The Absent Minded Genius

Professor Calculus is a genius who invents a submarine, a rocket to the moon and a pill to cure alcoholism though at first, Tintin and Captain Haddock try to get rid of him. Almost deaf and absent minded, Calculus has to sneak himself and his invention on board ship in Red Red Rackham’s Treasure after Tintin turns him away. Discovered too late to send back, Calculus accompanies Tintin on the trip to find the treasure. Here the value of his miniature submarine become apparent and soon Tintin, Haddock and Calculus are firm friends.

Calculus performs many roles in the books. His deafness allows a great deal of humorous dialogue as he repeats everything he just heard, usually in the most unlikely words possible: “attachez votre ceinture” (fasten your belt) is repeated as “une tache de peinture?” (a paint stain). He also provides the catalyst for many adventures such as the Calculus Affair and Destination Moon. In both, his inventions lead to trouble for Tintin and the gang.

During the trip to the moon, Calculus gains a hearing aid. This brings his character to the fore, allowing him to effectively pilot the spacecraft. It makes him a more serious character, at least for a short while, as he looses his hearing aid in later books.

Herge had dabbled with an absent minded professor character in Tintin’s adventires before but it was with Calculus he got it right and the character stuck. Possibly because the character was based on the real life Auguste Piccard. An inventor and adventure, Piccard flew to a record height of 23,000 metres in his specially designed ballon. He then turned his attention to the deep and a craft he designed, piloted by his son, reached the bottom of the Mariana Trench, a depth of 35,800 ft. Piccard was a very tall man and Herge had seen his distinctive look whilst Piccard was working in Brussels.

Read all of Tintin’s and Calculus’ adventures in the complete works available from the Tintin Movie Store see where Tintin’s adventures took place on the Tintin Map.