Breaking Free: The Adventures Of TinTin [Paperback]

J. Daniels (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1999

Finally back in print! He's back, and he's bad! Now Tintin's back with his all his pals - Captain Haddock et al - battling it out against the State and bringing the old world to its knees, in a classic full-length graphic story of love, struggle and freedom. Give to your little niece or nephew for an adventure they can really get stuck into! "Absolutely terrible...We have a free press but there is a limit to how far it can go." [The Police Federation]

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Attack (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0951426109
• ISBN-13: 978-0951426104
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,363,743 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not what you would expect, May 19, 2004

By 

STEVEN F. SCHARFF "Cultural shoplifter" (Henderson, NV United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Breaking Free: The Adventures Of TinTin (Paperback)

First off, this is not an authorized "Tintin" novel. Tintin and Captian Haddock are the only Herge characters to appear in this graphic novel. Essentially, it's an anarchist propaganda piece set in England. The artwork isn't as "sharp" and detailed as Herge's work, but it is rather well done.

Tintin and the Captian are blue collar workers who are fed up with the "invasion" of the upper class into their neighborhoods, the system's apparent lack of concern for the poor, corruption in high places and impotent labor unions. As they gather together with friends, neighbors and striking co-workers, they slowly organize into a nationwide movement that (at the novel's end) is on the verge of toppling the government.

When first published in 1989 and news of this book made the British press, then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was reportedly repulsed, and much of the Conservative press had a field day tearing it to shreads. The disaffected youth of Britian, however, made it into a best seller!

For Tintin completists, this makes an interesting addition to a collection.
For collectors of political agit-prop, this makes an unusual addition of "pop-culture hi-jacking".
For anarchists...well, you probably already have a copy, no?

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining underground classic, but I miss Snowy, February 8, 2009

By 

Ashtar Command "Seeker" (Stockholm, Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breaking Free: The Adventures Of TinTin (Paperback)

I was surprised to learn that this book has been reprinted, and is available on Amazon. It has even been reviewed by some Tintin aficionados. In my younger days, "Breaking Free" was something of an underground classic. At least according to urban legend, British prime minister Margaret Thatcher actually commented on this book, and said she was "utterly revolted". I'm not sure if I believe that story, but it sure makes for good promotion!

"Breaking Free" was first published in 1989. It's supposedly written by one Jack Daniels, a member of an otherwise almost unknown anarchist group in Britain, Attack International. If this group even exists except in name only, it must be very small. "Breaking Free" mimics and parodies a respectable Belgian cartoon, The Adventures of Tintin. In Jack Daniels' version, Tintin and Captain Haddock are anarchist revolutionaries, and one of the Thompson Twins is Black! Some of the other characters are also pilfered from the original cartoon. The union boss Jones looks like Frank Wolff from "Destination Moon". Some other characters are peculiar to "Breaking Free", including the lesbian Nicky. As several other reviewers have pointed out, Tintin's dog Snowy isn't included (except on the cover).

Of course, the plot of "Breaking Free" has absolutely nothing in common with the original Tintin. The Tintin rip-off is a commercial trick to make the book more interesting. Otherwise, it's a fairly straightforward anarchist story. And yes, the political message is supposed to be taken seriously. It's very naïve, but then, anarchist politics *are* naïve.

"Breaking Free" is about an anarchist revolution in Britain which starts as a protest against corrupt management and inefficient labor unions on one single worksite. The workers go out on strike, scabs and cops show up, and the whole thing escalates through a series of riots and protest marches until the entire country goes out on a general strike. No revolutionary leadership seems to exist, and the whole thing is run democratically by "regional strike co-ordinations". In some strange way, the influence of the TUC and the Labour Party (and the Trotskyists) just melts away. Even in my younger and more radical days, I could see that there was *something* wrong with this easy scenario, LOL.

But then, wouldn't it be fun to own a copy of a book that made Margaret Thatcher mad? Besides, Attack International were sure better at making anarchist propaganda than the punks at "Class War"!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Worst imitation of Tintin I've read, October 19, 2008

By 

Giant Panda (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Breaking Free: The Adventures Of TinTin (Paperback)

There are many unofficial Tintin cartoons that can be found on the web. This one uses the Tintin characters in form only to illustrate a scenario where anarchists unite, mobilize, and take down a government. While the story is interesting and informative, the characters don't behave like Tintin characters at all, some even have their names changed. Calculus and snowy are completely absent, and the story lacks the suspense and the flow of a Tintin story. It appears the author had very little knowledge of Tintin and simply ripped off the characters in the hope that this would help his political message. While one can sympathize with the plight of the working class - so depicted in the story - the departure from the original Tintin is annoying. I merely bought this for completeness sake, so I can say I own all the Tintins - official and unofficial. If you are looking for more interesting and realistic Tintin ripoffs, try to find Tintin in Thailand on the internet. In fact, I don't understand how they can ban Tintin in Thailand while allowing this one, as if Breaking Free does not violate any copyright laws.