The Adventures of Tintin: Volume 2

This repackaged hardcover volume contains 3 classic Tintin stories: Tintin and the Broken Ear, The Black Island, and King Ottokar's Sceptre.

About the Tintin Series:
The most revered graphic novel series in the homeschool community is the venerated Tintin series. Countless mothers have told us that their son's pivotal point in reading came when he was introduced to Tintin.

One of the Most Popular Graphic Novel Series of All Time
Originally a series of comic strips created by Belgian artist Hergé, The Adventures of Tintin first appeared in a children's supplement to a Belgian newspaper in 1929. The success of the series saw the strips collected into a succession of books, which are still hugely popular eighty years later. In fact, Tintin is one of the most popular graphic novel series of all time, with translations published in over 50 languages and more than 200 million copies of the books sold to date.

Wide Variety of Genres
The hero of the series is Tintin, a young Belgian investigative reporter who travels the world in search of the next notable event. One of the most astonishing features of the Tintin series is how it so effortlessly includes a wide variety of genres: brash adventures along with mysteries, political thrillers, and science fiction. Some Tintin stories feature slapstick humor, while others are invested with political and cultural satire, but each will draw your child like a magnet.

Story is More Than the Pictures
Unlike some graphic novels, where the text and the pictures are redundant, Tintin's plots are so engagingly complex that the text both amplifies and explains the neat, lively drawings, a balance that remains a benchmark for graphic novelists even today. This means your child will quickly discover that the story is much more than the pictures; even the most reluctant of readers may for the first time be willing to exert effort to decipher the written word. As a teaching parent you will appreciate the author's painstaking research, which adds to the credibility of each adventure, and your children will gain a glimpse into a world of which they are just beginning to become aware.

Please Note:
Tintin is printed by a secular company and may contain occasional scenes depicting false cultural assumptions of the time and excessive use of alcohol. The author does use these scenes to depict the foolishness of drunkenness.

The Broken Ear
When an item which originally belonged to a tribe of South American Indians is stolen from the museum in Brussels and then strangely replaced, Tintin suspects that something is still wrong. Using sharp deduction skills, Tintin discovers that the replaced item is a fake. Upon finding out that a wood carver has just been murdered, Tintin correctly connects the two events. Following the trail of the murderer, Tintin finds his life also in danger from two henchmen who are also following the trail, though using much harsher methods. When his good intentions to see evil men arrested are frustrated by a corrupt colonel, Tintin finds himself framed for terrorism and sentenced to death. A sudden turn of events leaves Tintin in a prominent place of power and favor, yet regrettably this position is not trouble free. After many hazards and deceptions from his nemeses, the truth is finally revealed about the location of the original stolen item, and Tintin finally manages to escape from all his enemies' attempts to obliterate him.

The Black Island
Originally published in 1937, The Black Island includes many aspects that mirror popular movies of the time, including Alfred Hitchcock's The Thirty-Nine Steps and King Kong. It also mentions the Loch Ness Monster, which had been the subject of recent newspaper articles. The plot is as follows: While trying to help an unregistered plane that was making an emergency landing, Tintin is shot. Upon his recovery he learns of another such plane that crashed in Sussex, England. Tintin launches an investigation that brings him into contact with a criminal gang who frames him, a band of money counterfeiters, and reports of an evil beast on the island to which he decides to travel. Find out what happens to Tintin in this exciting episode!

King Ottokar's Sceptre
In the eighth book of The Adventures of Tintin, the discovery is made by Tintin that he and a friend are under surveillance; Tintin then has his flat bombed in an attempt on his life. Attempting to decipher the cause, and believing he knows a connection, Tintin and his friend leave for Syldavia to conduct research. While en route, Tintin begins to suspect treachery afoot, although he is unable to figure it out before he finds himself suddenly released from the plane through a trap door. Tintin believes that a burglary is planned, the success of which endangers the very life of the Syldavian king. Although able to warn the king, Tintin is not fast enough to prevent the robbery from occurring. However, he discovers a clue that ultimately leads him to the thieves, then uncovers evidence of a plot to overthrow Syldavia. With the help of Snowy, Tintin is able to deliver pertinent information to the king just in time to save the kingdom. Then, Tintin and Snowy return safely home by a flying boat.