His eternal youth gives no hint of it, but in January 2029, Tintin will turn 100. Hergé left behind a body of work whose impact remains remarkably alive today in comic book culture and the collective imagination. Embodying the mystique of adventure, Tintin has become a major figure in contemporary mythology.
Gradually, from his very inception—through both borrowings from and contributions to other cartoonists—his influence on the evolution and renewal of the comic book genre illustrates the narrative and aesthetic strength of Hergé’s project. Its interpretation is gaining ever greater prominence in the field of the humanities. Amid a constant stream of new editions, reprints, and translations, the cultural and media reception of The Adventures of Tintin extends far beyond the scholarly circles of Tintinology. Scholars continue to explore its philosophical, political, social, and aesthetic meanings through publications and conferences that demonstrate the resounding success of the critical engagement with Hergé.
