STT002: Tintin in the Land of the Soviets
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How did Tintin get his iconic tuft of hair? Why did he travel to Russia on his first assignment? How did Hergé’s first album revolutionize comics in Europe? You’ll hear it in our analysis of Tintin’s first adventure in the Land of the Soviets!
Follow us on Twitter: David Handlos @davidhandlos | Fr. Roderick Vonhögen @fatherroderick | @tintinpodcast
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Fr. Roderick are discussing.
Fr. Roderick 10:15 am on November 8, 2011 Permalink |
Hope you enjoy this new episode!
Glenn 11:44 am on November 27, 2011 Permalink |
Thanks again so much Father Roderick and David for doing this podcast – I’d love to be involved ie perhaps by sending audio feedback.
I’m particularly glad you are doing this podcast, because it’s going to help me finish buying my Tintin collection. I want to get each book before you review it.
Here are some of my ‘Tintin in the Land of the Soviets’ thoughts.
(deep breath)
Before page 20
Tintin is bombed and in his first automobile accident of so many that I lost count as I re-read this story and hit by a train!
Indeed father, how DID his currency and papers survive!
And the insanity doesn’t stop!
This first story reminds me of a Simpson’s Itchy and Scratchy cartoon – totally unrealistic.
But all greats, must start somewhere, and I am so grateful Herge started somewhere!!
Now first up…
My Responses to Father Roderick
I Disagree with you father regarding the exposition on pg 104. I don’t think it was superfluous. Not really. Adults may have worked out what was going on, but not necessarily kids.
I really liked your quiff story. I didn’t know that either! I also didn’t know Herge was was into his cars … M. Tillieux creator of Gil Jordan certainly was.
and…
In your first podcast you noted that Tintin is a rather boring character – true in later comics. This is certainly not true of his first three adventures in my opinion. His black and white self in Soviets is rather colorful. He is smug, extremely sure of himself, quite hilarious in places – I laughed out loud on pages 48 (“Funny I don’t seem to be able to sleep”) Waist high in waste
and 54. Tintin’s boat is going down the bad guys are upon him and what does Tintin say? “Don’t worry, snowy. Something tells me they’ll give up the chase.”
Now
Onto the review then
Tintin’s Abilities
Bomb proof.
Train proof.
So fit he can catch a train on a rail cart.
Builds a railcar out of debris.
Outruns a train (that wasn’t suppose to there because the next train wasn’t due for 24 hours – we were told on page ).
The ability to see in the dark (in those fighting scenes).
Super speed (making the ghost costume, and the second propeller).
Super Sneeze.
Super Strong (he fights big men and bears! And many more animals in ‘Congo’ Oh my that poor Rhino!).
Knowing exactly which vehicles have keys in the ignition! … and a ton other stuff
Snowy – Wonder Dog
Is not Snowy quite the super dog? Countlessly saving Tintin’s butt! pg 37, 70, 95 are but some examples.
Some Stats
Five black eyes (pages 006,014,050, 091, 123) and a bloody nose (page 022), and he goes through about 5 changes of clothes in this story and David gave us stats about Tintin’s jail time.
Compassion
Loved Tintin’s compassion for the old Russian on Pg. 31 Pity the man was really the Cheka.
Snowy’s compassion shines through on pg 79 in the bread distribution scene.
Morals
1. “Losing your temper won’t help. Tintin.”
So true Snowy, so true.” (Page 49)
2. “With patience all things are possible…”
Yeah. But felling a tree with pocket knife!?
3. And Father you already pointed out the ‘Don’t play with fire moral”
Fun names I caught…
1. Vlipvlop (flipflop – page 32)
The Cheka’s old man guise.
2. Nokzitov (knocks it off – page 96)
The Russian Tintin challenges.
Firsts that I noticed were…
1. “Crumbs!”
First use of the word for Tintin. Pg 058
2. Tintin Flies
page 112
3. Alcoholism
Snowy problem begins pg. 121
4. Chloroform
First use of it pg 133
Observations
1. Precursor to the cursing Haddock
pg. 41 & 75 – “Ten Thousand Knouts” and pg. 43 “Ten Thousand Knotted Knouts”
2. Herge Cameo
The man on page 57 suspiciously looks like Herge.
3. Horse sequence…
Page 98 featuring Tintin’s trouble with the horse reminded me of Captain Haddock’s trouble with his horse in “The Red Sea Sharks (Coke en Stock)” page 26.
4. References to the Bolshevik Party.
“By Lenin’s Beard” (Page. 42) We get more on (page 104).
Likes
1. Loved frame 2 of pg 36. Great comedy, but a very sad reality.
2.The panels are fantastic on pgs 40 – 43 I loved that the door was a devised the panels – I’ve used this affect myself.
3. I enjoyed Herge’s collection of animals on pgs 128 – 130
Dislikes
Now I know this is not to be taken at all seriously, but what really grates me was
1. The wetsuit in the cell and the tiger skin Snowy finds.
2. Oh and the whole. “I’ll ask this man to help by tripping him up!” pages 64 -65.
Yet I wasn’t particularly bothered my Tintin’s Super Sneeze. I know … weird right
Closing Thoughts
It is interesting that under all of this slapstick fantasy was a volatile political issue! – . I think Herge often used humor as a nice way to lead people into serious subject matter. Sort of a soften up the reader, draw them in then slam them with the hard issues. Perhaps not so much in ‘Soviets’, but communism was certainly a hot topic at the time.
The book is made up of individual comical incidents that doesn’t flow seamlessly into each other and this continues for the next 3 comics in my opinion. ‘Soviets’, ‘Congo’ and ‘America’. Now if I’m honest I have to say I find it impossible (as an adult) to suspend my belief for these first 3 stories. I find I finally can with ‘Cigars’.
Following the back cover order ‘Cigars’ is the first of my favorites. I’ll talk about ‘why’ when we get to that review
Herge got a lot more serious about his plots and realism from The Blue Lotus on. And from here I really DID begin to dig Tintin!
Lastly Some Quotes
“What’ll happen to Tintin?” – Snowy (page 093)
“Yet another brush with death.” – Tintin (page 119)
Both these quotes typify my Tintin reading experience. I said both those things often through my first outings with Tintin as a boy.