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Astérix and the Roman Agent, in French La Zizanie, is the fifteenth volume of the Astérix comic book series, by René Goscinny (stories) and Albert Uderzo (illustrations). It first appeared as a serial in Pilote magazine issues 531–552 in 1970 and was translated into English in 1972.
The original French title of this story was La Zizanie (The Ill-feeling or The Dissension). The inspiration was the dissension at Pilote magazine, a year before, during the May 1968 events in Paris, a time of civil unrest, when Goscinny, then also editor of Pilote, was almost evicted from the post, and remained bitter from the affair.
In the English version Caesar keeps making the famous Et tu Brute remark to Brutus who reacts in silent annoyance at this patronising attitude. In the original French version, Caesar keeps saying Et toi, mon fils (French for And you, my son), a possible reference to the suggestion by some historians that Brutus was actually fathered by Caesar, though some think it unlikely due to the mere 17-year age difference between the two men. It may also be a reference to the Greek phrase which the historian Suetonius reports Caesar did say to Brutus, καὶ σὺ τέκνον (Kai su, teknon?), literally, in English, You too, my child?
Brutus denies ever serving Caesar's enemy Pompey, whereas he actually did so in real life. It is a curious remark to make in a series which, although largely fictional, is based on extensive research into the history and background of the time and the habits of populations both old and new.
Centurion Felix Platypus is a caricature of the actor Lino Ventura, well-known for playing the parts of tough policemen.
The incident of the Pirates fighting between themselves and sinking their own ship is referred to in the next adventure Astérix in Switzerland.
When Impedimenta screams at Vitalstatistix about idiots (words used in the original French edition) who might one day have the absurd idea of writing the history of the village, Goscinny and Uderzo are clearly referring to themselves.
This is the first appearance of several female villagers -Impedimenta's inner circle of prominent wives. In particular, the wives of Geriatrix and Fulliautomatix and an obese lady whose husband is not mentioned, but who appears in many crowd and background scenes in later albums, are first seen here.
In the scenes where people have been deceived into arguing, the speech bubbles are painted in increasingly dark green. In contrast, in the final banquet panel, Vitalstatistix makes his moving birthday speech in pink.
Stradivarius. The old senator's voice is compared to the sound of a Stradivarius violin, highlighting its rich and resonant quality.
Magnumopus (Fr. Savancosinus). The French name of the Roman legionary Magnumpous is Savancosinus. This is a clever play on the word cosine, referencing the comic character Savant Cosinus.
The Battle of the Four Camps. For the first time, all four Roman camps surrounding the Gaulish village -Aquarium, Totorum, Laudanum, and Compendium- unite in a coordinated attack, increasing the stakes for the indomitable Gauls. In the American English release, the camps are named; Aquarium, Opprobrium, Nohappimedium and Delirium.
It is a very special adventure from which great vital ideas are extracted.
Despite Convolvulus's best efforts, the Gauls ultimately overcome the challenges he presents. By recognizing the dangers of manipulation and reaffirming their unity, they successfully thwart the Roman's plans and expose Convolvulus's treachery.
Astérix and the Roman Agent is a testament to the enduring brilliance of Goscinny and Uderzo. This thought-provoking adventure explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the importance of maintaining unity within a community, making it a timeless classic that continues to entertain and enlighten readers today.
Download Astérix and the Roman Agent by R. Goscinny & A. Uderzo
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