গোখরো উপত্যকা

The Adventures of Jo, Zette and Jocko #5

by Hergé

The Maharajah of Gopal is a bad-tempered sort of person, whose behaviour ranges from the childish to the eccentric, and his long-suffering secretary Badalah is usually on the receiving end. Nevertheless, Jo and Zette's father agrees to build him a bridge in his kingdom. The problem is there is a group of scoundrels led by Prime Minister Ramahjuni and the evil fakir Rabindah who aren't too keen on the idea.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Bande Dessinée, Fiction, Childrens, Graphic Novels Comics, Adventure

52 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1957

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

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

These charming comic books are the adventures of Jo Legrand, an adventurous boy, Zette his little sister and their pet monkey Jocko.

Jo and Zette, while on holiday at the French ski resort of Vargese overtake the Maharajah of Gopal while skiing and later accidentally hit him with a snowball.
This incurs the spoiled and ill tempered Maharajah's wrath.
Later this leads the children's father Mr Legrand and his family to go to the Himalayan kingdom of Gopal to build a bridge for the Maharajah.
The Maharajah's wicked Prime Minister Ramayuni aims to depose the Maharajah and take over the country, and the Fakir Ramayuni plots with the Prime Minister to sabotage the plans to build the bridge.
The valley itself is filled with deadly cobras and several attempts on the lives of the Jo and Zette and their father are foiled by Jocko.
At one stage a cobra bites one of Ramayuni's henchman just in time to prevent him shooting Jo.
The bridge gets built and the baddies defeated.

[Farhan · Rating 1 out of 5]

একেবারে যা-তা। এই অ্যার্জে ব্যাটা চূড়ান্ত মাত্রায় ঔপনিবেশিক মানসিকতার ছিল, কোন সন্দেহ নেই। সাম্রাজ্যবাদী দেশগুলির বাইরে যে কোন দেশ বা জাতির চরিত্র চিত্রায়ণ ব্যাপক স্টিরিওটিপিক্যাল, এবং রীতিমত অপমানজনক। আর ইংরেজ ফরাসি হইলো সভ্যতার কারিগর। যত্তসব।

[Andro · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eh ben comme lecture nostalgie pour se remonter le moral c'est réussi tiens. Autant dans les Tintin y'a une vraie intrigue et des vrais bons persos pour donner un intérêt malgré tous les trucs malaisants... Mais là que dalle, les héros sont chiants, l'intrigue n'en est même pas une, c'est tout juste un prétexte à mettre en scène une famille de blancs absolument parfaite qui va venir apprendre la vie à tout un pays hindou où tout le monde est soit débile soit corrompu (voire les deux en même temps), et où il n'y a littéralement aucun autre enjeu narratif ou émotionnel que ça. C'est juste un énorme fantasme raciste et colonialiste, sans aucune autre forme d'accroche ou de connexion possible à l'histoire pour le lecteur. Même les dessins sont moches, surtout comparé à ce dont était capable Hergé dans ses autres séries. Bref, il va retourner dans les limbes, celui-là.

[Derelict Space Sheep · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this final book of the series, Hergé at last strikes the right balance, giving free reign to slapstick antics while more or less side-lining Jo and Zette (though still depicting them as adventurous mini Tintins; Jocko serves as a surrogate Snowy).

[itchy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a rascal.

Well, this is it for me with Hergé. Cheers!

[Smitchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jo and Zette are French twins, who along with their pet monkey Jocko (who is possibly the most intelligent one in the bunch) have all sorts of daring adventures.
The Maharajah of Gopal (a fictional Himalayan country) is having a holiday at an exclusive French ski resort. He is a pompous, bumbling, spoiled brat of a ruler and when a snowball goes astray the Maharajah's need for revenge leads him to chase the children home. The children's father quickly puts the Maharajah in his place which surprisingly leads to the Maharajah offering Monsieur
Legrand a contract to design and build a suspension bridge over a deep valley in Gopal. The family head off to join dad for the months it will take to construct the bridge.

The bridge is not welcomed by all however, the Prime Minister has a vested interest in keeping the river crossing as it is as he has a deal with the Fakir (holy man) who currently controls the crossing. While corruption and money are universal the portrayal of the Fakir is very cliched. The bad guys are comically inept - well it is a comic book where kids and monkey are the heroes so they kind of had to be. Quite frankly, reading it is an adult I don't really blame the PM for wanting to overthrow his incompetent, spoiled, self-centred ruler. If he wasn't so stupidly and corruptly keeping his country back from progress I'd be totally on the PM's side!

There is lots of action, thrilling moments, and slapstick comedy. I feel like this is aimed at a slightly younger audience than the Tintin books although I don't really have a good reason for that feeling - possibly just because of the age of the main characters?

This is still a fun read - but maybe balance it out with a book featuring smart, intelligent, non-corrupt characters of Indian/ Pakistani/ Napali decent. Or talk to your kids about why the characters in this book are portrayed like this in this story.

[The_Mad_Swede · Rating 3 out of 5]

Efter att ha läst och uppskattat de första två äventyren om Johan, Lotta och Jocko av Tintins skapare, Hergé, i albumen Den mystiska strålen Del 1: "S/S Manitoba" svarar inte och Den mystiska strålen. Del 2, Karamakos utbrott , samt Stratosfärplanet H. 22. Del 1, Direktör Pumps testamente och Stratosfärplanet H. 22. Del 2, Destination New York , kändes det närmast självklart att ta sig an detta sista och något kortare album.

Och faktum är att Kobrornas dal, där Hergé lämnar science fiction-genren närmast fullständigt och istället ger sig hän åt en äventyrsserie av det äldre slaget, nog är både mitt favoritalbum och -äventyr i serien. Från albumets mer komiska första hälft, där barnen och deras apa stöter på maharadjan av Gopal när båda parterna är på semester i de franska alperna och en mindre fejd av humoristisk art utvecklar sig, till albumets andra hälft som centreras kring fadern Jacques Legrands uppdrag att bygga en hängbro i Gopal, med det motstånd som erbjuds projektet. Som Björn Wahlberg är snabb med att påpeka i sitt (som vanligt) mycket intressant förord får pappa Legrand här en mycket större roll än i tidigare äventyr och jag vågar påstå att Hergé utnyttjar honom väldigt väl.

Att äventyret är kortare och mer koncist, då hela händelseförloppet återges i ett enda album, kan möjligen vara en styrka, och även om serien fortfarande får dras med att vara lite Tintin light, så är nog ändå just det här albumet lite mindre light än de tidigare.

[Ali Ulker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like, it's fine. It's a colourful, vibrant, action-packed adventure for sure. I'd even go so far as to say that it's some of Herge's best art from a skill perspective. A bunch of stuff happens and although some of it is unlikely and conventient I would not say anything in it is completely unbelievable.

That said, it's overall quite forgettable and almost boring. These new child characters, Jo and Zette, have no personality to speak of. They're largely interchangable and don't actually DO very much. The heavy lifting is left to their father Monsieur Legrand "Papa" in nearly every situation, a man with very little personality. Mama is there just to worry and, well, exist. The only people with actual personality are the secondary characters, many of whom are delightful, if rather narrow in their scope.

Oh and the children have a pet monkey (looks more like a chimpanzie to me) named Jocko who flushes out bad guys to advance the plot. Jocko can't speak and "talks" the way Snowy does in Tintin, to himself but really to the reader. This book is some of Herge's worst writing and he often relies on Jocko or Papa to just solve theh rough situation he creates for his characters. Not a terrible book but largely forgettable.

[StrictlySequential · Rating 3 out of 5]

FormNorm = D.L. 2e tri 1957 = A.I. janvier 1982 = 6 rear q&f tomes

With Tintin, it took me a bunch of tomes to accept that a boy could reside so comfortably, have limitless freedom and be entirely adult in crisis while somehow being a "reporter" that was never seen writing or submitting ANYTHING. Without super powers, he was still just like reading some young superhero- but with ZERO backstory to explain any of it! Hergé did it incredibly, especially without the worst U.S. capes&tights extremities, but there was always the intrinsic emptiness of a character without a past.

The editors that forced the parents to be a part of this series were wise in my eyes. I don't know if they pushed a girl and a monkey in, but all three differences add tremendous believability and more plot depth rather that a retired sailor, scientist, etc.. The family angle explains itself and Jocko's opposable thumbs allow all sorts of action possibilities.

I enjoyed this but it didn't have his best ideas that he clearly saved for his main focus.

[Truly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kannn, belum lapor di sini
Perkenalan saya dengan Yo dan Susi Legrand serta Yokko adalah melalui kisah Surat Wasiat Tuan Pompa, yang berlanjut ke Menuju New York. kakak- beradik dan seekor hewan peliharaan tak sengaja mengalami petualangan seru. Saat itu, saya membaca karena tergoda dengan iming-iming bahwa kisah ini menyerupai kisah Tintin. Tidak 100% sebenarnya, namun seru saja membacanya.

Pengetahuan saya tentang Library of Congress Catalogue pertama kali adalah melalui buku ini.
Disebutkan bahwa buku ini memiliki nomor panggil Afo 7448.
.

[PRJ Greenwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining and occasionally funny, but if you've read the Tintin stories, this series will be a let-down. None of the characters have any kind of...character, and it probably speaks volumes that the most humorous thing here is Jocko, Hergé's attempt at Curious George.

In this postcolonial age, there's a few elements in this story that may be distasteful to some readers.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one well enough. not as good as the previous two but still a fun read. I didn’t have any difficulty with the text. I think my reading level in french has finally caught up to these BDs. a good series if you are just starting to read in french. the stories are good and the vocabulary and grammar is not too difficult. They are a little dated, but overall good.

[Hanussen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poslední díl je op��t povedený. Nejvíc pobavil náladový maharádža. Škoda jen, že se Hergé k sérii už nevrátil, kdyby se na ní vypsal stejně jako na Tintinovi, mohli jsme se asi dostat k dobrým kouskům, našlápnuto tu bylo velmi dobře.

[Abhishek Jamalabad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the best humour and art you will see in any of Herge's productions. Not the most gripping story, but then again, Herge wasn't half as interested in this project as he was in Tintin, and it's for a much younger, more conservative audience.

[Matti Karjalainen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Veikko, Tette ja Jykke joutuvat seikkailuun Himalajan rinteillä, kun heidän insinööri-isänsä yrittää rakentaa siltaa Gopalin maharadjalle. Sarjakuva on ihan hienosti piirretty, mutta tarina ei yllä missään vaiheessa esimerkiksi Tinttien tasolle.

[Ainul Chowdhury · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best book of this series, i really loved this one. The character “maharaja” was really funny. The setting of the story was also exciting. Here, jo’s father seemed the main character, wish herge continued this series later

[Mr Michael R Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read these when I was young and bought them again and read them to my children

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat entertaining. Reasonably comical. Not a patch on Tintin though. Jo and Zette have no character at all. Jocko is just a monkey version of Snowy.

[Ahmed Atif Abrar · Rating 5 out of 5]

এ বই ছিল আমার পড়া জো-জেট-জোকোর শেষ বই। ভাবছি, অ্যার্জের আর কোনো কমিক নাই?

[Polo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read.

[Timo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Välillä joku kirjoittaa hahmon, joka on niin ärsyttävä, että vie mielenkiinnon lukea. Tässä tapauksessa Hergé oli onnistunut Maharadjasta tekemään sellaisen.

[Clare Snow]

Missing p.3-18 so I missed the snowball fight and the sling-shot makes no sense. But their adventure hadn't started so it's all good.

[Micah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced and witty, I would recommend this book for children maybe 8+.

[Gerard · Rating 3 out of 5]

De sprongen in de tijd zijn nogal fors in het verhaal, en niet altijd even duidelijk.

[Maximus · Rating 2 out of 5]

No stereotype left behind.

[Anna Wallman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jag har ju mest läst Tintin och det här var väldigt likt. Roligt, om än inte sannolikt.

[Del]

I believe The Valley of the Cobras was started in 1939 but abandoned - maybe during those early war years Hergé could only focus on Tintin.

It was revived in 1957 after the publication of the colour versions of the two original Jo Zette and Jocko adventures. This was during a time when Hergé was facing renewed competition from American comics so perhaps it was a tactical move rather than an artistic one.

That said, Cobras is no lazy cash-in, the plot is fairly solid, the artwork is as good as any Tintin book and it contains many memorable sequences, the best of which feature The Maharajah of Gopal who is a comic creation that rivals any of Tintin's acquaintances.

[Edoardo Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read all - well, nearly all, I don't think I tracked down Tintin in the Land of the Soviets - Tintin books when I was young, but I'd never read one of Herge's other books before, so this was a delight. It has all the Herge virtues of humour, characterisation and keen observation, but something I saw as an adult, which I would have missed as a child, was its comfortable position of European, notably Enlightenment, cultural superiority over Asian, specifically Indian, cultures. Actually, despite being half Asian, I didn't mind this a bit; it came as a bracing blast of self confidence, although of course the current apparent Western cultural cringe is just as mired in self superiority, it just doesn't realise it; now, all the world's problems are the result of Western actions (an attitude memorably exemplified in a Guardian article on Jamaican attitudes titled 'Their Homophobia is Our Fault' - can't non-Westerners do anything on their own, even be prejudiced?). So, thoroughly enjoyable.

[Dion Yulianto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Banyak bagian komik ini yang mengingatkan saya pada Tintin (Lah, penulisnya memang sama sih), terutama pada betapa banyaknya keberuntungan yang menyertai tokoh-tokoh utamanya. Sebagaimana Tintin, dua anak yang jadi tokoh utama di buku ini sepertinya mudah saja mengalahkan konspirasi licik yang disusun seorang Perdana Mentri di sebuah kerajaan kecil di Himalaya. Semua tidak lepas dari beragam faktor keberuntungan yang selalu menyertai mereka yang baik. Pada akhirnya, kebaikan selalu menang dan kejahatan akan tumpas. Dari segi cerita, kisah ini ya begitulah pokoknya kayak baca seri Tintin. Tapi, satu hal yang saya sukai dari komikus ini adalah kepiawaiannya merancang cerita dengan tema lintas negara, teknik menggambarnya yang terkesan ceria dan terang, serta detail informasinya yang pelik terkait setting negara-negara di dunia. Perjalanannya itu sendiri yang menarik, sementara ceritanya mungkin biasa saja.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jo, Zette and Jocko were playfully skiing when they saw Maharajah Gopal. But some silly misunderstanding made the Maharajah feel insulted. Thanks to the superiority understanding of white Europeans, the king from a little country in South Asia could be calmed down. In fact, he offered Monsieur Legrand, Jo and Zette's father, a construction job to build a bridge over Cobra Valley in his country. Not bad, eh?

This last adventure of Jo, Zette and Jocko feels as much like some of Tintin's adventures. But it entertained me, nonetheless.