Herge was indeed a very interresting personality, more so than Tintin. He was accused of collaboration with the Germans after WWII, but was never found guilty. “Tintin in Tibet” was actually an album he wrote for a Chinese friend of him, Tchang, the same personality as in the comic book. Most people (including myself) find that the worst album, because there’s too much text in it. My favourites are still “Tintin in Africa” and “Men on the moon”.
Funny you mentioned Rin Tin Tin, he has nothing to do with Tin Tin, but he’s the dog of Lucky Lucke, maybe an equally important comic book character. In Dutch Rin Tin Tin is translated into Rattaplan.
Tintin/Kuifje, though the story’s were very simple, Herge spend much work on the technical details. The Rocket he constructed for example really worked … maybe we should have listened to him and 15 year before Armstrong there would be Belgians walking on the moon :p.
Apart from that, it’s also important to know Tintin is one of the few characters that doesn’t consider himself to be Flemish or Walloon (though he is from Brussels). In fact, he considers himself to be “European”. My favourite characters is Captain Haddock, the Whiskey-drinking friend of Tintin. He’s also a Honorary President of the Society of Sober Sailors!
How popular is Tintin or Belgian comics in general actually in the foreign country. Do you find them in your local newspaper agent or book store? Ever heard of Buck Danny, a Navy-pilot? Or Largo Winch, Soda or XIII?:D
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