Those crazy Gauls are back at it again. This time, the diminutive Frenchman and his hirsute hulk of a friend, through typically comical circumstances – Obelix’s midlife crisis, anyone? – are entered into a chariot race for the fate of their village. If you’ve ever read an Asterix book or experienced any of his adventures before, you’ll know what to expect: silly action, cheesy gags and a lot of puns. Here, Asterix and the Chariot Race certainly doesn’t disappoint.

Series creators Goscinny and Uderzo may have left Asterix behind (the former, sadly departed, the latter retired in 2011), but their iconic creations live on, a new book now apparently being published every year. Asterix and Obelix show no sign of slowing down though, and Asterix and the Chariot Race is as fast and riotous as the books ever have been. Perhaps even more so; its story is reminiscent of Asterix the Gladiator, or one of his numerous other action-based adventures.

While there’s a sense that, now the Gauls have run out of countries and tribes to explore, fight and team up with, the series is running out of some steam, the action has been amped up to cover the deficit. Coming at it as a long-time reader, this feels more like one of the cartoons or movie adaptations than a classic Asterix book; right down to the artwork, which has been faithfully recreated, but is just a little too boisterous (but a step up from the last few albums). Likewise, the jokes feel slightly less funny than they should. Although, again, that could just be nostalgia speaking, and a fondness for the series at its best.

While, for older readers, it’s just not quite the same, young readers and fans of Asterix and his pals should lap this up just as we did in the Gauls’ heyday. It might not be exactly as it was when we were young fans, but there’s something comforting about the knowledge that Asterix and Obelix are still out there, walloping Romans and cracking wise every year or so. You just can’t keep those indomitable Gauls down.

ASTERIX AND THE CHARIOT RACE: ALBUM 37 / AUTHOR: JEAN-YVES FERRI / ARTIST: DIDIER CONRAD / PUBLISHER: ORION CHILDREN’S BOOKS / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW