Didier Conrad

This is the first new Asterix book I've bought in decades, and marks a return in form to the golden age of the 1970's adventures. I've been pretty much out of the loop of Asterix since childhood, although have an awareness of a decline as the original writer passed away, and it was only by chance browsing in my local independent bookshop that I picked this up -- but isn't that how all the best discoveries are made?

As an adult, I'm a little uncomfortable with the Asterix In Country X show more adventures which enforce, though affectionately, outdated stereotypes of nations. This adventure is different, satirising government leaks, cover-ups, journalism, and new technologies. In this respect it is much more in the territory of "and the Roman Agent" or "and Caesar's gifts". As well as this, favourite characters and running jokes are present, up-to-date on references.

What sets Asterix aside for me, other than nostalgia, is the layering of the story, from slapstick violence up to subtle satire in the naming of the characters which may completely pass you by on first reading, but doesn't detract from the flow of the story. And I'm delighted to see that the English translator is still the Goddess Anthea Bell, whose touch in reversion-ing or adding humour is undiminished. There is a nice post-modern touch in the post-script which pays tribute to the original authors -- in Ferri and Conrad Goscinny and Oderzo have found the successors they needed and deserve. I'll be following the publication of new books much more closely in the future! show less

Asterix and the Missing Scroll might remain the best of the Ferri/Conrad Asterix albums, on account of its more intelligent theme, but Asterix and the Griffin is a surprisingly solid adventure.

Post-Uderzo (and arguably post-Goscinny), the Asterix albums have struggled to feel authentic, but Griffin is just plain fun. It starts fast and never lets up: we have a great location, a reasonably compelling plot, and even a swordfight from Asterix himself. We have some creative pictorial jokes in show more the frames, some funny 'Amazon' jokes, and even the obligatory Latin and references to Caesar's commentaries.

I've not been the target audience for Asterix for nearly twenty years now, and follow the new albums largely for a dose of nostalgia, but this is the first of the Ferri/Conrad stories that I think might have made me fall in love with the series if I was still a child. show less

A charming Asterix adventure, this new album is a worthy addition to the long-running French comic series. It addresses a question which is crucial for the authenticity of the series: why did Julius Caesar never mention in his histories his failure to defeat the Gauls of Asterix's village? Asterix and the Missing Scroll answers that he chose to cover it up in a whitewash of history – not so much history being written by the victors as a case of history being written by those who can show more write. The authors, writer Jean-Yves Ferri and illustrator Didier Conrad, spruce up this compelling theme with clear contemporary references to Julian Assange and the Wikileaks scandal that might go over the heads of young readers, but will be recognisable to older children (and nostalgic adults picking up the new Asterix out of curiosity – guilty as charged).

I wasn't quite sure where Ferri and Conrad wanted to take this theme – the plot loses its way in the shouting match at the end, with the message rather muddled – but the attempt to provide more than just a nuts-and-bolts story like their previous offering, the limited Asterix and the Picts, is very welcome. This is a bona fide, intelligent Asterix adventure that does the legacy of Goscinny and Uderzo proud (the two creators are even referenced in a nice little homage at the very end of the book). Whilst the odd joke does fall flat (there's a running joke about grass that I don't get, though it's probably staring me in the face), I was very impressed by Asterix and the Missing Scroll. Contrary to how I felt after reading Picts, I'm now looking forward to the next Ferri/Conrad addition to this eternal series. show less

I was worried about the future of the Village of Indomitable Gauls we know so well, after finding the first Ferri & Conrad outing good but the subsequent two volumes to be following a deteriorating trend. My persistence paid off, however, with this return to form. It's the story most like one Goscinny would have written we have been given since the great writer's death. It focuses on some of the most beloved tropes of the series; bickering amongst the villagers, puns, daft character names, show more standing up to the Romans, long-suffering legionaries... and we get insight into the teens in the village, too - an amusing innovation. Delightful! show less