Reviews
'Asterix and the Falling Sky has done what few series manage to do - it has moved into the future while maintaining all the historical elements which make it so popular with fans around the world. Here's hoping for another album before too long, by Toutatis!', THE BOOKSELLER interviewed Albert Uderzo in Paris for a profile interview.A three day Asterix extravaganza in Brussels on 22, 23 and 24 September launched the new album to an international media audience. The cover of the new album and title were revealed at a special press conference attended by over 200 journalists from around the world. The first Asterix stamp in Belgium was also unveiled.The world premier of the World According to Asterix exhibition took place on 22 September. The exhibition at Tour et Taxis in Brussels is open until January 2006.On Friday 23 September an entire Gaulish village was reconstructed at the Grand Place complete with a three metre high menhir. A Gaulish roller parade of some 3,000 roller skaters in braids and helmets took place in the evening and even the Mannenkenpis was dressed up as Obelix. On the Saturday a parade of giants coming from the east and west ends of the city met up in the Grand Place followed by a musical procession. Other highlights of the Asterix extravaganza included the a shop window and shopkeeper fancy dress competition; the unveiling of an Asterix mural and the launch of the first 'Asterix' plane.The launch of the new album was covered by DAILY TELEGRAPH, THE INDEPENDENT, THE TIMES, BBC R4 Today Programme.We took a group of UK journalists to the launch in Brussels which resulted in the following coverage:* Extract and feature in FUNDAY TIMES (16 October)* Interview with Albert Uderzo in TES (7 October)* Interview in PUBLISHING NEWSOn Friday 22 October there was an 'International Chat' event at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Albert Uderzo was joined on stage by many of his translators including our very own Anthea Bell to answer emails from Asterix fans worldwide.Reviews and coverage have appeared in:SUNDAY TELEGRAPHDAILY TELEGRAPHTHE TIMESGOOD BOOK GUIDEMETROLIME TRANSMANCHE MAGAZINE - to appear in Christmas edition of this glossy which is distributed free in Waitrose stores in South East as well as on all cross Channel routes.EVERYTHING FRANCE MAGAZINEAlso reviewed on CLASSIC FMTHE TIMES are doing a feature on the Asterix Exhibition in Brussels. This will run in the 10 December issue and will be a cover story (tbc). We have also organised a competition to run with the feature for a pair of readers to win a trip to Brussels to see the Asterix Exhibition. They will fly there on the special Asterix plane., '...combines its trademark graphics with a brand of comic-book art more readily associated with Alex Raymond's Flash Gordon series. Its format and jokes remain comfortingly familiar, and the later are still not afraid to keep one eye on contemporary concerns', 'new readers and particularly children will enjoy the wonderful illustration, characters, and, most importantly, the humour of the latest book'
