The Black Island (The Adventures of Tintin)

I remember these books in French when I was a child. Because they are drawn in a cinematic flow with a minimum of detail, but a maximum expression Anybody can follow the story and understand what's going on. In addition the dialog that is included is explained by the picture. they come in just about every language and are truly good stuff.When kids come over to visit us, they make a beeline for the Tintin books and we hardly hear a word from them as they plow through the colorful panels.I highly recommend them.

I prefer books like this that are not full of blood, guts, tortured darkness, sex, etc. I mean I look forward to handing down my comics/sharing my comics with my son. I don't buy books that lean on those cheap tricks to tell their story. A good writer can build suspense and action and adventure without devoting 10 panels straight of fighting. I was desensitized to that stuff I saw so much of it in movies and books for awhile, and I am happier having trimmed it out of my life to a great extent. Now I seek items like this book that can tell a great story without grossing me out.Having said that this book is good clean adventure. It goes to a great locale in Scotalnd, and the artist does a fine job of giving you some flavor of the region. He does great with the accents too. Now Tintin gets shot, but it is a minor scene without blood, like the old west shows. This is a most enjoyable adventure.Now at times the dialog goes from full and interesting to too simple (jarringly so) as if the writer had worked on it on different timeperiods, and sometimes does not seem fluid. But that makes me wonder how much is just lost in the translation from the original French language. TinTin races or maybe rushes from one mini-adventure into the next at a breathtaking pace that does not always allow for the characters motivations to be explained and so some stereotyping does occur. The thought ballons of the dog are not neccesary and cheapen the story, to my view.Even with these minor complaints this is a fun book. Reading it maeks you feel as if you have stumbled onto secret treasure since these books are notnpart of the American mainstream. The art is great, and the locales, even the costumes are obviously researched with a very period sense. The castle is very well drawn and the draftsmanship of buildings, vehicles, and landscapes are superb. This softcover edition has great paper, strong cover material, good binding, and very nice color job in inking.While I think that the story development/plotlines and dialog work of comic book artist/writer Carl Barks is superior, I really enjoyed this book.I understand that of the 20 plus Tintin books, there are some real jewels. This book was enough to hook my interest.I look forward to reading the rest.

I gave it to my great nephew for his birthday, he loves it, now I know I can give him the rest of the series.

Trying to rebuy all the Tintin books in English for my sons. Almost have all of them! Perfect condition !

Bought to read with my six year old. I was a little taken aback by some of the content on first glance - both the bad guys and Tintin himself wield guns and shoot each other - which was a bit much for my delicate English sensibilities. People end up hospitalized, but nobody actually dies. Tintin is quite physically reckless - jumping from high walls onto moving cars, etc, which you wouldn't want to inspire young kids to try and emulate. His dog accidentally drinks some whiskey, gets drunk, and thereafter has a predilection for tracking down more.But on reflection I think it's good to expose the kids to things a bit outside their usual boundaries, and have an excuse to chat about those elements. I don't believe in sanitizing everything. That's probably why kids love it. I've already bought another in the series because we enjoyed this a good deal.

Belgian artist Herge wrote "The Black Island", featuring his cartoon hero Tintin, a young journalist and adventurer, in the 1930's, then refurbished the artwork in the 1950's. The result is a classic mystery of the pre-Captain Haddock days that will be appreciated by Tintin fans.The story opens, shockingly, with Tintin's near fatal encounter with two men and an unregistered plane on a country field. As the two bumbling detectives Thomson and Thompson explain to the recovering Tintin, the whole thing is pretty fishy. Tintin and his faithful dog Snowy take up the case, identifying a gang of forgers and tracking them across the English Channel, through the English countryside, and ultimately to their lair on a remote island in Scotland. The sequence in Scotland features lots of Scottish dialect by men in kilts, and includes an unexpected encounter in a half-ruined castle with a real monster."The Black Island" introduces Dr. Muller, a nasty Germanic villain who will make a return appearance in a later adventure. The story itself sets the pattern of the Tintin adventures, as Tintin's amateur sleuthing draws him into one exotic sequence of danger after another, broken up by the periodic touch of humor. "The Black Island" is very highly recommended to Tintin fans of all ages.