Asterix and Obelix’s Birthday – The Golden Book

Written by: Goscinny and Uderzo – Drawings by: Uderzo
Original title: L’Anniversaire d’Astérix et Obélix – Le Livre d’or
Published by: Les Éditions Albert René
First album edition: 22 October 2009

In commemoration of Asterix‘s 50th birthday, born on 29 October 1959 in the pages of the very first issue of the weekly magazine Pilote, Albert Uderzo has come up with an exceptional gift to pay homage to his heroes and to the millions of their readers throughout the world!

True to the love of caricature and the mocking spirit of the Pilote years, Albert Uderzo has created an album of Asterix short stories focusing on the birthday theme and filled with 56 pages of hitherto unpublished drawings! While Asterix and Obelix are off hunting wild boar in the forest surrounding the Village, many of the 400 characters from the Asterix albums come together, in answer to Chief Vitalstatistix’s invitation, to prepare a birthday party for the two friends.

While reading the album, we discover Asterix and his friends some 50 years later, a side-splitting fashion show featuring Obelix, birthday wishes from Edifis, Panacea and even the pirates, a travel guide based on a never-before published text by René Goscinny, parodies of famous record covers produced by Cacofonix, and, even more incredible, a fabulous Gaulish Museum devised by Prolix the soothsayer.

A handsome album which concludes (every rule has an exception!) not with a banquet but with a brilliant round of more than 60 characters – proof (should it still be needed) of the youthful virtuosity of Albert Uderzo’s drawing talents.

What the druids have to say about the album

Some exclusive sketches!

In the small Village that we all know so well, a great event is being organised. Asterix’ and Obelix’s birthday is the perfect occasion to reunite with the many friends who have shared previous adventures. Let the festivities begin!

Each guest will be bringing gifts for Asterix and Obelix. Those who live too far away will be sending birthday wishes to be delivered by the postman Postaldistrix. Here, we hear from Edifis himself!

The album’s surprises include parodies of famous masterpieces that seem to indicate that our Indomitable Gauls have influenced the greatest masters of the art world….
These extraordinary visuals will be exhibited on the gates of the Cluny Museum in Paris, at the corner of the boulevards Saint-Germain and Saint-Michel, from 22 October 2009 through 3 January 2010.

Cleopatra and Julius Caesar themselves have also been invited to join in the birthday celebration for the two Indomitable Gauls. But this time, it’s the great Julius who shows some resistance….

The unforgettable from the album

Albert Uderzo making an appearance in the Asterix universe just long enough to receive a blow from Obelix, who doesn’t appreciate seeing Asterix and himself being aged by 50 years (and on top of it all, he thinks it’s funny!), Obelix as a tagger and Asterix disguised as a marsupilami, Edifis presenting the works of Leaningtowerofpisis, the pirates in the Titanix, Asterix’s wedding announcement on the front page of the Daily Lutetian, our heroes’ caricatures of famous old masters’ paintings, Asterix and Obelix with a flock of kids…. So many inventions, a wellspring of material for humorous graphics!

Character profiles of the album

Various versions of the album

L’Anniversaire d’Astérix et Obélix – Le Livre d’or – Français – Editions Albert René
L’Anniversaire d’Astérix et Obélix – Le Livre d’or – Français – Editions Albert René – La Grande Collection
Asterix und Obelix feiern Geburtstag – Das goldene Buch – Allemand – Egmont Comic Collection
Asterix und Obelix feiern Geburtstag – Das goldene Buch – Allemand – Egmont Comic Collection
De Verjaardag van Asterix en Obelix – Het Guldenboek – Néerlandais – Editions Albert René
El Aniversario de Astérix y Obélix – El Libro de Oro – Espagnol – Salvat
L’Aniversari d’Astèrix i Obèlix – El Llibre d’Or – Catalan – Salvat
Asterix eta Obelixen Urtebetetzea – Urrezko Liburua – Basque – Salvat
O Aniversario de Astérix e Obélix – O Libro de Ouro – Galicien – Salvat
Asterix and Obelix’s Birthday – The Golden Book – Anglais – Orion
O Aniversário de Astérix e Obélix – O Livro de Ouro – Portugais – ASA
Il Compleanno di Asterix e Obelix – L’Albo d’oro – Italien – Panini Comics
Asterixin ja Obelixin Syntymäpäivä – Kultainen Kirja – Finnois – Egmont Kustannus OY AB
Asterix og Obelix Jubilerer – Gullboken – Norvégien – Egmont Serieforlaget AS
Asterix og Obelix Jubilerer – Gullboken – Norvégien – Egmont Serieforlaget AS
Asterix’ og Obelix’ Fødselsdag – Den Gyldne Gæstebog – Danois – Egmont A/S
Narozeniny Asterixe a Obelixe – Zlatá Kniha – Tchèque – Egmont CR, Prague
Astérix pi Obélix is ont leus ages – Ch’live in dor – Picard – Editions Albert René

L'Anniversaire d'Astérix et Obélix - Le Livre d'or - Français - Editions Albert René L'Anniversaire d'Astérix et Obélix - Le Livre d'or - Français - Editions Albert René - La Grande Collection Asterix und Obelix feiern Geburtstag - Das goldene Buch - Allemand - Egmont Comic CollectionAsterix und Obelix feiern Geburtstag - Das goldene Buch - Allemand - Egmont Comic CollectionDe Verjaardag van Asterix en Obelix - Het Guldenboek - Néerlandais - Editions Albert RenéEl Aniversario de Astérix y Obélix - El Libro de Oro - Espagnol - SalvatL'Aniversari d'Astèrix i Obèlix - El Llibre d'Or - Catalan - SalvatAsterix eta Obelixen Urtebetetzea - Urrezko Liburua - Basque - SalvatO Aniversario de Astérix e Obélix - O Libro de Ouro - Galicien - SalvatAsterix and Obelix’s Birthday – The Golden Book - Anglais - OrionO Aniversário de Astérix e Obélix - O Livro de Ouro - Portugais - ASAIl Compleanno di Asterix e Obelix - L'Albo d'oro - Italien - Panini ComicsAsterixin ja Obelixin Syntymäpäivä - Kultainen Kirja - Finnois - Egmont Kustannus OY ABAsterix og Obelix Jubilerer - Gullboken - Norvégien - Egmont Serieforlaget ASAsterix og Obelix Jubilerer - Gullboken - Norvégien - Egmont Serieforlaget ASAsterix' og Obelix' Fødselsdag - Den Gyldne Gæstebog - Danois - Egmont A/SNarozeniny Asterixe a Obelixe - Zlatá Kniha - Tchèque - Egmont CR, PragueAstérix pi Obélix is ont leus ages - Ch’live in dor - Picard - Editions Albert René

The bookseller’s corner

Classic paperback collection

N° ISBN : 978-1444000955
Format : 287 x 216 mm
Pages : 56

Hardback edition

N° ISBN : 978-1-44400-027-6
Format : 295 x 224 mm
Pages : 56