Obelix places his menhir in Brussels

Illustration: RV OBELIX PLACES HIS MENHIR IN BRUSSELS Menhirs, Breton pancakes and a blue and white striped Manneken Pis. These are just a few of the events that will take place from around September 22, concerning the release of the newest Asterix album. It was already known that Thurn & Taxis would hold an "expensive and ambitious" Asterix retrospective and that a real Asterix village would be built on the Brussels Grand-Place. Yesterday, Uderzo's daughter, for publisher Albert René, detailed the program at Brussels City Hall. On September 23, a three-meter-high menhir will be placed on the Grand-Place, author Uderzo will be awarded an honorary medal, a comic strip wall will be inaugurated, and the start signal will be given for the Roller Parade Asterix (with Gallic helmet). One day later, Manneken Pis will be dressed in an Obelix costume, the Gallic village will open its doors, and a colorful musical procession will be organized. And a "une grande surprise" is also promised. The rumor that Asterix and Obelix will return to Belgium in the new album is now somewhat stronger. (GDW)