The Secret of the Unicorn

Totally Tintin

This week on Totally Tintin, Ian and David take a look at The Secret of the Unicorn, in which Hergé finally breaks off all contact with reality and seeks a place for Captain Haddock in Tintin’s world.

5 thoughts on “The Secret of the Unicorn”

  1. I liked this one, exciting stuff, although I remember reading it as a kid missing all the exotic travel (I suppose you do get that in Captain Haddock’s story)and even then I thought when characters were killed in the pirate fight how their expressions went all “goofy” was kinda creepy. Hard to imagine there was a war on.

    The question of the union Jack is interesting. It was invented in 1603 with the union of
    England and Scotland (without the diagonal red cross which was added in 1801 to represent Ireland. Wales was not referenced) to be only used at sea. In 1634 was restricted to Royal ships. In 1707 the use of the Union Jack spread to the land forces, eventually becoming the national flag. Later the Royal Ensign was used on Royal
    Navy ships, being a red cross on a white background with a small union jack in the top left corner.
    I’m glad you cleared up the matter of the “no quarter” flag.
    A halberd is not a lance! Arrrrghhh!
    A lance is a spear used in close combat if you are riding a horse!
    A halberd is typically a foot soldiers (or a knight fighting on foot) weapon, one of a class referred too as polearms. It has a long shaft, an axe head, a spearhead and typically on the other side of the axe head a hook or a hammer to either pull a man off his horse with the hook or dbreak his armour with the hammer. It is thus a powerful and versatile weapon for those properly trained in it’s use.

    I think if you wanted to spy on people in Belgium all you would need to do is recruit the landladies. I heard in China they recruit gossipy old ladies to watch peoples movements in their neighbourhoods.

  2. Herge certainly seems to have a love populating his comics with eccentrics. Mad scientists, kleptomaniacs, prophets, rabid collectors… anyone who are addicted and helpless in dealing with their obsessions. He treats them with sympathy and affection. You could perhaps count Captain Haddock’s drunken urges as well in this category?

  3. Thanks Colin, David we need to start sending Colin the show for free!

    What?

    Well what are we charging other people?

    How are we supposed to make money on this thing?

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