Customer Reviews

The Adventures of Tintin, Vol. 5: Land of Black Gold / Destination Moon / Explorers on the Moon (3 Volumes in 1)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Of the seven volumes that make up the "Adventures of Tintin," Volume 5 is my favorite. It includes both the first story by Hergé that I ever read with "Land of Black Gold," and also my favorite two-part Tintin adventure when out young intrepid reporter, Snowy, and their friends head for the moon. I realize the science fiction aspects of that particular pair of tales makes them atypical Tintin adventures, but Hergé's attention to detail makes the story stand out quite well, even in comparison to science fiction films that were putting men on the moon at that time.

Because "Land of Black Gold" was the first Adventure of Tintin I ever read it has a special place in my heart. It seems that all around the world cars (or lighters) using petrol are exploding. In a storyline eerily prescient of what would happen decades later with the rise of OPEC, the world is on the brink of an oil crisis. In the Middle East the evil Sheik Bab El Ehr tries to overthrow Sheik Ben Kalish Ezab, so Tintin heads to the Middle East to save the day. Throwing a monkey wrench into the proceedings, in addition to the omnipresent evil agents and hapless Thompson brothers, is Abdullah, son of Sheik ben Kalish Ezab, who pulls a constant string of practical jokes on everybody in sight (Historical Note: This is where the Thom(p)sons first develop their habit of becoming extremely hairy at inopportune moments).

I always think of Tintin as constituting "realistic absurdity," which reflects the way our hero plunges on despite the lunacy around him, which exists mainly in the characters rather than the situation. This delicate balance seems to be reflected even in Herge's artwork, where his "clear-line" style combines iconic characters with unusually realistic backgrounds, appeals to me. I also admire his remarkable restraint with Snowy, who "talks" less than any other "talking" dog in comic book history. These are truly timeless tales (More Historical Notes: "Tintin in the Land of Black Gold" was the adventure in progress in "Le Vingtieme Siecle" when German troops invaded Belgium on May 10, 1940. Herge suspended the story for eight years and actually began another adventure, "The Crab with the Golden Claws," in the interim, which was published in "Le Soir," one of the few newspapers authorized during the German occupation).

"Destination Moon" ("Objectif Lune") gives a detailed account on the preparation and the launching of the expedition to the Moon from the Sprodj Atomic Research Center in Syldavaia using the rocket designed by Professor Calculus. This involves the Thom(p)sons in what they think is Syldavian national dress and a whole bunch of bear clubs who love honey sandwiches. Of course the mission is in danger from enemy spies from Klow trying to thwart the mission, so there is some political intrigue and danger mixed in with the science fiction (and danger). This Tintin adventure has one of my favorite sequences in the entire series and it was not the cliffhanger ending with Tintin and the crew heading to the moon. It comes when Captain Haddock dismisses the preparations and accuses Calculus of "acting the goat." The normal placid professor goes off the deep end and drags the captain to show him the spaceship destined for the moon, demanding to know if that is what the good captain means by "acting the goat." The worm finally turning is one of those great moments you cherish in a series because it has been so long in coming.

What makes "Explorers on the Moon" ("On a Marche Sur La Lune") so fascinating is the documentary detail that Herge infuses into the story as Tintin walks on the moon (where he declares: "I've walked a few steps!...For the first time n the history of mankind there is an EXPLORER ON THE MOON!"). I cannot think of a 1950s science fiction film that predicts as accurately what happened when Apollo 11 went to the moon a decade and a half later. One of the chief charms of Herge's artwork has always been the way his caricature drawings of Tintin and friends are contrasted by the realistic backgrounds, and this artistic style achieves its apex when we see the spaceship approaching the moon. "Explorers on the Moon" would work as a straight-forward first man on the moon type story, but, of course, in Herge's hands it becomes so much more. Together these volumes constitute Tintin's greatest adventure if for no other reason than how can you top being the first man on the moon?

My brother and I are MAGOR Tintin fans, and have both read all the books. These three tales are my alltime faves. I like the part in the Land of Black Gold when Thompson with a P as in "psychology" falls asleep and drives the Jeep into the Arabien city! The moon adventures are just awesome. Great, exciting book.

Volume 5: Land of Black Gold (1951), Destination Moon (1953), Explorers on the Moon (1954). This is the fifth instalment of my reviews of each of the seven volumes.

Land of Black Gold makes little use of Captain Haddock (it actually took form before The Crab With the Golden Claws) and is, subjectively of course, the weakest of all the Tintin adventures created after Tintin in America.

The third of the three double adventures, Destination Moon and Explorers on the Moon show an amazingly detailed lunar effort, 15 years before the real moon landing, using Syldavia vs. its communist-style rival Borduria (see King Ottokar's Sceptre) as the backdrop. We see a side of Calculus that we had not suspected, a great deal of slapstick from Haddock, highly convincing moonscapes, somewhat drab colours however, but an effective layout; the moonscapes are outstanding. Tintin's friendship with Haddock requires a little tough love. Great stories, and yet exceeded by the last two in the preceding volume and the three in Volume 6.

I first read this(these) book(S) when I was 8. I was in Belgium at the time and there TinTin books were HOT! Of course they were written in French, but that didn't stop me, I read them anyway, with the help of a English/French dictionary:) Allthough this book is in English, there is still something quite un-American about it, I think it adds to the charm. (Not that we Americans arn't charming!:) The TinTin series is great for kids and nostalgic for adults, a must have.

I'd say this edition is more than just 'awkward' as previously commented. I think it is an insult to Herge's work! In these editions, one can barely read the minuscule print,let alone appreciate the fabulous art work that accompanies the text. It's clearly all about saving and making money here.Pass on this edition.

As a longtime fan of the Tintin series, I've long been frustrated by my inability to find good copies in the States. I think the hard-bound, full-size editions of the Tintin books hold up the best to wear and tear by eager children, and present the images as they were meant to be seen.

This series therefore is a mixed blessing. It's easily available and hard-bound, yes, and having three volumes in one book is a convenience of sorts. But I don't like the reduction in size: the images are too tiny for young or old eyes, and the beautiful cover illustrations are reduced to the size of postage stamps on the cover.

In short: this is a decent stopgap, far better than the black and white multi-volume sets that were circulating some years back, but get the full-size hardbound editions if you can find them.

Don't be fooled by the size of this little book. Other readers have stated how the pictures seem much to small in this more compact version of the comics we loved as children. These are just as visually stunning as the original size comics. Best of all, it is hardcover and will not get damaged (a problem I had with the originals) and they are compact enough to take on a car ride. My son is now as much of an addict as I was at his age. Happy reading!

Very good story for children and aldult as well

This collection is a small, cramped collection, difficult to read. Much better to buy the full-size originals.

I have read each of these titles about 20 times, the lowest number of times among all the Tintins. I still read them and am collecting all of them for my kids. I still laugh the house down reading each one of these that I strongly recommend as collectibles for eternity. A really good, healthy reading for all ages.