Asterix and Obelix have been around for over 60 years. René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo the original creators are no longer with us. Asterix and the Griffin is the 39th book in the Asterix series, and the fifth to be written by Jean-Yves Ferri and illustrated by Didier Conrad. Asterix and the Griffin are sure to be an international hit with their fanbase.
On 21st October 2021, Asterix, Obelix and Dogmatix return in their 39th graphic adventure, Asterix and the Griffin. Accompanied by Getafix, they’re about to set out on a long and mysterious journey in search of a strange and terrifying creature…
But what is this creature?
Didier Conrad sent a drawing to Éditions Albert René. A strange and mysterious drawing… It features our two heroes – created more than 60 years ago by the genius of René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo – scaling a huge tree trunk in an attempt to reach Dogmatix who seems to be trying to get away from them… Is the little Gaulish canine making a bid for freedom?
Jean-Yves Ferri tells us more “For me, it all started with a sculpture of the Tarasque, a terrifying creature from Celtic legends … Did our ancestors really believe that these peculiar monsters actually existed?
For my part, it all started with a sculpted representation of the Tarascan, a terrifying animal from Celtic legends … Did our ancestors really believe in the real existence of these unusual monsters?
It should be noted that in Roman Antiquity, explorers were rare and the Earth was largely unknown. However, elephants or rhinos, extraordinary animals, had already been exhibited in Rome. Consequently, why would the Romans have doubted the existence of such unlikely creatures? Perhaps some of them (medusa, centaur, gorgon …) had not been described in a very serious way by the ancient Greeks before them?
In the mythological bestiary, it was necessary to choose the animal that would be at the center of the adventure. Half eagle, half lion (and with horse ears), enigmatic as possible, I have opted for the griffin!
It would certainly work among the Romans, but what about the Gauls? How to drag Asterix, Obelix and Ideafix, accompanied by the druid Panorámix, to the epic mission strewn with obstacles in pursuit of this fantastic animal?
That is what you will discover by reading the album. I’m not going to do like the Wikipedia goddess and tell you everything….
It’s worth mentioning that in Roman times there weren’t many explorers, so the terra was mostly incognita. Even so, extraordinary animals such as elephants and rhinoceroses had already been exhibited in Rome. Having seen them, why would Romans have any reason to doubt the existence of equally improbable creatures? And hadn’t some of them (medusas, centaurs, gorgons…) been described very seriously before their time by the ancient Greeks?
Now it was time look at this bestiary and choose the animal that would be at the centre of the intrigue. Half-eagle, half-lion, with horse’s ears and appropriately enigmatic – I opted for a Griffin!
The Romans were bound to go for it. But what about the Gauls? How would Asterix, Obelix and Dogmatix, along with the Druid Getafix, get drawn into the epic, perilous quest to find this fantastical animal?
That’s what you’ll find out in the new album. And I’m not going to do what Wikipedia does and tell you EVERYTHING about it…”
