Customer Reviews
please, no more 
2008-06-03
Since Goscinny's death the asterix stories have been on a slow decline. But this one is really really god awful.
In short 2 seperate alien races come to earth to attain the magic potion for themselves. Eventually they find out it wont work on their physiologies and they leave. Thats it.
None of the usual character interplay and in fact we hardly see any of the characters at all. I didnt even get most of the puns.
Maybe Uderzo should just give it away.
If you love Asterix - don't read this 2008-05-25
Aliens visit the little Gaulish village we know so well - ? - HUH? - Aliens? What's wrong with the Romans? The classical jokes, the motifs that make reading Asterix magic, the way it works at multiple levels so I enjoy it on one level, my 9yo on another and my 6yo on yet another? All missing.
This book lacks the character, wit, humour and charm of the earlier books. It is completely out of character with them, and I'm really disappointed to see a great series stoop to this level. Even my children say they don't like it.
The icing on the cake is that the pages are falling out of my copy after only a few days. Normally I'd exchange the book and get another one, but this one can just go straight to the recycling.
At the end, the alien "fixes it", to quote, "for the Gauls to remember nothing about me, thus obliterating all traces of this grotesque adventure!". I wish, I wish...
Wit is falling 
2007-07-30
This one is OK but not up to early standards. The series, as a whole, is losing its edge. They are less and less witty than the earlier books. I think I'll just pass them up in the future.
This book is not sky high 2007-05-20
I was surprised when I finished reading this book and I asked myself "is this the end of the series?". This book completely lacked the story and the humor and wit associated with other Asterix series. A. Udeerzo tried something new with mix of flying saucers and UFO's, robots, super clones which can fly, galactic council similiar to ones in Star Wars and all important the magic potion of the Gauls but to the dismay did not make a good story. It looked like everytihing 'just fell out of the book'.
Just plain bad. 
2007-05-12
Albert Uderzo, Asterix and the Falling Sky (Dargaud, 2005)
I'm not terribly sure what Uderzo was smoking when he came up with this one, but as a tribute to Walt Disney, he has the indomitable Gaulish village invaded by... space aliens? Yes, you heard that right. You can expect some of the punning, but nothing else that's made the series so much fun over the years is to be found here. The worst book in the series to date. **
Missing the wit and charm of the old Asterix series; instead, this one has racist undertones 2007-02-02
Asterix, the comic hero from the Roman era and the first international superhero, continues to conquer the world. With hundreds of millions of copies sold in 107 languages and dialects, not to mention 11,000 websites devoted to the character, these engagingly witty and record-breaking books have become the highest-selling series ever—surpassing even Harry Potter! And the phenomenon shows no sign of abating; in fact, it’s spreading to other media, such as video games, CDs, and movies.
And fans of these hysterical historical tales will love this first new album in four years—now out in paper! It’s a lively tale that features a falling sky, an incredible space race, and some surprising characters.
Whatever adventure Asterix embarks on, it’s sure to be a blockbuster.
2006-12-14
Spaceships, super clones, a nice tellytubby looking space alien and a bad grasshopper looking space alien, and above all a mediocre story line. What is next? Asterix and Obelix travel in time to New York, or Roman Soldiers in Space? This was not a typical Asterix. Old Asterix lovers like me and the previous reviewers will not enjoy this one. People new to Asterix and Obelix should not buy it either, since this is not what Asterix is about.
On the other hand, I asked my nine year old what he thought of it. He liked the fact that Uderzo introduced some space ships and aliens into the story. He thought it was "different, and creative". He liked it as much as he liked all the other ones. He has already read it several times.
Thinking about it, he actually has a point. Children see it differently, many of them like this stuff. Monsters, science fiction, fighting clones, if you were nine years old maybe you would like it too. So to give the new generation a voice I gave it three stars. In the end I don't regret buying it.
This Asterix album will appeal mostly to children. 2006-11-18
This certainly is an odd entry in the Asterix saga. Perhaps Uderzo is running out of ideas, since he needed to introduce aliens. The story is only mildly interesting although it has its moments, but at no point does it reach the same level as the old adventures. The art is great as always though.
I wish I could give it 2,5 stars, but since that's not possible I give it two stars. While most of the Asterix adventures deserve 5 stars and are always great fun for both kids and adults, this one probably appeals more to kids. They're usually great adventures full of humour. This one is neither. I still don't think it's as awful as most reviewers seems to think. It's good enough to kill some time with, but that's all. Asterix fans might want to check it out but don't have too high expectations. If Albert Udernzo would happen to read this, please, put some heart into the story next time, and if you can't come up with a better story than this, please hire a writer.
The end of Asterix ... 2006-11-02
I agree with everything written by previews reviewers. This is the worst Asterix book by far. I know it's the only one I will never have a desire to read again. The story is ... well, there really isn't much of a story here. Asterix and the villagers are secondary characters at best -- just there in the background.
It's sad because the series is, without any exaggeration, the best "children's" book series ever. Even the books after Goscinny's death (post Asterix in Belgium) were fairly good and had some redeeming parts to them. This one, however, truly has no redeeming qualities. Uderzo is a wonderful cartoonist but Asterix has always been about much more than just pretty pictures.
I'd say, do yourselves a favor and buy all the other Asterix books, particulary the ones written by Goscinny (and if you already have them, re-read them; I've re-read them a million times, they're that good). Take a pass on Asterix and the Falling Star; it'll just depress you.
SORELY DISAPPOINTED! 2006-07-30
I have been a MASSIVE asterix fan since childhood. When I heard of a new book in the works I was excited by the prospect of another Asterix book. Perhaps the last too! I hoped that the new comic book would prove better than the last, Asterix and the Actress, a mediocre attempt to recycle some classic Asterix characters while adding an unnecessary family element to it. Judging by the cover of Falling Sky I anticipated it would be a really good read. I was so WRONG!
First of all the main characters are just bystanders in the story, watching good Disney-like alien creatures battle bad Anime-style ones. There is no plot to the story. All this book does is reflect Albert Uderzo's animation prejudices and his obvious antagonism towards Japanimation.
This book does not compare to any of the Asterix classics that have brought joy to many. Books like Asterix and Cleopatra and Asterix and the Laurel Wreath are great in so many levels. Even some of Albert Uderzo's solo Asterix works, although not as good as the ones done with Goscinny, were really good.
If you are a newcomer to the world of Asterix, DO NOT start with this book, and if you're a lifelong fan like me, DO NOT ruin the image of Asterix by reading this!
