Asterix and the Great Crossing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Asterix and the Great Crossing(La Grande Traversée) |
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| Date | 1977 |
| Series | Asterix |
| Creative team | |
| Writers | Rene Goscinny |
| Artists | Albert Uderzo |
| Original publication | |
| Date of publication | 1975 |
| Language | French |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Asterix and Caesar's Gift |
| Followed by | Asterix Conquers Rome |
Asterix and the Great Crossing is the twenty-second book in the popular Asterix comic book series. It was written by René Goscinny and drawn by Albert Uderzo. This exciting adventure takes Asterix and Obelix far across the ocean!
Contents
The Big Adventure Begins
The story starts when Unhygienix, the village fishmonger, runs out of fresh fish. His usual supply comes all the way from Lutetia (which is modern-day Paris). This means it will take a long time for new fish to arrive.
But Getafix, the druid, needs fresh fish for his magic potion. Asterix and Obelix decide to help. They borrow a boat from Geriatrix and head out to sea to catch some fish themselves.
Lost at Sea
A big storm hits while they are fishing. Asterix and Obelix get completely lost. Obelix worries they might fall off the edge of the world! But instead, they have a quick fight with some pirates. After that, they land on a strange island.
This island seems to be Manhattan Island in what we now call America. They find interesting birds there that they call "gobblers" (which are turkeys). They also see bears and people they first think are "Romans". These "Romans" have unusual paintings on their faces. They are actually Native Americans.
New Friends and a New Journey
Asterix and Obelix soon become friends with the Native Americans. But then, the "centurion" (their chief) decides that Obelix should marry his daughter. This makes the Gauls want to leave!
They sail to a smaller island, which seems to be Liberty Island. Asterix builds a pile of rocks and holds up a torch and a book. He looks just like the Statue of Liberty! He does this to get the attention of a ship they see coming.
The ship belongs to some Norsemen (Vikings) from a long time ago. Their names are funny, like Herendethelessen and Steptøånssen. These Vikings had actually traveled across the ocean to America before Christopher Columbus! They think Asterix and Obelix are local natives. So, they take the Gauls back to their homeland as proof that there are other lands beyond Europe.
Back to Europe
Asterix and Obelix really want to go home. The Vikings are also eager to show everyone they found a new world. So, they all sail back to the Vikings' home.
The Viking chief, Ødiuscomparissen, is not sure if their stories are true. But then he sees Asterix and Obelix. He plans a big party to celebrate. However, the Vikings then try to sacrifice the "natives" (Asterix and Obelix)! The other Vikings are confused, asking, "Why? They haven't done anything!"
Before the sacrifice can happen, a Gaulish prisoner named Catastrofix helps. He can understand both Gaulish and Norse. He makes Chief Ødiuscomparissen suspicious that Herendethelessen is lying. This causes a big fight among the Norsemen. They think Herendethelessen just went to Gaul, not a new world.
While the Vikings are fighting, Asterix and Obelix escape! This escape helps them achieve their original goal. Catastrofix is a fisherman, so he can get them some fish for Getafix's magic potion. But Unhygienix still prefers the smell of his own fish, which is why his fish supply is so important to him!
Film Adaptation
- The 1994 animated movie Asterix Conquers America is based on this comic book. In the film, Craig Charles voices Asterix and Howard Lew Lewis voices Obelix. There are some key differences between the book and the movie. In the film, Getafix goes to America with Asterix. This happens because Romans kidnap him and try to throw him off the edge of the world. Also, the Vikings do not appear in the movie version.
In other languages
- Catalan: La gran travessia
- Croatian: Onkraj oceana (Beyond ocean)
- Czech: Asterix a Velká zámořská plavba
- Danish: Asterix opdager Amerika (Asterix discovers America)
- Dutch: De grote oversteek
- Finnish: Asterix ja suuri merimatka (Asterix and the Great Sea Journey)
- Galician: A gran travesía
- German: Die große Überfahrt
- Greek: Το μεγάλο ταξίδι
- Hebrew: אסטריקס מגלה את אמריקה (Asterix discovers America)
- Icelandic: Ástríkur heppni
- Italian: Asterix in America
- Norwegian: Asterix oppdager Amerika (Asterix discovers America)
- Polish: Wielka przeprawa
- Portuguese: A grande Travessia
- Russian: Астерикс и Великое Плавание
- Serbian: Velika plovidba
- Spanish: La Gran Travesía
- Swedish: Resan över Atlanten
- Turkish: Büyük Yolculuk
- Ukrainian: Астерікс та Обелікс завойовують Америку
See also
