Here we go:
Having now read the whole thing, I thought that Lusitania started with a fairly classic Asterix - style premise, including typical location and villains, then waffled around for a while. BUT. fortuitously wrapped up with a strong finish, not unlike classic Astérix. (I’ll be darned!)
Overall, I found most of the jokes mediocre. Of course, I’m not sure how much translation factored in to that, but with every passing album that comes out, the more I’m tempted to think: ‘they’ll never be another Goscinny, or even spiritual successor.’
Getting back to Goscinny, it can be hard to pin down exactly the breadth of his comics genius, but my working theory is: 1) good, fundamental BD stories, 2) very good ability to combine aspects of ancient culture with hyper-modern aspects & concerns upon the very same regions, 3) wicked punning, with the hope that it could somehow find a B&H counterpart in other languages, 4) a mastery of panel-flow and efficient storytelling.
I’d rate Lusitania as above-average in the body of post-Goscinny works.
I’ve really not enjoyed the last Astérix, having grown up with the Goscinny ones. To be honest, I haven’t read this one, but I’m planning to. Not expecting much to be honest, but thanks for the review nonetheless !
Goscinny of course had master class puns, and I mean in french it’s just perfection. But maybe it’s further than that. He had great timing and tempo in storytelling, that the newer albums clearly have lost. They try nowadays to take the spirit of making jokes using modern situations, which can work but this mostly falls flat imo. It’s like writing satire and being witty isn’t as easy as it sounds !
Ugh, sorry I missed your comment at the time. And yeap-- I do feel about the same.
That said, I felt like this album DID have its high-points. Not Goscinny-level of course, but we do the best with what we have, mais non…?
I think you want to say “n’est ce pas ?” which in that case is "don’t we? " unless I misunderstood!
I agree there can be some good stuff. But far and few vs. Whole adventures that were peak! I still quote Asterix légionnaire on a yearly basis.
So, “n’est ce pas” and not “mais non?”… hmm, maybe I get it now.
Okay, check it:
“N’est-ce pas” is exploratory, asking “is it not?”“Mais non” is harder, like saying “nope! it’s whatever”
Something like that…?
Mais non is not really used as a question unless you express disbelief. Like “no way?!” is “mais non?!”. You can Actually just use “non…?” in your original sentence as it leaves space for questioning but also judgement.
Anyways!
