Tintin the Icon

Its perhaps the fate of iconic characters to be used without license for political purposes. Tintin is no different and has been used in several anti-establishment works. His clean cut, boy scout image somehow gives these alternate works more punch as we see him swearing, drinking and raging against the establishment.

Breaking Free was an English graphic novel featuring Tintin and Captain Haddock as nephew and uncle. Poor laborers working in London they are mistreated by their employers, their landlords and by the unions who are meant to help them. In true Tintin style, they take action, banding together friends, co-workers and neighbors in a movement that spreads nationwide. The book ends with the British government about to fall. As the book was released in the public domain with no copyright, Herge’s estate could not take action against it.

Far less sophisticated is Tintin in Thailand. Though not as crude as you might expect of a story set in Bangkok’s red light areas, it’s only value is shock value as Tintin and Captain Haddock go out whoring. Not surprisingly, Herge’s estate took action against it and three men were arrest and 650 copies of the book seized. However thousands had already been sold in Thailand.

Through parodies, Tintin has been involved in many real world wars including Tintin in Lebanon, Tintin in Iraq, Tintin in El Salvador and The Harps of Greenmore where he is an IRA terrorist fighting to unite Ireland. Some of these work have been released by National Lampoon or MAD magazine under the copyright protection of Fair Use. The others are illegal but public domain works, originally photocopies passed person to person but now distributed via the internet.

Read the real adventures of Tintin. The complete works are available from the Tintin Movie Store. You can also explore the Tintin’s world with the Tintin Map.