Really strong entry into the series, with Uderzo continuing to pick up the slack following Goscinny's death. This has a strong central idea -so strong in fact, you're surprised they didn't use it before, though aversion appeared in Asterix in Switzerland - to make the magic potion,Getafix needs a certain ingredient: oil. This enables Asterix and Obelix to visit the Middle East (though really Obelix would have stayed to defend the village - but I can understand why he didn't, it would have been too much of a break from tradition), which makes for a fun journey.There are some friendly Jews and fun is poked at the warring factions of the area (during a trip to the desert, Asterix and Obelix run into warring Assyrians, Hittites, etc). To keep things interesting along the way, Uderzo throws in a treacherous druid spy who accompanies them (cue some spoof of James Bond gadgets) - and the spy has a fly who he usesto pass messages who falls in love with him, which is a pretty left-field concept. (The Middle East was probably strong enough for a book on its on; ditto spoof of spy stuff - its a rather odd combination to have them together). Plot flaw: the treacherous druid doesn't tell Caesar straightaway that the Gauls were low on potion (they try to get around this by having the druid harbour his own ambitions). And it's a bit of a hollow deux ex machina to have Getafix realise he doesn't need oil at the end.This is a plain cheat. But until then this is very good.
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