Comments on: Blistering barnacles!

Blistering barnacles!

Artw — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:44:12 -0800

But is it art? Apparently so - A page of original Tintin artwork by Belgian artist Hergé becomes part of the Pompidou Centre's permanent collection of Modern Art, the first comics artwork to do so despite Frances vibrant comics culture.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:19:23 -0800

It's actually surprising that it took them this long. As you mention in your post, the French love of comics is huge, and they've got truckloads of really talented comic artists over there. Also, it's really interesting to see such an excellent picture of the Pompidou Centre, on their opening page: due to how tightly wedged in it is, among other buildings, it's in fact difficult (as I recall) to take it in in its entirety when you're there in the flesh. But what seemed such a radical building when it first went up is, well, not nearly so radical anymore! Time marches on...

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:24:17 -0800

Billions of bilious blue blistering barnacles, it's about time!

By: Artw

Artw — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:25:18 -0800

flapjax at midnite - I was going to link to the English version of the Pompidou Centre site, but I liked that picture on the entry page too much.

By: darkripper

darkripper — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:33:19 -0800

I know in Belgium they love the character, but I've never talked with any belgian about the whole Tintin crazyness. Problem is, I don't know any real belgian. All the people I know in belgium come from other countries and they are often as puzzled as me. I understand Hergé style was influential, but I've never seen an affection like this for a comic book character in any other part of the world. And anyone got the national comic book hero (we have a cowboy and Rupert Everett, among the others) Also why tintin and not Spirou, XIII or The Smurfs? Also, this will probably derail into the old argument "is tintin racist or not?" in a few exchanges.

By: darkripper

darkripper — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:36:49 -0800

Also, this (via MefiFightClub)

By: phrontist

phrontist — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:46:34 -0800

HA! Take that France!

By: R. Mutt

R. Mutt — Thu, 22 May 2008 17:06:48 -0800

Of course it is art... but Krazy Kat is much cooler art. Seems that half of the artists I know have this book.

By: Joey Michaels

Joey Michaels — Thu, 22 May 2008 17:13:25 -0800

Of course this is art - and exceptionally well done art, at that. I just wish I could get a life size statue of Tin Tin making a lasso with a certin body fluid.

By: Dizzy

Dizzy — Thu, 22 May 2008 18:36:21 -0800

I remember being 10 or so , and rushing to tell my elderly neighbor Mr. LeBeau about this wonderful new comic book I'd recently discovered in our town's public library. "It's called 'Tin-tin', and it is really neat!" I gushed. "Have you ever seen it?" A boy who has discovered a marvelous treasure must share his finds with trusted friends. A boy who craves approval, and affection, from his Exotic Older Model. (My mother once whispered to me that he'd been in the War, the Big One.) Now, I'd never had French toast, let alone a Belgian waffle, mind you, and I pronounced the title just like it looked-- Tin-Tin, just like it said on the cover. Like a soda can. Mr. LeBeau suddenly looked as sour as the ratty little endives he would give my mom each Spring, stuffed in creased paper bags he saved from the Food Basket Supermarket. Far away a donkey brayed. "Foolish child. Eet ees said lahk thees: ' Taahhn-Taahhn'. Why are you such a worm?" People who put mayo on their fries suck.

By: theiconoclast31

theiconoclast31 — Thu, 22 May 2008 19:28:42 -0800

I know in Belgium they love the character, but I've never talked with any belgian about the whole Tintin crazyness. Problem is, I don't know any real belgian. All the people I know in belgium come from other countries and they are often as puzzled as me.

To be precise, all the puzzled Belgian people come from other countries.

By: R. Mutt

R. Mutt — Thu, 22 May 2008 19:32:54 -0800

People who put mayo on their fries suck. No. It is Miracle Whip, and her fans which suck. Real mayonnaise ain't "mayo", Dambit.

By: mwhybark

mwhybark — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:40:46 -0800

Tournesol? pah! Tintin et l'alph-art!

By: eclectist

eclectist — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:58:09 -0800

That's really cool. Bandes dessinees are the main reason that I got a degree in french.

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Fri, 23 May 2008 00:58:46 -0800

Who is this Frances Vibrant? I've never heard of her.

By: fearfulsymmetry

fearfulsymmetry — Fri, 23 May 2008 04:18:11 -0800

Great, may be one day Leo Baxendale will be in the Tate

By: fearfulsymmetry

fearfulsymmetry — Fri, 23 May 2008 04:18:54 -0800

Oh and Belgium, is that still a country? Have they got a government yet?

By: Vindaloo

Vindaloo — Fri, 23 May 2008 05:03:48 -0800

I love Tintin, however I am afraid Spielberg is going to ruin it for me.

By: Kabanos

Kabanos — Fri, 23 May 2008 10:59:01 -0800

But is it art? Perhaps it should apear with an Asterix beside it?