The Sceptre of Ottokar

Tintin meets Professor Alambric, a specialist in sigillography - the science of seals. His pride is the seal of King Ottokar IV of Syldavia. In the hope of adding to his collection, the professor plans a trip to this small mountain country. Tintin decides to accompany him as a secretary, but someone is trying to obstruct him in every possible way and even plants a bomb in his apartment. On the plane, Tintin studies a brochure about Syldavia, its natural beauty, and history. His attention is drawn to an intriguing tradition that dates back to the 14th century during Ottokar IV. The highest symbol of power there is the scepter: a king who loses it must abdicate. A chain of incredible events leads Tintin to believe that a conspiracy is being prepared against His Majesty Muskar XII, the reigning king of Syldavia. And Tintin does everything possible to thwart it.

The eighth volume of "The Adventures of Tintin" was released in the fateful year of 1939 for Europe and the entire world (referring to the first black-and-white version; the color version appeared in 1947). It is not surprising that its atmosphere is filled with anxiety: the author, like the entire population of tiny Belgium, could not help but be concerned about the events in neighboring Germany. By this time, Hergé had already realized that, in the current conditions, it was better to avoid specifics and to choose fictional states as settings - a technique successfully implemented in "The Broken Ear." The two opposing South American republics, San Theodoros and Nuevo Rico, were replaced by two opposing Balkan countries: Syldavia and Borduria.

It is worth noting that this album is also important for the first appearance of the only significant female character in the series - the Milanese opera diva Bianca Castafiore, along with her and the main musical theme of "The Adventures of Tintin" - the aria of Marguerite from Charles Gounod's opera "Faust."

Comments on "The Sceptre of Ottokar"
Insights into Hergé’s creative laboratory can be gained from comments compiled by Mikhail Khachaturov, the translator of the new edition of the series and an expert on Hergé’s work. They will help the curious reader understand what real events are reflected in the books and what lies behind some characters, objects, names, habits, and traits of the heroes. The comments are tied to specific pages and panels of the comic, for example, 1-2 refers to page 1, panel 2.