Tintin’s Genius
- May 23rd, 2007
- Posted by EUEditor
Belgium has been celebrating the birth century of a national celebrity, the Tintin cartoonist Herge.
Tintin the young journalist-detective, his canine off-sider Snowy and a host of human support characters have delighted child readers and adults alike since the first story was published in a newspaper in Belgium in 1929.
In the “bande dessine” — cartoon story — tradition, Tintin’s adventure comics saw him sailing the high seas, penetrating the jungles of the Congo, engaging in exploration on the Moon or taming a run-away locomotive.
With his overcoat and scarf, and unassuming manner, he became a trademark of his country, and an enormous business success.
The tightly controlled Tintin franchise extends from a set of 23 best-selling books to toys, ornaments, films and a leading brand of gourmet Belgian chocolate.
The creator George Remi was born on 22.5.07; he conceived the character and adventures of Tintin, and watched over his marketing, through to his own death in 1983.
M. Remi invented the Herge signature when he inverted his own initials to “RG” – which in French makes the sound “herge”.
Picture: The Tintin centenary was celebrated in many places including one of Brussels’ leading chocolate boutiques.