Slapstick Moon

The brave, young, blonde and somewhat priggish reporter Tintin, created by Franco-Belgian writer Hergé, had been involved in adventures in Russia, Africa, Arabia, Peru, India, China, Scotland, the Arctic Sea and even a string of fictitious nations such as “Syldavia” and “San Theodoros”, when Hergé finally decided to “drop the big one” and send him to… the Moon.

“Destination Moon” is the first part of the story, followed and concluded by “Explorers on the Moon”.

The previously semi-feudal fantasy nation of Syldavia is suddenly transformed into a virtual industrial superpower after uranium is discovered in its hills, prompting its government to set up a top secret scientific facility. Tintin's friend Cuthbert Calculus (who is somewhat less distracted and less deaf than usual) is recruited to work on two moon rockets, and naturally “invites” Tintin and crazy old Captain Haddock to accompany him all the way to Earth's lonely satellite. Meanwhile, an anonymous group of adversaries conspire to hijack the rockets, by any means necessary…

In my opinion, “Destination Moon” is worse than the second part. There's just too much slapstick, Haddockisms and general filler. The real action doesn't start until “Explorers on the Moon”.