Tintin and Alph-Art

Tintin #24

by Hergé, Yves Rodier

A "completed" version of Hergé's unfinished book, and probably the most popular pastiche version.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Bande Dessinée, Adventure, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book

62 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Georges Prosper Remi (22 May 1907 – 3 March 1983), better known by the pen name Hergé, was a Belgian comics writer and artist.
His best known and most substantial work is The Adventures of Tintin comic book series, which he wrote and illustrated from 1929 until his death in 1983, leaving the twenty-fourth Tintin adventure Tintin and Alph-Art unfinished. His work remains a strong influence on comics, particularly in Europe.

"Hergé" is the pseudonym of George Remí, making a game with the initials of his name inverted. Throughout the evolution of his star character, Tintin, we can see the progress of this author: from the first titles marked by the ultraconservative doctrine of the director of the newspaper Le Petit Vingtième, to the breaking of conventions embodied from The Blue Lotus , as well as the evolution of the society of his time. The research carried out by Hergé to historically contextualize his Adventures, as well as his implicit social criticism, have made Tintin a masterpiece of the 20th century.

Series on Goodreads:
* The Adventures of Tintin
* Quick & Flupke
* The adventures of Jo, Zette and Jocko

Reviews

[Dream.M · Rating 5 out of 5]

تن‌تن عزیز دلم،
تو مثل اون پلی‌لیستی بودی که نصف‌شب‌ها گوش می‌دادم و همه چی رو فراموش می‌کردم؛ پر از هیجان، آرزو، رفاقت و ماجراجویی‌های دیوونه‌کننده که ضربان قلبمو تندتر می‌کرد. وقتی میخوندمت انگار داشتم با میلو تو کوچه‌های بروکسل می‌دویدم و میرفتم که یبار دیگه دنیا رو نجات بدم.
تو برام فقط یه کتاب نبودی، بلکه یه پورتال به دنیایی بودی که توش هرکسی مثل من می‌تونست قهرمان بشه. عاشقت بودم چون تو بهم یاد داده بودی که ماجراجویی واقعی تو اینه که از ترس‌هات نترسی و از روشون بپری، بهم یاد دادی ممکنه تنها باشم اما می‌تونم محکم بایستم و برای عدالت بجنگم.
و حالا، وقتی دوباره دارم میخونمت تن‌تن، تو هنوز محبوب‌ترین کتاب نوجوان منی، هنوزم منو می‌خندونی و همزمان به فکر می‌ندازی و من فکر میکنم هنوز یه بچه خیالبافم که می‌تونه به همه آرزوهاش برسه. تن‌تن، تو ابدی‌ای. و من تا ابد عاشقتم.
..........‌...................
تن‌تن، خبرنگار جوون بلژیکی با اون شلوار خاص و موهای سیخ عجیبش (که هیچ‌وقت به‌هم نمی‌ریزه، جدی چرا؟!) و سگ وفادارش میلو، از سال ۱۹۲۹ تا ۱۹۸۶ (هرژه تا آخر عمرش روش کار کرد) ۲۳ تا آلبوم کامل داره، بعلاوه یکی ناتمام. این آلبوم ها هر کدومشون مثل یه فصل سریال اکشن‌ان، پر از تعقیب‌وگریز، رمز و راز، و درس‌های عمیق بدون اینکه نصیحت‌ کنن و همین رازه جذابیت‌شه.

● ماجراجویی‌های اولیه: از شوروی تا آمریکا (۱۹۲۹-۱۹۳۲) – شروع خشن

- سرزمین شوروی‌ها (Tintin in the Land of the Soviets): تن‌تن می‌ره مسکو تا فساد کمونیست‌ها رو لو بده. پر از تعقیب با ماشین‌های قدیمی و انفجاره. (اولینشه، هنوز خام بود هرژه!)

- کنگو (Tintin in the Congo): آفریقا، اما با کلی کلیشه‌های قدیمی (هرژه بعداً پشیمون شد و ویرایشش کرد). تن‌تن اینجا با شکارچی‌ها و حیوانات وحشی می‌جنگه؛ حالا بیشتر به عنوان میراث تاریخی به این جلد نگاه می‌شه و اونقدرها هارش نیست.

- آمریکا (Tintin in America): نیویورک، گانگسترها، بومی‌های سرخ‌پوست (دوباره حساسیت‌های مدرن نژادپرستانه‌رو تحریک کرد). تن‌تن با آل کاپون‌ها کلنجار می‌ره و عدالت رو برقرار می‌کنه.

● دوران طلایی: رمز و رازهای شرقی و اروپایی (۱۹۳۴-۱۹۴۷) – جایی که تن‌تن رسما تبدیل می‌شه به سوپراستار

- سیگارهای فرعون (Cigars of the Pharaoh): مصر باستان، قاچاق مواد مخدر، و یه کلوپ مخفی. اینجا تن‌تن با دکتر‌ها و مومیایی‌ها درگیر می‌شه و این جلد کلاسیک‌ترین آلبدم‌شه.

- نیلوفر آبی (The Blue Lotus): چین، جنگ با ژاپنی‌ها (دوران واقعی حمله ژاپن)، و دوستی با چانگ (دوست چینی تن‌تن). و عمیق‌ترین درس ضداستعماری که هرژه ازش الهام گرفت.

- گوش شکسته (The Broken Ear): آمریکای جنوبی، انقلاب، و مجسمه‌های باستانی. پر از طنز موقعیت و با دوقلوهای بی‌مغز تامسون و تامپسون.

- جزیره سیاه (The Black Island): بریتانیا، جعل پول، و دیوونگی‌های هذیان آلود. میلو ستاره‌ این آلبومشه.

- عصای پادشاه (King Ottokar's Sceptre): بالکان، جاسوسی، و نقشه‌هایی شبیه نازی‌ ها(هرژه ازش برای هشدار به هیتلر استفاده کرد). تن‌تن هواپیما می‌دزده این جلد.

- خرچنگ چنگال طلایی (The Crab with the Golden Claws): مراکش و بیابان، قاچاق مواد. اینجا کاپیتان هادوک (دوست الکلی و باحال تن‌تن) وارد می‌شه.

- ستاره‌ شگفت‌انگیز (The Shooting Star): قطب شمال، شهاب‌سنگ، و مسابقه علمی. پروفسور کالکولوس (مخترع دیوونه) اضافه می‌شه.

● دوران فضایی و عواطف: ماه، تبت، و جواهرات (۱۹۵۰-۱۹۶۸) – عمیق‌تر و احساسی‌تر

- کشتی تک‌شاخ (The Secret of the Unicorn): دریا، دزدان دریایی، و مدل‌ واقعی کشتی‌ها که پره از اکشن دریایی.

_ راک‌هام سرخ‌پوش (Red Rackham's Treasure): غواصی برای گنج واقعی، پر از اکشن زیرآبی و طنز کلامی هادوک.

_ هفت گوی بلورین (The Seven Crystal Balls): پرو، پیشگویی‌های مرموز، و نفرین‌های باستانی (دومین سه‌گانه آمریکای جنوبی و در مورد خرافات دربرابر علمه)

_زندانی معبد خورشید (Prisoners of the Sun): اینکاها، معابد پنهان، و نجات دوستان (پایان سه‌گانه، با چالشهای فرهنگی که هرژه از تاریخ واقعی کشید بیرون).

_ سرزمین طلای سیاه (Land of Black Gold): خاورمیانه، توطئه‌های نفتی و بنزین مسموم (جایگزین‌شده با نسخه ۱۹۷۱، پر از تعقیب با کامیون‌های صحرایی و انتقاد به سیاست‌های نفتی).

- مقصد ماه (Destination Moon) و گشت و گذار روی ماه (Explorers on the Moon): اولین سفر فضایی کمیک (قبل از آپولو ۱۱) که توش تن‌تن و هادوک به ماه می‌رن، با خرابکاری‌های روس‌ها.

- ماجرای کالکولوس (The Calculus Affair): بالکان دوباره، ربوده شدن پروفسور، و جنگ سرد. غم‌انگیز و هیجان‌انگیزه.

- کوسه‌های دریای سرخ (The Red Sea Sharks): خاورمیانه، قاچاق اسلحه، و تانکرهای نفتی. کلی دیالوگ طنز داریم با تورن‌اسپایک (خدمتکار مغرور).

- تن‌تن و غار هیولا (Tintin in Tibet): هیمالیا، جستجوی چانگ (دوست گم‌شده). عمیق‌ترینشه. تن‌تن با یتی (ابومن) روبرو می‌شه و در مورد دوستی و ایمان حرف می‌زنه. (هرژه عاشق تبت بود)

- جواهر کاستافیور (The Castafiore Emerald): عمارت، جواهرات دزدیده‌شده، و... هیچ دزدی ای درکار نیست. همه‌ش سوءتفاهم و طنزه مثل یه اپیزود از سریال کمدی.

● آخرین‌ها: سیاست و ناتمام (۱۹۷۵-۱۹۸۶) – مدرن‌تر و تلخ‌تر

- پرواز ۷۱۴ به سیدنی(Flight 714): اندونزی، UFOها، و رازهای باستانی. لاسلو کاراس (بدمن باحال) وارد می‌شه.

- تن‌تن و پیکارگران(Tintin and the Picaros): آمریکای جنوبی دوباره، انقلاب، و سیاست. انتقادی به دیکتاتورها.

- تن‌تن و نمایشگاه الفبا (Tintin and Alph-Art): ناتمام موند (هرژه مرد قبل از تموم کردنش). مافیای هنر و پول‌شویی، هنر مدرن، و توطئه‌های پاریسی .

هر آلبوم از کمیک های تن‌تن ۶۴ صفحه ان، یادگاری ها و میراث جاودان هرژه، خالق تن‌تن معروفترین قهرمان کمیک بوکها.
روحت شاد و نور به قبرت بباره هرژه، چون تو دنیای میلیون ها نوجوان رو رنگی و روشن کردی.
............
من این مجموعه رو از عزیز دلم هدیه گرفتم. اونو از کتابخونه شخصیش بهم هدیه داد. یادگاری باارزشی شد برام چون رد انگشت هاشرو روی تک تک صفحات می‌دیدم و احساس می‌کردم در زمان یکسانی داریم کتابهارو می‌خونیم.

[Masoud Irannejad · Rating 2 out of 5]

تن تن و هنر الفبا آخرین کتاب مجموعه است که متاسفانه با مرگ هرژه نا تمام می مونه
هرچند چندین بار توسط نویسنده های مختلف ادامه داستان نوشته شده ولی هیچ کدوم نتوانستن به موفقیت برسند
نسخه ای که من مطالعه کردم هم اصلا پایان خوبی نداشت، ای کاش هرژه چندین سال قبل تر پایان کتاب رو می نوشت و اون رو کنار می گذاشت تا بعد از مرگ اش منتشر بشه (مثل کاری که آگاتاکریستی با پوآرو کرد)

بخش جالب کتاب به تمسخر هنر مدرن توسط هرژه است ، کاپیتان هادوک به طور اتفاقی وارد نمایشگاه هنری با محوریت الفبا میشه و تو رودربایستی یک حرف الفبای (اچ) می خرد و در ادامه سعی می کنه به بقیه حالی کند این یک اثر هنری است

پ.ن: گفته میشه آگاتا پایان کار پوآرو رو در طول جنگ جهانی دوم و در اوج بمباران انگلستان توسط آلمان نازی می نویسه و اون رو به صندوق امانات بانک می سپاره و وصیت میکنه در صورت مرگ اش کتاب منتشر بشه
میگن آگاتا از اینکه پوآرو پایانی نداشته باشه وحشت داشته

[Ehsan'Shokraie' · Rating 4 out of 5]

پایان اخرین ماجرای تن تن حس غم انگیزی ست,میخواستم ریویو ی مفصلی بنویسم در تحلیل مجموعه تن تن,مجموعه ای که گذر زمان در آن متوقف شده,ساخته شده برای آنکه از زمان بگذرد..
شاید تن تن پایانی ندارد و تا ابد تن تن,ناخدا هادوک و برفی و کلکولس و نستور در مارلین اسپایک زندگی می کنند..تا ماجرایی تازه زنگ درب عمارت را بزند..ماجرایی که ما در انتظار خواندنش خواهیم بود

[Hákon Gunnarsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1978 Hergé started work on Tintin and Alph-Art, a story that centered around the modern art world which was subject close to his heart. He had wanted to become a painter, but became a comic book artist instead, and in later years he became very interested in the modern art. However when he died in 1983 the book was still unfinished. Some of the material that he had done was then published as a book in 1986.

Since then several artist have tackled finishing this book. The one I’ve just finished reading is the work of the Canadian artist Yves Rodier. He was not the first to do this, and probably not the last one either, but he is probably the only one that came knocking on Hergé’s publisher door with a finished manuscript. The widow didn’t want to allow the publication of it, so it eventually got published as an unofficial version, (meaning more or less illegal).

If we look past the copyright issue, I can say that I like this book. I think it is quite clear that Rodier is a fan of Hergé’s work, and he manages to copy his style pretty much. Not quite though. Even if I didn’t know it wasn’t a book by Hergé, I would still notice the difference between this and other Tintin books. He continues the modernized style of Tintin as he was in Tintin and the Picaros, but plays a little with it. Still, he plays surprisingly little with it, for example he plays less with the frame size than Hergé did himself.

Rodier does this so respectfully. He doesn’t change the characters in any way, not like J. Daniels did in Breaking Free for example. The biggest difference is in more active female characters here than had been in Hergé’s books. Still, the book feels pretty much as if Hergé wrote it. It’s got similar action as in many of the Tintin books where Hergé had reached maturity in his art. It’s perhaps lacking a little in humor, but it’s still rather funny.

I don’t know if this is what Hergé’s finished book would have looked like. It could be. And perhaps it would have turned out completely different. Draft is just a draft, and where it really ends can never be seen from it, but I think this is as good a guess as any. And I think it would actually have been a good addition to the Tintin series, but it’s unofficial version, despite the fact that goodreads has combined the two into one. A good Tintin book, and better than the last Tintin book by Hergé.

[Hákon Gunnarsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tintin was one of the comic book heroes of my childhood. I'm going to read my way through the series again as I listen to a radio program about him, and his creator, Hergé. And this is the end of that project, book number 24, the last Tintin book by Hergé, but it can hardly even be called a Tintin book. It’s a draft, not a finished book, and it was only published because Hergé was a famous author.

People tend to try to publish every last scrap of paper by famous authors, and of course it is of some interest to their biggest fans, but these books rarely become anything great. Not a single of of these last unfinished books I’ve read have been anything beyond interesting. This is that up to a point.

After Hergé died, one of his associates, Bob de Moor told the widow that he would be happy to finish the book, and she said yes. He began work on the project, spend some months on it, before the widow withdrew her support for the project. That’s why Tintin and Alph-Art was published in this form. There has at least been one unofficial “finished” versions of this book, and I think I will read that one next.

Some fans have said this was going to be Hergé’s greatest work, if he had lived. It’s hard to say how good a draft is going to turn out to be, but I don’t think Hergé had the fire in him to write his greatest work at this point in his life. He had grown tired, and he spent five years not finishing this book. I think it could have become an interesting from a biographical point of view.

In this book he is dealing with the fine art market, and Hergé had not intended to become a comic book artist, but a painter. That’s why Georges Remi became Hergé, so he could use his real name as a painter. I would have liked to see what he would have done with this idea, but of course we’re never going to see that book. It is because of the sadness that we’re never going to see the finished version of these kinds of last unfinished books of famous authors that they are always bittersweet at best, interesting but not fun. That’s what I think this is. Interesting, but not terribly fun.

[Yas · Rating 4 out of 5]

و پایان کمیک‌های دوست داشتنی تن‌تن 🥲❤️
هادوک عزیزم :)
همخوانی‌اش باعث شد تا آخر بخونم و لذت بخش بود.

[David Sarkies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tintin's Last Adventure
28 February 2012

The version of this album that I read was the unauthorised completed version. I do offer my sincere apologies to the Herge estate, but I really could not read the published sketch version simply because it was clearly uncompleted. Herge began writing this in 1980 (his original idea of setting the final comic in an airport departure lounge was thankfully scrapped) but he unfortunately died before he could complete it. From reading what he originally wrote it is clear that there was a substantial amount of work needed to be done, particularly since parts of the completed version required substantial editing (for instance where did Tintin meet the informant?).

It appears that this was intended to be Tintin's final horah, and Herge had moved slightly in a new direction. In a way it is similar to Tintin and the Picaros, where Herge was attempting to wind up some of the unfinished plots, and also having a parade of all the characters (with the exception of Alcazar) through the story. This comic is also set in the world of Modern Art, something that I understand Herge was becoming ever more attracted to later in his life. It may be suggested that he was moving towards a post-modern viewpoint, but it appears that this is something that Herge rejected. While some of his comics are clearly modernist, and absurdist (such as The Castafiore Emerald) he was not a post-modernist author.

I will only deal with the completed parts here rather than look at the sections that other authors have written, particularly since it is glaringly obvious where somebody else has stepped in to complete the story. Herge and his estate made it clear that Tintin was not to continue after Herge's death. This, I believe, is a good thing, particularly since Tintin is Herge's creation, and Herge is really the only person who is able to get into the mind of Tintin and his companions.

Another change here is that Herge introduces a young, single, attractive female into the comic. While female characters have appeared (and Castafiore with regularity) in many cases they are thin on the ground and usually married (though the landlady also make appearances early on in the adventures). However, here we have a potential love interest for Tintin, which once again is moving away from Herge's norm. There is even a hint that both Tintin and the Captain may be attracted to her (as can be seen where the Captain takes her umbrella), however it is unclear where Herge was intending on taking this (and whether he was intending on actually making her a love interest). I did appreciate it that the completed comic did take it in that direction, however this was added after Herge's death.

One final thing that I discovered about unauthorised Tintin comics. There is one floating around (and available) called Tintin in Thailand. I have not read it (and have no intention of doing so) however I understand that this particular comic is actually quite obscene. The story is that this comic was going to be released as a 'recently discovered Herge manuscript' and was to be sold on the black market. However the police mounted a sting operation, arrested around 6 people involved in the production of the comic, and seized about 1000 copies of it. It appears that Herge's insistence that no Tintin be released after his death is taken very seriously in Belgium, particularly since copyright breeches generally do not attract sting operations. However I suspect also that there was more than just copyright issues with regards to this unauthorised comic (though I have since found it on the internet).

It also appears that Tintin fans also take this request very seriously, particularly since the Cult of Tintin aka Tintinologist, refuses to accept any fan based stories on their site, and other than a completed Tintin and Alpha-Art, and a number of speculative covers for other Tintin adventures, there is pretty much no other unauthorised comics available (with the exception of Tintin in Thailand, which, from what I understand, is an absolute travesty).

[Sammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review:
(from the Tintin Books group.

(Part 1: the authorised version)

"Tintin and Alph-Art" remains on the edge of the "Tintin" ouevre for good reason: it was never finished, and published only as rough sketches with translated dialogue beside them. (Herge's estate chose not to complete the work, as part of a larger understanding from Herge that he didn't want his studio to carry on the series after his death.) In some ways, this is a pity. For while the acknowledged final album, Tintin and the Picaros, fittingly caps Tintin's travelogues - with disturbingly real consequences, and deconstruction of existing characters - "Alph-Art" proves a fitting end to the story of Tintin himself.

"Alph-Art" takes many of the existing tropes of Herge's repertoire to new heights. The opening dream sequence is pitch-perfect, and Herge's interest in farce is taken to new - and well-mannered - heights when Haddock, admiring his new art purchase, is accosted within moments by Tintin, Calculus, the Thompsons, Nestor and Wagg. (Oddly, Wagg seems to come to Marlinspike solely for his part in this comic bit...)

The central mystery is simple enough: avoiding Castafiore, Haddock ducks into an art gallery where he finds himself taken with 'Alph-Art' in which letters of the alphabet are moulded in various materials. However, this new interest propels the Captain and Tintin toward the mysterious deaths of several art experts. It's genuinely fascinating, and reminiscent of '60s/'70s mystery television, more than it is of the adventure serials that characterise the earlier works.

The second half of the mystery involves a mystic, Endaddine Akass, who has charmed both the beautiful young art gallery assistant, and La Castafiore herself. This mysterious man reminds Tintin of someone, but he can't quite tell who. The scenes at Akass' ritual are genuinely unnerving, and it's clear that Tintin has met his match in this seemingly placid villain.

As the two cases begin to wind together, Haddock and Tintin find themselves travelling to an island of Naples, where Akass' friends have gathered - among them are many characters who have populated earlier works in the series. (Even more so than "Picaros", there is a distinct sense of a final recap here) It is only when Tintin puts the pieces together - that Akass is flooding the art market with fakes while raising his own profile with the help of the 'Alph-Art' movement - that the boy reporter is caught, and led to his likely death...

The official release of "Alph-Art" is a beautiful volume, doing the best they can with Herge's pencil rough sketches of the story. There's a lot to learn here, seeing how the latter pages - much rougher than the earlier ones - still are clearly numbered, and it seems likely that this is roughly the pattern the first two-thirds of the work would've taken. (It fits the usual Tintin album profile, with one-third devoted over to the mystery, the second to a chase sequence, and then the third to the denouement.)

While the story itself is nothing breathtaking, the more 'mature' choice of setting is most satisfying for those of us who grew up with Tintin, and are now grown-up ourselves. Beyond this, Herge's style still seems to be maturing: Haddock is still off alcohol after the events of the previous story, for instance. Most interestingly, for me, there are several strong female characters - a first for a "Tintin" album. Beyond La Castafiore, there are the two art gallery staff members - one of whom is crucial to the case, and a young, beautiful woman for once. Then Castafiore's friend Angelina, although she appears rarely, maeks quite an impact. (One wonders, though, if Herge would've amended the line where Tintin calls the elder secretary a "shrew"?)

As for whether Akass is Rastopopoulous: well, in the original draft sketches (shown at the end of this volume), he clearly is. And quite frankly, this odd-looking villain has to be in disguise, and no one else would use such a James Bond villain mindset in his crimes. The rediscovered pages are very interesting, as they show - however briefly - the way Herge's mind worked as he developed the plot for a story, and mention an original idea for the plot in which Haddock completely loses all trace of himself as he becomes an art yuppie - only to be saved when Calculus develops a pill to restore him to alcoholism!

There's something nostalgic and undeniably 'modern' about "Alph-Art" as Herge envisioned it, particularly with the many other characters he had considered bringing back. I'll give some comments on the unofficial completed version (by Canadian artist Yves Rodier) in the next post, but in some ways, this ends more fittingly than any completed album could. Tintin, our globetrotting boy reporter, is taken away to have another brush with death. We know that Tintin must surely be immortal, and so is it not perfect that we last see him facing the wrath of a recurring villain for one final time? And beyond that, he is not just being led to his death - he's being taken to be encased in a mould and sold to collectors. In short, Tintin is about to become an immortal work of art.

(Part 2: the unauthorised version)

Canadian artist Yves Rodier is among those who decided to complete this album - against the wishes of Herge's estate. Honestly? I approve. Although I waxed lyrical about how fitting Tintin's unending end is, I'd love to see this completed. Herge had not wanted the studio to go on making "Tintin" albums after his death, and I respect that. But this was already mostly completed, so I'm glad to have read Rodier's version.

Rodier's animation is lovely. Certainly, it doesn't bring quite the depth that Herge could give, but it's a great companion to the original artist and - most importantly - doesn't try to be post-modern or revisionist. Indeed, for the first 40 pages, Rodier basically copies Herge's draft intentions to the letter, adding only a few frames where an additional joke or clarification is necessary.

As we reach the final third of the work, Rodier takes things to their logical conclusion, but via some wonderful character-based detours. Rastopopolous (as all villains do in "Tintin") has gathered together a group of followers who happen to have met Tintin. After he survives his near-death experience thanks to Snowy and Haddock, Tintin must rely on his extended family to team up and protect him. (Most hilariously, Abdullah joins because if "Blistering Barnacles" goes to jail or dies, how can the boy play pranks on him?).

After a few enjoyable side-jokes - Allen is now a postman in the States, etc. - Rodier gives us what we want. Rastopopolous and Tintin have a final showdown on a rocky outcrop, watched from below by all of Tintin's closest friends. Everyone from Snowy to the Thompsons gets a moment to shine, and the final pages show us that things have ended for good: the villain is dead, and Haddock is going home, never to leave again. (Of course, this has happened before, so anything is possible...) There's even the first hint in the entire canon that Tintin may be entering a mature, heterosexual relationship - although as ever, he plays his cards close to his chest.

The only issue with the edition is that the English translation is not perfect, particularly in the post-Herge pages. Sometimes the dialogue comes across as monosyllabic and underwritten, but it's a minor concern.

I cherish all 24 albums in this series, even those whose plot or twists I don't hold in high esteem. And while I appreciate having Herge's original sketches and thoughts thanks to the authorised version, I'm glad Rodier took the time and great pains to produce this. To see the characters of "Tintin" one last time was a joy. Here's hoping that - one day - Herge's estate may incorporate this into the official canon. Rodier is never disrespectful to the original intent, and for that, we should all be grateful.

[Samuel Edme · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Synopsis: After local art gallery owner Henri Fourcart is murdered, Tintin investigates (as usual) leading him to spiritual leader Endaddine Akass.

My Thoughts: Since Hergé died before finishing the story in 1983, this volume mostly consists of rough sketches and story drafts ending in a troubling cliffhanger with Tintin being mugged by Akass who intends to kill him by covering him in liquid polyester to sell as an artwork by César Baldaccini. It raises several questions regarding our protagonist's eventual fate:

"Does Tintin die a tragic hero or survives and defeats the villains with justice served as always?"

"Did Hergé write this with the intention of it becoming his final book given his leukemia diagnosis three years before his demise?"

"Was Fourcourt's assistant supposed to be Tintin's love interest and/or play any major roles throughout the series in the future?"

While I am aware of the finished unauthorized version of the story by Yves Rodier (which I haven't read as of yet), it still would never clearly answer the question of Hergé's true intentions when he wrote the book and would merely give out a broad conjecture of how he wanted to end it which in itself would likely be partially influenced by how Rodier hoped the plot would conclude. It's almost similar to that last significant jigsaw puzzle piece you lost as a kid and replaced with your own fabricated piece based on how you believe it would/should look like. Sure it 'finishes' the puzzle in your mind, but it still isn't quite the same as the original. That being said, I probably will the 'complete' version out of curiosity if I ever have the chance to find it.

Final Thoughts: While I wouldn't recommend Tintin and Alph-Art to a new reader, it is worth collecting for any Tintinologist (like myself) who has already read the previous volumes.

Update: I just read the completed Yves Rodier version of the story. While I still stand by my acknowledgment that no one could ever predict Hergé's true visions for the story, I do have to give Rodier credit for putting as much effort as possibly could into making it as faithful to the spirit of the previous books. The rendered ligne claire art and dialogue felt very in line with a traditional Tintin adventure along with the twist near the climax where Rastapopoulos returns to avenge Tintin in an intense showdown. The ending was also quite satisfactory and gave our beloved characters a fairly dignified closure while leaving the door ajar for more opportunities. Overall, it's worth the look if you've read the original and are dying to see more beyond the cliffhanger.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 étoiles. L’edition de “Tintin et l'alph-art” qui montre les croquis et les idées de Hergé, c’est passionnant. Ce n’est pas une histoire, et ce n’est pas toujours facile à lire, mais c’est interessant.

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The amazing-ness of the book is not on the story, because it is not a finished one. Rather on how 'we', the Tintin lovers, didn't think twice in spending money for some rough sketches. We, who already read all the series, and reread them hundred of times, were looking forward to get this copy that previously was a 'rare' book. The one we heard about but never see it. And now, it is available.

I was excited even when I tore the plastic wrap. I knew it would be rough, but the text accompanied them is enough to satisfy my curiosity. At least, I'd like to say that we can learn the process of making the great comic. I am probably biased for I am a proud fan of Tintin.

[نیما اکبرخانی · Rating 5 out of 5]

از تلخی های روزگار همین بس که آدمی مثل هرژه باید بمیره .
این آخرین کتابه تن تن است که متاسفانه نیمه کاره هم ماند و ما هیچ وقت نفهمیدیم پایان بندی مد نظر خالق تن تن چه بود.
این پایانی ست بر ماجراهای تن تن و میلو
کاپیتان هادوک و پروفسور کلکولس و تامسون وتامسون و بسیاری شخصیت های زیبا و دوست داشتنی و با نمک .
پایان بندی و تمام کردن این اثر رو خلاصه یک نفر دیگه انجام داده و باید بگم این اثر دیگه خوشخوان و با نمک و مفرح نیست نه اینکه عیب و ایرادی داشته باشه نه ولی خداحافظی همیشه دردناکه علی الخصوص که مطالب تلخ بالا رو هم بدونید.
پایان تن تن و السلام

[Farhana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah finally it comes to an end.
তিন গোয়েন্দার পর এত বছর বাদে কোন সিরিজ পড়লাম। ১ম বইটাতে হার্জ কে নিয়ে একটু সন্দেহ ছিল কিন্তু পরের সিরিজের বেশিরভাগ বইই চমৎকার দুর্দান্ত ।

No doubt, Herge is one of the finest artists & cartoonists. He rendered every single detail so beautifully and consciously. The series is enjoyable after all this time and hereafter. O:)

[Jazzy Lemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tintin's final adventure - all's well that ends well.

[Kavita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last of the Tintin series, and was an unfinished comic. Published not as a completed comic, Tintin and Alph-Art is more in the form of a play with illustrations on the side. The artwork is done by pencil and everything is written in the original French without any edits or translations. There are also plenty of pages of the original artwork and notes made by Hergé, trying to decide how to proceed with the story. The publishers gave some interesting speculations about what may have happened had he lived to tell the story. I found this whole thing fascinating as it gave a glimpse into the mind of Hergé.

There is a new form of art doing the rounds, with art centred around a letter of the alphabet. Modern art is hilariously depicted with this comic and I really loved it. Poor Captain Haddock is fobbed off with a giant H perspex, which he bought in the heat of the moment. Then there is the Emir (from Khemed with the naughty son, remember?) who wants to buy the "oil refinery in Paris" 😂😂 (Pompidou!).

So, when Bianca Castafiore has a new fad, a spiritual leader she is following called Endaddine Akass. But there might be more to Akass, especially when a connection between him and the art gallery is discovered. Unfortunately, we don't know what the end would have been like, but you can be sure it would have been funny with Tintin winning the show. And probably Castafiore once again foisting herself or someone else on Captain Haddock.

It had been a good series and highly enjoyable. The quality of the comics got increasingly better with each comic, though Hergé is often remembered for his first few books. But that's not his whole story and I liked the way we can see the author himself develop in his thoughts and life over the span of a lifetime through his works. Will read this series again in a few years but until then, it's time to move on to other things!

[Nicholas Whyte · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1720312...

Another lesser-known Tintin book, this time from the exact opposite end of Hergé's career: this is the story he was working on when he died in 1983. It is a strange and convoluted tale - Captain Haddock wakes from a nightmare, goes shopping and almost accidentally buys a giant plastic letter H, a piece of a new sculpture style called 'Alph-Art' (hence the title of the book); mysteriously dead art experts and a new age cult which may be led by Rastapopoulos in disguise bring Tintin and Captain Haddock to an island near Naples, where Tintin is captured by the bad guys and told that he will be drowned in liquid plastic and put on display as a sculpture by the (fictional) artist César. He tries to send a message to Captain Haddock via Snowy, but then the guards come for him...

...and that's the end of the Adventures of Tintin; he faces the dreadful fate of being transformed into an icon for the ages.

It's fairly obvious what would have happened if Hergé had lived to finish the story - our hero will escape thanks to his friends, and it's also clear that the bad guys are planning a reunion of a lot of incidental characters from previous books, some from a very long time ago. The book already features Bianca Castafiore, Professor Calculus, Jolyon Wagg, Thomson and Thompson and the Emir of Khedad and his horrible little son Abdullah. It's also fairly clear that the book would have needed a good bit of revision - there's an inconsistency in the plot between whether the art gallery is bugged with a reel-to-reel tape recorder (which would already have been old-fashioned at the time of writing) or via a high-tech microphone hidden in Mrs Vandezande's jewel. (By coincidence, a Mr Vandezande has been the mayor of our village since the last local government reform in 1976.) but the germ of a good if not great Tintin story is already there.

We also get some of Hergé's rough drafts for ways the story might have gone: drugs conspiracies based in Amsterdam, Captain Haddock's change of personality, various options for bringing back some fairly obscure names from the past. Hergé clearly saw this as a final volume, and perhaps it's better to have it preserved in mid-thought, rather than some slightly synthetic confection of a final product; Edwin Drood and Sunset at Blandings are not bad precedents.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read the unfinished version by Herge before - it's a tantalising insight into what could have been.

But today I discovered, thanks to my son's wonderful curiosity and detective work, that there is an unauthorised 'completed' version of the book- in full colour and translated into English. Easy to find online but never published in print as Moulinsart won't allow it. But it's really good, and a decent attempt to imagine what Herge might have done, had he lived long enough. The way the plot concludes is satisfying, but I think lacks the precision and imagination that Herge would have brought to it. But it's just really great to see the first 42 pages, which we know Herge had pretty much finalised at a plan stage, completed in a style that is almost as good as Herge's own.

This book also made me appreciate all over again just how unique and perfect Herge's style was - this pastiche comes close, but proves that the original is untouchable.

[Niloo N · Rating 2 out of 5]

بيشتر از دو سال بود كه ميخواستم تن تن ها رو تموم كنم و امسال بالاخره تموم شد.
خوب تموم نشد. هم خيلى خوب نبود خود داستانش كلاً، هم كاملاً كار هرژه نبود و واقعاً دلم ميخواد بدونم خود هرژه ميخواست پايانش چطور باشه. :(

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

NEW REVIEW TO COME UPON REREAD

5 étoiles & 5/10 coeurs. AHHH quelle histoire de fin parfaite pour Tintin !! J'ai adoré le petit soupçon de romance <3 et tout le monde était tellement eux-même…. et le méchant, c'était tellement agréable de le voir enfin vraiment terminé, haha.

[htanzil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tintin dan Alpha Art (Tintin et l'alph-art) adalah buku terakhir dari seri Petualangan Tintin. Sayangnya kisah ini tak tuntas diselesaikan oleh komikusnya, Herge. Ketika komik ini masih dalam bentuk sketsa dan narasinya sendiri masih belum selesai, Herge keburu meninggal di tahun 1983 akibat penyakit yang dideritanya.

Pada tahun 1986 atas permintaan para penggemarnya, Fanny Remi (istri Hergé) bersama penerbit Casterman dan La Fondation Herge akhirnya menerbitkan Tintin et l'alph-art dalam bentuk apa adanya berupa sketsa dan narasi ala kadarnya. Persis sebagaimana yang Herge tinggalkan sebelum wafat. Hal ini sesuai dengan amanat Herge bahwa Tintin tak boleh diselesaikan tanpa dirinya. Kemudian dalam rangka memperingati ulang tahun ke-75 Tintin pada tahun 2004, menerbitkan ulang Tintin et l'alph-artdengan menambahkan beberapa material tambahan yang baru ditemukan di tahun-tahun belakangan.

Di Indonesia sendiri, baru kali ini Tintin dan Alpha Art diterjemahkan. Langkah Gramedia selaku pemegang hak cipta Tintin untuk menerbitkan ulang seluruh kisah petualangan Tintin termasuk cepat. Belum genap setahun sejak diterbitkannya Tintin di Soviet pada April 2004, Gramedia kini telah menuntaskan kerjanya dengan menerbitkan judul ke 24, Tintin dan Alpha Art. Dengan demikian lebih dari 20 tahun semenjak Tintin hadir di Indonesia baru kali inilah seluruh kisah petualangan Tintin dapat dinikmati secara lengkap.

Dalam kisah terakhirnya ini Tintin terlibat dalam petualangan yang melibatkan seni. Alpha Art sendiri adalah gerakan kreasi seni yang berdasarkan huruf-huruf alphabet. Dikisahkan karya-karya seniman Alpha Art, Ramosh Nash saat itu sedang dipamerkan di sebuah Galeri milik Henri Fourcart. Melalui telepon Tintin secara langsung diundang oleh Foucart untuk menemuinya di galerinya. Namun pertemuan itu tak pernah terjadi karena Foucart tewas dalam sebuah kecelakaan lalu lintas.

Naluri Tintin mengatakan bahwa ada yang tidak wajar dalam kematian Foucart. Ketika meninjau lokasi kejadian kecelakaan, tiba-tiba Tintin diserang oleh beberapa penjahat. Kejadian ini membuat Tintin semakin curiga dan memutuskan untuk mengungkap ada apa dibalik tewasnya Fourcart. Kelak akan terungkap bahwa pembunuhan ini terkait juga dengan pemalsuan karya-karya seni.

Seperti yang diungkap di paragraf awal tulisan ini, kisah Tintin ini memang tak tuntas dan masih berupa sketsa kasar. Demikian juga dengan edisi terjemahannya yang tampaknya dibuat berdasarkan edisi Casterman terbitan tahun 2004. Selain soal ukuran yang lebih kecil dibanding edisi aslinya, semua lay out dalam versi Gramedia ini sama persis dengan edisi Casterman 2004 dimana di satu sisi menampilkan script dialog dan narasi yang tersaji seperti pada naskah drama, sementara di sisi yang lain ditampilkan goresan asli dari halaman-halaman sketsa yang dibuat oleh Herge.

Kadang halaman sktesa asli itu tersaji dalam ukuran kecil yang ditempatkan secara dinamis, namun ada juga beberapa sketsa yang tampil satu halaman penuh. Beberapa sketsa yg ingin ditonjolkan tampak diperbesar dan disajikan secara artistik sehingga pembaca bisa melihat dengan jelas coretan-coretan Herge yang mungkin tak terlihat secara jelas di bagian halaman sketsa yang kecil.

Herge sendiri hanya sempat membuat 42 halaman sktesa yang telah memiliki alur cerita, dari ke 42 halaman sketsa itu hanya tiga halaman pertama saja yang telah agak halus dan mungkin sudah 90% selesai. Sisanya masih berupa sketsa kasar seperti yang terdapat di cover komik ini dimana Tintin hanya digambarkan bermuka bulat, hidung pentul dan jambul, atau Kapten Haddock yang digambarkan bermuka bulat, hidung besar, jenggot dan rambut yang kasar.



Sketsa terakhir Herge (Tintin & Alpha Art)





Namun selain ke 42 halaman sktesa inti, ada pula 9 halaman tambahan yang tak kalah menariknya karena setidaknya dapat memberikan gambaran cerita akhir dari komik ini. Di halaman tambahan ini akan diperoleh informasi antara lain Kapten Haddock yang tampak berubah karena bergaul dengan para seniman, menyukai benda-benda seni, dan mengubah penampilannya layaknya seorang seniman., menyanyi, bermain gitar, dan merubah kediamannya menjadi seperti galeri seni.

Lalu muncul pula musuh bebuyutan Tintin, Rastapopoulus yang berniat menyiram Tintin dengan cairan polyester agar menjadi sebuah karya seni. Yang tak kalah menariknya adalah munculnya kata Sondonesia dibawah sketsa bangunan berundak yang menyerupai candi bodobudur. Mungkinkah yang dimaksud adalah Indonesia ?

Kesemua sketsa pada halaman tambahan tersebut memang tampak tak terususun secara teratur dan membingungkan, jadi pembaca hanya bisa menduga-duga atau berimajinasi sendiri kira-kira seperti apa kelanjutan dan akhir dari petualangan Tintin ini, namun disinilah letak kenikmatan membaca komik ini. Melalui karya terakhir Herge yang masih berupa sketsa ini kita dapat mengetahui bagaimana sang maestro Herge mencoretkan garis-garis awal dari sebuah komik yang indah. Selain itu buku ini juga menawarkan sebuah pengalaman baru dalam membaca dan menginterpretasi sebuah komik yang masih berbentuk sketsa kasar dan belum selesai.

Segera setelah penerbitan sketsa oleh Herge dari Casterman terbitlah sebuah versi Tintin dan Alpha Art dengan kualitas yang kurang baik (Ramo Nash) hingga akhirnya muncullah versi Yves Rodier yang berhasil menyelesaikan Tintin & alpha Art. Dibutuhkan waktu 5 tahun oleh Roider untuk menyelesaikan komik yang belum selesai itu. Selain dirinya beberapa penulis telah mencobanya tetapi versi Yves Rodier adalah karya yang paling utama yang dicari oleh kolektor.

@h_tanzil

[Vicente Ribes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una despedida por todo lo alto con una historia que empieza de forma misteriosa con Tintin investigando a un pintor y un mago admirados por la Castafiore. Al avanzar la trama veremos que Rastapoupolous tiene algo que ver y está maquinando por detrás. Posiblemente la historia más adulta de Tintin y que fue terminada de manera magistral por Yves Rodier después de la muerte de Herge.
Tintin y Haddock están a punto de morir en dos ocasiones y tiene mucha acción, una lastima que no hayan más albums de Tintin.

[Old_Soul_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

টিনটিনের সর্বশেষ অ্যাডভেঞ্চার। শেষ করার আগেই হার্জ মারা যান। তারপর অন্য একজন কানাডিয়ান আর্টিস্ট সম্পন্ন করেন। মনেই হয়নি পুরোটা হার্জের করা না। অন্য অ্যাডভেঞ্চারগুলো রেশ বজায় ছিল।

[Mayu Vargas · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Tintín y Alph-Art" #24 de Hergé, me pareció flojo en la trama. Me falta solo un libro, y termino de leer todo Tintín. 🖤

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know that an unauthorised complete version of this existed. There's something so special about completing a full read through of these and then finding a finale that I'd never read - and it's so good. Many old Tintin characters are drawn together for a final adventure. I also loved the art gallery assistant - it seemed like Hergé had some great plans for this series and it would have continued to evolve. :)

I'm sorry that we didn't get to see more but am so grateful that this series exists. I believe this Winter I will finally go to the Tintin museum as a Belgium trip is finally in the works!

[Jefi Sevilay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Herge'nin bitiremediği son kitabından kısa diyaloglar ve eskiz çizimlerle dolu, hikayeden ziyade bir koleksiyon kitabı.

Bu kitapla 24 ciltlik seriyi tamamlıyorum. Açık söyleyeyim aradığımı bulamadım. Bir Lone Wolf and Cub keyfi alamadım. Çizimlerine ve renklerine (her ne kadar sonradan elden geçmiş olsalar da) bir kez daha hayran kaldım. Hikayelerini çoğunlukla sevmedim. Bir yetişkin olarak kitabın içinde barındırdığı ırkçılığa, ayrımcılığa epey bir şok oldum. Bunu elbette ki çocukken hiç hissetmemiştim. Kaldı ki Tenten serisinin son kitapları artık 60-70'ler. Yani Jules Verne'den beklersin ama 1970'lerde bile bu kadarını beklemezsin.

Karakterlere de yine bir yetişkin gözüyle bakınca çok farklı şeyler alıyor insan. Neden bilmiyorum Profesör Turnusol'u tüm karakterlerden daha çok seviyorum. Sonra Tenten, sonra Milu, sonra ırkçı kaptan Haddock, sen son Dupond ve Dupont.

Yeni bir seride görüşmek üzere!
Herkese keyifli okumalar.

[Paritosh Vyas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the unfinished twenty-fourth and final volume of  Tintin by Belgian cartoonist Hergé. Left incomplete on Hergé's death in 1983.
The family did not want the story to be completed as the widow felt that that is what Herge would have wanted.

Since it is comprising of doodles, the visual part is very difficult to understand. But on the contrary, the story part is written in a decent manner to understand the story precisely.

It would have been great if it had been completed because the storyline seems to be interesting.

[Boutroux Dominique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Je ne l'avais encore jamais lu. Plaisir et souffrance, ce que l'on lit du scénario donne vraiment envie d'aller au bout, et les esquisses également pour ce qui est du dessin définitif. J'aurais adoré que Bob de Moor finisse le travail..

[Amalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A "completed" version of Hergé 's final TinTin comic.

[Lanil Marasinghe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Rodier's edition. But I will consider this as a complete book and submit my review. This book was first published in 1986, 10 years after its predecessor, Tin Tin, and the Picaros. The '80s were a time of great change. The author clearly presents those differences in his drawings. Perhaps the author actually wrote this book as the last book. Because we see a lot of the characters we met in previous stories on the front pages. So I think he planned this for a great ending. The original author writes until the moment Tin Tin catches the enemy. That's where Rodier's version begins. After that, Tintin confronts him with his usual pursuits and shootings. Tintin wins, as usual, with the help of Captain's, Snowy's, and their fellow detectives. Eventually, it turns out that the enemy of this story is disguised Rastapopoulos, the arch-enemy of Tintin. Since readers were puzzled by what happened to him at the Red Sea Sharks, Rodier has linked it beautifully here. Along with him are some of Tin Tin's enemies in previous books. This book is too good to read as the last book in the series. Because on all the pages you will meet almost all the little characters, symbols, enemies, friends you met in the Tintin stories. . Eventually Tintin gets a date too. Read and see!

[Vivek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hooter: Tintin - the Unfinished Adventure

This is not the book you want to start your Tintin journey with. It's not even complete for starters. But as a Tintinologist, this is a must read as it's the first look at the process through which Herge used to go to make his Tintin drafts. Filled with incomplete sketches, raw squibbles and scribbles that litter the landscape give you a front seat view of the thought process Herge was probably going through. As a collector's edition, this would sit pretty on your coffee table but if you are in here to read a story, I'd recommend 23 other Tintin titles that are worth your attention. The estate has translated the works for English readers to understand the dialogues on the original drafts.

This is that Behind the scenes documentary that never got made.

For me, this title adds closure as a Tintinologist finally finishing the series that has kept me engaged with rapt attention from the first time a 6 year old picked up Red Rackham's treasure from a roadside stall in the bylanes of Vashi, Navi Mumbai.