Asterix and Obelix's Birthday: The Golden Book is the thirty-fourth episode of the Asterix comic book series, designed and written by Albert Uderzo. The usage of previous Asterix stories led to co-creator René Goscinny also being credited. The album, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the creation of the series, was released on 22 October 2009.
The album begins with a preface where Uderzo replies to the critics of his solo work, specially for the previous album, Asterix and the Falling Sky. He also says The Golden Book is not a whole story, but a succession of short stories celebrating the 50th anniversary of the hero.
The story begins in the year 1 AD, fifty years after 50 BC, when all the other books are set. The characters are introduced, but aged fifty years. We then find some craftsmen, tradesmen or Gallic warriors surrounded by their children or grandchildren.
Then we come back this time in 50 BC, in the same village in which the anniversaries of Asterix and Obelix, which happened to be the same day, are celebrated. We learn that they have received letters from their friends (Panacea, the pirates, Edifis ...). Then Geriatrix jealous of the two Gauls make a rather negative description using an Magnetic resonance imaging picture.
Moreover, at a great feast, many recurring or important characters of the adventures of Asterix, from all nationalities, appear. Each one of them offers his gift to the hero (Ekonomikrisis offers a guide Coquelus, Cacofonix his sheet music, Valueaddedtax new magic potions ...) They also made some proposals for the future (clothes changing, marriage, amusement park, theater, art visual ...).
And finally, arrive Cleopatra and Julius Caesar. Caesar is reluctant to come to the anniversary where they are both invited. He, however, yielded to the wish of his lady, pleading with the story told in Asterix and Son. But Caesar, bad loser decides to offer the Gaul a jar of poisoned wine by its medicamentarus, Choléramorbus. But the centurions, whom he had entrusted the mission, drink wine, which had in fact been replaced by castor oil, and then won a nice trip to the latrine.