As the world prepares for the release of Steven Spielberg's latest film, The Adventures of Tintin, Americans in particular may want to take a trip to discover the origins of the Tintin character. While this is Tintin's big coming out party in the United States, the character has been popular and influential in Europe for decades. Either before or after seeing the film, parents and children alike will have a fantastic time following in Tintin's footsteps around his homeland of Brussels, Belgium.
For the uninitiated, Tintin the character is somewhat of a Belgian Clark Kent or Peter Parker, in that he is a newspaper reporter Everyman figure, with a bit of Lassie thrown in as his fox terrier, Snowy, assists him in his investigative adventures. Unlike Lassie, Snowy has a fondness for whisky that occasionally throws him off course, but in a country famous for its beer, what do you expect? The stories combine mystery, suspense, action, and a strong moral tone, all with dashes of quirky, clever humor.
The Tintin comic books were the work of Belgian artist Georges Remi, under the pen name Herge. As the books have been translated into more than 99 languages, with over 350 million copies sold, even if you don't consciously know it, it is likely that Tintin has flitted across your radar at some point. Even a pop band was inspired by the comics -- the '80s group The Thompson Twins were named after characters in the books.
The tourist information center in Brussels, right off the magnificent Grand Place, can provide you with a map of the outdoor comic art sprinkled throughout the city, including works obviously inspired by Tintin and his friends. Any visit to Tintin's home must include a stop at the Belgian Comic Strip Center, a massive museum devoted solely to comics, with a large Tintin display.
From Atlanta, Delta Airlines flies nonstop daily to Brussels for approximately $900 round trip. Brussels is also one of Atlanta's sister cities, so you've practically got a familial obligation to go! The Tintin movie opens in the United States on December 21, see www.fandango.com for local showtimes.
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