Tintin Forums

Anyone noticed how sometimes characters break the fourth wall?
The most absurd of this is when at the end of Secret of the Unicorn when Tintin not only talks directly to the audience, but even announces his up-coming book (I assume in this moment, he's no longer a character, but now a narrator).
In King Ottokar's Sceptre at the end, Tintin gives us a wink (although some claim it's not to anyone particular.)
I known Snowy has done it several times, and I'm sure I've missed a few others.

Kickers Tintin showing us readers to be quiet on the cover of The Castafiore Emerald is another example

Cigars has that sheik who owns a copy of Destination Moon (or some other adventure, depending on how old your copy is)

In "Prisoners of the Sun" we see Haddock trying to jump over a long table to show his fitness. However, he hits the end of the table, the table tips over and all the fruit on the table is raining down on him. He turns to the viewer asking "Do you find this funny?" (I don't know the exact quote in the English version.)
Of course one could argue that the question is directed at Tintin who is watching the scene. But I don't consider this very likely, because first Haddock is looking directly at the reader, and second he would not accuse Tintin of laughing at other people's misfortune because he knows Tintin would never do that.

Actually, it does happen: When "7 Crystal Balls" was originally published in the newspapers, there is a scene where Tintin and Haddock are looking for Calculus and Haddock gets his leg caught in a wolf trap. As he helps Haddock out of the trap, Tintin can't help but smile at the situation and Haddock's grumblings about how he had to be caught in the trap and not the intruder from the previous night.

This scene was not included in the book edition but can be found in special editions of the newspaper strips.

A-ha! I knew that you would come round to my way of thinking eventually...! ;-)