Robert Sexé: the real-life Tintin?
By Irene Mar
The Age reported yesterday that research findings by French writer, Jean-Paul Schulz had revealed many uncanny similiarities between Tintin and a Great War correspondent, Robert Sexé's.
Sexé was a journalist and motorcycle fantatic, who became famous in Belgium in the 1920s. His adventures and experiences are recorded in Sexé au Pays des Soviets, published by Vieux Château in 1996. His first foreign reporting trip was to Moscow in 1926, three years before Tintin undertook a similar assignment. That the chronology of Sexé's first three trips matches the first three Hergé albums makes one wonder if Hergé had not based his character, Tintin, on Sexé.
Sexé's best friend, a mechanic by the name of Mihloux accompanied him on many trips. Tintin also has a faithful companion whose name sounds the same as Milhoux, except it is spelt Milou.
Sources:
- Cartoon hero's adventures linked to real-life reporter: The Age; Melbourne; 18 May 1999; page 9.
- Schulz, Jean-Paul. Robert Sexé, modèle de Tintin [http://www.europe2-vendee.com/tintin.htm] <-- URL no longer working.
Related:
- The report of Robert Sexé's motorbike tour around the world in 1926 is published in "Mit dem Mortorrad um die Welt" (German title).
- Sexé au pays des soviets by Jean-Paul Schulz (forward by Philippe Goddin) was published by Edition du Vieux Chateaux in 1996.