UDERZO

ALBERT UDERZO ASTERIX Asterix and Obelix's Birthday, The Golden Book (T.34), Albert René 2009 Original pencil sketch of the double plate 50-51 entitled Happy Birthday Signed. Graphite on paper 61 × 47.2 cm (24.02 × 18.58 in.) This drawing is the last comic strip in the sole hand of Uderzo who, towards the end of his life, no longer inked his albums. It was drawn for the 50th anniversary of the creation of Asterix and is the final panel of the "Golden Book". It's an exceptional drawing because it features all the characters from the saga: Asterix, Obelix and the main protagonists of the village, as well as the other figures from the series: Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, the Pirates, the Breton Jolitorax, the Iberian chieftain Soupalognon y Crouton, the Belgian chieftain Geuzelambix, right down to the wild boars and the rooster Chanteclerc, the centurion Caius Aerobus (Lino Ventura), and even a laughing menhir that constitutes one of the rare unrealistic notes in this extraordinary set. This drawing, in which one can get lost for long minutes, demonstrates the genius of Uderzo, who had an exceptional ability to characterize each of his characters in a unique acting style. He was over 80 years old when he drew this picture, and one would be hard pressed to find an error of proportion or execution in the attitudes and physiognomies. A museum piece without a doubt.