Asterix and the Chieftain's shield (1968)

Le bouclier Arverne

A, O & Vitalstatistix count their daily calorie intake.

Presenting a pretentious thematic undercurrent…

Satire on diet fads, with Ancient spas given the contemporary health-farm treatment - all cold baths, regular exercise and regimented diets. Later becomes a study of factory management and manufacturing industry. Asterix and Obelix visit a wheel factory replete with a typing-pool, tannoy-system and a sleeping boss at a euphemistic 'meeting'.

Notable Nomenclature...

Diagnostix: Druid in charge of the health-farm at Vichy.
Noxius Vapus: Envoy to Julius Caesar.
Winesanspirix, Localpolitix, Forinpolitix, Thermostatix: Arvernian combined Wine and Charcoal merchants.
Caius Pusillanimus: Workshy inebriate legionary.
Titus Crapulus: Workshy inebriate Centurion, Caius's drinking partner.
Lucius Circumbendibus: Once Alesian Veteran - now wheel factory magnate.
Anaesthesia: His personal secretary.
Memoranda: His receptionist.
Marcus Carniverus: Once Alesian veteran - now restauranteur.
Applejus, Carrotjus, Prunejus, Tomatojus: Health farm employees.

Continuity, observations and occasional gaffes...

First of book-sequence Kessler calls "The Teeming Village" refering to greater detail in Uderzo's drawing; and consequently greater individuality in the characterisation of the villagers.
Impedimenta is first presented as a Grade A harridan (p2).
There is a touching sequence illustrating Asterix and Obelix's underlying friendship (31).
The title of the book gives away the story's denouement.

Cleverness and contemporaneity...

There is a pseudo-cinematic 'pre-titles sequence' that sets the background to the story (p1).
Getafix clearly favours a holistic approach to health-care - his potions will cure the symptoms but not the root-cause of Vitalstatistix's illness (p3).
Vitalstatistix adopts the 'medicinal purpose' pretext to get drunk (p5).
The health-farms employ 'modern' shower-systems that consist of slaves flinging buckets of water (p29).
Noxius Vapus's Numidian Litter-bearers become increasingly amused every time he is bashed-up (11, 16 and 17).
Caasar's private spoils include a Swiss Cuckoo Water-Clock and a British seaside souvenir with a shell motif (p14).
Caius Pusillanimus hiccups the Latin phrase 'Hic Haec, Hoc' (p23).
The wheel factory's Intercom system consists of a speaking horn on a desk leading to a compartment wherein resides a tiny African runner (p24). When Obelix intercepts one of these diminutive couriers, he comments that he has 'picked up the message' (p26).
Circumbendibus uses the 'at a meeting' siesta euphemism beloved of management-class worldwide. (pp 25-26).
Circumbendibus has performance charts on the wall of his office; and he sends memos on corporate note-slabs with an official carved letterhead (p26).
As a nice ironic touch, it is the two bone-idle inebriates Pusillanimus and Crapulus who are ultimately rewarded with promotion (p43).

Obelix has a tender side...

Doesn't appreciate which 'fat friend' the Druid Diagnostix is referring to (p6).
Blushes and says 'Oh, I say' when a buxom housewife complements his fine gastronomic taste (p17).

Good or What?

Good.

A minor story, but one from Asterix's middle period when the books were of a consistently high standard. Lots of excellent punning - mostly centered on the Roman legionaries' predetermined fate to search piles of charcoal.