John Sewell Member
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#30 · Posted: 5 Apr 2005 13:44
One thing which intrigues me about it is the timescale concerned - I've no idea how long a period of time is represented by what we were left with! Did the notes and sketches build up over years of work, or was it the work of a few months of renewed activity? Are the "new" sketches in the most recent reprint contemporary with the 42 pages which make up the bulk of the story, or do they date from some time before (or even after)? One thing which is missing, IMO, from the published version is a timeline, which would let us put all these different parts and ideas into context.
I'm with Jock and yamilah too on the question of whether or not Herge intended what he left us to be the basis of a finished book. The impression I get is that he was still fishing around for suitable plot threads and hooks to hang a story on. It's noticable that the "unmasking" sketch of Rastapopolus has a question mark next to it, showing that even he thought it might have been too obvious, and the notes seem to include a lot of questions to himself about the direction it might have taken.
Hammering out the 42 pages may have been an attempt to get some of these ideas into a plot as quickly as possible - as it progresses, the artwork becomes more stylised and sketchy, so perhaps he was rushing towards the climax and conclusion, which, unfortunately only existed in his head. With that in place, Herge would at least have had a framework to build on at his leisure, excising and adding various ideas as he fine-tuned it. Stuff from the notes like the Captain falling in with a suspect arty crowd and (unwittingly) growing dope at Marlinspike might seem unlikely, but it could have been developed (Tintin back to his early role of drug-buster, or perhaps framed and pursued by the Thompson Twins again!)
As it is, the story as it stands is essentially an early (first?) draft, and that it hangs together as well as it does, even in that state, is a testament to Herge's skill. There are a few clumsy bits and inconsistancies (eg, why don't the henchmen finish Tintin off after knocking him out at the factory? The Captain makes a vague comment about Snowy alerting him, but even so, that would have given them plenty of time to do the deed!). Even the title itself, viewed with hindsight, has little relevence - Alph-Art has no real part to play other than drawing the Captain in. When I first read it, I was expecting it to be used as part of some secret code or something! Even the notorious inescapable cliffhanger ending for Tintin may have been severely altered, or even taken out completely!
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