Asterix #8

Written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo, this 2005 Orion Books edition takes Asterix and Obelix across the channel for some decidedly British mayhem. The cover — drawn by Uderzo — captures the chaos perfectly: the mighty Obelix barrels forward (quite literally, hoisting an enormous wooden barrel that's already sloshing its contents) while little Asterix ducks beneath him, both of them ploughing through a crowd of striped-shirted Britons on what appears to be a sports field, complete with goalposts in the background. It's an irresistible snapshot of the Gauls at their most gloriously unstoppable, and at £6.99 it's a thoroughly entertaining addition to any shelf.