Tintin Volume 2

If the first volume introduced Tintin to the world, Tintin Volume 2 cheerfully throws him into situations that would persuade most sensible people to update their passport, cancel their travel insurance and stay firmly at home. Tintin, however, has never shown much interest in sensible decisions. Given the choice between a quiet afternoon in Brussels and dismantling an international criminal conspiracy on another continent, he has already packed his suitcase.

This handsome 2005 Egmont edition collects three of Hergé’s most celebrated adventures: Tintin in America, Cigars of the Pharaoh and The Blue Lotus. Together they chart not only Tintin’s increasingly perilous travels but also Hergé’s remarkable growth as a storyteller. The plots become richer, the artwork more refined, and the characters rather more memorable—although the number of people attempting to kidnap, imprison or otherwise inconvenience Tintin remains reassuringly high.

TINTIN IN AMERICA sees our indefatigable young reporter crossing the Atlantic into a version of the United States populated by gangsters, cowboys, dubious businessmen and enough organised crime to make the average detective request a transfer. It’s a wonderfully energetic romp that cheerfully pokes fun at everything from Chicago mobsters to rampant commercialism. Tintin somehow survives it all with little more than determination, astonishing luck and Snowy quietly wondering whether they might occasionally enjoy a holiday involving fewer bullets.

Then comes CIGARS OF THE PHARAOH, where the adventures become even stranger. Ancient tombs, mysterious symbols, secret societies, disappearing cigars, exotic locations and conspiracies appear in rapid succession. It feels rather like someone emptied an entire adventure novel into a blender and somehow produced a masterpiece. Logic occasionally takes a brief holiday, but entertainment most certainly does not.

Finally, THE BLUE LOTUS demonstrates why Hergé remains so admired today. The storytelling matures considerably, the characters acquire genuine emotional depth, and the adventure unfolds against a far more carefully researched historical backdrop. It remains one of the finest Tintin stories ever produced, balancing mystery, humour, action and humanity with remarkable confidence. It is also proof that comics can be every bit as thoughtful as they are entertaining.

Of course, no Tintin collection would be complete without Snowy, whose unwavering loyalty is matched only by his talent for finding trouble. If Tintin charges headlong into danger because justice demands it, Snowy usually follows because somebody has dropped a sandwich. Between them they form one of literature’s most enduring partnerships, quietly reminding us that even the greatest adventurers benefit from a dependable dog with excellent comic timing.

This copy is in Good condition, which seems entirely appropriate. After all, a book chronicling journeys across deserts, oceans, jungles and criminal hideouts shouldn’t look as though it has spent twenty years sealed inside a climate-controlled vault. It has clearly been enjoyed, yet remains a sturdy, attractive copy ready for countless further expeditions from the comfort of your favourite armchair.

Like every volume rescued by Crappy Old Books, this isn’t simply another second-hand comic collection. It’s a seasoned traveller continuing its journey from one curious reader to another. Somewhere along the way it has almost certainly inspired children to become explorers, adults to become collectors, and more than a few people to wonder whether they could ever pull off Tintin’s hairstyle. (History suggests the answer is usually "best not.")

Because that’s the enduring brilliance of Hergé’s work. Beneath the crisp artwork, thrilling chases and wonderfully eccentric villains lies an infectious spirit of curiosity. Tintin doesn’t travel because it’s easy. He travels because there’s always another mystery to solve, another injustice to confront and another impossible situation waiting just around the corner. Fortunately for the rest of us, all we have to do is turn the page.

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