Asterix and the Secret Weapon

Asterix and the Secret Weapon is the twenty-ninth volume of the Asterix comic book series and the fifth by Albert Uderzo alone. It was originally published in 1991.

The story begins with the arrival of Bravura, a feminist bard from Lutetia, in the Gaulish village. Bravura challenges the villagers’ traditional gender roles and teaches the Gaulish women how to fight. This causes a rift between the men and women of the village, and Asterix is even expelled from the village for striking a woman.

Meanwhile, Julius Caesar has developed a new secret weapon: female legionaries. He sends his centurion Claphamomnibus to Gaul to test out the new weapon on the Gauls. When the Gaulish men see the female legionaries, they refuse to fight them, fearing dishonor.

Asterix learns of Caesar’s secret weapon and returns to the village to warn the Gaulish women. He teams up with Bravura to develop a plan to defeat the female legionaries. They train the Gaulish women in self-defense and teach them how to fight without dishonoring their men.

When the female legionaries attack the Gaulish village, the Gaulish women are ready for them. They defeat the female legionaries and save the village. Caesar is forced to admit defeat, and the Gauls are victorious.

Asterix and the Secret Weapon is a humorous and thought-provoking story that explores themes of gender equality, feminism, and the importance of standing up for what is right. It is a classic example of the Asterix series’ ability to combine humor with social commentary