| Obelix and Co. (Obélix et Compagnie) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date | 1978 |
| Series | Asterix |
| Creative team | |
| Writers | Rene Goscinny |
| Artists | Albert Uderzo |
| Original publication | |
| Date of publication | 1976 |
| Language | French |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Asterix Conquers Rome |
| Followed by | Asterix in Belgium |
Obelix and Co. is the twenty-third volume of theAsterixcomic book series, byRené Goscinny (stories) andAlbert Uderzo (illustrations).[1] The book's main focus is on the attempts by the Gaul-occupying Romans to corrupt the one remaining village that still holds out against them by instillingcapitalism. It is one of only two albums not to have the word “Asterix” in the title in the English translation (along withThe Mansions of the Gods). It is also the penultimate volume written by Goscinny before his death in 1977; his final volume,Asterix in Belgium, was released after his death in 1979.[2]
AfterObelix single-handedly defeats a newly arrived battalion of Roman soldiers,Julius Caesar ponders over how to defeat the village of rebellious Gauls. A young advisor Preposterus, using his studies ineconomics, proposes that the Gauls to be integrated intocapitalism, pointing out how Caesar's advisors have grown decadent with their wealth. Caesar agrees and sends Preposterus to one of the village's outlying Roman camps. Upon meeting Obelix carrying amenhir through the forest, Preposterus offers to buy the menhir and make Obelix a rich man, on the pretext it will give him influence, by buying every menhir he can make. Obelix agrees and begins making and delivering a single menhir a day to him.
Preposterus raises the demand for menhirs, forcing Obelix to hire villagers – while some aid him, the others hunt boar for himself and his new workers. The resulting workload causes him to neglect his faithful companionDogmatix, whileAsterix refuses to help him, concerned on what this is doing to him. As Obelix grows wealthy and begins wearing ostentatious clothes, many of the village's men are criticised by their wives for not matching his success. In response, many turn to making their own menhirs to sell to the Romans, withGetafix supplying them with magic potion for their work. While everyone (except for Asterix, Getafix, Cacofonix and Vitalstatistix) profits from the growing menhir demand, Asterix believes that this new change will not last.
Preposterus brings the excess stock of menhirs to Caesar, who is upset that Preposterus' plan is placing him in financial debt. Preposterus proposes to sell the menhirs topatricians on the pretext they are asymbol of great wealthand high rank. However, other provinces begin making their own menhirs to sell, creating a growing Menhir crisis that is crippling the Roman economy and threatening a civil conflict from the Empire's workforce. To put a stop to this, Caesar orders Preposterus to cease further trading with Gauls or face being thrown to thelions.
Meanwhile, Obelix becomes miserable from the wealth and power he made, having never understood it all, and how much it has changed other villagers, making him wish to go back to how life was with Asterix and Dogmatix. Asterix offers to go hunting boar with him if he reverts to his old clothes. When Preposterus arrives to announce he will stop buying menhirs, the villagers claim Obelixknew of this in advance and they fight with him. Asterix instead convinces the villagers to attack the Romans, and while Obelix sits out the fight, they wreck the camp and Preposterus. The menhir crisis caused the villagers sestertius to be devalued, and the village holds a traditional banquet to celebrate the return to normality.
