Destination Moon

Destination Moon
Tintin © Hergé/Moulinsart.

Original French title

Objectif Lune

Publication history

First published in Tintin magazine--under the name "On a marché sur la lune" for the two Moon adventures.

The first part, Destination Moon, began in Tintin magazine on March 30, 1950 and continued until September 7, 1950. Publication was interrupted due to Hergé's personal problems. The story resumed on April 4, 1952, and ended on October 22, 1952.

English edition

1959 - first edition published by Methuen, London.

1974 - Methuen (London). ISBN: 0416800300.

1990 - Mammoth (London). Translated by Leslie Lonsdale-Cooper and Michael Turner. 64p. Paperback. ISBN: 0749704675.

Related link

First publication dates of The Adventures of Tintin

Plot

Tintin, Snowy and Captain Haddock are suddenly called by Professor Calculus to the Sprodj Atomic Research Centre in Syldavia. They are amazed to find the Professor planning a space rocket; and Tintin and his friends are unaware of the dangers that await them. Despite the mishaps, the adventure sets off on the most hazardous journey ever undertaken by man. [AR]

Trivia

  1. Cameo: page 40, E.P. Jacobs appears as a fat technician.
  2. In the French edition, on page 24, frame 7 (B3), there is confusion between Dupond and Dupont (Thomson and Thompson): Dupond says "... ce pauvre Dupond...." [EC] Note: The English edition is correct, Thompson says: "Poor old Thomson, he's off his rocker! ..."
  3. On page 12, frame 7 (C1), Wolff says: "laboratoire central qui fabrique de l'uranium", but on page 40, frame 10 (D1), Calculus says: "Et l'uranium qu'on fabrique!!" [EC]
  4. On page 43, final frame, we learn that the rocket will take off on 3 June. On page 50, frame 9 (C3), we see a May calendar showing "Saturday 15 May", which means June 3 will fall on a Thursday. But if we go by page 54, frame 4 (B1), the day preceding the launch is a Monday, then how can the launch be on Thursday? [EC]
    Possible explanation: The "May Calendar" is probably a bad guess by the English translators. The French original shows only "MA" for the month, which means either March or May. March is consistent with launch the day after Monday (year 1952). [PJ]
  5. On page 55, last frame (D3) Haddock is on the left, and Tintin on the right; but on page 56, frame 2 (A2), the two have changed places. [EC]

Tintin in other languages

  1. Basque - Ilargira bidean
  2. Bengali - Chandraloke Abhijan
  3. Breton - War-zu al loar
  4. Catalan - Objectiu: la Lluna
  5. Chinese - 奔向月球 (Ben xiang yueqiu)
  6. Danish - Månen tur-retur 1. del
  7. Dutch - Raket naar de maan
  8. Farsi/Persian - Hadaf kurihyi mah
  9. Finnish - Päämääränä kuu
  10. German - Reiseziel Mond
  11. Greek - Apostoli sti Selini
  12. Hebrew - haTisa laYarea'ch
  13. Icelandic - Eldflaugastöðin
  14. Indonesian - Ekspedisi Ke Bulan [Indira edition] / Perjalanan Ke Bulan [Gramedia edition]
  15. Italian - Obiettivo luna
  16. Japanese - めざすは月 Mezasu wa tsuki
  17. Malay - Destinasi Bulan
  18. Norwegian - Månen turretur del 1
  19. Portuguese - Rumo à lua
  20. Russian - Polet na lunu
  21. Spanish - Objetivo: la Luna
  22. Swedish - Månen tur och retur del 1
  23. Turkish - Hedef ay
  24. Vietnamese - Dén mât trâng
  25. Welsh - Llwybr i'r Lleuad

< Official Tintin Books | Explorers on the Moon >

Originally created by Jesper Jühne. Revised and maintained by Irene Mar
Contributors and sources: Etienne Chevalier, Chikahiro Masami, Aaron Remick, Kirill Polsatchev, Per Johansson, Gwenan, Jari, Syaiful Bahri, BP = Tintin and the world of Hergé by Benoît Peeters. London: Methuen, 1989.

Last modified: 29 December 2012.
Latest changes: added titles in Indonesian. Thanks to Syaiful Bahri for the information.