"Tintin" Interviews Trivia Quiz

Answer: Laszlo Cariedes

Cariedes actually surprised everyone (including himself) by laughing several times before the flight (at Professor Calculus, not WITH him). What is even more surprising is his game of battleships with Captain Haddock. Cariedes wins every round, as if he could see his opponent's paper. Surely a coincidence there's a secret TV camera above the captain's table...?

Answer: Jolyon Wagg

Jolyon Wagg was one of those annoying people who think others want them to turn up unannounced, stay at their homes without permission, bore them with stories about their "funny" uncles, and generally bump into them via amateur radio, carnival buses and motor-car racing. Professor Calculus inadvertently got rid of Wagg's family when they'd moved into Marlinspike Hall during "The Calculus Affair".

The Professor had misheard something The Captain said and told Wagg he had chicken pox. The family hastily made their way to the front gate...

Answer: Frank Wolff

Wolff was a memorable character. He turned out to be the traitor in the "Moon" series who Tintin had been looking for. But Wolff redeemed himself by stopping Jorgen from shooting Tintin and co, and nobly sacrificed himself by leaving the rocket.

Answer: Bianca Castafiore

Like Jolyon Wagg, she was a character Tintin and co were too polite to tell to get lost! Her singing voice seemed to be appreciated only by Professor Calculus, who was all but deaf.

Answer: Al Capone

Tintin, at the end of "Tintin In America", was driven along in a ticker-tape parade after ending virtually all organised crime in Chicago. But the arrests did not seem to include Big Al - perhaps Herge wanted to leave him to The Untouchables?

Answer: Chang Chong Chen

They say Herge met a little Chinese boy by that name. He was so inspired by him he included Chang in his next book "The Blue Lotus". He also used that book to clear up a lot of European misunderstandings about Chinese e.g. they didn't really throw unwanted babies in the river or invent tortures all the time.

Answer: General Alcazar

Tintin first meets this flamboyant general when he travels to San Theodores in search of a stolen figurine in "The Broken Ear" (its ear is cracked, funnily enough). Tintin ends up working directly for Alcazar (playing chess!) when he is framed for treason. Tintin escapes and eventually gets home.

Some time later he and Captain Haddock meet Alcazar making a living in music halls after being ousted (yet again) by General Tapioca. Alcazar greets Tintin as an old friend. Herge seemed to forget they parted on bitter terms, and that Alcazar had sentenced Tintin to death!

Answer: Allan

Allan was a high seas villain used every so often in the series. When Tintin meets him for the second time, Allan wrongly thinks Tintin knows about the Crab-With-Golden-Claws opium operation. He holds him prisoner in the hold (strangely enough) and waits for orders. Tintin is able to escape (shortly before Allan's ordered to throw him overboard with a chain and weights!) and meets the ship's captain.

As soon as Tintin tells him there's opium in the hold, the whiskey-sodden captain is shocked. Tintin realises he knew nothing of the smuggling, and takes Captain Haddock along in his escape.

They remain firm friends from that day forth.

Answer: Abdullah

Like Chang, Abdullah was another real boy Herge met. But it is said this little boy is nowhere near as naughty, spoiled or rude as the one Tintin knew (at least I hope not!).

Answer: Maharajah of Gopal

When Herge was writing "Valley of the Cobras" he probably decided to use a character from the Tintin books he hadn't given a face to yet. That book features two French children called Jo and Zette and their monkey Jojo. The three heroes later appear in "Mr. Pump's Legacy" and "Destination New York."