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The Metamorphoses of Tintin: or Tintin for Adults

Jean-Marie Apostolides (translated by Jocelyn Hay)
Stanford University Press (2010)
ISBN 9780804760317
Reviewed by Narayan Radhakrishnan for RebeccasReads.com (01/10)

Tintin: The Boy Reporter is a character who needs no introduction. The intrepid young journalist has endeared himself to masses and later this year we can see first of trilogy of films based on Tintin to hit the screens directed by Steven Spielberg. Tintin has a fan following of children between the age 8 and 88; and his popularity has transcended boundaries. Being an aficionado and proud owner of all Tintin comic albums, or as we call ourselves, Tintinologists; Tintin has been a steady diet of my childhood. I read the same, enjoyed the art and was captivated by the plot and stories. But for me these were comics simpliciter.

But after reading this book “The Metamorphoses of Tintin: or Tintin for Adults” by Tintin scholar Jean-Marie Apostolides, I now realize that there was another realm to Tintin and the stories. It’s a reflection of the social milieu that existed in Europe in post World War days. It is a reflection of the tenacity and never say die attitude of the common man. In short, Tintin is a reflection of the inner hero within every common man. Was Herge the creator of Tintin even aware or realize the magnitude his character would create globally? I am not sure.

There have been Tintin studies prior to “The Metamorphoses of Tintin: or Tintin for Adults”- the prominent being “The World of Tintin” by Benoit Peeters and “The Tintin Companion” by Michael Farr. However both these books just examined Tintin from the comic album standpoint of view. Jean-Marie Apostolides goes one step further and examines the subtle intricacies of the character created by Herge and the impact made by it. After reading this book  I find new respect for Herge and Tintin. A book to have with you while reading Tintin, not as a companion; but as a source of subtle critical analysis. Highly and heavily recommended for each Tintinologist.