History Recap / AsterixTheGaul

* ReassignedToAntarctica: As punishment for his rebellion plot against Caesar, Crismus Bonus is re-assigned to Outer Mongolia to put down a barbarian rebellion.

** Getafix lives in a cave outside the village. Later stories have him live in a hut within the village, which makes more sense given how he's a prime target for the Romans in many stories. [[FridgeLogic Possibly he moved after his run-in with the Romans in this story?]][[invoked]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_asterix1.png]]

* InconsistentColoring: Compared to future books, this one barely has any consistent coloring, be it for the scenery or the characters' clothes.

* AnachronismStew: In the comic book's original (French) version, Asterix tells Caesar that Crismus Bonus plans to use the magic potion to conquer "the Imperial Throne". This was in 50 BC, UsefulNotes/TheRomanEmpire was created in 27 BC.

* OhCrap: Caligulaminus when he gets invited to join the Gauls for a dance, but then learns part of the dance involves pulling the mustache of your dance partner. Just like he fears, Asterix ends up tearing off the fake mustache Caligula Minus was wearing.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/asterixthegaul.jpg]]

The year is 50 BC. After a long struggle, the ancient Gauls had been conquered by the Roman Empire, with chiefs like Vercingetorix having to lay their arms down at the feet of Caesar. All of Gaul is occupied...except for one small village, who stubbornly hold out against the invaders. All efforts to subdue this village have failed, and Caesar himself asks "[[BigWhat Quid?]]"

* OhCrap: Caligulaminus when he gets invited to join the Gauls for a dance, but then learns part of the dance involves pulling the moustache of your dance partner. Just like he fears, Asterix ends up tearing off the fake moustache Caligula Minus was wearing.

** The Roman legionnaires' tunic color changes as the story goes on. At first, they all have pink tunics, later, they have yellow tunics except for a few who have orange or red ones. Starting from the third book, every legionnaire has a green tunic under his armor.

The year is 50 BC. After a long struggle, the ancient Gauls had been conquered by the Roman Empire, with chiefs like Vercingetorix having to lay their arms down at the feet of Caesar. All of Gaul is occupied...except for one small village, who stubbornly hold out against the invaders. All efforts to subdue this village have failed, and Caesar himself asks "Quid?"

** Marcus Ginantonicus suffers this after pointing out to Chrismas Bonus that there's nothing amazing about lifting a pebble. The Centurian disposes of it straight onto Marcus' foot.

* AgonyOfTheFeet: The intropage shows Vercingetorix throwing his weapons at Caesar’s feet. Literally, as they land right on top of them, causing Caesar to scream in agony.

** Getafix lives in a cave outside the village. Later stories have him live in a hut within the village, which makes more sense given how he's a prime target for the Romans in many stories. [[FridgeLogic Possibly he moved after his run-in with the Romans in this story?]]

Our hero Asterix goes out boar-hunting, and bumps into a patrol of four legionaries - much to their pain. The patrol goes back to the Roman camp of Compendium to report their defeat, and the centurion Crismus Bonus wonders what secret the Gauls have that makes them so strong.

Returning to the village after a successful hunt, Asterix and his friend Obelix have lunch. Afterwards, Asterix goes to see the druid Getafix for another dose of magic potion - the potion makes its drinker invincible, but only temporarily. Obelix is denied any, having dropped into a cauldron of the stuff as a baby and becoming permanently enhanced.

At Compendium, Crismus Bonus decides to send in a spy to learn about the Gauls' strength. One Caligulaminus is selected, dressed up as a Gaul, and sent out in chains with some legionaries. Sure enough, Asterix and Obelix 'rescue' 'Caligulaminix' from his 'captors' and take him back to their village. Playing on their sympathies, Caligulaminix is shown and given some magic potion. However, his disguise comes off during a village folk dance, and the exposed Roman uses his new invincibility to escape. Caligulaminus reports back at Compendium, and Crismus Bonus decides to use the potion to overthrow Caesar.

While out collecting herbs, Getafix is captured by the Romans. Asterix, while looking for the druid, learns from a ox-dealer what happened, and with the dealer's help sneaks into Compendium. There, Asterix overhears Crismus Bonus planning to take control of Rome from Caesar and finds Getafix. The two Gauls decide to have some fun with the Romans before leaving. Asterix 'surrenders' and he and Getafix trick the Romans into drinking a potion that causes massive hair-growth. Crismus Bonus offers them freedom if they brew an antidote, and Getafix agrees; the potion will wear off, but they need to collect ingredients for the invincibility potion. Taking refuge in a private tent, Getafix brews two cauldrons - one full of 'antidote' and a smaller one for strength potion. Asterix drinks the potion, and uses his enhanced strength to pound the Romans. But before the Gauls can escape, an army of legionaries shows up at Compendium. Reinforcements?

!!This story has examples of:

** Getafix lives in a cave outside the village. Later stories have him live in a hut within the village, which makes more sense given how he's a prime target for the Romans in many stories. [[WildMassGuessing Possibly he moved after his run-in with the Romans in this story?]]

* GotVolunteered: Since none of the Romans want to spy on the Gauls, they play a game of musical chairs to determine who is the unlucky one to get this job. Caligula Minus thus gets volunteered this way.
* HollywoodCuisine: Averted. Caligula Minus at one point states he will never eat Tapioca again, with a foot note stating that spaghetti had yet to be introduced to Italy by Marco Polo, who brought the recipe from China.

-->'''Crismus Bonus''': I need you now, but afterwards I'll be the triumvirate on my own!\\
'''Marcus Ginantonicus''': I'll have him thrown to the lions, and then I alone will be Caesar!

* MundaneUtility: While in the Gaulish village, Caligula Minus sees the Gauls use their super strength for mundane tasks, like forging steel with their bare hands or pulling a cart full of wood.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Asterix insists on giving magic potion to the disguised Caligula Minus, and doesn't discover his real identity until after he's drunk it. Fortunately, Caligula Minus is too cowardly and stupid to cause any major damage to the village and just flees back to his camp, but it leads to the Romans discovering that the potion is the village's source of strength and made by Getafix, which will lead to problems in future stories...
* OhCrap: Caligula Minus when he gets invited to join the Gauls for a dance, but then learns part of the dance involves pulling the moustache of your dance partner. Just like he fears, Asterix ends up tearing off the fake moustache Caligula Minus was wearing.

* TickleTorture: The Roman’s preferred technique for interrogating prisoners. Sadly for them, [[TortureIsIneffective Getafix can take it with a completely straight face]].

** The effects of the magic potion last for several hours in this story, and the Gauls apparently receive a daily dose simply as a matter of course. In subsequent stories its duration went down to a couple of minutes and they would drink it only when they needed it.