From: rdippold@cancun.qualcomm.com (Ron Dippold)
Subject: Asterix Annotations 2/2
Organization: Qualcomm, Inc., San Diego, CA
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 07:22:59 GMT

[
    The Asterix Annotations 1.00 (English and American translations)
      Maintained and mostly by Ron Dippold (rdippold@qualcomm.com)
                  Copyright 1993, All Rights Reserved.
Part 2
]

************************************************************************

                       Asterix in Spain ((c) 1969)
                         By Goscinny and Udzerzo
         English Translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge

The names in the English translation, while few, are some of the best
ever.


Page, Panel         Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 1, Panel 5     Spanish uses the exclamation point and question mark
                    at the end of a sentence as we do and at the
                    beginning, upside down.
Page 2, Panel 3     Veni, vidi, vici: I came, I saw, I conquered (Julius
                    Caesar)
Page 11, Panel 2    Beati pauperes spiritu = Blessed are the poor in
                    spirit. (Matt. 5:3, King James)
Page 11, Panel 9    Aquae sulis chaps = ???
Page 16, Panel 5    "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas"
Page 19. Panel 9    Salisbury Plain is Stonehenge
Page 28, Panel 4    Don Quixote and Sancho Panza
Page 29, Panel 2    Replete: stuffed, gorged
Page 40, Panel 4    Panem et circenses = bread and circuses (Juvenal,
                    Satires x.80 60-130AD)
Page 44, Panel 4    Aurochs = nearly extinct European bison


Name (in order)     Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Huevos Y Bacon      Eggs and bacon
Spurius
  Brontosaurus      Spurious: irrelevant, trivial; Brontosaurus: large
                    dinosaur, now called Apatosaurus
Raucus
  Hallelujachorus   Raucous: loud;  Hallelujah chorus: chorus found
                    often in church hymns which consists of the word
                    hallelujah repeated.
Pericles            An Athenian general and statesman
Nodepositon el
  Sodasiphon        No deposit on soda bottle
Oloroso el Fiasco   Oloroso: smelly; fiasco: total disaster
Obsequius           Obsequious: fawning, overly submissive
Begonia             Begonia: a type of flower


************************************************************************

                   Asterix and the Cauldron ((c) 1969)
                         By Goscinny and Udzerzo
         English Translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge

Except for the tax collector, this one is pretty forgettable.

Page, Panel         Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 9, Panel 2     Quo vadis = where are you going?
Page 11, Panel 8    Ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant = Where
                    they make a wilderness and call it peace (Tacitus
                    56-120 AD, Agricola 42)
Page 22, Panel 3    Ave Caesar, morituri...: Hail Caesar, we who are
                    about to die salute you.  Said by gladiators in the
                    circus before fighting.
Page 29, Panel 8    Hippodrome: literally, "horse racetrack"
Page 37, Panel 8    Quid pro quo = something in return for something
                    else


Name (in order)     Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Chief Whosemorals-
  arelastix         Chief whose morals are elastic
Pigskidnix          Pigs kidneys
Antibiotix          Antibiotics: medicines for various infectious
                    diseases
Laurensolivius      Laurence Olivier: famous actor
Alecguinus          Alec Guinness: famous actor
Confidenstrix       Confidence tricks: criminal activities which involve
                    gaining the confidence of the victim



************************************************************************

                 Asterix and the Roman Agent ((c) 1970)
                         By Goscinny and Udzerzo
         English Translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge

The dialogue is some of the best ever.  Are the word balloons colored in
other language versions?


Page, Panel         Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 1, Panel 4     Pleb=member of the lowest class in Roman society.
                    Plebiscite=a popular vote on some matter
Page 1, Panel 5     Mon repos: (French) My rest.  Mea Requies: My rest.
Page 5, Panel 7     Coventry: banishment.  Used by the Cavaliers in the
                    17th century since the town was strongly Roundhead
                    allied.
Page 7, Panel 4     Auri sacra fames = cursed craving for gold! (Virgil,
                    Aeneid iii.6)
Page 26, Panel 8    Quid? = What?

Name (in order)     Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Stradivarius        Stradivarius: very famous maker of violins
Brutus              Historical: Marcus Junius Brutus, adopted son of
                    Julius Caesar and one of the conspirators who
                    murdered him
Tortuous
  Convulvulus       Tortuous=twisted;  convulvulus=twining plants,
                    funnel-shaped flowers and triangular leaves,
                    blindweed.
Pompey              Historical person - Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (106-48
                    BC), Roman general and triumvirate.  Not pleased
                    when Caesar dissolved the trimvirate to become
                    supreme, civil war ensued.
Aberdeenangus       Aberdeen Angus: a breed of black, hornless cattle
                    from Scottland, raised for beef (Black Angus)
Giantortus          Giant tortoise
Felix Platypus      Platypus: duckbill, a strange marsupial
Magnumopus          Magnum opus: someone's greatest work
Homunculus          Homunculus: little man, dwarf


************************************************************************

                    Asterix in Switzerland ((c) 1970)
                         By Goscinny and Udzerzo
         English Translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge


Page, Panel         Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 2, Panel 8     Half pint of mild and bitter: British beer.
Page 3, Panel 6     Tripe = part of the stomach, aurochs = a large,
                    almost extinct European bison.
Page 8, Panel 4     Valetudinarium = place of poor health
Page 8, Panel 7     Air in the arteries is a quick way to kill someone
Page 16, Panel 1    I can't quite see what this looked like in the
                    original, but it's been redrawn as the Michelin Man.
Page 19, Panel 10   Maior e longinquo reverentia = Greater is the
                    respect [that comes] from a long time ago.
Page 20, Panel 9    Leman Lake is an old name for Lake Geneva
Page 30, Panel 7    What building is this today???
Page 32, Panel 5    Nunc est bibendum = now for drinks (Horace, Odes
                    I.xxxvii.1)


Name (in order)     Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Impresario Fellinus Impresario: manager of theater/orchestra/opera
                    company. Fellinus is the famous Fellini.
Caius Eucalyptus    Eucalyptus: tall Australian evergreen trees.
Varius Flavus       Various flavors
Quaestor Vexatius
  Sinusitus         Quaestor: state treasurer; vexatious: irritating;
                    sinusitus: inflamed sinuses
Curius Odus         Curious odors
Malodorus Caseus    Malodorous caseous: smelly and cheeselike.
Petitsuix           Petite sweets: small candies
Zurix               Zurich: a Swiss city famous for banking


************************************************************************

                   The Mansions of the Gods ((c) 1971)
                         By Goscinny and Udzerzo
         English Translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge


One of the two that doesn't mention Asterix in the title.  Asterix and
... probably would have made it too long.  Very low on named extras and
no pirates.

Page, Panel         Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 10, Panel 2    Beati pauperes spiritu = Blessed are the poor in
                    spirit. (Matt. 5:3, King James)
Page 12, Panel 2    Gnothe Seauton = ???
Page 24, Panel 3    Veni, vidi, vici = I came, I saw, I conquered
                    (Julius Caesar)
Page 26, Panel 1    XIses = elevenses, British late morning tea.
Page 37, Panel 5    "The Twelve Days of Christmas".  Xmas (purposely)
                    occurs near the winter Solstice.
Page 37, Panel 6    Quousque tandem = To what point at last [O Cataline,
                    wilt thou abuse our patience!] (from Cicero's First
                    Catalinarian)
Page 40, Panel 2    Atrium = lobby, triclinium = dining room with couch


Credits: Robert S. Hill for the Cicero quote.

Name (in order)     Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sqauronthehypotenus Square on the hypotenuse: the hypotenuse is the long
                    diagonal line in a triangle with a 90 degree right
                    angle.  The square of the lengths of the two other
                    lines is the length of the hypotenuse squared.  Or,
                    "square on" in construction means that the expected
                    right angle is indeed right.
Somniferus          Somniferous: sleep inducing
Flaturtha           Flaturtha: gas in the stomach or intestines
Showbisinus         Show business.  Does he look like any particular
                    game show host, or just all of them???


************************************************************************

                Asterix and the Laurel Wreath ((c) 1972)
                         By Goscinny and Udzerzo
         English Translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge


The backgrounds look a bit strange on this one for some reason, and the
writing in the word balloons is thinner and more slanted.  Perhaps
Uderzo was trying a thinner pen.  If so, it doesn't survive into the
next book.


Page, Panel         Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 1, Panel 4     Sicambres: Sicilians
Page 18, Panel 1    Cubilculum: sleeping area.  Triclinium: dining room
                    with couches
Page 24, Panel 5    Quo vadis = where are you going?
Page 24, Panel 8    Vadere quo = To go where?
Page 26, Panel 4    Gloria victis = Glory to the vanquished.  Veritas
                    odium parit = Truth gives birth to hate.
Page 29, Panel 5    Delenda (est) Carthago = Carthage must be destroyed.
                    Famous speech.
Page 33, Panel 3    Tarpeian rock = a cliff on Capitoline Hill in Rome
                    from which traitors were thrown to their death.
Page 36, Panel 7    Is he anyone ???
Page 37, Panel 5    Sicarii= ??? effractores=??? raptores=???


Name (in order)     Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Homeopathix         Homeopathy: "medical" theory of giving the patient
                    very small amounts of drugs which in large doses
                    would produce similar symptoms to the disease
Tapioca             A bland pudding
Seminola            A British school lunch dessert: "a really discusting
                    cream sludge, with the texture of sand"
Kumakros            Come across
Typhus              Typhus: nasty infections disease
Fibula              Thin outer leg bone between knee and ankle
Tibia               Thicker inner leg bone between knee and ankle
Metatarsus          The five bones in the foot between ankle and toes
Osseus Humerus      Osseus: bonelike; humerus: bone in arm from shoulder
                    to elbow
Autodidax           Autodicact: someone self-taught
Goldendelicius      Golden delicious: type of green-yellow apple
Locus Classicus     Locus classicus: a passage often cited as
                    authorative or illustrative - classical reference
Titus Nisprius      Nisprius: court in which a cause of action is
                    originally heard
Cato                Historical: Cato the Elder (the Censor) 234-149 BC,
                    Roman statesman
Habeuscorpus        Habeus corpus: safeguards against illegal detention
                    or imprisonment

Credits: Chris Adams for seminola.

************************************************************************

                  Asterix and the Soothsayer ((c) 1972)
                         By Goscinny and Udzerzo
         English Translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge


Page, Panel         Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 5, Panel 7     Brutus killed Caesar with a dagger
Page 40, Panel 2    Romulus and Remus are the legendary founders of
                    Rome, raised by a she-wolf


Name (in order)     Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Intelligensia (MI5) M.I.5 is a British intelligence agency concerned
                    with state security
Mania               Mania: a madness
Prolix              Prolix: long-winded, wordy
Myopia              Myopia: literal shortsightedness
Voluptuous
  Arteriosclerosus  Voluptuous: more than ample; ateriosclerosis:
                    hardening of the artieries
Statistix           Statstics
Bulbus Crocus       Bulbous crocus: a flower of the iris family in its
                    bolbous root state.




************************************************************************

                      Asterix in Corsica ((c) 1973)
                         By Goscinny and Udzerzo
         English Translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge


This is sort of a "reunion" issue at the beginning.  I'm not going to
redo all the names, I'll just point back to the original stories.  It
also contains a picture of the isle of Corsica with a massive number of
forts on it, all named...  That I'll do separately.


Fort (Clockwise)    Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Geranium            A flower
Postscriptum        Postscript: p.s. at the end of a letter
Delphinium          Small member of the buttercup family
Ultimatum           A final demand
Auditorium
Podium              A speaking stand
Pandemonium         Confusion
Bunkum              B.S., garbage
Welcum              Welcome
Album
Tedium              Something boring
Addendum            An addition
Vademecum           Something carried around for constant use
Memorandum
Potassium           An element
Aluminum            An element
Desideratum         Something needed and wanted
Quoderatdemon-
  strandum (east)   Quod erat demonstrandum = which was the thing to be
                    proved (Euclid).  Used in proofs as QED.
Sodium              An element
Saeculasaeculorum   Saecula saeculorum: world without end (from Catholic
                    Latin Mass)
Strontium           An element
Referendum          A meeting on a subject
Adinfinitum         Ad infinitum: so on to infinity
Sternum             The flat bone your ribs attach to in front
Quoderatdemon-
  strandum (west)   See QED (east)
Chrysanthemum       A flower
Minimum
Maximum
Opossum
Humdrum             Boring, commonplace
Indecorum           Lack of good conduct
Modicum             A little bit
Calcium             An element
Crematorium         Where they burn corpses
Chewingum           Chewing gum
Euphonium           A brass wind instrument
Opium               A drug
Harmonium           Small reed organ
Premium             Extra charge for something in demand
Mausoleum           Above ground burial house for dead people
Vanitasvanitatum    Vanitas vanitatum: vanity of vanities (Ecclesiastes
                    1:2, Vulgate)
Radium              An element
Hum
Axium               Axiom: something universally accepted as true
Pendulum
Factotum            A handyman


Page, Panel         Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 1, Panel 3     Alea jacta est = the die is cast (Julius Caesar)
Page 9, Panel 1     Asterix in Switzerland
Page 9, Panel 2     Asterix in Spain
Page 9, Panel 3     Asterix the Gladiator
Page 9, Panel 4     Asterix in Britain
Page 9, Panel 5     Asterix and the Banquet
Page 9, Panel 6     Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield
Page 14, Panel 10   O tempora, o mores =  O the times!  O the morals!
                    From Cicero's first oration against Cataline.
Page 15, Panel 8    Errare humanum est = Errare humanum est = to err is
                    human (Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism l.525)
Page 18, Panel 8    Felix qui... = lucky is he who has been able to
                    understand the causes of things. (Virgil, Georgics
                    ii.490)
Page 21, Panel 5    Ballot boxes... ???
Page 43, Panel 7    ???

Credits: Mark-Jason Dominus for "O tempora..."


Name (in order)     Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Perfidius           Perfidious: evil
Hippopotamus        Hippopotamus
Boneywasawarrior-
  wayayix           Boney was a warrior, way ay ay... this is a line
                    from a song about Napoleon Bonaparte (Boney).  The
                    "pom tiddley pom" etc. are others.
Vermicellix         Vermicelli: a pasta
Mortadella          An Italian sausage
Courtingdisastu     Courting disaster
Lethargix           Lethargic: tired, sleepy
Carferrix           Carferrax (or carfax): a place where four roads
                    meet.  British.
Olabellamargaritix  O la bella Margarita: must be another song ???
Violincellix        Violin (and) cellos
Chipolata           A small thin sausage
Salamix             Salami
Potatognocchix      Potato gnocchi: small potato dumplings with sauce
Seminolagnocchix    Seminola gnocchi: Seminola is a British school lunch
                    dessert: "a really discusting cream sludge, with the
                    texture of sand"
Spaghettix          Spaghetti
Raviolix            Ravioli
Tagliatellix        Tagliatelli: a pasta
Cannellonix         Cannelloni: a pasta
Lasagnix            Lasagna
Tortellinix         Tortellini: a pasta
MacAronix           Macaroni
Desiderata          A famous poem
Fettucinix          Fettucini: a pasta
Errata              Errata: later corrections to a book
Rigatonix           Rigatoni: a pasta

Credits: Simone Oke for Boneywasawarriorwayayix.  Chris Adams for
Seminola.

************************************************************************

                  Asterix and Caesar's Gift ((c) 1974)
                         By Goscinny and Udzerzo
         English Translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge



Page, Panel         Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 1, Panel 1     Vinum et musica laetificant cor = Wine and music
                    make the heart merry. [Variation on the proverbial
                    "vinum bonum laetificat cor hominis".]  De mortuis
                    nil nisi bonum = About the dead [say] nothing but
                    good.
Page 1, Panel 4     Demob = retirement from the military
Page 3, Panel 1     Legio expedita! = Attention! (literally "Legion, to
                    order!")
Page 4, Panel 1     Qui habet aures audiendi audiat = "Let he that hath
                    ears to hear, let him hear" (Mark 4:9)
Page 27, Panel 5    I am more an antique Roman than a Dane (Shakespeare,
                    Hamlet I.ii.355)
Page 27, Panel 6    Fat, and scant of breath (Hamlet)  O! that this too
                    too solid flesh would melt (Hamlet I.ii.129)  Give
                    us the foils! (Hamlet V.ii.200).
Page 27, Panel 7    A hit, a very palpable hit. (Hamlet V.ii.295)
Page 27, Panel 8    The rest is silence. (Hamlet V.ii.372)
Page 27, Panel 9    Zorro cuts a Z on the chests of his enemies

Credits: Prabhakar Ragde for exact citation for "Give us the foils".


Name (in order)     Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tremensdelirious    Delirious tremens: shaking condition caused by
                    overdosing on alcohol.  The "DTs".
Egganlettus         Egg and lettuce
Angina              Angina: a localized spasm of pain
Influenza           Influenza: the flu virus
Orthapedix          Orthapedix: the treatment of foot problems
Dithyrambix         Dithyramb: any wildly emotion speech or writing
Tonsillitus         Tonsillitis: inflamation of the tonsils




************************************************************************

                Asterix and the Great Crossing ((c) 1975)
                         By Goscinny and Udzerzo
         English Translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge


Basically "Asterix in America... and a bit of Denmark"  The only book
that actually uses a normal name (that's not historical).


Page, Panel         Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 4, Panel 2     Ira furor brevis est = anger is a short madness
                    (Horace, Epistles I.ii.62)
Page 5, Panel 2     The contents of the magic potion seem to change at
                    whim.  This contradicts other books.
Page 9, Panel 3     Donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos / Tempora
                    si fuerint nublia, solus eris. = As long as you are
                    lucky, you'll have many friends; / But should the
                    times become cloudy you'll be alone.  (Traditional
                    dystich).
Page 18, Panel 8    US military insignia, Air Force I think
Page 19, Panel 6    The 50 star portion of the US flag
Page 21, Panel 10   More US military insignia
Page 31, Panel 7    The Statue of Liberty, given to the US by France
Page 32, Panel 4    Said by Neil Armstrong, first man on the moon
Page 37, Panel 4    Niflheim = Hell
Page 41, Panel 1    "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark"
                    (Shakespeare, Hamlet, I.iv.90).  The skull is from
                    Hamlet V.i.201.

Credits: Sergio Gelato for the dystich.


Name (in order)     Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Huntingseassen      Hunting season
Herendethelessen    Here endeth the lesson
Steptoanssen        Steptoe Hansen: From Steptoe and Son, a British
                    comedy show from the 60's
Haraldwilssen       Harold Wilson: 60's/70's British Labour prime
                    minister
Nogoodreassen       No good reason
Odiuscomparissen    Odious comparisson
Gertrude            Gertrude: standard feminine name
Intrude             Intrude: to force in upon
Irmgard             Irmgard: standard feminine name
Firegard            Fireguard: some material built to withstand fire
Catastrofix         Catastrophic: disastrous

Credits: Chris Adams for Steptoeanssen and Haraldwilssen

************************************************************************

                        Obelix and Co. ((c) 1976)
                         By Goscinny and Udzerzo
         English Translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge

The other book without Asterix in the title.  And Obelix does pretty
much star in this one.  More political satire.


Page, Panel         Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 2, Panel 5     The two guys carrying the drunk one look like Uderzo
                    and Goscinny
Page 8, Panel 7     LSE = London School of Economics.  Who's he supposed
                    to look like???
Page 8, Panel 10    The guy on the right has gout
Page 17, Panel 6    Veni, vidi, vici: I came, I saw, I conquered (Julius
                    Caesar)
Page 23, Panel 5    Laurel and Hardy
Page 29, Panel 6    Redde Caesar...: Render unto Caesar that which is
                    Caesar's. (Matt 22:21). Anachronism.
Page 29, Panel 8    Si vis pacem, para bellum = If you want peace,
                    prepare for war. (Vegetius, 4th-5th cent. AD)
Page 31, Panel 4    Alea jacta est = the die is cast (Julius Caesar)
Page 34, Panel 9    That symbol is Romulus and Remus, the legendary
                    founders of Rome, being suckled by a she-wolf
Page 36, Panel 9    Uti, non abuti = Use, don't abuse.

Name (in order)     Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Scrofulus           Scrofulous: Morally corrupt
Ignoramus           Ignoramus: ignorant and stupid
Caius Preposterus   Preposterous: unbelievable
Larcenus            Larcenous: inclined to theft
Analgesix           Analgesics: rub-on medicines to ease pain
Monosyllabix        Monosyllabic: speaking in single syllables
Polysyllabix        Polysyllabic: speaking in big words
Pacifix             Pacific Ocean
Atlantix            Atlantic Ocean
Baltix              Baltic Sea
Adriatix            Adriatic Sea
Woolix              Wooly.  Or Woolworths?
Incongruous         Incongrous: something out of place
Meretricius         Meretricious: like a prostitute, false showy charms



************************************************************************

                 The Twelve Tasks of Asterix ((c) 1976)

This is a bit different.  It's a book from the movie. Several of the
books were made into movies (Asterix and Cleopatra was pretty decent,
but this went the other way).  It has pictures, but only as
illustrations (drawn, not from the movie), and it has a heck of a lot
more text.  It doesn't seem to be written by Goscinny and Uderzo, nor
translated by Bell and Hockridge.  Not much to do here, it's written to
a lower level.  All of it is noncanonical.


Page                Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 6              The first and probably only time you'll see a naked
                    female breast in Asterix books
Page 7              All the Hercules stuff is true to myth
Page 44             Ave Caesar! Morituri... = Hail Caesar! We who are
                    about to die salute you


Name (in order)     Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Caius Tiddlus       Tiddly: British for drunk, tipsy
Asbestos            Fire-retardant material
Verses              Divisions in a poem
Cylindric           Having a cylindrical shape (like a roll of paper)
Iris                The colored portion of the eye
Calorifix           Calorific: something that generates heat


************************************************************************

                      Asterix in Belgium ((c) 1979)
                         By Goscinny and Udzerzo
         English Translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge

This one has a _lot_ of "guest appearances."  I'm sure I've missed a
few.  This is the last Asterix Goscinny wrote before his death.  The
translators did an _exceptional_ job.  Something that yanks my chain is
that the translators give "Apologies to: George Gordon, Lord Byron, Mr.
Mm. Shakespeare, Mr. John Milton, and Pieter Breughel the Elder"  I've
found all the rest, but I can't find anything on George Gordon.  I
suspect the "Nearer, clearer, deadlier than before..." but can't prove
anything.  Help!


Page, Panel         Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 4, Panel 10    Is this historical???
Page 5, Panel 5     This is the case today.
Page 15, Panel 6    Pseudonymus is in Asterix's old squad from "Asterix
                    the Legionaire"
Page 17, Panel 3    The Belgians are famous for their food
Page 22, Panel 1    Non licet omnibus adire corinthum = It is not given
                    to everyone to reach Corinth. This is close to
                    Horace, "Non cuivis homini contingit adire
                    Corinthum": Not everyone is lucky enough to get to
                    Corinth (Horace, Epistles I.xvii.35)
Page 27, Panel 8    The Thompson Twins, from Tintin
Page 29, Panel 7    Who is this???
Page 31, Panel 5    Moritorus te saluto = I who am about to die salute
                    you.  Again a reference to "Morturi te saluto" said
                    by gladiators saluting the Emperor.
Page 35, Panel 4    Who is this???  Alea jacta est = the die is cast
                    (Julius Caesar)
Page 35, panel 6    Who is this???
Page 36, Panel 3    But hush! hark! a deep sound strikes like a rising
                    knell! ... Arm! Arm!  It is - it is - the cannon's
                    opening roar! (Lord Byron, Beppo c.III.s.23)
Page 37, Panel 1    I suspect this is Beppo c.III stanza 24, but I don't
                    have it to check against. ???
Page 37, Panel 3    Xenophobia: dislike of foreigners
Page 39, Panel 1    Did ye not hear it? No -- 'twas but the wind / Or
                    the car rattling o'er the stony street; / On with
                    the dance! (Beppo c.III.s.12)
Page 39, Panel 5    Nearer, clearer, deadlier than before... ???
Page 40, Panel 1    Cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war
                    (Shakespeare, Julius Caesar III.i.273)
Page 41, Panel 1    But yesterday the word of Caesar might / Have stood
                    against the world (Julius Caesar III.ii.124)
Page 41, Panel 2    Chaos umpire sits... Chance governs all.  (Milton,
                    Paradise Lost bk.II.l.907)
Page 41, Panel 5    "Publish and be damned!" Arthur Wellesley, Duke of
                    Wellington is reputed to have said this to someone
                    who was blackmailing him.
Page 41, Panel 7    With ruin upon ruin, rout upon rout, Confusion worse
                    confounded (Paradise Lost bk.II.l995)
Page 42, Panel 1    This is in the style of a famous painting by Pieter
                    Breughel the Elder.  Name of it is ???

Credits: Mark-Jason Dominus for "Publish and be damned!"

Name (in order)     Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pseudonymus         Pseudonym: a name used instead of the author's real
                    name
Beefix              Beefy
Brawnix             Brawny
Melancholix         Melancholy: depressed
Alcoholix           Alcoholic
Potbellix           Potbellied
Bonanza             Bonanza: a source of wealth or profits
Saintlouisblus      Saint Louis blues.
Wolfgangamadeus     Wolfgang Amadeus: the first and middle names of
                    Mozart
Monotonus           Monotonous: boring
Botanix             Botany: the study of plants
Califlowa           Cauliflower




************************************************************************

                 Asterix and the Great Divide ((c) 1980)
                               By Udzerzo
         English Translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge

This is the first book after Goscinny's death.  Uderzo was the artist,
so the adventures can continue.  The story here isn't quite as memorable
as some of the best Asterixes, but is actually pretty good. If you've
seen any of Goscinny's other work (such as the Caliph with Tabary)
you'll see that he wasn't as good by himself, either.  It was just a
team that worked.


Page, Panel         Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 10, Panel 4    O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou, Romeo
                    (Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet II.ii.33)
Page 14, Panel 9    Nunc dimittis = leave now (Vulgate, Ev. S. Luc 2:29)
Page 28, Panel 4    Requiescamus in pace = Let us rest in peace (Latin
                    Mass: Requiescant in pace).
Page 38, Panel 1    Caveat emptor = let the buyer beware
Page 40, Panel 1    Aqua vitae = strong alcohol.  Terra firma = solid
                    ground

Name (in order)     Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cleverdix           Clever Dick: Americans might say "wise ass".
Majestix            Majestic: regal, kinglike
Histrionix          Histrionics: an artifical or affectic manner,
                    excessive dramatics
Codfix              Codfish
Altruistix          Altruistic: unselfish concern for welfare of others
Alcaponix           Al Capone: famous American mobster of the 30's
Melodrama           Melodrama: extravagantly emotional.  Much like
                    histrionics
Angelica            Angelic
Schizophrenix       Schizophrenic: a mental disorder.  In popular use a
                    split personality.
Sourpus             Sourpuss
Infectius Virus     Infectious virus: transmittable disease
Umbrageous
  Cumulonimbus      Umbrageous: giving shade; cumulonimbus: storm cloud
Congenitalidiotix   Congenital idiot: idiocy caused by a birth defect




************************************************************************

                  Asterix and the Black Gold ((c) 1981)
                               By Udzerzo
         English Translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge

"Asterix in the Middle East"  Another one that proves that Uderzo isn't
bad at all on his own.  Quite a bit of good James Bond parody.


Page, Panel         Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 3, Panel 6     M.I.6 is a British espionage agency
Page 4, Panel 6     Papyrus: paper.  Their equivalent of microfilm.
Page 11, Panel 6    Hors de combat: out of action, disabled
Page 18, Panel 8    Non omnia possumus omnes = we can't all do
                    everything (Virgil, Eclogue vii.63 attrib to
                    Macrobius Lucilius, Saturnalia vi.1.35)
Page 19, Panel 3    Magnum opus: someone's greatest work
Page 22, Panel 8    Bireme=two sets of oars on each side, trireme=three,
                    quadrireme=four, quinquireme=five (big as they got)
Page 27, Panel 1    Shalom: "peace," traditional Jewish greeting or
                    farewell
Page 30, Panel 7    Mazel tov: "good luck" traditional
Page 32, Panel 8    Akkad was an ancient region in N. Babylonlia,
                    2800-1100 BC.  Sumer was an ancient region of the
                    lower Euphrates, back past 4000 BC
Page 33, Panel 5    Hittite: Asia Minor and Syria from 1700-700 BC
Page 33, Panel 10   Assyria: Upper Tigris, peak was about 700 BC
Page 34, Panel 5    Media: What is now NW Iran
Page 41, Panel 5    ave atque vale = hail, and farewell evermore
                    (Catullus 87-54 BC, Carmina ci)


Name (in order)     Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
M. Devius
  Surreptitius      Devious: clever; surreptitious: sneaky,
                    unnoticeable.  M is the guy in charge of James
                    Bond's agency, and he looks like him.
Dubbelosix          006: James Bond is 007.  He looks like Sean Connery
Ekonomikrisis       Economy crisis.  From Asterix the Gladiator.
Samson Alius
  (Rosenblumenthal-
   ovitch)          Samson: as in Samson and Delilah; alias: because his
                    real name is about as stereotypical Jewish as you
                    get... the "ovitch" even suggests Russian Jew.
Joshua ben Zedrin   ???
Isaiah              Isaiah: a prophet
Saul Ben Ephishul   ??? He looks like ???
Pontius Pirate      Pontious Pilate.  Who's he look like???
Classis Tyrannicus  Classic tyranical: typical tyrant



************************************************************************

                       Asterix and Son ((c) 1983)
                               By Udzerzo
         English Translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge

This one is pretty dang good, if I do say so myself.


Page, Panel         Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 1, Panel 2     Adenoids: growths of tissue in the upper throat
                    behind the nose.
Page 11, Panel 9    Quod erat demonstrandum = which was the thing to be
                    proved (Euclid).  Used in proofs as QED.
Page 42, Panel 2    Ad nauseam = to the point of disgust
Page 43, Panel 1    Asterix and Cleopatra


Name (in order)     Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bucolix             Bucolic: rustic, countrified.  He talks like
                    sterotypical English country bumpkin.
Crismus Cactus      Christmas cactus
Brutus              Historical: Marcus Junius Brutus, adopted son of
                    Julius Caesar and one of the conspirators who
                    murdered him
Odiferus            Odiferous: something that smells.  Who's he look
                    like ???
Aromatix            Aromatic: something that smells.
Fotogenix           Photogenic: looks good on camera
Aspidistra          A houseplant with broad tapering leaves
Cleopatra           Historical: 69-30 BC, queen of Egypt and mistress of
                    Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.  There were many
                    "Cleopatra"s but this is the famous one.
Caesarion           Historical: Ptolemy XVI ruled till 30 BC, last of
                    his dynasty



************************************************************************

                    Asterix Versus Caesar ((c) 1985)
                        Script by Pierre Tchernia
         English Translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge

This is another book based on a film.  The film script, by Pierre
Tchernia, is adapted from the books Asterix the Gladiator (ATG) and
Asterix the Legionary (ATL). They certainly did a better job on this one
that Studio Idefix did on "The Twelve Tasks..."   This one follows the
format of the other with lots of text, but the pictures are actual shots
from the movie.  Bell and Hockridge did the translation on this one.
All noncanonical again, and not much to do

I'm calling Page 1 "It was a lovely day..."


Page                Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 16             Veni, vidi, non vici: I came, I saw, I didn't
                    conquer
Page 34             EEC: European Economic Community

Name (in order)     Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cauis Flabius Obtus Flabby: fat; obtuse: dull.  Cauius Fatuous from ATG.
Incautius           Incautious
Panacea             Same as ATL
Tragicomix          Same as ATL
Dramatix            Dramatic
Terminus            An end
Dubius Status       Same as in ATL
Paytoomuchtax       Pay too much tax.  Selectivemploymentax from ATL
Pecadillo el
  Bonafidez         Peccadillo: a minor sin; bona fides: proof of good
                    faith or just identification
Garulus Rumpus      Garrulous: talks too much; rumpus: noisy disturbance
Suspicius           Suspicious.  Ekonomikrisis from ATG.


************************************************************************

                 Asterix and the Magic Carpet ((c) 1987)
                               By Udzerzo
         English Translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge


Asterix in India.  This one just seems... different for some reason.
There's far more words and footnoted references than ever before, and
there are fewer panels per page.  This one seems like it was trying to
be an adventure without trying to be very funny.


Page, Panel         Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 12, Panel 8    Sic transit gloria mundi = Thus passes the glory of
                    the world (said at the coronation of a pope)
Page 30, Panel 5    Contraria contrariis curantur = The opposites are
                    cured by their opposites.  Quot capita, tot sensus =
                    So many heads, so many opinions.
Page 39, Panel 5    This is a reference to the evil vizier Iznogoud in
                    Goscinny and Tabary's "Caliph" series, who wants "To
                    be caliph instead of the caliph".

Name (in order)     Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Watziznehm          What's his name?
Watzit              What's it?
Orinjade            Orangeade
Hoodunnit           Who done it?  Watch the smiley face on his robe,
                    it's hilarious.
Incautius           Incautious
Onthepremises       On the premises
Metoffis            Metaphysic: having to do with the supernatural
Lehmonade           Lemonade
Howdoo              How do?
Owzat               How's that?
Iznogoud            Is no good.


************************************************************************

                            Operation Getafix
                          The Book of the Movie

I am currently missing this.


************************************************************************

                  How Obelix Fell Into the Magic Potion
                        When He Was a Little Boy

I am currently missing this.


************************************************************************

                Asterix and the Secret Weapon ((c) 1991)
                               By Udzerzo
         English Translation by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge

Asterix and femininism.  This one is the first that's pretty decently
annotated already.

Page, Panel         Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 0              (The Goscinny/Uderzo drawing) Actually, Uderzo is
                    tall and thin, Goscinny was shorter and portly.
Page 3, Panel 4     Often attributed as Nero's last words, but he had
                    quite a few after these.
Page 4, Panel 6     Is this rhyme from anything ???
Page 5, Panel 7     Misogynist: doesn't like women.  Xenophobic: doesn't
                    like foreigners.
Page 8, Panel 2     Adenoids: growths of tissue in the upper throat
                    behind the nose.
Page 8, Panel 7     Cardia and Mytili: cities.  Mitili(ni) was the
                    capital of Lesbos, which may or may not be a
                    commentary by the translators...
Page 10, Panel 7    Gloria victis: Glory to the vanquished.
Page 11, Panel 6    What's in a name?  That which we call a rose / By
                    any other name would smell as sweet (Shakespeare,
                    Romeo and Juliet II.ii.43)
Page 15, Panel 8    Desinit in piscem mulier formosa superne: So that
                    which is a beautiful woman on top ends in a black
                    and ugly fish (Horace, Ars Poetica 3).
Page 17, Panel 1    Coup d'etat: overthrow of government
Page 22, Panel 3    Quod erat demonstrandum = which was the thing to be
                    proved (Euclid).  Used in proofs as QED.
Page 30, Panel 3    The guy on the right is definitely someone ???
Page 33, Panel 9    Anacreontic: Poem written in the manner ofAnacreon
                    (died 478 BC), convival in tone.
Page 41, Panel 5    Patrician: A member of the roman nobility
Page 43, Panel 2    Onomatopoeic: a word that sounds like thesound it
                    names (boom, cuckoo, bang).
Page 44, Panel 5    Impresario: manager of a theater company


Name (in order)     Meaning:explained meaning. Comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bravura             A type of music requiring exceptional ability
Mollia Malonus      Molly Malloy, from the song
Manlius
  Claphamomnibus    Clapham: a district in SW London.  Omnibus:double
                    decker bus.  "the man on the Clapham omnibus"is
                    familiar British phrase for "the averageman."
Diorix              Christian Dior, a famous clothes designer
Cosmetix            Cosmetics.  Check out his outfit!
Ziegfeldfollix      The Ziegfeld follies.  Florence Ziegfeld from
                    1869-1932.


-- 
Yesterday upon the stair, I met a man who wasn't there.
He wasn't there again today - I think he's from the CIA.
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc