Adventures of Tintin The Blue Lotus HC (2006) comic books 2005-2007

Tintin in the Orient: Book 2 - 1st printing. Story and art by Herge. Picking up where he left off in the Egyptian adventure "Cigars of the Pharaoh," Tintin travels to China in "The Blue Lotus," a tale which is generally considered Herge's first masterpiece. It's also Tintin's only foray into actual history, specifically the Sino-Japanese conflicts of the early 1930s. The political tensions combined with the chilling threats of drugs give the story an especially high and realistic sense of danger. Herge paints a vivid picture of China and takes the opportunity to denounce ethnic prejudices (though ironically his artistic depiction of the Japanese businessman Mitsuhirato is quite grotesque). Hardcover, 9 1/2-in. x 12-in., 128 pages, full color. Cover price $24.95.