Day 5

The Blue Lotus

Picking up where he left off in the Egyptian adventure Cigars of the Pharaoh, Tintin travels to China in The Blue Lotus, a tale which is generally considered Hergé’s first masterpiece. It’s also Tintin’s only foray into actual history, specifically the Sino-Japanese conflicts of the early 1930′s. The political tensions combined with the chilling threats of drugs give the story an especially high and realistic sense of danger. Hergé’s interest in China was spurred by a friendship with a young Chinese student named Chang Chong-chen, a relationship that Tintin mirrors with a Chinese boy also named Chang Chong-chen. Hergé paints a vivid picture of China and takes the opportunity to denounce ethnic prejudices (though ironically his artistic depiction of the Japanese businessman Mitsuhirato is quite grotesque). Years later, Tintin’s relationship with Chang would become the basis of Tintin in Tibet. At our stores, we often point out that Hergé was especially harsh in his critique of the British colonial attitude toward China.

24 Days of Tintin Special Merchandise!

Day Five The Blue Lotus Special Package. Expires 8:00 am November 23. Includes a Blue Lotus Puzzle; a hardcover Blue Lotus book (the original unedited version in English – note the changes in the illustration style); and a Blue Lotus figurine. Regularly priced at $93.40, this package is available for $65.38 – 30% off – for a 24-hour period only. Purchase it now.

Product details:
Figurine: Tintin and Snowy find a unique hiding place. Approximately 2.56 in / 65 mm in height. Hardcover book: Picking up where he left off in the Egyptian adventure Cigars of the Pharaoh, Tintin travels to China in The Blue Lotus, a tale which is generally considered Hergé’s first masterpiece. It’s also Tintin’s only foray into actual history, specifically the Sino-Japanese conflicts of the early 1930s. In this facsimile edition, it appears as it was originally published. Puzzle: Blue Lotus puzzle. Great fun for the family or for the children on a rainy Saturday. 100 pieces and 26.77 x 30 in / 68 x 75 cm.

The Tintin map was especially created by Chris Tregenza who run’s a Tintin blog on the forthcoming Tintin movie. A full map showing all of Tintin’s 23 journeys is available for purchase from his site.

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE BLUE LOTUS

Brought to you by Tintinology & TintinBlog

Zhang Chongren, the real life inspiration behind Tintin’s friend Chang Chong-Chen, studied fine art in Belgium where he met Hergé. Returning to China he became a respected artist and lecturer but during the cultural revolution he was reduced to a street sweeper. After Mao’s death and the restrictions of the revolution were lifted, he became the head of the Fine Arts Academy in Shanghai. He died in 1998 aged 91. His daughter, known as Madame Chang, is an employee of Moulinsart and an important figure in Belgium. We were lucky to briefly host Madame Chang when she visited one of our stores (Northampton, MA) in 2008.

l-r: Sydne (co-owner), Madame Chang, Colette (manager), and Mary-Anne (one of our Tintin contacts).