Thank you for this informative video. As a French speaker, I can confirm that the reference to "merchant and seafarer" is indeed an exact translation of the French "marchand et marin". Anthea Bell clearly took a leaf out of Goscinny' book when she turned it into a pun...
Perfect, that's just what I was looking for! Thank you so much for providing that original French! That confirms, as you say, that Bell and Hockridge were indeed taking a bit of license but 1)it is definitely in keeping with the spirit of the series to have a 'pun'chline at the end of that scene with the long shot of the ship sailing away and 2) if I am not mistaken, the sounds of 'marchand' and 'marin' are very similar in French. Not homonyms but alliterative enough to play the role of puns, which I think the previous translation embraces but this one does away with completely, leaving us with a much more prosaic scene-ender.
@@ftloc In the Dutch translation it's "Hij was een beter koopman dan zeeman." So there it rhymes at the end. I'm critical of translations too but I have to say the Dutch translation of Asterix is very good. Although I also like the old English translation.
But you're right. The old translation tries and succeeds to do the same as Goscinny. The new translators seem to completely miss the joke or rhyme of the original.
Love this dive into the translation differences between two editions. As an American I've been aware and curious about Asterix but never found these books as they are very much on the periphery of our pop culture. These videos help me find excellent starting point to series I'm less familiar with. I've got to thank you for your coverage of Usagi Yojimbo. I've picked up several editions based on your videos an I've loved them all.
Thank you and that's fantastic! That makes me so happy to hear. Regarding Asterix, the Hachette paperback omnibuses I show in these videos are still easily available there, they're full sized and have the earlier 'UK' translation. They're not in hardcover, unfortunately, but those are the ones I'd recommend you check out if interested!
This review is wonderful and one of the best comic reviews I have seen overall on youtube. Thank you for spending the time for such a thorough analysis. I have not read Asterix before but after hearing about how good it was for years, I want to give it a go. The older softcover releases sound much better than the new Papercutz releases.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the video - thank you so much for your kind words! And the Asterix series is indeed excellent so you're sure to enjoy yourself! I have another video in which I talk about the series book by book (in a very general way) and a little bit on why I chose these particular editions. Check it out here: ruclips.net/video/XQNwkKl7I8g/видео.html if interested! Cheers!
Wow this is a great review! Love the details you go into with the various examples of the translations. I am looking to upgrade and complete my Asterix collection from a set of rare editions that I believe were never completed (publisher was Hodder Dargaud, and I think they only published around 2/3 of the series in omnibus-like editions of 5-6 books in each omnibus). It's always bugged me that I'd never got to read the whole series when I was younger, but now that I can afford it, I'm researching which edition I should buy to make sure I get everything so far, but also to get the best version possible. You've made my decision a lot easier! In fact, it's a no-brainer! Thanks! 👍
So glad you liked the video and thank you for your kind words! And thanks for sharing; this is exactly why I wanted to make this video - for folks like me who may be considering a complete set or upgrade from childhood copies. I think I've seen some of those omnibuses, and very interesting to know they were never completed! That's always such a frustrating thing...
This video was incredible and answered all the questions I usually have with books. It can be really hard to find out information like this about books so I’m glad you do these videos. Please keep it up.
Excellent vid my friend. I was contemplating buying these last month, but upon reflection i don't think i'll bother. Btw, the song Caocofanix is singing, 'maybe it's because i'm Amorican', is a parody of the famous old English song, 'maybe it's because i'm a Londoner'.
Thanks for that! I've always wondered about some songs because I've recognized the others (There is a tavern in the town, Little brown jug, etc)! Any idea about what the new song may be an allusion to?
@@ftloc they would be my only copies. My older albums were all thrown away by my mother (which is my fault, I left them in her basement when I got married and she probably gave me ten years before discarding them).
Thanks for the wonderful comparison. I just got one of these for my birthday because my mom found the second volume for a bargain and I didn't have the Omnibus of those books. It's sad when on the first page they ruin the joke by turn the punchline into just a fact confirmation (at 6:55). Also, at 8:04 I can confirm that the song he is singing in the new translation is 'Wings' by Ringo Starr, and that the lyrics are correct to the song in that it says 'I will fly' within the song.
So glad you liked the video! Yes, the new translation is a little disappointing. Someone else here also pointed out that the original Ringo Starr song is responsible for the funky grammar 😁 but it's still an odd choice, methinks!
Great video, the books are well presented but l was also disappointed in the translation. My main issue was the renaming of Getafix to Panoramix and other side characters throughout the story. After reading Asterix for over 40 years it is a big issue for me. I really like the new editions, l have the first 3 but unsure if l will continue with them. I have the softcovers but prefer them in a hardcover omnibus form.
Thank you, I'm so glad you liked the video! I had heard that Vitalstatistix was also going to have a name change - to Fisticuffix - and I was not looking forward to that at all! Luckily, sense prevailed there. With Getafix, I can kind of see why they didn't want the joke of a drug peddler marketed to kids, but I felt odd reading Panoramix as well, although I hear that's the original French name anyway. In general I think I could have taken a few name changes if they had approached the rest of the translation, especially the humour, with a little bit more care.
@@ftloc There were a few Hachette collections published that were more like best-of collections, but you could fill in the missing ones with with the soft cover single story albums. I think 'Asterix the Bold' with a yellow cover was the first in the series.
One more thing to commend you on: I said in depth review and it really is. But there's not many channels who can pull this off in 16 minutes and counting. Awesome job!
Great video! I like a couple of the changes they've done but on the most part, I definitely prefer the European album size. The smaller size of the PapercutZ editions would probably be a deal-breaker for me if I was about to start my collection. Not a fan of the new translation either after the issues you pointed out.
I think there should just be a law against shrinking European albums! 😁 But honestly, I could still have argued for these hardcovers if there had been a little more care taken with the language.
Hi from Greece, I'm glad the American public gets to put its flamboyant heroes in tights aside for a while in order to enjoy and appreciate some lovable, potion-drinking rascals from Europe. When I was a kid I found a couple of UK pocket-sized Asterix magazines in my English class, that was my very first encounter with the little Gaulish warrior in the English language. It was quite the surprise at the time because I used to read every single comic in Greek and that was it until my early teens kicked in. Now to be honest with you I haven't read many Asterix stories in English, Greek and French were my languages of choice most of the time, French for better appreciating, understanding the intended Goscinny humor, Greek for the classic, hilarious translations in my native language. I have recently read Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield translated by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge, as far as I'm concerned the translation in question is beyond disappointing, it's scandalous, lazy, indifferent and shows lack of respect for Goscinny's work. The Winesanspirix character has no peasant accent at all and in pages 16 and 17 there's no trace of wordgames or wordplay like in the original text. I realize how hard it is to transfer the witty humor from a foreign language but lack of effort can only make things worse and discourage French-speaking readers furthermore..
Oh that's so interesting to hear about the disappointment in Bell and Hockridge! It just goes to show you how important context is - because you were able to compare cross languages, something I never got to do, you could see things missing or inferior just the way that I think I see deficiencies in the new translation!
@@ftloc Yes, exactly, your video is quite explanatory regarding cross languages, I will check out the American translation of the Chieftain's Shield the moment I get my hands on it..
Thank you very much for this video. I placed an order for the hardcover editions, but I cancelled it and decided to go with the paperback version. What made me take this decision was the new translation versus the previous one. Again, thank you for helping!
I really hate how this is becoming the norm now, dumbing down the wording in books so kids will understand them better. Wasn't part of the point of reading to teach new words to children? When I was young I didn't always understand what Asterix and Obelix were saying but I still enjoyed the adventures, and through reading I got to know what the words meant. I'm English and live in Britain, so this doesn't affect me, but it still bothers me. Having said that, the latin words being asterisked (haha) is a good addition. I also feel this is a one-sided thing, here in the UK we learn American slang and spelling from American books, but when a British book is brought out in America, the wording and spelling is changed like in Harry Potter for example (not that Asterix is British, but those editions have been out in the US for a long time). On a related note, I actually remember when the words 'sagacity' and 'deputation' were used in Thomas the Tank Engine! How times have changed!
Anecdotally, I think this phenomenon of only using simple and familiar words in books for children is somewhat detrimental to language acquisition. I grew up reading a lot of books by Enid Blyton, and I credit her writing, which certainly included a lot of words and expressions that would be considered 'difficult' today, with expanding my vocabulary at an early age. She may be considered unfashionable and problematic now but at least the language in her books isn't dumbed down.
I completely agree with you. The power of reading is tied to the expansion of one's horizons, and limiting the opportunities to do that are unfortunate. Giving the publishers and translators here the benefit of the doubt for a second, maybe they just changed the words they considered archaic and not necessarily difficult? Still, as I say in the video, I do feel a little pang of sadness at the idea that some child will not learn 'indomitable' through this comic, and will not forever associate that word with Gauls resisting Julius Caesar!
@@ftloc Yeah, definitely, I don't know if I've ever heard the word used in any other context! Loving the videos by the way, I'm very envious of your bookshelves!!
@@AshwithaWrites Exactly - I'm reading The Lord of the Rings at the moment, and there are many words I hardly come across or don't even know! There are times where I have to re-read a whole section again to understand it, which is tiresome, but it's part of the experience, and I'd like to think that at the age of 28, I'm even expanding my language knowledge now.
@@BenBernardSmith Oooh, how I envy you! I 've been a Tolkien nerd since l was thirteen - I think it was inevitable, given how much I love words and stories. Definitely learned a LOT of new words too.
"Wings" by Ringo Starr.. what a bizarre choice of song. I think that says more about the musical taste of the translator than what you'd expect a kid to know. It's a song from 2012, apparently, and the lyrics do share the same grammatical hiccup that's in the book. EDIT: I'm now terrified of you silently judging my grammar.
Oh I don't 'silently' judge anything! 😁 I kid, I kid; your grammar seems impeccable to me. And thanks for that note on the song - although it is a bit of an odd choice, I now feel bad for criticizing the translator instead of Mr Starr! (Still, why choose to quote that one line that has this weird grammar in it?) Later in the story Cacofonix does sing "It's raining menhirs (hallelujah)" and THAT was a choice I appreciated! 😁
Your reviews are so very good. You have found so many differences between the two. I am going to buy the larger volumes for my collection. Thanks for your review.
Thanks, I really appreciate that! Did you catch my first Asterix video here: ruclips.net/video/XQNwkKl7I8g/видео.html ? I talk a little bbit about the three-in-one omnibuses that you may want to consider.
@@ftloc I just finished watching it, its another great and highly informative video. That actually seems like the cheaper method then buying them as the individual albums. Im going to buy one to give it a shot. Thanks.
It really confuses me, this manner of thinking. "This word won't be known to kids, they'll encounter it later, in another book that isn't for kids and which assumes they know the word already from something else they've read"? Where, then, is the book that taught them that? Asterix and indomitable has long been my example of where it happens, and it feels unacceptable for me to have that erased.
@@ftloc One of my nieces is an avid reader and she keeps a notebook full of new words she reads, but doesn't know, so she can look them up in a dictionary later and use them in her own stories. She likes being challenged in her reading.
Very informative video! Wish I caught this before I placed my order for the books a couple of weeks ago. Am horrified by the translation examples you highlighted especially in dealing with the salesman-sailsman joke. The fact that they kept the preceding panel text of, “It sank?”, tells me that perhaps the new translation team did consult the original translations and were perhaps looking to make changes. Which is a shame though; the original translations were fine and should have been left alone. Though that would explain why a new translation team would try to find a way to justify their roles/relevance to the new publishers.
That is almost EXACTLY what I was thinking, and even said in another reply on tthse comments. There definitely is some reference to the original translation (too many coincidences otherwise) but there seems an insistence on being different, at the cost of lucidity. I could not believe that 'will lecture us..' bit myself. Ah well, at least it's not unreadable and maybe the rest of the stories will be better?
I first read Asterix when i was in 8th grade. My friend introduced me to European version and we used to visit Library to read Asterix. I wanted to collect them and I'm Lucky i found your video. Now i know which one to buy. I hope someday we'll get hardcover in European version. Thanks for this review.
Thoroughly enjoyed your review, informative and brief, Thank you. Just a question though wouldn't it be advisable to get the European Omnibus versions in the Hardback's ?
I would love to - they definitely sound like the best option outside of the original English hardcovers, but I just don't see them available here, alas!
Hi, there is a new version, hardbound , with each having 4 volumes. They are calling it "Compact Edition". Publisher being "SPHERE". They are 10 Inch by 7, if my calculations are correct. Any chance of a review of those, please? I want to collect the set , and can't decide between the 3 in one Paperbacks and the new 4 in one Hardbound.
I picked one up on your advice! The size is shrunken, but at least it's the original translations and hardcover! I don't know if I'll get to make a video on them, but I thought I'd let you know I'd rank them slightly higher than the Papercutz editions.
Really appreciate the dive into these translations. The singer-comrade and lecture-speech bit are very bad. I can't imagine why they wouldn't at least consult the original translations at some point. Takes so much of the personality and humour of the dialogue. Very clunky.
I am sure there was some referencing to the existing translations - most of the names staying the same, for example, and several lines seem verbatim - but not where it counted, apparently. In fact, I was wondering if there was almost an insistence of being different, forcing a change for the sake of it, if that makes any sense!
It really seems the new translator doesn’t have the talents of a writer...and the culminative effect of lack of zinnginess and clumsy grammar weighs down these new translations. The smaller size is also sad...though standard practice in the publication of kids graphic novels in the USA, which has perhaps become standardized since Papercutz introduced the Smurfs books 6 or 8 years ago. Reading these with my daughter, I can say it's still a LOT of fun. But I wonder if the slight drag on the feel of the comic will keep it from attaining classic status.
Oh I'm so glad you're having a good time with your daughter, and yes, nothing here is a dealbreaker for a first time reader, especially a younger reader. But you've hit the nail on the head - 'classic' status may be elusive if revisiting becomes less rewarding. Through my younger days, the ability to return and enjoy the same stories definitely cemented their stature in my eyes. And it's a shame about shrinking European comics. With Hilda being such a success at a larger format , I would have thought more would try and get on that train!
It looked like the box of the art height and width are the same or almost the same size, that is gaging it from the video. I was hoping that the he would line up the top edges (as well as the side) of the art box so we could definitely tell if they're of the same size. I have bought used copies of the bigger edition, most are softcovers but several are hardcovers. Now, he got me thinking of of buying the papercutz edition and double dipping. lol!
Great 'quick' ;) overhead comparison video. I am very confused to state that the literal translation for the original french version of Cacophonix's song is "They have winged helmets, Long Live the Celts, They have winged helmets".
@@ftloc Hi, great video and channel. Yes it's a reference to an old folk song (bawdy song) about Brittany called "Vive la Bretagne". In the normal song, they say many times "Ils ont des chapeaux ronds, vive les Bretons" : They have round hats, Long Live the Bretons (of course it rhymes in French). The Bretons being the descendants of the Celts and the winged helmets a direct reference to the comics. Asterix is full of puns in French (this is also why both kids and adults like it), I can't imagine how difficult it must be to translate it.
@@leonardmouillet8336 Absolutely! Without knowing the original, i always found the earlier English translations so witty and punny (although maybe less directly referential) that i automatically appreciated the originals! I'd love to see some annotated versions that unpack the original references!
the thing you mention about the bad grammar and editing is a problem I have started to see a lot more in comics these days since they stopped writing the text by hand, and started doing it digitally. Back in the 90s when I first started reading comics (like Asterix) everything was written by hand, pen to paper, which most people unconsciously proofread as they write, and was likely proofread properly after, and then again after print which is when you would see those bits in the finished book that look like they'd been tipexxed or had white stickers put over them and the words replaced or fixed. Whereas now everything is typed on a computer, and while it may get proofread, I think most proof-readers don't actually read the script, but just look for the red squiggles that show spelling mistakes on the screen. So many times lately, there'll be complete words missing, or there'll be an *an* instead of an *a* ''he bought an newspaper'' which is the worst. Anyway, my point is, it seems like as the technology has gotten better at making things like writing text in comics more convenient, its made the people that write the text, and/or the proof-readers, lazier. Hey, my grammar is nowt to write home about, but when you're paying nearly a fiver for those measly ten pages we get these days, you expect them to at least have checked the grammar and spelling. One day I would love to see a modern comic go back to doing the writing by hand. But just like how I'd love to see a comic printed on newspaper stock again just so I can get more pages for the same price as those measly ten pages I get now, it'll likely never happen. So I would just settle for comics proof-readers to *actually read the comics they are proofreading* and not just do a quick redline spellcheck.
Great points! There's no doubt that the proofreading and copyediting had another layer when things were manual. I wonder if that would only apply to people transitioning from old to new, though. Perhaps people who have only ever worked digitally should have their own new quality control processes? The skills of the people involved is a big factor, of course, and I always think how much someone *cares* as being a determining factor as well.
I fell over these just last week and was thinking of possibly getting them...very useful review, thanks. I won't be buying, not so much due to the size (although my eyesight isn't as good as it was) but the translation is, in my opinion, unnecessary. Great that the USA has a chance to get into Asterix though... I hope they go for it!
Thank you! And I completely agree with you - I will not be collecting these, but I am glad that new generations and audiences will have a chance to discover this great series. I just hope that the few flaws visible to us fans don't deter the new readers, or, as another viewer commented here, create a sense of indifference among them.
I read them in French, I have them all in full size hardcovers coming partly from my dad's childhood. I never read them in English, and though the translation might be slightly less good, I will buy the Papercutz ones because they're less expensive :)
Yes, cost of getting the entire collection is definitely a big factor. Full size hardcovers would be my ideal; you're so fortunate to have that great collection from your dad - what a treasure!
@@ftloc Yes I really am glad! I noticed that in Asterix and the gladiator, on the boat, there wasn't a special wordplay in French for this bubble as in English, and I do believe that some many puns in the comic books were just added by Bell and Hockridge. Maybe what you get in American is just more faithful to the original French than the original Bell-Hockridge translation. Panoramix is a good example, as in French as well as in English, "Panorama" is the same, and needn't be changed to Getafix. I found Getafix a bit silly personally and so much more different from Panoramix, and am glad the Americans kept Panoramix. For Cacophonix singing about armorica, I wonder why things related to armorica were removed, but still, the singing of cacophonix in American is pretty similar to French, because in French Cacophonix sings that Celts have winged war helmets. So similar "Flying" stuff, though nothing about Celts. Still a bit clumsy in places I guess with some of those grammar errors you pointed out and the reduced size, just why?... did they do that?! It would be near-perfect if not for the size of them Asterix Papercutz(es)...
Ah they have changed some names but Lutetia remains Lutetia! The camp of Compendium is now Lilchum, though. That was in the thirty odd minutes I cut from this video! 😁 And yes, from what others have also told me the translator is on record saying they didn't like inserting jokes where there weren't any in the French, and I can understand that. In some cases, like with the salesman/sailsman thing in the last panel of an exchange with the boat leaving, it seems correctly paced and setup, so I wonder if the original is actually joke-free. And of course that doesn't explain some of the weird grammar or syntax...
Great Video as always! I hate to see it downsized like that, and the translation really seems a bit off. I think I will get the german collected edition which will get a 2nd edited new edition. Your Video just reminded me to check the translation with an older version to see if they changed the german translation as well. A not asterix relates question: do you also read lucky luke and if yes, do you like them?
Thank you so much! I'd be curious as to if they decided to change or update any translations other than English. In answer to your question, yes, I've read about 15 Lucky Luke albums and I've enjoyed them, especially the ones written by Goscinny. But because I didn't read them as a child (and therefore hundreds of time over) I don't have them virtually memorized the way I do Asterix or Tintin! 😁
@@ftloc With these kind of comics it helps if you read them as a child, they only get better with time :D do you plan on getting them? there is also a 3in1 edition on english i think? The same ones are also available in german.
Yes, I'm definitely collecting them! I have one 3-in-1 hardcover but I can't find the rest of them here so I started collecting single albums, which I think were reprinted in India some years ago and can be found relatively cheap.
@@ftloc great, I hope you will find them for a good price. I started collecting the 3in 1 german editions, I just hate to wait because it seems they only release 1 all 6 months and they just started. I would also love to see a video about lucky luke from you. Keep up the good work and have good evening!
Thank you; I'm so glad you enjoyed it! And yes, unfortunately, based only on this small sample, I consider the rather wooden translation the weakest part of these editions.
@@ftloc I made this post before I saw the translation issues. I went ahead and bought omnibus vol 2 with Orion. I’m slowly buying these every time I feel in the mood for an Asterix story
@@glennbramd7213 That's the way I did it and its a wonderful way to revisit them slowly and build the library at the same time. I hope you're enjoying yourself! 😁
With the smaller hardcovers, yeah! They have been collected into those full sized paperbacks I showed in my earlier videos though, those were 3-in-1 too and good value for money, without any real compromises.
Have you ever read Sam and Max comics? I'm guessing 'Surfin' the Highway: The Collected Sam and Max' is a book a lot of your viewers will be familiar with.
@@ftloc Sam and Max was a (very) infrequently published comic by a guy named Steve Prucell, who release a few stories through various publishers during the late 80s/early 90s. Prucell then got hired by Lucasarts as a game dev, and got to develop a point and click adventure game based on his characters - which turned out to be 1993's absolute critical darling. In 1995, there was a collection of all the Sam and Max comics titled Surfin' the Highway. And thanks mainly to the success of Lucasarts' video game, became a true cult classic. And the second-most fought over book between me and my brother.
@@ambroselwatson The game! That's why it sounded familiar! I've never played it but I am very sure I've seen it covered and discussed, especially with my love for the Monkey Island Games 😁
No contest, the European omnibuses are better. And there's a hardcover version, too, if anyone wants that. The Czech Republic also got some neat hardcover omnis with 4 comics each. Here in Poland we only ever got single paperback volumes. And the new reprints are 5mm shorter so that's really annoying... I think France only ever got single hardcovers. At least that's all I can find online in French.
Thanks to a viewer comment, I found some new, full sized, single-story, English-language hardcovers, also being published by Hachette! Maybe I'll make a quick video on one in the upcoming weeks!
Haha yes, it was pointed out elsewhere in the comments as well, so while still an error, it's Mr Starr's! 😁 It's still an odd choice - not only because it chooses a line with that construction, but it doesn't really do the job of updating/ modernizing, if this edition is shooting for that. Where the original English translations used 'classic' songs familiar to Anglophone audiences - stuff like 'There is a Tavern in the Town' - this feels more like the translator saw the word 'wings' in the French, then Googled 'lyrics with wings' and put in a song that wouldn't really be as familiar to the modern US audience. First of all, that's way too literal - something I have an issue with the translation as a whole, but it also doesn't create that bridge this edition wants to, I feel. Of course I could be completely wrong and everyone will get the reference but me, but it came across as weak. Again, not saying the original translation's song choices stood the test of time, but if you're going to update, then why not update instead of a slightly obscure tune? Perhaps I am being overly nit picky but it doesn't fully vibe with me...
I hated this translation so much I tore the book up in disgust. I think we should all just stick to the proper Bell and Hockridge and pretend it never happened. Great channel.
Haha although my reaction wasn't quite as visceral, i do understand! What a pity. There was a real opportunity to knock it out of the park with a zippy and clever update to the translations. I guess they didn't want to pay two different groups of translators/permissions fees so they did a full reset...
The new translation looks not good. Loved to read the old english issues. The classic german version allways had the latin phrases translated with an *. There are also all issues completely in latin only, for students to learn the old language. And also we have single issues in local german/austrian slangs. Cologne...Vienna....Nordic - Slang and so on. Is this also a thing in english?
Those dialect/slang specific editions sound great! No, there's nothing like that in English, unless we now count this American English edition and the earlier ones as a UK English editions. I'll take a look at a couple more, but yes, I was a bit sad at this translation.
The "is going to lecture us" is not only badly translated, but out of character for Asterix. This doesn't open a new market in the US, this causes a lot of "Meh. European comics must be overhyped." I really hate people who are bad at their jobs, and the editors are even worse.
Yes, if Asterix is meant to be making fun of the chief or passing a sarcastic remark, that is completely out of tune with the respect he has for him (and he's never really snarky behind anyone's back, always to their face with a twinkle in his eye!) I worry that you may be right - a subpar translation could create a sense of indifference among people it was meant to convert. Although I have been glad to hear that it has not interfered with kids' enjoyment of this series, including some children of other viewers here!
@@ftloc It's still not fine if it works with kids. Not Asterix. Asterix is THE European comic that should be the greatest example to open new markets, no less. Your thoughts on Asterix and respect and snarkiness are absolutely spot-on. I love your channel and what you do.
Are these printed in the chronological order? They seem way to small and formatted for the US market (like many translated titles...) - they clearly reduced the margins drastically trying to save on costs but damaging the reading experience. Not a fan of the cover design either and that translation... A missed opportunity, really...
Yes, they're coming out in chronological order. I think 4 volumes are out so far, so the first 12 adventures, in 3-in-1 collections. I really wish they hadn't shrunk the size, it's true, and maybe a little more care in the editing polish after the translation would have made it a truly great version.
I grew up reading the European versions and still prefer those. Someday I hope to get the whole collection again, but obviously the European ones again. Modern western comics are getting more woke than ever before and I fear censorship in the American versions to certain words and Visual motifs would do injustice to the originals. Asterix is a product of its times and should remain as it was, atleast in my opinion. Excellent analysis btw! Love your takes on comics. Subscriber from 🇨🇦
Thank you so much for your kind words and long may your enjoyment of this channel continue! 😁 I have a complicated relationship with censorship and changing of original works. On one level, I firmly agree with you that art should be considered 'warts and all'. There's a lot it can teach us about time and place and history, and we would be foolish to erase things and pretend they didn't exist. That would just make us repeat things over and over. At the same time, I also understand that something that is offensive and hurtful and may propagate in the modern context the sins of old should also be examined. Not everyone is getting the full history, and in the case of young readers, there's a balance that you don't want to glorify racial caricature, for example, you don't want racist or sexist things being taken as admirable or things to emulate. So adult editions, for students and scholars and people who have the capacity to distinguish is one thing, and things for the general market, for new readers, for young readers - if a publisher wants to tap into that, they need to make some choices, like the keeping out of Tintin in the Congo from the Egmont box set. I don't want Congo to be banned, I don't want it to be out of print. But I understand why I wouldn't want to include it in a gift box to my nine or ten year old nephews or nieces, if that makes sense.
Oh dear, really? I checked and adjusted the footage many times to get the best possible detail. That'll teach me to try and zoom in to panels! 😁 Do you have any timestamps for me for where it is hazy or is it throughout the video?
@@ftloc It strikes me as a bit hazy too. I think your hands take focus away from the page throughout. Still perfectly legible, but I'm offering feedback to support your pursuit of perfection. ^^;
@@virus2003 Much appreciated! I use autofocus because I do move the books around and up to the lens from time to time. So I think with these top down shots I need to keep a much deeper depth of field than I usually do, so that both my hands and the pages below them stay in focus. That will mean pumping up the light to get the proper exposure... I'm going to try and put that into play with my very next video!
"They actually are invincible" is a very modern turn of phrase too. I wish people would quit using the word actually at this point. ITs ACTUALLY annoying haha.
Glad you enjoyed the video. I looked at the other stories in this volume as well and unfortunately the rather listless translation seems to persist across them!
Just like the Tintin collection, the size of the hardcovers is just not acceptable and over-rides any other factors. Second red flag? US friendly - censorship for the benefit of one of the least racially / religiously tolerant western nations is a concern. Aside from that, dumbing down for Americans is inexcusable (sorry, too many syllables - I mean 'bad')
Since I knew the size going in, I took that negative as a given and was ready to focus on other things for an evaluation. The replacement of 'indomitable' was a bridge too far 😁!
Sadly, I'll have to agree. It's not even the big things that I was initially wary of (like replacing 'ave' with 'hail', that was fine). It is all the texture and humour that I thought got flushed out. But that is a comparative view; I'd love to know what a new reader thinks of the stories.
My guess is that it fits on shelves better. Believe me, I see where they're coming from as I have Where's Waldo books and Guinness Book of World Records that I have to put sideways on my shelf because I don't have a shelf tall enough.
Thank you for this informative video. As a French speaker, I can confirm that the reference to "merchant and seafarer" is indeed an exact translation of the French "marchand et marin". Anthea Bell clearly took a leaf out of Goscinny' book when she turned it into a pun...
Perfect, that's just what I was looking for! Thank you so much for providing that original French! That confirms, as you say, that Bell and Hockridge were indeed taking a bit of license but 1)it is definitely in keeping with the spirit of the series to have a 'pun'chline at the end of that scene with the long shot of the ship sailing away and 2) if I am not mistaken, the sounds of 'marchand' and 'marin' are very similar in French. Not homonyms but alliterative enough to play the role of puns, which I think the previous translation embraces but this one does away with completely, leaving us with a much more prosaic scene-ender.
@@ftloc In the Dutch translation it's "Hij was een beter koopman dan zeeman." So there it rhymes at the end. I'm critical of translations too but I have to say the Dutch translation of Asterix is very good. Although I also like the old English translation.
But you're right. The old translation tries and succeeds to do the same as Goscinny. The new translators seem to completely miss the joke or rhyme of the original.
Love this dive into the translation differences between two editions. As an American I've been aware and curious about Asterix but never found these books as they are very much on the periphery of our pop culture. These videos help me find excellent starting point to series I'm less familiar with. I've got to thank you for your coverage of Usagi Yojimbo. I've picked up several editions based on your videos an I've loved them all.
Thank you and that's fantastic! That makes me so happy to hear. Regarding Asterix, the Hachette paperback omnibuses I show in these videos are still easily available there, they're full sized and have the earlier 'UK' translation. They're not in hardcover, unfortunately, but those are the ones I'd recommend you check out if interested!
Great video! I really liked your translation comparison part.
Thank you! I could have gone on and on but I realized I had planned this to be a 'quick' video😃
This review is wonderful and one of the best comic reviews I have seen overall on youtube. Thank you for spending the time for such a thorough analysis. I have not read Asterix before but after hearing about how good it was for years, I want to give it a go. The older softcover releases sound much better than the new Papercutz releases.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the video - thank you so much for your kind words! And the Asterix series is indeed excellent so you're sure to enjoy yourself! I have another video in which I talk about the series book by book (in a very general way) and a little bit on why I chose these particular editions. Check it out here: ruclips.net/video/XQNwkKl7I8g/видео.html if interested! Cheers!
Wow this is a great review! Love the details you go into with the various examples of the translations.
I am looking to upgrade and complete my Asterix collection from a set of rare editions that I believe were never completed (publisher was Hodder Dargaud, and I think they only published around 2/3 of the series in omnibus-like editions of 5-6 books in each omnibus). It's always bugged me that I'd never got to read the whole series when I was younger, but now that I can afford it, I'm researching which edition I should buy to make sure I get everything so far, but also to get the best version possible.
You've made my decision a lot easier! In fact, it's a no-brainer! Thanks! 👍
So glad you liked the video and thank you for your kind words!
And thanks for sharing; this is exactly why I wanted to make this video - for folks like me who may be considering a complete set or upgrade from childhood copies. I think I've seen some of those omnibuses, and very interesting to know they were never completed! That's always such a frustrating thing...
This video was incredible and answered all the questions I usually have with books. It can be really hard to find out information like this about books so I’m glad you do these videos. Please keep it up.
That is so great to hear - thanks so much and I am thrilled you enjoyed it! Cheers!
Quick look has been upgraded from 2-5 mins to 16 mins (no complaints lol)
haha yes, this must be what is referred to as 'settling into the groove'
Excellent vid my friend. I was contemplating buying these last month, but upon reflection i don't think i'll bother. Btw, the song Caocofanix is singing, 'maybe it's because i'm Amorican', is a parody of the famous old English song, 'maybe it's because i'm a Londoner'.
Thanks for that! I've always wondered about some songs because I've recognized the others (There is a tavern in the town, Little brown jug, etc)! Any idea about what the new song may be an allusion to?
@@ftloc it's a Ringo Starr song from 2012 called Wings. What an odd choice!
Thanks for covering this burning question I had. Thankfully, I can stick to picking up the previous editions.
Glad it helped! And yes, unfortunately, I think that's the right decision.
Thank you for this. Very insightful. Wasn't aware of these printings but the older version definitely sounds better.
Thank you so much! And yes, it does feel that way, unfortunately 😥
Great video as always. I have almost purchased these a few times but keep stopping myself.
Thank you so much! And were you thinking of upgrading or would they be your only copies?
@@ftloc they would be my only copies. My older albums were all thrown away by my mother (which is my fault, I left them in her basement when I got married and she probably gave me ten years before discarding them).
Thanks for the wonderful comparison. I just got one of these for my birthday because my mom found the second volume for a bargain and I didn't have the Omnibus of those books. It's sad when on the first page they ruin the joke by turn the punchline into just a fact confirmation (at 6:55). Also, at 8:04 I can confirm that the song he is singing in the new translation is 'Wings' by Ringo Starr, and that the lyrics are correct to the song in that it says 'I will fly' within the song.
So glad you liked the video! Yes, the new translation is a little disappointing. Someone else here also pointed out that the original Ringo Starr song is responsible for the funky grammar 😁 but it's still an odd choice, methinks!
Great video, the books are well presented but l was also disappointed in the translation. My main issue was the renaming of Getafix to Panoramix and other side characters throughout the story. After reading Asterix for over 40 years it is a big issue for me. I really like the new editions, l have the first 3 but unsure if l will continue with them. I have the softcovers but prefer them in a hardcover omnibus form.
Thank you, I'm so glad you liked the video!
I had heard that Vitalstatistix was also going to have a name change - to Fisticuffix - and I was not looking forward to that at all! Luckily, sense prevailed there. With Getafix, I can kind of see why they didn't want the joke of a drug peddler marketed to kids, but I felt odd reading Panoramix as well, although I hear that's the original French name anyway.
In general I think I could have taken a few name changes if they had approached the rest of the translation, especially the humour, with a little bit more care.
@Balázs Gágyor Oh yes, then in Hungarian, like in French, this is a return to the classics! 😁
Informative, looks like I'm sticking with my mid-90s Australian 5-in-1 hardbacks.
Alas my quest for hardcover Asterix comics continues...Australia had them in the 90s, you say?
@@ftloc There were a few Hachette collections published that were more like best-of collections, but you could fill in the missing ones with with the soft cover single story albums. I think 'Asterix the Bold' with a yellow cover was the first in the series.
This in depth review is very much appreciated. There are a lot of problems with this edition that shouldn't be overlooked.
Thank you so much!
I don't think it is a blasphemous tragedy but it is definitely not what I would call an admirable job.
One more thing to commend you on: I said in depth review and it really is. But there's not many channels who can pull this off in 16 minutes and counting. Awesome job!
Great video! I like a couple of the changes they've done but on the most part, I definitely prefer the European album size. The smaller size of the PapercutZ editions would probably be a deal-breaker for me if I was about to start my collection. Not a fan of the new translation either after the issues you pointed out.
I think there should just be a law against shrinking European albums! 😁
But honestly, I could still have argued for these hardcovers if there had been a little more care taken with the language.
Hi from Greece, I'm glad the American public gets to put its flamboyant heroes in tights aside for a while in order to enjoy and appreciate some lovable, potion-drinking rascals from Europe. When I was a kid I found a couple of UK pocket-sized Asterix magazines in my English class, that was my very first encounter with the little Gaulish warrior in the English language. It was quite the surprise at the time because I used to read every single comic in Greek and that was it until my early teens kicked in. Now to be honest with you I haven't read many Asterix stories in English, Greek and French were my languages of choice most of the time, French for better appreciating, understanding the intended Goscinny humor, Greek for the classic, hilarious translations in my native language. I have recently read Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield translated by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge, as far as I'm concerned the translation in question is beyond disappointing, it's scandalous, lazy, indifferent and shows lack of respect for Goscinny's work. The Winesanspirix character has no peasant accent at all and in pages 16 and 17 there's no trace of wordgames or wordplay like in the original text. I realize how hard it is to transfer the witty humor from a foreign language but lack of effort can only make things worse and discourage French-speaking readers furthermore..
Oh that's so interesting to hear about the disappointment in Bell and Hockridge! It just goes to show you how important context is - because you were able to compare cross languages, something I never got to do, you could see things missing or inferior just the way that I think I see deficiencies in the new translation!
@@ftloc Yes, exactly, your video is quite explanatory regarding cross languages, I will check out the American translation of the Chieftain's Shield the moment I get my hands on it..
Thank you very much for this video. I placed an order for the hardcover editions, but I cancelled it and decided to go with the paperback version. What made me take this decision was the new translation versus the previous one. Again, thank you for helping!
That's great to hear that it helped! I would have been ok with the size reduction even but the translation really put me off, I'm sorry to say.
I really hate how this is becoming the norm now, dumbing down the wording in books so kids will understand them better. Wasn't part of the point of reading to teach new words to children? When I was young I didn't always understand what Asterix and Obelix were saying but I still enjoyed the adventures, and through reading I got to know what the words meant. I'm English and live in Britain, so this doesn't affect me, but it still bothers me. Having said that, the latin words being asterisked (haha) is a good addition. I also feel this is a one-sided thing, here in the UK we learn American slang and spelling from American books, but when a British book is brought out in America, the wording and spelling is changed like in Harry Potter for example (not that Asterix is British, but those editions have been out in the US for a long time).
On a related note, I actually remember when the words 'sagacity' and 'deputation' were used in Thomas the Tank Engine! How times have changed!
Anecdotally, I think this phenomenon of only using simple and familiar words in books for children is somewhat detrimental to language acquisition. I grew up reading a lot of books by Enid Blyton, and I credit her writing, which certainly included a lot of words and expressions that would be considered 'difficult' today, with expanding my vocabulary at an early age. She may be considered unfashionable and problematic now but at least the language in her books isn't dumbed down.
I completely agree with you. The power of reading is tied to the expansion of one's horizons, and limiting the opportunities to do that are unfortunate.
Giving the publishers and translators here the benefit of the doubt for a second, maybe they just changed the words they considered archaic and not necessarily difficult?
Still, as I say in the video, I do feel a little pang of sadness at the idea that some child will not learn 'indomitable' through this comic, and will not forever associate that word with Gauls resisting Julius Caesar!
@@ftloc Yeah, definitely, I don't know if I've ever heard the word used in any other context! Loving the videos by the way, I'm very envious of your bookshelves!!
@@AshwithaWrites Exactly - I'm reading The Lord of the Rings at the moment, and there are many words I hardly come across or don't even know! There are times where I have to re-read a whole section again to understand it, which is tiresome, but it's part of the experience, and I'd like to think that at the age of 28, I'm even expanding my language knowledge now.
@@BenBernardSmith Oooh, how I envy you! I 've been a Tolkien nerd since l was thirteen - I think it was inevitable, given how much I love words and stories. Definitely learned a LOT of new words too.
"Wings" by Ringo Starr.. what a bizarre choice of song. I think that says more about the musical taste of the translator than what you'd expect a kid to know. It's a song from 2012, apparently, and the lyrics do share the same grammatical hiccup that's in the book.
EDIT: I'm now terrified of you silently judging my grammar.
Oh I don't 'silently' judge anything! 😁
I kid, I kid; your grammar seems impeccable to me. And thanks for that note on the song - although it is a bit of an odd choice, I now feel bad for criticizing the translator instead of Mr Starr! (Still, why choose to quote that one line that has this weird grammar in it?)
Later in the story Cacofonix does sing "It's raining menhirs (hallelujah)" and THAT was a choice I appreciated! 😁
Great review and huge help for whether or not to purchase. Thank you!
So glad to hear it was helpful; thanks so much!
Your reviews are so very good. You have found so many differences between the two. I am going to buy the larger volumes for my collection. Thanks for your review.
Thanks, I really appreciate that! Did you catch my first Asterix video here: ruclips.net/video/XQNwkKl7I8g/видео.html ? I talk a little bbit about the three-in-one omnibuses that you may want to consider.
@@ftloc I just finished watching it, its another great and highly informative video. That actually seems like the cheaper method then buying them as the individual albums. Im going to buy one to give it a shot. Thanks.
I too lament the loss of “indomitable”. I always love giving a book to my nieces and then later hearing them using all the new words they've learnt.
It really confuses me, this manner of thinking. "This word won't be known to kids, they'll encounter it later, in another book that isn't for kids and which assumes they know the word already from something else they've read"? Where, then, is the book that taught them that? Asterix and indomitable has long been my example of where it happens, and it feels unacceptable for me to have that erased.
@@ftloc One of my nieces is an avid reader and she keeps a notebook full of new words she reads, but doesn't know, so she can look them up in a dictionary later and use them in her own stories. She likes being challenged in her reading.
Very informative video! Wish I caught this before I placed my order for the books a couple of weeks ago. Am horrified by the translation examples you highlighted especially in dealing with the salesman-sailsman joke. The fact that they kept the preceding panel text of, “It sank?”, tells me that perhaps the new translation team did consult the original translations and were perhaps looking to make changes. Which is a shame though; the original translations were fine and should have been left alone. Though that would explain why a new translation team would try to find a way to justify their roles/relevance to the new publishers.
That is almost EXACTLY what I was thinking, and even said in another reply on tthse comments. There definitely is some reference to the original translation (too many coincidences otherwise) but there seems an insistence on being different, at the cost of lucidity. I could not believe that 'will lecture us..' bit myself. Ah well, at least it's not unreadable and maybe the rest of the stories will be better?
I first read Asterix when i was in 8th grade. My friend introduced me to European version and we used to visit Library to read Asterix.
I wanted to collect them and I'm Lucky i found your video. Now i know which one to buy. I hope someday we'll get hardcover in European version. Thanks for this review.
I'm so glad it helped!
excellent review, thank you for sharing this.
So glad you enjoyed it, thank YOU! 😁
Thoroughly enjoyed your review, informative and brief, Thank you. Just a question though wouldn't it be advisable to get the European Omnibus versions in the Hardback's ?
I would love to - they definitely sound like the best option outside of the original English hardcovers, but I just don't see them available here, alas!
Hi, there is a new version, hardbound , with each having 4 volumes. They are calling it "Compact Edition". Publisher being "SPHERE". They are 10 Inch by 7, if my calculations are correct. Any chance of a review of those, please? I want to collect the set , and can't decide between the 3 in one Paperbacks and the new 4 in one Hardbound.
I picked one up on your advice! The size is shrunken, but at least it's the original translations and hardcover! I don't know if I'll get to make a video on them, but I thought I'd let you know I'd rank them slightly higher than the Papercutz editions.
@@ftloc thanks for the feedback.
Really appreciate the dive into these translations. The singer-comrade and lecture-speech bit are very bad. I can't imagine why they wouldn't at least consult the original translations at some point. Takes so much of the personality and humour of the dialogue. Very clunky.
I am sure there was some referencing to the existing translations - most of the names staying the same, for example, and several lines seem verbatim - but not where it counted, apparently. In fact, I was wondering if there was almost an insistence of being different, forcing a change for the sake of it, if that makes any sense!
It really seems the new translator doesn’t have the talents of a writer...and the culminative effect of lack of zinnginess and clumsy grammar weighs down these new translations. The smaller size is also sad...though standard practice in the publication of kids graphic novels in the USA, which has perhaps become standardized since Papercutz introduced the Smurfs books 6 or 8 years ago.
Reading these with my daughter, I can say it's still a LOT of fun. But I wonder if the slight drag on the feel of the comic will keep it from attaining classic status.
Oh I'm so glad you're having a good time with your daughter, and yes, nothing here is a dealbreaker for a first time reader, especially a younger reader. But you've hit the nail on the head - 'classic' status may be elusive if revisiting becomes less rewarding. Through my younger days, the ability to return and enjoy the same stories definitely cemented their stature in my eyes.
And it's a shame about shrinking European comics. With Hilda being such a success at a larger format , I would have thought more would try and get on that train!
It looked like the box of the art height and width are the same or almost the same size, that is gaging it from the video. I was hoping that the he would line up the top edges (as well as the side) of the art box so we could definitely tell if they're of the same size.
I have bought used copies of the bigger edition, most are softcovers but several are hardcovers. Now, he got me thinking of of buying the papercutz edition and double dipping. lol!
You English grammar is great.
Aw, thank you! I always say that comics reading from a young age really helped! 😁
Great 'quick' ;) overhead comparison video. I am very confused to state that the literal translation for the original french version of Cacophonix's song is "They have winged helmets, Long Live the Celts, They have winged helmets".
That's hilarious! I'm sure it must be a reference to another song, but even as a non sequitur that is very funny! Thank you for sharing 😁
@@ftloc Hi, great video and channel. Yes it's a reference to an old folk song (bawdy song) about Brittany called "Vive la Bretagne". In the normal song, they say many times "Ils ont des chapeaux ronds, vive les Bretons" : They have round hats, Long Live the Bretons (of course it rhymes in French). The Bretons being the descendants of the Celts and the winged helmets a direct reference to the comics.
Asterix is full of puns in French (this is also why both kids and adults like it), I can't imagine how difficult it must be to translate it.
@@leonardmouillet8336 Absolutely! Without knowing the original, i always found the earlier English translations so witty and punny (although maybe less directly referential) that i automatically appreciated the originals! I'd love to see some annotated versions that unpack the original references!
that was a great review and help to purchase the right edition.
So glad to hear that, and thank you!
the thing you mention about the bad grammar and editing is a problem I have started to see a lot more in comics these days since they stopped writing the text by hand, and started doing it digitally. Back in the 90s when I first started reading comics (like Asterix) everything was written by hand, pen to paper, which most people unconsciously proofread as they write, and was likely proofread properly after, and then again after print which is when you would see those bits in the finished book that look like they'd been tipexxed or had white stickers put over them and the words replaced or fixed. Whereas now everything is typed on a computer, and while it may get proofread, I think most proof-readers don't actually read the script, but just look for the red squiggles that show spelling mistakes on the screen. So many times lately, there'll be complete words missing, or there'll be an *an* instead of an *a* ''he bought an newspaper'' which is the worst. Anyway, my point is, it seems like as the technology has gotten better at making things like writing text in comics more convenient, its made the people that write the text, and/or the proof-readers, lazier. Hey, my grammar is nowt to write home about, but when you're paying nearly a fiver for those measly ten pages we get these days, you expect them to at least have checked the grammar and spelling. One day I would love to see a modern comic go back to doing the writing by hand. But just like how I'd love to see a comic printed on newspaper stock again just so I can get more pages for the same price as those measly ten pages I get now, it'll likely never happen. So I would just settle for comics proof-readers to *actually read the comics they are proofreading* and not just do a quick redline spellcheck.
Great points! There's no doubt that the proofreading and copyediting had another layer when things were manual. I wonder if that would only apply to people transitioning from old to new, though. Perhaps people who have only ever worked digitally should have their own new quality control processes?
The skills of the people involved is a big factor, of course, and I always think how much someone *cares* as being a determining factor as well.
I fell over these just last week and was thinking of possibly getting them...very useful review, thanks. I won't be buying, not so much due to the size (although my eyesight isn't as good as it was) but the translation is, in my opinion, unnecessary. Great that the USA has a chance to get into Asterix though... I hope they go for it!
Thank you! And I completely agree with you - I will not be collecting these, but I am glad that new generations and audiences will have a chance to discover this great series. I just hope that the few flaws visible to us fans don't deter the new readers, or, as another viewer commented here, create a sense of indifference among them.
I read them in French, I have them all in full size hardcovers coming partly from my dad's childhood. I never read them in English, and though the translation might be slightly less good, I will buy the Papercutz ones because they're less expensive :)
Yes, cost of getting the entire collection is definitely a big factor. Full size hardcovers would be my ideal; you're so fortunate to have that great collection from your dad - what a treasure!
@@ftloc Yes I really am glad! I noticed that in Asterix and the gladiator, on the boat, there wasn't a special wordplay in French for this bubble as in English, and I do believe that some many puns in the comic books were just added by Bell and Hockridge. Maybe what you get in American is just more faithful to the original French than the original Bell-Hockridge translation. Panoramix is a good example, as in French as well as in English, "Panorama" is the same, and needn't be changed to Getafix. I found Getafix a bit silly personally and so much more different from Panoramix, and am glad the Americans kept Panoramix. For Cacophonix singing about armorica, I wonder why things related to armorica were removed, but still, the singing of cacophonix in American is pretty similar to French, because in French Cacophonix sings that Celts have winged war helmets. So similar "Flying" stuff, though nothing about Celts. Still a bit clumsy in places I guess with some of those grammar errors you pointed out and the reduced size, just why?... did they do that?! It would be near-perfect if not for the size of them Asterix Papercutz(es)...
If they think mention of Armorica is problematic... I dread that they'll call Lutetia "Parisium" again. 8[
Regarding the translation it seems they're trying to be closer to original as the translation is similar in the Yugoslav edition.
Ah they have changed some names but Lutetia remains Lutetia! The camp of Compendium is now Lilchum, though. That was in the thirty odd minutes I cut from this video! 😁
And yes, from what others have also told me the translator is on record saying they didn't like inserting jokes where there weren't any in the French, and I can understand that. In some cases, like with the salesman/sailsman thing in the last panel of an exchange with the boat leaving, it seems correctly paced and setup, so I wonder if the original is actually joke-free.
And of course that doesn't explain some of the weird grammar or syntax...
Excellent video!
Thank you; so glad you enjoyed it!
Great Video as always!
I hate to see it downsized like that, and the translation really seems a bit off.
I think I will get the german collected edition which will get a 2nd edited new edition. Your Video just reminded me to check the translation with an older version to see if they changed the german translation as well.
A not asterix relates question: do you also read lucky luke and if yes, do you like them?
Thank you so much! I'd be curious as to if they decided to change or update any translations other than English. In answer to your question, yes, I've read about 15 Lucky Luke albums and I've enjoyed them, especially the ones written by Goscinny. But because I didn't read them as a child (and therefore hundreds of time over) I don't have them virtually memorized the way I do Asterix or Tintin! 😁
@@ftloc With these kind of comics it helps if you read them as a child, they only get better with time :D
do you plan on getting them? there is also a 3in1 edition on english i think? The same ones are also available in german.
Yes, I'm definitely collecting them! I have one 3-in-1 hardcover but I can't find the rest of them here so I started collecting single albums, which I think were reprinted in India some years ago and can be found relatively cheap.
@@ftloc great, I hope you will find them for a good price. I started collecting the 3in 1 german editions, I just hate to wait because it seems they only release 1 all 6 months and they just started.
I would also love to see a video about lucky luke from you.
Keep up the good work and have good evening!
Great deep dive, but it does appear that a lot of the humour and wordplay has been lost in the new translation.
Thank you; I'm so glad you enjoyed it! And yes, unfortunately, based only on this small sample, I consider the rather wooden translation the weakest part of these editions.
I wish these were album sized
Me too! But honestly the translation here bothered me more. Let see how the other stories fare.
@@ftloc I made this post before I saw the translation issues. I went ahead and bought omnibus vol 2 with Orion.
I’m slowly buying these every time I feel in the mood for an Asterix story
@@glennbramd7213 That's the way I did it and its a wonderful way to revisit them slowly and build the library at the same time. I hope you're enjoying yourself! 😁
great job man.
Much appreciated!
Wow so Asterix finally went Tintin with these 3 in 1 hardcovers.
With the smaller hardcovers, yeah! They have been collected into those full sized paperbacks I showed in my earlier videos though, those were 3-in-1 too and good value for money, without any real compromises.
In my country we have some American 3 in 1 editions they are 2 books now with the first 6 story's but i have em in my language
Which language is that? Are the full, album size?
@@ftloc it look like the small American one you have the big ones we have are translated from French to Bulgarian
This looks a lot like the Tintin compact editions
They're not as small as those Tintins, luckily! 😋
can you show a size comparison?
Have you ever read Sam and Max comics? I'm guessing 'Surfin' the Highway: The Collected Sam and Max' is a book a lot of your viewers will be familiar with.
That sounds familiar but I'm drawing a blank. Off to Google to look those up, thanks!
@@ftloc Sam and Max was a (very) infrequently published comic by a guy named Steve Prucell, who release a few stories through various publishers during the late 80s/early 90s. Prucell then got hired by Lucasarts as a game dev, and got to develop a point and click adventure game based on his characters - which turned out to be 1993's absolute critical darling. In 1995, there was a collection of all the Sam and Max comics titled Surfin' the Highway. And thanks mainly to the success of Lucasarts' video game, became a true cult classic. And the second-most fought over book between me and my brother.
@@ambroselwatson The game! That's why it sounded familiar! I've never played it but I am very sure I've seen it covered and discussed, especially with my love for the Monkey Island Games 😁
No contest, the European omnibuses are better. And there's a hardcover version, too, if anyone wants that.
The Czech Republic also got some neat hardcover omnis with 4 comics each.
Here in Poland we only ever got single paperback volumes. And the new reprints are 5mm shorter so that's really annoying...
I think France only ever got single hardcovers. At least that's all I can find online in French.
Thanks to a viewer comment, I found some new, full sized, single-story, English-language hardcovers, also being published by Hachette! Maybe I'll make a quick video on one in the upcoming weeks!
Bro, If I had the wings of an eagle. Over these broken dreams I will fly is a quote from a song by Ringo Starr. Not an error.
Haha yes, it was pointed out elsewhere in the comments as well, so while still an error, it's Mr Starr's! 😁
It's still an odd choice - not only because it chooses a line with that construction, but it doesn't really do the job of updating/ modernizing, if this edition is shooting for that.
Where the original English translations used 'classic' songs familiar to Anglophone audiences - stuff like 'There is a Tavern in the Town' - this feels more like the translator saw the word 'wings' in the French, then Googled 'lyrics with wings' and put in a song that wouldn't really be as familiar to the modern US audience. First of all, that's way too literal - something I have an issue with the translation as a whole, but it also doesn't create that bridge this edition wants to, I feel.
Of course I could be completely wrong and everyone will get the reference but me, but it came across as weak. Again, not saying the original translation's song choices stood the test of time, but if you're going to update, then why not update instead of a slightly obscure tune? Perhaps I am being overly nit picky but it doesn't fully vibe with me...
I hated this translation so much I tore the book up in disgust. I think we should all just stick to the proper Bell and Hockridge and pretend it never happened.
Great channel.
Haha although my reaction wasn't quite as visceral, i do understand! What a pity. There was a real opportunity to knock it out of the park with a zippy and clever update to the translations. I guess they didn't want to pay two different groups of translators/permissions fees so they did a full reset...
The new translation looks not good. Loved to read the old english issues. The classic german version allways had the latin phrases translated with an *. There are also all issues completely in latin only, for students to learn the old language. And also we have single issues in local german/austrian slangs. Cologne...Vienna....Nordic - Slang and so on. Is this also a thing in english?
Those dialect/slang specific editions sound great! No, there's nothing like that in English, unless we now count this American English edition and the earlier ones as a UK English editions.
I'll take a look at a couple more, but yes, I was a bit sad at this translation.
Nice
The "is going to lecture us" is not only badly translated, but out of character for Asterix. This doesn't open a new market in the US, this causes a lot of "Meh. European comics must be overhyped." I really hate people who are bad at their jobs, and the editors are even worse.
Yes, if Asterix is meant to be making fun of the chief or passing a sarcastic remark, that is completely out of tune with the respect he has for him (and he's never really snarky behind anyone's back, always to their face with a twinkle in his eye!)
I worry that you may be right - a subpar translation could create a sense of indifference among people it was meant to convert. Although I have been glad to hear that it has not interfered with kids' enjoyment of this series, including some children of other viewers here!
@@ftloc It's still not fine if it works with kids. Not Asterix. Asterix is THE European comic that should be the greatest example to open new markets, no less. Your thoughts on Asterix and respect and snarkiness are absolutely spot-on. I love your channel and what you do.
Weird, I was just thinking about buying some asterix books.
I heartily endorse it
Are these printed in the chronological order? They seem way to small and formatted for the US market (like many translated titles...) - they clearly reduced the margins drastically trying to save on costs but damaging the reading experience. Not a fan of the cover design either and that translation... A missed opportunity, really...
Yes, they're coming out in chronological order. I think 4 volumes are out so far, so the first 12 adventures, in 3-in-1 collections.
I really wish they hadn't shrunk the size, it's true, and maybe a little more care in the editing polish after the translation would have made it a truly great version.
I grew up reading the European versions and still prefer those. Someday I hope to get the whole collection again, but obviously the European ones again.
Modern western comics are getting more woke than ever before and I fear censorship in the American versions to certain words and Visual motifs would do injustice to the originals.
Asterix is a product of its times and should remain as it was, atleast in my opinion.
Excellent analysis btw! Love your takes on comics. Subscriber from 🇨🇦
Thank you so much for your kind words and long may your enjoyment of this channel continue! 😁
I have a complicated relationship with censorship and changing of original works.
On one level, I firmly agree with you that art should be considered 'warts and all'. There's a lot it can teach us about time and place and history, and we would be foolish to erase things and pretend they didn't exist. That would just make us repeat things over and over.
At the same time, I also understand that something that is offensive and hurtful and may propagate in the modern context the sins of old should also be examined. Not everyone is getting the full history, and in the case of young readers, there's a balance that you don't want to glorify racial caricature, for example, you don't want racist or sexist things being taken as admirable or things to emulate.
So adult editions, for students and scholars and people who have the capacity to distinguish is one thing, and things for the general market, for new readers, for young readers - if a publisher wants to tap into that, they need to make some choices, like the keeping out of Tintin in the Congo from the Egmont box set. I don't want Congo to be banned, I don't want it to be out of print. But I understand why I wouldn't want to include it in a gift box to my nine or ten year old nephews or nieces, if that makes sense.
Thanks for the prompt response. Look forward to your videos. Keep them coming :)
Camera hazy
Oh dear, really? I checked and adjusted the footage many times to get the best possible detail. That'll teach me to try and zoom in to panels! 😁
Do you have any timestamps for me for where it is hazy or is it throughout the video?
@@ftloc It strikes me as a bit hazy too. I think your hands take focus away from the page throughout. Still perfectly legible, but I'm offering feedback to support your pursuit of perfection. ^^;
@@virus2003 Much appreciated! I use autofocus because I do move the books around and up to the lens from time to time. So I think with these top down shots I need to keep a much deeper depth of field than I usually do, so that both my hands and the pages below them stay in focus. That will mean pumping up the light to get the proper exposure...
I'm going to try and put that into play with my very next video!
"They actually are invincible" is a very modern turn of phrase too. I wish people would quit using the word actually at this point. ITs ACTUALLY annoying haha.
It LITERALLY kills me! 😁
This is like putting a Volkswagen hybrid engine in a 1960s Buick for the European market. Does not make sense. At all.
I have to say I was hoping they'd knocked it out of the park, with a proper mix of respect and bravado, but unfortunately not. 😥
It's sad when the audience has to explain a joke butchered by a newer translation.
You make fine points about this new, lame translation !
Glad you enjoyed the video. I looked at the other stories in this volume as well and unfortunately the rather listless translation seems to persist across them!
Resizing panels is never a good idea.
Once or twice, I've seen it work really well, but speaking generally, I agree.
Just like the Tintin collection, the size of the hardcovers is just not acceptable and over-rides any other factors.
Second red flag? US friendly - censorship for the benefit of one of the least racially / religiously tolerant western nations is a concern. Aside from that, dumbing down for Americans is inexcusable (sorry, too many syllables - I mean 'bad')
Since I knew the size going in, I took that negative as a given and was ready to focus on other things for an evaluation. The replacement of 'indomitable' was a bridge too far 😁!
It's a downgrade only by the fact they made deliberated non-sensical change.
the new translation is sooo bad. would not recommend for anyone. It removes so much of the charm
Sadly, I'll have to agree. It's not even the big things that I was initially wary of (like replacing 'ave' with 'hail', that was fine). It is all the texture and humour that I thought got flushed out. But that is a comparative view; I'd love to know what a new reader thinks of the stories.
what is the obsession with small paper size? i dont get it, its awful!
I hear you! Making things larger, I understand! 😁
My guess is that it fits on shelves better. Believe me, I see where they're coming from as I have Where's Waldo books and Guinness Book of World Records that I have to put sideways on my shelf because I don't have a shelf tall enough.
I will avoid the Papercutz versions due to your informative video. Thank you for your insights and video's.
Thank you so much, very glad that you enjoyed them! Yes, it is a pity about these editions - I would really have loved them to be better!