"The first new Asterix book for five years sees Asterix and Obelix celebrating their joint birthday party back in the Gaulish village -- and some surprise guests have been invited! Meanwhile, Julius Caesar has to deal with his old enemy Pompey, who is looking for supporters among the legions stationed in Gaul. And just what part do two old friends play in the story, Tremensdelirius and the lovely Panacea? After many exciting adventures, all is finally...

A "woman bard? That's unheard of in Ancient Gaul. So, when the mothers in Asterix's town want to replace Cacofonix with Bravura, the men are horrified. But, Bravura hits the right notes musically, and she proves very valuable when Julius Caesar sends in his secret weapon: a group of female legionnaries. Caesar thinks the Gauls will be too noble to fight the women ... but Bravura has no such scruples! And, even Cacofonix succeeds in coming into his...

When the bard is taken to Rome as a present for Caesar, Asterix and Obelix set out to rescue him, sailing with a Phoenician merchant. But how do our Gaulish friends come to end up training as gladiators?

Asterix and Obelix do their best to care for the infant left outside of Asterix's hut while finding his true parents, who seem to belong to a powerful family.