Asterix and the White Iris: A Breath of Fresh Air in the Beloved Comic Series

Ian Fleming learned early in life that made-up heroes could readily take center stage with James Bond. This is fortunate for Albert Uderzo and Rene Goscinny, since their most famous work, Asterix, continues to shine brightly like a diamond. Of course, there are a lot of differences in the cuts of diamonds, and to be honest, we also find imitation stones appealing. Hopefully, everything said here aligns with the content of Asterix and the White Iris, the series' 40th album. Though the authors have long since moved on (Goscinny penned his last lines in 1977 and Uderzo ran out of ink in 2020), Didier Conrad has continued to contribute to the series' continuity by illustrating its sixth volume and filling in for Jean-Yves Ferri as the series' author.

This time the little community of unflappable Gauls becomes soft and mushy, like peas. It's all part of a scheme to overthrow them, of course, and it's financed by Julius Caesar. Not to be a killjoy Unhygienix, but there is a breath of fresh air in the shape of a new writer who is bringing in new ideas. It's still 50 BC, the story is still about Caesar's forces taking a beating, and the colorful cast of people are still there. After Goscinny's passing, this record is among the greatest.

A window into life

Emmanuel Macron's petit nez has replaced Nicolas Sarkozy's Caesar-style nose, among other visible changes to France since Asterix the Gaul debuted in 1961. Despite these changes, Asterix continues to be a source of French national pride, serving as a reflection of the country's current state of affairs. It explains the rise of plant-based food and the current political correctness movement among most people.

Julius Caesar permits Isivertuus to use the White Iris ideology to divide the little Gaulish town.

Julius Caesar permits Isivertuus to use the White Iris ideology to divide the little Gaulish town.

Because "inside every one of us there's a flower waiting for a little goodwill to help it bloom," Isivertuus, the piece's antagonist, has been developing a "method" known as White Iris for a number of years. You get the idea, don't you? The Attic philosopher Duazuplees served as an inspiration for his approach. To imagine living in the picturesque village of Lutetia, with the writer's homage to the movie Casablanca, all he needs to do is persuade Unhygienix that his fish are “brimming with essential nutrients” and play Impedimenta, the wife of Vitalstatistix, the chief of the village.

The villagers respond to Cacofonix's voice with kindness, saying things like "You've got to admire his commitment," "I'm all about freedom of expression," and "Very striking." Have things really gotten better for the happy guys, Toutatis?

A few years ago, Moira Weigel noted that political correctness may be a phantom opponent. By the time Donald Trump was running for US president in 2016, political correctness had become so ingrained in the culture that he could take advantage of it. He implied, in a sense, that the Obama administration trained people to value political correctness above common sense. Also, that he values common sense above anything else. In the most recent Asterix album, Isivertuus—a maestro of deceit and trickery—first plants the seeds of political correctness before attempting to drive the sledgehammer.

The mindfulness expert on an impossible assignment

Reading about Isivertuus makes one think of two characters: Prolix, the soothsayer from Asterix and the Soothsayer, who is renowned for saying, "When the storm is over, the weather will improve," and Preposterus (Obelix and Co.), a parody of French politician Jack Chirac. With phrases like "A moment's happiness erases a hundred sorrows," "You smell so good I could burst into song," and "Gather what lies before you and reap the benefits," he has a way with words. An authentic mindfulness expert akin to co-founder of the now-bankrupt WeWork Adam Neumann. Do you recall the billionaire's remarks? "I try to be around smarter people than myself; if I'm the smartest guy in the room, I move rooms."

Obelix and Asterix pick up on the naughty scheme soon. Hatches an Isivertuus

Obelix and Asterix pick up on the naughty scheme soon. Hatches an Isivertuus

You may argue that the story's hapless nature is intentional, since the French-speaking villagers also "devote" time to eating and fighting, but when their togetherness is endangered, it becomes the go-to phrase, best savored while sipping magic potion. However, Asterix and Obelix have faced some of the most formidable foes in Isivertuus. That conveys a lot about the most recent album.

An abundance of Asterix "experts" have discussed how Goscinny's passing limited the abundance of humor, yet Uderzo did his utmost to maintain the flame. Fabcaro restores the flow of humor, even if Didier Conrad did an excellent job of illustrating the six albums he was involved with.

Kids' two-wheel scooters are also featured in a few amusing pages; they are called "mini-chariots" in Lutetia. Additionally, there is a play on a Shakespearean theme called Cubitum For Cubitum and the artist Banksix (thanks to Banksy).

It's a place you know well and would want to visit, and that's still the key to the series' popularity. It has its fair share of feasts, jokes, and heroes. And Romans getting their fair share of pow-wow sorrow is a sight that never gets old to fans. Simple joys abound in the book for both devoted readers and newcomers. The weather says read Asterix and the White Iris; it's particularly strong with a cup of Moka coffee. When we find out that Piggywiggy, Vitalstatistix's alias, marches well with Pediped, Impedimenta, what could possibly go wrong with an Asterix album? This is pure enjoyment, according to Toutatis.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Press Time staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.