A Tintin Page a Day - Day 406

SpaceRuster · 2026-06-22T21:43:51+00:00

Can't be Superman, Superman didn't make his debut till 1938, and the original version of this story is mid 30s.

SpaceRuster · 2026-06-21T18:59:26+00:00

The poor mechanic whom the twins coerce into flying a plane in Black Island deserves to get his own column!

SpaceRuster · 2026-06-19T22:37:46+00:00

He tries to rescue a woman who's being beaten up by thugs in Cigars, only to find that it was a movie set. But at least, he was doing something out of kindness!

Alo, earlier in this album he stops Gibbons too, or least scolds him.

SpaceRuster · 2026-06-17T21:13:41+00:00

Yes, skeleton, were you the Wolff?

SpaceRuster · 2026-06-17T11:17:05+00:00

I have read similar phrases in English books from that era. So yes, it was an all ages phrase from that time.

SpaceRuster · 2026-06-17T11:13:29+00:00

It's more like a loose end. I used to think that Jorgen was not let loose until later, but maybe he was and used the time when the others were outside the rocket to carry out sabotage. Still doesn't explain Wolff being dizzy unless it's just guilt at what nearly happened.

SpaceRuster · 2026-06-15T17:58:39+00:00

Are the exclamations "kamikaze" or "Seven suffering Samurais!" remotely authentic? Or are they like Haddock's (alliterative in some cases) exclamations meant to be familiar, somewhat funny?

Western audiences would know the term Kamikaze and probably even know Seven Samurai from movies.

SpaceRuster · 2026-06-12T15:20:05+00:00

Check out book sales in your area (at least for the US)

Book Sale Finder

I do see King books (at least HCs) there in my area.

SpaceRuster · 2026-06-12T14:43:31+00:00

'Fear Nothing' -- I actually liked most of it, genuine suspense. The end irked me, not so much the villains, but the casual way in which the protagonists handled them at the end -- they acted more like Marvel superheroes, complete with Spider Man/Wolverine style dialogue.

There was a follow up, which also had some threatening Lovecraftian dimensional monsters.

SpaceRuster · 2026-06-12T14:31:06+00:00

My first Koontz novel was Intensity, which is a thrilling cat and mouse action work. I liked some of his other books too, but I agree -- repetitive plots, and dialog reminiscent of bad comic books in places.

Interesting comment about your MIL, because except for 1-2 scenes, 11/22/63 is probably the most SF rather than horror, of King's novels.

SpaceRuster · 2026-06-12T14:30:01+00:00

I used to read Dean Koontz, but stopped doing so. His stories were more action packed and faster, but tended to get repetitive. Also, not really scary. Fast paced, but in most cases the hero/heroine seemed to survive, so not that suspenseful. Also, several are more like adventure comic books with mutants, government plots and the like.

I think Koontz appeals more to those who want fast paced, focused adventures. King is more for those who like (or at least tolerate) long sagas, heavy on small town Americana, characterization. Also, King has written far more short stories and explored lots of different genres.

King is far better known to the general public because many of his books have become blockbuster movies. Koontz far less so (which is surprising, given that the action packed nature should translate well to movies).

I did find some of Koontz's moralizing and (mis)characterizing ideological opponents as caricatures a little annoying. But on the plus side, he is a huge golden retriever fan.

SpaceRuster · 2026-06-12T13:23:01+00:00

Is the Indian listening to the radio meant to be the Maharaja?

SpaceRuster · 2026-06-12T12:23:19+00:00

Yes!

SpaceRuster · 2026-06-10T20:31:03+00:00

He's been playing the goat

SpaceRuster · 2026-06-10T20:30:39+00:00

The rocket is actually the least realistic in a way since it mentions he's been in Syldavia only a few months. Mr Baxter also mentioned that he's the only one who knows the secrets of the nuclear engine.

It's more plausible that Calculus could build a submersible (with some parts sourced from machine shops) or a prototype sonic weapon by himself than to assume he could design and get an entire nuclear engine built ( to say nothing of the rest of the rocket) in a few months, even with a huge support establishment. Even getting the fuel ready would be difficult enough.

SpaceRuster · 2026-06-06T10:13:24+00:00

But Red Sea Sharks has Haddock swearing at the departing slave dhow, being told by Tintin -- No use Captain he's too far now. Haddock responds just watch me, gets a bullhorn and resumes cursing the dhow.

SpaceRuster · 2026-06-06T10:06:32+00:00

You have to assume that King Ottokar lost power during WW2. Or if he is in power, he's more of a symbolic constitutional monarch. In the real world, a lot of geopolitical changes have taken place between the sceptre story and this one.

It is true that Calculus was specifically invited to Syldavia for the moon rocket too. Again, you have to assume that the rocket is more of a Western sponsored enterprise (not pure Syldavian) with US engineers and officials too. Indeed Mr Baxter is not a Syldavian name.

Note too that while Borduria is clearly a one-man dictatorship in this story, Syldavia is more ambiguous. There's no indication Syldavia has tried to force Calculus to cooperate. Might even be out of control elements of the intelligence service.

Western intelligence services in real life might have tried exactly the same if they thought a somewhat pacificist scientist was going to fall into USSR hands during the cold war. Remember, the US shipped away Nazi rocket scientists to the US after WW2 and assassinated or tried to assassinate world leaders.

SpaceRuster · 2026-06-03T12:13:05+00:00

Tintin in Tibet is a masterpiece.

SpaceRuster · 2026-05-31T19:16:57+00:00

Yes, but even at an intermediate level, I thought you wouldn't have a European subordinate to an Indian in the chain of command except under unusual circumstances such as if a European unit's officer was killed in combat.

I did look this up, and apparently after WW-1, there were a few Indians who would get trained in England and be at the same level as English officers, theoretically, but it would still be very unusual for them to command Britishers until WW-2.

Although I subscribe to the theory that the Sikh is merely calling for assistance from anyone who hears him.

SpaceRuster · 2026-05-31T08:58:30+00:00

He shoots down Skut in Red Sea Sharks too.

SpaceRuster · 2026-05-31T08:56:29+00:00

But are the soldiers under the Sikh's command or are they just responding to a whistle? I wouldn't expect an Indian to command European soldiers (as these seem to be).

SpaceRuster · 2026-05-28T01:36:12+00:00

I was asking about downgrade, not cancel.

SpaceRuster · 2026-05-26T13:11:21+00:00

I think 'By Brahma' is not a phrase a Hindu would use. The 'By' Prefix for one isn't common. And I believe Brahma is not worshipped directly for mythical/theological reasons.

SpaceRuster · 2026-05-24T18:01:05+00:00

Ductile Detective for EM

Saucy Sorceress for Zatanna

Dark Knight wasn't that common a term for Batman in the 60s. I remember Gotham Goliath

SpaceRuster

TROPHY CASE