Tintin
Tintin is neither a surname nor a first name, it is much more than that Tintin is a totally unique world, a myth or a saga. Tintin is created from Herge's subconscious desire to be perfect, to be a hero. The hero who everyone between 7 and 77 years old wants to be, or become while reading the Adventures of Tintin.
In which year was Tintin born?
1927
1929
1930
Which country does Tintin visit on his first adventure ?
Russia
America
The Congo
What is Tintin's job?
Reporter
Film director
Writer
In which road does Tintin live ?
Labrador Road
Marlinspike Road
Brussels Road
What do Tibetan monks call Tintin ?
Great Heart
Rumbling Thunder
Powder Snow
Who is Tintin looking for in Tintin in Tibet ?
The yeti
His friend Chang
Snowy
In which book does Tintin meet Chang for the first time ?
Tintin in Tibet
Cigars of the Pharaoh
The Blue Lotus
With whom is Tintin always shown on the covers of his books?
Captain Haddock
Snowy
Professor Calculus
What is Tintin's most well known feature ?
His coat
His quiff
His blue jumper
What anniversary did Tintin celebrate in 2004 ?
His 60th birthday
His 75th birthday
His 80th birthday
Herge said
“Tintin is me wanting to be heroic and perfect…” “Tintin is me… my eyes, my feelings, my lungs, my guts!... I believe I am the only person able to animate him, the only person able to give him a soul.” (Herge)
Age
Tintin was created in 1929.
He was like Totor’s (the first cartoon created by Herge) young brother, a kind of Totor who had become a journalist but kept his boy scout’s spirit. He is aged between 16 and 18. He is definitely young and his face is not wrinkled even though he is officially 90 years old in 2019. “Since the Soviets, the character of Tintin has not evolved. From a graphic standpoint
Tintin
is still a sketch” (Numa Sadoul,
Tintin et moi
, Casterman, p.40)
Familie
Tintin is created by his father
Georges Remi, Herge
, the world renowned Belgian cartoonist. This spiritual heir is more than an adopted child!
Herge
has stressed the fact that he raised Tintin, protected him, fed him just like a father would (Numa Sadoul,
Tintin et moi
, Casterman, p. 66) Over the years and in the course of the Adventures, Tintin surrounds himself with friends who became part his family so to speak.
Snowy, Tintin and Tchang
Haddock and Tintin
Thomson and Thompson
Professor Calculus
Bianca Castafiore
Snowy and Nestor
Among his friends, Snowy comes first. Admittedly he is a dog, but he is above all, the faithful friend of
Tintin
with a generous spirit. Secondly, Tchang appears in the family circle and becomes a lifelong friend of Tintin and almost a brother. Thirdly, Captain Haddock whose debut was to come a good ten years later is ready to sacrifice his own life for
Tintin
. Not forgetting all the others, Castafiore, Calculus, Thomson and Thompson who form Tintin’s family circle.
Profession
Without doubt, a top reporter. He went to Russia to cover a story for his newspaper and wrote his first reportage there.
This is the only time the reader will see the young reporter preparing an article for his newspaper. We assume that Tintin kept the reader of his newspaper informed of his action-packed adventures. Tintin keeps travelling around the world and acts more like a detective always seeking the truth and fighting against injustice. Herge was himself a reporter and his son has inherited a great deal of his father’s passion.
The comics
Tintin appears on each of the 24 covers. That makes sense! He was always accompanied by Snowy except on the final album cover,
Tintin and Alph-Art
. This is understandable, because this cover was not designed by Herge. Although Captain Haddock plays an important role in
The Adventures of Tintin
, the latter is always in the limelight.
Distinguishing features
His distinguishing feature is of course his little quiff! In the beginning, there was no such distinguishing feature. Most notably the first strips (the first 8 pages) show Tintin with smooth and combed hair.
The famous hairstyle only appears when Tintin jumps into a car and races away. The sudden acceleration gives Tintin the distinctive quiff with which he is synonymous. The little tuft of hair will remain, and never droops.
Temper
Tintin is free, and a very moral person with great integrity. He was considered by the Tibetan monks as a guileless person.
These words reveal the true nature of the Tintin's personality. He is the hero that everyone wishes to become, or at least the friend that everyone would like to have. Tintin supports his friends all the way and pushes himself to the limit and fights to the last.