STT005: Cigars of the Pharaoh
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We follow in the footsteps of Tintin in an adventure that takes him from Egypt to India on a quest to unravel the mystery of the “Cigars of the Pharaoh”!
Follow us on Twitter: David Handlos @davidhandlos | Fr. Roderick Vonhögen @fatherroderick | @tintinpodcast
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The Blu-ray collection of the animated Tintin series is only available in Europe right now, and region coded. However, you can find links to the American DVD’s and Blu-rays via the slideshow below.
Karolina Hansson, 
Fr. Roderick and 3 others are discussing.
JD 5:47 pm on January 16, 2012 Permalink |
Hi guys!
I love the show. I am really enjoying your analysis and all the great “behind the story” tidbits.
I do have one request though. Could you possibly put links in the show notes to the images and articles that you reference in the episodes? That would be awesome. Thanks!
-JD
Anthony 6:43 pm on April 23, 2012 Permalink |
Hi guys! your show is AWESOME!!!! I’d love to hear a episode on the secret of the unicorn!
keep up the good work! also, another good podcast would be red Rackhams treasure! 
see you guys later!
Glenn 11:03 am on January 20, 2012 Permalink |
Hi guys! Good to hear you again.
Spot the Model Shot – Frame 1, Page 62
Before Page 11
Tintin crosses with the infamous Rastapopoulous.
Framed for drug smuggling
incarcerated & escapes
Discovers a pharaoh’s tomb
Tintin’s Skill Set
Tintin’s flying skills come into play again. pgs. 31 & 32.
Carves a trumpet and learns to talk elephant. 34 & 35
Observations
Herge sets up The Blue Lotus as early as frame 4 of page 1. Shanghai, China is clearly routed out.
Snowy can still understand people – page 29. frame 6
The Thompson’s do there best work in Cigars pg 29 – 30. They are not so thick.
Firsts
Pg. 9, fr. 2 Herge draws nails on Tintin hands and life lines.
Also on pg. 9 Herge’s famous dream sequences.
Also on pg. 9 Allan & his friend – I checked Crab with the Golden Claws for the man’s name, but Tom’s name does not appear there. It might in Flight 714, but I don’t have that album to check.
Tintin called ‘Sinbad’ pg. 13
Tintin called ‘Sir. Galahad’ pg. 17
Pg. 13. The appearance of a favorite character of mine. The merchant, Senhor Oliveira da Figueira from Lisbon. We will see him again in Land of Black Gold & Red Sea Sharks.
Appearance of the madness darts – Rajaijah juice. Pg. 43. More of this to come in Blue Lotus.
Second appearance
Rastopopulous (pg. 3, fr.14 ) On page 4 Tintin tells us, that it is not the first time they have met.
Thomson and Thompson (pg.4, fr. 8). These two was initially first seen in this album, before Herge redrew them into Congo.
Herge Cameo
None.
Fun names
Sophocles Sarcophagus (one note on this character. At first I thought that he was certainly odd, but I did not suspect madness, till pg.36 ) Tintin is very accepting of this character.
Kih-Oskh (kiosk)
The Station name Sethrujamjah (see through Jam Jar)
Likes
Frames 9, 10 & 12 of pg.6 – Herge carefully draws it so we think Sarcophagus is still with us, because of the hat, but indeed we discover that it is only the hat, The man’s gone!
The creepiness at the top of pg. 8 – there is a Sarcophagus for Sophocles, Tintin and even Snowy!
The way Herge depicts the wind cutting out Sophocles words Pg.11, Fr.5. This happens in other stories. In ‘Land of Black Gold’ it is used well from memory.
Pg. 16 when Tintin runs on set to save the actress.
Pg. 28 Fr. 10 is a poignant picture of Snowy crying over Tintin’s grave. “The only thing left for me to do is stay here and die on his grave.”
Frame 1 of 31, particularly the arab taking the shot and the bullet impacting the ground at Tintin’s feet.
Loved the supernatural stuff going on through pages 38 – 41 quite freaky.
The trick with the letter is a stroke of guineas – loved it Pg. 44
If you carefully look you will see that the background in frames 9 – 11 on page 49 is all one background and the characters in the fore ground move. It’s fab across it!
Love, love, LOVED, pgs. 53-57. So much mystery & intrigue! But the action has not yet finished, the mysterious super villain is still not revealed and has appeared to have died.
Dislikes
Only one thing. That Herge redrew frame 13 on page 15 using Destination Moon and not the original Tintin in America cover. It messed with my mind when I was trying to find the chronological order of the books as a kid.
Belief Suspension Exploitation
It should be, but I don’t seem to mind Tintin’s trampoline trick on pg.46, that should NOT have worked. LOL!
We visit congo again on pg. 51. It is a funny scene, but how Tintin gets a tiger into a straight jacket is quite beyond me.
Marginally Unnecessary Narrative
Snowy. “The fuse just went “phut”.
Questions
What does Tintin do with all the things he buys on page 13 and where did he get the money?
Rating
(Tintin = sensible action/ Snowy = plot
The closest quote to describe the story can be found on pg 17 “That’s my story. Remarkable isn’t it?”
Indeed it is! I loved this story. There were still ridiculous moments like we get in the early albums, but over all is a fairly sensible piece, and lots of fun!
8 Tintins and 6 Snowys
little_rabbit 2:24 am on February 24, 2012 Permalink |
I look forward to every episode you’ve done. I hope you could also update soon as well! Anyway. I enjoyed this episode too. Very excited for the next comic album that will be discussed, The Blue Lotus, since it is the album which changed everything.
I also noticed the Tintin figurine images you uploaded with each episode. I think it’s adorable and neat. Looking forward to next episode. 
Karolina Hansson 7:58 am on May 1, 2012 Permalink |
Guys! Are you dead? Say yes or no but answer me! It´s pure joy listen to you and I´m looking forward to hear about “The Blue Lotus” soon.
Fr. Roderick 8:08 am on May 1, 2012 Permalink |
Hi Karolina, we are alive
Very busy with a number of other series (David and I also do Secrets of Once Upon a Time), but as soon as we have some time, we will record some more episodes!
Karolina Hansson 7:33 pm on May 1, 2012 Permalink |
Thank´s for a very quick answer! Now I can relax. Thank you for the earlier episodes, which were very interesting and amusing. So long!
Anthony 12:25 am on May 10, 2012 Permalink |
Yes I agree I can’t wait till the next episode on the blue lotus! I just bought two Tintin books the secret of the unicorn and the cigars of the pharaoh and I can’t wait to know what happens in the blue lotus! Isn’t it about more drug runner chasing? Can’t wait! Please write me back! (If your still alive!
)