Those Magnificent Druids and their Golden Sickles

Book: Asterix and the Golden Sickle
Pen: René Goscinny 
Pencils: Albert Uderzo

Once the introductions were over Goscinny and Uderzo decided to get into the serious business of going on adventures out of home turf. This time it is not too far, but to Lutetia, the town which would, one day, become Paris.

Opening with the trademark peaceful village scene, we are rudely jolted by a string of obscenities. The kind that are best explained using symbols! Getafix the druid has broken his golden sickle. Mistletoe, a major ingredient in his magic potion, has to be cut with a golden sickle or else it wouldn't retain any magic qualities. The best golden sickles were made in Lutetia by the sicklesmith Metallurgix, who just happens to be a distant cousin of Obelix. The two friend decide to undertake the perilous journey across Gaul and get their druid a golden sickle.

Once they reach Lutetia they find that Metallurgix has disappeared and some Romans are running the sickle business. Suspecting something fishy, Asterix and Obelix search for Metallurgix. A bunch of shady characters led by the middleman Clovogarlix and shady Navishtrix. They are repeatedly captured by Roman patrols but are released by the bored Roman prefect Surplus Dairyprodus. Finally they find Metallurgix and Getafix gets his sickle. Obelix shares equal footing with Asterix in this adventure.  

It is the first view of Lutetia and the town is showed as a crowded and dangerous town, but with its attractions. Also appearing for the first time in Asterix adventures is a version of the famous “These Romans are crazy” phrase, though it is not uttered by Obelix.  

Tackling slightly non-childish themes like forced imprisonment and trading monopoly, Asterix and the Golden Sickle takes the heroes out of their comfort zone and forces them to use their cunning as well as strength. It is a precursor to adventures to further lands and firmly establishes that the books would work best if Asterix and Obelix were both front and centre.

Best names: Surplus Dairyprodus