the_maharaja:
why do so many of you like Tintin in Tibet so much
Maybe read my article which I wrote some time ago? It can be found here:
Tintin in Tibet Hopefully it sums up the general feelings with which fans and critics alike rate this as a defining example of Herge's work and indeed work by any graphic artist...
the_maharaja:
Why do so many of you rate RR's Treasure so low
I can't comment for everyone but I do think this book as well as
Unicorn lifted The Adventures of Tintin into the stratosphere, and elevated Tintin from great to exceptional.
These two tales have so many elements which take Hergé's work to truly a new step and creates a backdrop and foundation on which the other stories moving forward are built upon.
Think about it: after
Rackham, the fundamental 'Tintin Family' is complete, save some memorable supporting characters in the latter adventures.
Haddock is still arguably a secondary character in
Crab and
Star yet holds his own in
Unicorn and
Rackham.
It is especially in these two which he develops into his own enthralling character and it's his humour which carries the story and makes it all the more memorable, agree?
Calculus although not fully developed in
Rackham is without doubt accepted into the fold, not least to say he does indeed purchase Marlinspike Hall and it is this setting which dictates the tone, pace and base for the future adventures.
The Professor shows true generosity, gratefulness and respect which makes us engage with him instantly at the end of the story. He has no animosity,(he's deaf and not heard the Captain's barb's in the story!) only a happiness and humility with Tintin and Haddock which had only been touched on and realistically only seen in both
Lotus and
Ottokar's endings.
Hergé at this point in time, had the stage complete for the Tintin books and all it took was inventive ideas to push the adventures forward.
The base fundamentals were here now, it's all about expanding and he achieved this so perfectly in some of the future stories.
Indeed, they get better and better (as many have said already!) which is all the marvel as many other writer in a position may have fallen short..
It's testament to his creative abilities (
Crystal, Prisoners et al)
Red Rackham's Treasure is without doubt a pivot point in the Adventures of Tintin, with all the real world issues going on with Herge and does serve to be looked upon as an example of his genius especially due to the 1940's factors he was going through at the present time.
I think a story
that engaging with war time issues (WWII)deserves to be said for something indeed...
Finally, I have always wondered, had it not been for the war, where would Tintin have gone? What would have the adventures bought out?
Was it really the war which bought out the best for the stories?
Would they have simply been mundane, nice and satisfactory, good and simple like so many others long forgotten?
Sad to say as this is, was it the war and the events at hand which bought these books to the amazing quality in which we are still discussing on Internet forums long after the final tale has been told?
I could go on but I won't as I hope you have seen the point here..
Rod :)