Asterix in Corsica (Album 20) is a lively, sun-drenched adventure and a humorous deep dive into the culture of the Corsicans. The story begins during the annual veterans' banquet, where the Gauls and their allies from across the Empire celebrate their past victories against Rome. Among the guests is Ocatarinetabellatchitchix, a proudly independent and extremely vengeful Corsican chieftain. He has been imprisoned by the Romans for years. The Gauls, realizing their guest's desire for freedom, decide to help him return home. Asterix and Obelix accompany Ocatarinetabellatchitchix back to his native Corsica, a beautiful but volatile island perpetually resisting Roman rule. The album is a loving and hilarious parody of Corsican cultural stereotypes, focusing on the inhabitants' extreme sense of honor, their love of strong-smelling cheese, their tendency to take very long naps (the siesta), and their long-standing vendettas. The Gauls must help Ocatarinetabellatchitchix reclaim his power from a rival chieftain who is allied with the local Roman occupiers, forcing them into a massive, organized attack on the main Roman camp. The story features the classic elements of Roman incompetence, local resistance, and plenty of action, all set against the backdrop of a Mediterranean paradise. This adventure is considered one of the sharpest and most affectionate cultural parodies in the entire series.
