Tintin in the Congo

Tintin in the Congo

Adventures of Tintin
by Herge
Publisher: Casterman Editions
2016 Printing, ©2005, ISBN: 9782203096509
Hardcover, 61 pages
Current Retail Price: $35.00
Not in stock

The books in this section are usually hardcover and in decent shape, though we'll sometimes offer hard-to-find books in lesser condition at a reduced price. Though we often put images of the book with their original dust jackets, the copies here won't always (or even often) have them.  If you need to see photos of the actual book or have questions about the condition, please call or email.

Hergé's second book, Tintin in the Congo, is not typically available in English in the United States, at least not in this color edition; and that's because it is really not up-to-par with his later adventures. The story, in which the boy reporter heads to the heart of Africa with his faithful companion, Snowy, has a rambling plot full of close calls and and antagonists with no clear reason to hate on Tintin. But beyond the goofy story, many modern readers will find this particular story irritating and extremely politically incorrect. Tintin's safari finds him shooting or abusing nearly any animal in sight and acting very superior to the natives in Africa, who are portrayed as apish & buffoonish.  

I'm an avid Tintin fan and understand that Herge was not by nature racist; his books were a product of their time. I'm generally averse to cancel culture, but I get why the publishers no longer make this one available. However, I do have a copy of this book and understand that other fans will also likely want to own this rare Tintin title. 

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  Tintin in the Congo
T of Portland, 4/7/2026
Yeah, this one is notorious for being pretty straight up racist with the big lips and all. Being Tintin fans, I still wanted to read it with my boy so we asked for it at the SF Public Library when we were there. It wasn't on the shelves and you couldn't find it in their online catalog. The librarians at the Main said that it was available but you had to sign off on receiving it, with plenty of racism, etc. warnings AND you couldn't check it out; you could only view it in a locked secure room, returning it directly to the desk when finished. Wow!
Anyway, we read it in that room and discussed the story - not the greatest if I remember; the apparent racism in it - there is most definitely a distinction made between peoples with one being lower/higher than the other; and the historical context of where, when and how this was made - Herge was Belgian and the Belgians were colonizers of the Congo and their rule there was particularly bad, as colonizer behavior goes. Really bad. Brutal.
I used the text for the above and to discuss racism in general. I believe in taking on controversial/uncomfortable topics head on, for the topics ARE there/here and I think it's best for me to intro and 'work' the issue with him, helping him to look at this issue and others with good thinking skills and charity for all. Better I do that than the world doing it for him!
I'd say go ahead and check this out but only as an object for study such as I used it above. Otherwise give it a pass. Respectfully