Tintin in Tibet

This album was first published in 1960. It is my favorite Tintin. Tintin has a vivid dream in which his friend Tchang is in serious danger. They soon find out that his friend was on a plane that crashed in the Himalayas. There were no survivors reported, but Tintin is still convinced that Tchang is alive. Tintin and Captain Haddock flies to India and then they go to the Nepalese/Tibetan border. The adventure that follows is gripping and full of mystery and it has some great humor. The cold and harsh Himalayan Mountains provides nearly insurmountable challenges and both strange and dangerous things will happen. Despite the hardships Tintin forges ahead against all odds and against all advice. This story is a little bit slower and more philosophical than most other Tintin adventures, and it includes some paranormal phenomena. However, it is still exciting and gripping, and the humor is superb. I always get a good laugh out of this book no matter how many times I re-read it. The story is very much about the human spirit, hope, and the power of compassion. One thing that stayed with me forever was the lonely cry of the Yeti. This is my favorite Tintin adventure because it is more than just an adventure. It was also my favorite Tintin album when I was a kid. However, younger children may like "Blue Lotus" or the "The Crab with the Golden Claws" better. I would recommend this album for adults and mature children before any other Tintin album, with the slight reservation that it is an untypical Tintin album and that you may also want to read a couple of the other albums. I should say that I loved the Tintin books as a kid and I still like them, and so does my American kids (I am Swedish). In fact my American X-Box and Wii playing kids read them all the time and like them even more than I did. Finally I would like to list all the Tintin albums in order from my favorite to the one I liked the least. I will make this list into a list mania list next but put it here for easy access. Skip this list if you don't want to read it (I know it is very long). (1) Tintin in Tibet (5 stars). It was published 1960. It is my favorite Tintin. Tintin's friend Tchang (from Blue Lotus) is lost in a plane crash in Tibet. Everyone thinks he is dead, but not Tintin, who sets out to find him against all odds. It contains adventure, humor, and mystery; however, it is also about the human spirit, and compassion. Therefore it is also a very inspiring and thought provoking adventure. (2) Blue Lotus (5 stars). This is Herge's first master piece; it is one of my favorites. This Tintin adventure from 1934 takes place in 1931 but is still the second best Tintin (after Tintin in Tibet) as far as I am concerned. Tintin is fighting Opium gangs in China when Japan invades. This adventure is dark, scary, exciting and fun. It is also a history lesson to a certain extent. (3) Flight 714 (5 stars). This book was published in 1968. Tintin and his friends are invited to fly in the private jet of the billionaire Lazlo Careidas. The private jet is hijacked and they are taken by their kidnappers to a very mysterious Island. This adventure is filled with surprises, humor, it is fast paced and exciting, and is therefore one of my favorites. (4) The Crab with the Golden Claws (5 stars). This was the first Tintin I read as a kid (in Swedish). It was also the first Tintin movie I saw. This is the book where Tintin met Captain Haddock for the first time. Just like the other later works by Herge it is exciting, and well drawn, but this is one is also very funny. It will make you and your kids laugh out loud. (5) The seven Crystal Balls (5 stars). This Tintin published 1948, is eerie, mysterious, and exciting. It is the first one of a series of two, the second being "Prisoners of the Sun". In this adventure the members of an expedition that investigated the tomb of Rascar Capac an Inca King, become sick with a strange horrible disease. The mummy taken from the tomb mysteriously vanishes (escapes?) during a fierce thunderstorm. (6) Prisoners of the Sun (5 stars). This is the second book of a series of two. Tintin and company end up in Peru. They save a boy Zorrino from Peruvian racists. Zorrino guides them to the Inca Empire which still exists underground in the Jungle. Towards the end Tintin saves himself and his company by using his knowledge of a coming solar eclipse. It was later plagiarized by Mel Gibson in Apocalypto. (7) The Castafiore Emerald (5 stars). This adventure was published 1963. It is absolutely the funniest of them all. It is filled with a lot of good humor. However, to get all the jokes you need to be familiar with Tintin and Captain Haddock already. So I would not recommend this as your first Tintin. (8) The Red Sea Sharks (5 stars). This adventure was written in 1958. Tintin stumbles into an organization selling African slaves (slavery still existed in the Middle East and Africa in 1958). A lot of old crooks from other books show up here, including Captain Allan, Rastapopolous, Dr. Muller, etc. This book is intensely exciting and full of action and is therefore one of my favorites. (9) Tintin and the Picaros (5 stars). This adventure published 1976 is full of fun and adventure. Castafiore is being held by General Tapioca innocently accused of plotting against him. Well if you know Castafiore you now feel sorry for the poor old dictator. (10) Explorers of the Moon (5 stars). Written 1954 this is the second book in a series of two. This book is a lot more exciting and fun compared to the first (Destination moon). The movie is, however, better than the comic book (they are the same but this comic makes a good movie). However, reading this science fiction style comic book is a lot of fun. (11) Land of the Black Gold (4 stars). This book was published in 1950 (original version 1948). It takes place in the middle east and is about oil, war, and the fight against criminals like Dr. Muller (German villains were no longer taboo). Prince Abdullah the son of the Emir of the Arab Emirate of Khemed is kidnapped and Tintin and company sets out to rescue him. (12) Red Rackham's Treasure (4 stars). This is the second book in a series of two, the first one being "The secret of the Unicorn". In this adventure Tintin and Captain Haddock goes on an expedition to find the treasure of Sir Francis Haddock. It is in this book we meet Professor Calculus for the first time. His underwater machine turns out to be invaluable, even though Tintin and Captain Haddock at first reject it. (13) The Secret of the Unicorn (4 stars). This adventure was published in French 1943. This is the first book in a series of two (the second being Red Rackhams treasure). In this adventure it is discovered that Captain Haddocks forefather was a feisty sea captain who fought pirates and left a treasure behind. It is not as fast paced as many other Tintin adventures and contains a considerable amount of detective work. (14) The Calculus Affair (4 stars). In this adventure Professor Calculus is kidnapped in Geneva and Tintin and Captain Haddock set out to save him. It turns out that Professor calculus is working on a secret weapon that the fictional country of Borduria really wants to have. It is an exciting adventure but not as humor filled and exhilarating as some of the other adventures. It was written 1956. (15) The Cigars of the Pharaoh (4 stars). The Cigars of the Pharaoh is the first of the better Tintin books. In this adventure Tintin is on a holiday cruise but ends up traveling to Egypt and India on a dangerous adventure. It is an exciting and mysterious adventure that is not objectionable (unlike the three first ones). (16) The broken ear (4 stars). This story from 1937 takes place in South America. Tintin fights dangerous crooks, gets caught up in political turmoil, is nearly executed, travels through the rain forest, encounters piranhas, and lives among the Arumbaya Indians. This is where Tintin meets General Alcazar for the first time. Lots of action but it is still not a top quality Tintin. (17) King Ottokar's Sceptre (4 stars). Published in 1939 this book is an allegory for fascist aggression. In this adventure Tintin visits the mythical Kingdom of Syldavia. The leaders of Borduria, a neighboring country, plot to unseat King Muskar. They attempt to seize the symbol of the Syldavian monarchy, which is "King Ottokar's Scepter". This adventure was exciting but still not a favorite of mine. (18) The Black Island (4 stars). FOUR STARS: This one was written 1937. It takes place in England and Scotland. I saw the movie version, and read the book in several languages. In this adventure Tintin is hunting down a gang of forgers. The drawings have a higher quality than "The broken ear" and the story flows smoothly. However, I find the story to be somewhat tedious and too British for me, and this is not one my favorites. (19) Destination Moon (4 stars). First published 1953, this is the first book in a series of two (the second being Explorers of the moon). It is a very good concept, a sort of Tintin science fiction. However, it is not fast paced and at times tedious. (20) Tintin and the lake of the sharks (4 stars). Published 1974 and based on a film from 1972, it is a little different than the other Tintin adventures. It is not directly written by Herge, but Herge supervised the creation of the film. The drawings are not typical either; they look like still pictures from the movie. It is also a little shorter. However, it is still a good adventure and my kids like it, so I give it four stars. (21) The shooting star (4 stars). In this adventure (from 1941) the world comes close to annihilation when earth almost collides with a star. Tintin and Captain Haddock sets out on an expedition together with a team of international scientists to find a piece that broke off and landed in the Ocean. Well, stars are not solid and pieces don't brake off stars, but there are a lot more oddities in this unlikely story. (22) Tintin in America (3 stars). Tintin in America" portrays America with an old fashioned European prejudice that is unrealistic and unflattering. His portrayal of the Indians is borderline racist, and the plot is essentially "gangster tries to kill Tintin, Tintin miraculously escapes" repeated a couple of dozen times. Having said that, the book is still entertaining, in its own way. (23) The adventures of Tintin in the land of the Soviets (3 stars). This is anti-communist propaganda, which I don't mind; however, it does not make a good comic book. The drawings are also not that good. However, this comic book shows that people knew about the Soviet horrors back in the 1920's. (24) Tintin in the Congo (3 stars). It was an exciting adventure with some interesting and fun twists. However, the quality is very far from that of the more modern Tintin books, and it is borderline racists.

The Belgian artist Herge wrote many popular stories featuring his cartoon hero Tintin, a young journalist. "Tintin in Tibet" is surely one of the more exotic of the adventures. It was first published in 1960, when mountain climbing in the Himalayas was still frontpage news, and before China had closed the famous Tibetan monasteries. As the story opens, Tintin, his faithful dog Snowy, his seafaring friend Captain Haddock, and the eccentric Professor Calculus are on vacation in the European Alps. Tintin learns in short order that his old friend Chang (from "The Blue Lotus") is on his way to visit, then the dreadful news that Chang's airliner has gone down in Nepal, with no known survivors. Tintin, on the basis of a dream in which Chang calls for help, seeks off on a rescue mission, accompanied by the skeptical Captain Haddock. Herge takes advantage of the journey to show the reader a little of India and then of Nepal, before Tintin, Snowy, the Captain, and the guide Tharkey set off on foot for the crash site. The long approach march is the scene of a series of humorous misadventures before the party arrives at the crash site high in the mountains. There, Tintin finds evidence that Chang survived the crash. A pitifully thin trail of clues leads the small party deeper into the mountains, where they will encounter the legendary Yeti and the nearly mythical monks of a remote monastery. "Tintin in Tibet" has strong spiritual overtones. Tintin is driven by a stubborn belief in his dream of his friend Chang, alive. Captain Haddock, grumbling every step of the way, can't bring himself to let his friend Tintin continue a seemingly hopeless quest alone. Their salvation in the mountains, and their directions to their final destination come courtesy of a monk who has visions. Herge's simple but effective artwork bring an exotic land and an exciting story to life. "Tintin in Tibet" is very highly recommended to Tintin fans of all ages.

You can’t measure a perfect story with reviews or ratings. Tintin in Tibet may not be my personal favorite adventure, but it’s the one that leaves me breathless every time. It’s not about treasure, villains, or glory—it’s about love, friendship, and the unshakable bond between two souls who refuse to give up on each other. Page after page, it reminds us what it means to care so deeply that you’ll climb the highest mountain and face the impossible, just to make sure someone you love is safe. Tintin in Tibet isn’t just a comic. It’s a masterpiece of the human heart—one that should be read, studied, and held close. Because when you finish it, you don’t just close a book. You carry it with you.

"Tintin in Tibet" is my first Tintin adventure. I am a librarian seeking new stories and saw this in a review. It looks like a story my older elementary students would like. Others on the product page are long-time fans, beginning in childhood, with "Tintin in Tibet" as the favorite in the series of books written and illustrated by Herge. Not knowing anything about the back story, I will begin. First, the book itself. It is 11 3/4 inches high and 8 3/4 inches wide with full-color illustrations on slick paper, making this a very nice looking graphic novel. The book is well worth its price. The covers of the other 24 adventures are shown on the back cover. I'm not sure who Tintin is--maybe a teenager, or the Captain, definitely someone fond of Tintin and uncle-like, who watches out for Tintin, who in turn really doesn't need watching over. Tintin is on vacation when he learns of the plane crash of Chang, a Chinese friend his age, in the mountains of Nepal. Tintin has a dream that Chang is alive and determines to go rescue him. Of course, the Captain goes along. Through hook and crook, they manage to put together a team to take them trekking through the mountains of Nepal to find the crash site and look for Chang. Tintin's dog Snowy also goes along. He makes me laugh with his stubborn and feisty comments. The funniest is at the beginning when he complains (in the cartoon bubbles) that his feet are going to be worn off with all this hiking on rocks. Tintin has no idea his dog has this attitude. There are several episodes in which Tintin miraculously pulls through, along with the Captain and Snowy. Tintin is clearly a hero figure but so modest, his heroism is almost surprising. He is like a Boy Scout with courage, cleanliness, right living, and dedication to service to others. He is kind and compassionate and downright likeable. Although the Captain is a whiny complainer, he always ends up doing the right thing and thus makes himself likeable. I love his cranky faces! And Snowy! So adorable! In addition to character positives, the book also promotes cultural exchanges in a positive light--and this back in the '60's! Geography is highlighted. This might be a graphic novel, but it contains many bubbles with words. Teachers, librarians, parents: This is a series worth exploring, for all its positive values. Other reviewers don't recommend this as a first to buy. Please read Texas Swede's review for an excellent summary of all the Tintin books to make your decision. I will be adding several of the books to my school library, including this one!

I have loved Tintin books since before I even knew how to read. Though I enjoy them all, there are a few that stand out above the rest for various reasons. Tintin in Tibet is one of my five favorite Tintin adventures. I love the varied landscapes, the cultural references of the exotic region where the story is set, and the humor in the book. This book allows one to be taken to a far away land, one which most readers will probably never have the chance to visit in person in their lives. It also is different than most Tintin books in that there is no true villian to speak of. Instead, it turns out to be a story of hope and perseverance. In the end, it is a most satisfying adventure.

I have been a fan of Herge’s drawings since childhood, and got to experience a little bit of the world through Tintin comics long before I even had a passport. Each book is a nostalgic treat, this one in particular because it features some exchanges between Captain Haddock and a local in my native language. The adventures may seem tame by today’s standards but Tintin evokes a bygone era when even the villains lived in a simpler, kinder world. Tintin in Tibet is supposedly Herge’s own favorite.

If you read these as a kid, you'll love the books. Maybe they're good for today's kids, too. But as stories go, it's week. Tintin never has much agency. Things just always happen to him.

Tin tin follows his instincts and goes to Tibet via India. Haddock is at his best