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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
Although this is technically the third book in the Tintin series, it's the second one that was available in my Tintin box set. The second one, "Tintin in the Congo" apparently had strong pro-colonialist views and racist imagery, phrasing that feels a bit bizarre when used to describe a Tintin book.
As my second Tintin book, this one was about twice as good as the first. Unfortunately twice as good as awful is still bad. The art has taken a step forward in this volume, and the story manages to be a little more coherent. There also seems to be slightly more reverence towards depicting different races, with Tintin treating the Native Americans with the respect that other people of his time refused to.
However the plot still manages to feel like a bunch of scenarios stitched together haphazardly. It also wasn't very funny. At the bare minimum I feel like the books should be enjoyable. It wasn't as much of a slog to get to as the first book, but it definitely wasn't as interesting as it could've been.
As my second Tintin book, this one was about twice as good as the first. Unfortunately twice as good as awful is still bad. The art has taken a step forward in this volume, and the story manages to be a little more coherent. There also seems to be slightly more reverence towards depicting different races, with Tintin treating the Native Americans with the respect that other people of his time refused to.
However the plot still manages to feel like a bunch of scenarios stitched together haphazardly. It also wasn't very funny. At the bare minimum I feel like the books should be enjoyable. It wasn't as much of a slog to get to as the first book, but it definitely wasn't as interesting as it could've been.
good book to teach kids how to read bad handwriting :p
and as an adult it could be almost a comedy book, the luck of tin tin is unbelievable
and as an adult it could be almost a comedy book, the luck of tin tin is unbelievable
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Rather horrific bit of racism here and just not a great story. Lots of action, but there are many better choices in the world so I would rather read something else.
adventurous
funny
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I will always view this series fondly.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Tintin heads out to the US of A in this wild pastiche of American culture. While it's only somewhat less episodic than the first two albums in the series, Tintin en Amérique is a big improvement in many of its particulars - the satire feels more nuanced and interesting here than the rather cringeworthy efforts of the first two, reflecting a kind of fascination with America while also being quite unsparing in depicting its ills. There's some really quite clever visual gags worked in and a roster of side-characters that actually start to take on some personality rather than being stimuli for Tintin and Milou's adventures only. It's still some way from essential and it begins to spin its wheels in the last third especially but quite fascinating as a document of its time and attitudes and attractively made.
Let's be honest, this is not an informed book: Herge had never been to America before drawing it. However, it has a high documentary value as a window to a time when Europe viewed the US with suspicion and more than a bit of contempt. It also shows Herge's more personal views towards big business and ruthless capitalism.
I read SO MUCH Tintin as a kid, but I cannot imagine they hold up well....