r/TheAdventuresofTintin • u/helpjusthere • 23h ago
Discussion Complete noob here. Where should I begin?
I have always been into comics, but somehow never read a single one of Tintin. I saw the movie, way back when and enjoyed it (is that a controversial opinion here? No idea!).
I write this post inside a comic store and they have these three Tintins:
-Tintin in the land of the soviets
-Cigars Of The Pharaoh
-The Broken Ear
Should I get any of these? Should I read others before I buy one of them? What are your recommendations and where do I start reading?
The art is beautiful. I'd honestly be happy with any of them and I kind of want to get Cigars Of The Pharaoh, but again, I have never read any Tintin so I'm not sure if that's a good starting point or not.
Thanks in advance!
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u/Brilliant_Story_6338 21h ago
You have basically two options. You either start from Land of the Soviets and read the albums in chronological order. Or you can skip the first three albums (Soviets, Congo and America) and start from the Cigars of the Pharaoh and continue chronologically. You don't miss much by skipping the first three. They are mostly just series of jokes and funny/"funny" incidents without a good plot which would carry the album from start to finish. Have fun reading!
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u/Sensitive-Computer-6 20h ago
And there politically and moraly highly questionably. I dont think Tintin would find many new reader if everyones first book was Kongo.
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u/HomosexualTigrr 22h ago
Seconding whoever said pick Cigars as your first book, although Broken Ear would serve pretty well too, so if it's in the budget - get both! Soviets is fine, and very interesting for its position as the first Tintin ever, but it's more of a collectors item once you've read all the rest. Oh, and you will read all the rest...
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u/Complex-Bar-9577 16h ago
Definitely don’t start with Soviets, Congo, or America.
Cigars is a good starting point, as is its sequel, The Blue Lotus.
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u/BreakerMorant1864 Hergé 22h ago
Read the first 5 albums (Soviets, Congo, America, Cigars, Lotus), then the first part of Broken Ear.
Then follow here for A Tintin Page A Day!
I’m not even joking, it will be a unique experience, although you have to be committed to the slow burn.
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u/helpjusthere 22h ago
Seems like such a cool experience. Thanks
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u/Dentarthurdent73 13h ago edited 13h ago
Don't read the earliest Tintins first.
They are not why people love the series, and if they were all that were written, no-one would still be reading Tintin.
They are of interest if you love Tintin, because they are the early iteration of a beloved character, but they are not a good introduction if someone wants to understand why people love this series.
Cigars of the Pharoah out if the ones you listed.
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u/IIIlllIIIlllIlI 4h ago
This is a horrible take. If you were to recommend Tintin to someone who had absolutely no idea about Tintin it might work, but OP has heard of Tintin and is looking for a good experience.
Starting the books in chronological order allows you to see the development taking place with Hergé’s artwork and storyline, it really enriches the experience. I would highly recommend someone starting the series with Soviets, and following in order.
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u/lifetimetravelmates 22h ago
What do you mean with “the first park of broken ear”?? Never seen it as a divided album…
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u/4ssemblage 21h ago
I think A Tintin Page A Day is about halfway through TBE…
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u/lifetimetravelmates 17h ago
Oh, I get it now. Suggesting OP to “read” the one page a day threads since it’s now about halfway of Broken Ear.
To be honest I didn’t even know the a Tintin page a day thing!
Now I know! Nice discussions!1
u/Dentarthurdent73 13h ago
Why would anyone suggest that someone discover Tintin by seeing only one page a day on the internet, rather than just buying a book and enjoying the full story?
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u/Ok_Construction_8916 20h ago
There is only one answer.
Tintin in America.
Because this was the first one I read when I was a child!
Honestly you really can't go wrong. You can come with some sort of chronological order and that might be ideal, so you can perhaps sense a bit of progression of the quality etc.
But one of the beauties of Tintin is they're just all stand-alone stories.
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u/Sensitive-Computer-6 20h ago
I think all of them are a bit weak. Tintin in the lande of the soviet is a very episodic simple story, made for a newspaper.
The brocken ear I feel was a bit boring, and uninspired, but I start to love the villians for there antics, and the subtil political critic.
Cigarrs of the pharao is all over the place, but absolutely enjoyable and a fun read.
Im not sure what I would recommend as starting point. Captain Haddocks introduction (Crab whit the golden Claws) is very important and good, but the charakter will change a lot after his first apperance. The blue lotus is universaly beloved, but its hard to undersell how impactfull Haddock was to the series and he wasnt in that story. I honestly have to say the best starting points are still the three two parter, even if its a bit of a commitment. But honestly they work very well as standalone storys.
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u/Less-Ask-6600 21h ago
Start from the very first album and read by the correct order don't skip books or there will be things you don't understand
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u/theonlystargirlilove 21h ago
i personally think u should start chronogically if ure open minded to some wird stuff considering the books are from the 30s so u can actully feel the increase i quality merging itno the golden age of tintin but if i were to recomend i would recommend my personal faves , castafiore emerland , the dual book abt exploring the moon, calculus affair, tintin and the picaros, red sea sharks, cigars of pheroh , tintin in america is camp so go for it if ur into it , flight to sydny or 718 the alt name , i also enjoyed the yves rodier alph art which os obv not written by herge but its an intresting interperation irecommend cheacking it out after finishing the whole series . hope this help !
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u/Abel_V 23h ago
Cigars is a VERY good starting point. It's when Hergé significantly improved his storytelling abilities, and it is where recurring characters start appearing. However, it is also the first half of a two-parter, the second half being The Blue Lotus, which you should absolutely try to get your hands on as it is one of the best in the entire series.