I have to confess that Tin Tin was not on a par with The Beano in my little world, although I did quite like the clean drawings (apparently a ligne claire style). I thought Tin Tin might have been a bit too clean cut for me; I was more a Dennis the Menace (still am – some of my Partners might say!)

The new Spielberg film has obviously dragged up some old TV – and an excellent new series with Frank Gardner – who tells of his inspiration to become a Journalist from the Herge drawn character.

I guess the part I missed was the Political astuteness with which the stories were drawn. This was bitingly sharp social commentary – often satirical and slightly subversive. This is now starting to appeal much more…

But I am late to this party – books in 80 languages around the world and 350 million copies sold. Georges Rémi – the real Herges died in 1983, but his legacy lives on.

The images remain strangely timeless – the quiff made a comeback in the 1980′s. Some of the clothes are a little Boy Scout-ish but as a picture of how the world was seen in the 1930′s it is insightful. As such I think they are important historically.

So, I think I’m off to see the film first and then I might go in search of some of the books…

Waterstone’s last weekend issued some specific instructions to staff about one particular book – Tin Tin in the Congo – which must not be sold into the “wrong hands”. This is one I give a miss to as it seems to be the only one which could cause offence – some of the storyline for our uber-politically world might be pushing the boundaries too far? The rest are apparently well balanced seeking out the injustices of the world nearly a Century ago?

I must have been influenced somehow, because my first Goldfish (when I was 6?) was called “Snowy“…