic) versions of Asterix albums! This situation has gotten me thinking.
If students are delighted in learning Latin with Asterix, let's go crazy and edit an Asterix album ourselves. Say the 33rd, Asterix and the Falling Sky, in Latin "Latin "! As for eminent Latin lovers ,
I suggest that you follow the above-mentioned scheme for the Hebrew and Arabic languages and do your best to get your hands on this work by May 2007: you will enjoy seeing Romans taking a bashing by our Gauls speaking in old Latin!
We are decidedly merciless!
In May, the return of the GC, with Asterix the Gladiator & Asterix and the secret weapon.
In June, a clever operation in the shops will help you prepare for summer in the best of conditions, that is to say with Asterix and his friends.
By the way, you will have noted that we are only talking about the first half of the year!
All our best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy
New Year under the mistletoe! |
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Intent on beginning the New Year in the starting blocks, Justforkix has made one first good resolution, which he promptly accomplished: Without further delay, the bright Lutetian delivers his e-card collection, to you, ideal for wishing all your close ones a Happy New Year, full of love and friendship, placed under the auspice of Good Health and Prosperity. 
Five Indomitables have just felt a cold shiver down their spines and… they are asking for more! 
Bravura, the guardian of the international editions of Asterix will never get over it: The Asterix books in Portugal have caused a revolution! 
