Tintin and the Lake of Sharks

Tintin and the Lake of Sharks

A TINTIN FILM BOOK
By Greg, translated by Leslie Lonsdale-Cooper & Michael Turner (Egmont)
ISBN13: 978-1-4052-0634-1

Although this tale is not strictly canonical, fans of Hergé’s intrepid boy reporter and his picturesque associates can always console themselves with this high-quality graphic adaptation of the animated feature-film Tintin et la Lac aux Requins which was originally released in 1972. Although not directly created by Hergé – who did have a supervisory role – the film was a classy piece of adventure fiction directed by publisher Raymond LeBlanc and written by Michel Regnier, who as ‘Greg’ is probably best known for his comedic anti-hero Achille Talon (translated into English both in animated cartoons and comic albums as Walter Melon).

Although lacking the satirical edge of Hergé’s comedy, action and slapstick are still well represented in this tale which turns animation stills into sequential narrative, with admittedly mixed results. Purists who love the artist’s landmark and legendary Ligne Claire style will be deterred that is laid over and across fully-rendered, moulded and painted backgrounds, but although it is initially jarring, the story does swiftly carry the reader beyond such quibbles.

Ligne Claire or the Democracy of Lines as it is sometimes called (in case you were wondering), is the term given to the dramatically simplified drawing style developed by Hergé which has influenced so very many creators. With it clear, clean lines of equal strength, thickness and importance are use to impart an almost diagrammatic value to subjects. This is in contrast to styles which might emphasise foreground or background with varying line-weights. Line-shading, hatching, feathering and the use of shadows are also ignored or down-played. It is the perfect base for bold simple colour and imparts an impressive solidity and immediacy to pictures. When combined with a stripped-down but accurate character or object design, the effect of hyper or even meta-reality is astoundingly convincing. The term was first used by creator, fan and devotee Joost Swarte in the late 1970s.

In The Lake of Sharks a series of art and gem robberies coincide with a trip by Tintin, Captain Haddock and the detectives Thompson and Thomson to visit Professor Calculus. He is sequestered at a villa on the shores of Lake Pollishoff, a huge body of water in the mountains of Syldavia, artificially created by building a dam and flooding a village. The locals believe the area is haunted. And no sooner do they arrive than attempts to kill them begin!

Calculus is in seclusion to perfect his latest invention – a 3-D duplicating machine – but a series of strange events leads Tintin to believe that sinister forces have targeted the eccentric genius once again. Spies, intruders and weird occurrences seem to be a daily threat at the Villa Sprog! Our heroes are not easily cowed, however, and with the help of two peasant children, Niko and Nushka (and their dog Gustav) a dastardly plot by their greatest enemy is revealed. This mastermind now calls himself King Shark…

This magical, fast-paced romp does the canonical adventures proud and can hold its head high even amidst the incredible legacy of one of the true Masters of the Comic Strip. And besides, your collection is incomplete without it…

Artwork © 1955 Editions Casterman, Paris& Tournai. © renewed 1983 Egmont UK Limited. Text © 1971 Egmont UK Limited. All Rights Reserved.