King Ottokar's Sceptre by Hergé.
Title: King Ottokar's Sceptre.
Author: Hergé.
Genre: Fiction, graphic novel, humour, adventure, mystery, travel.
Country: U.K.
Language: English.
Publication Date: 1939.
Summary: Tintin finds a brief-case on a park bench, which leads to a meeting with a sigillographer, Professor Hector Alembick, who informs the reporter of his plans to travel to the Balkan nation of Syldavia. After Tintin uncovers a plot to steal the scepter of the Medieval King Ottokar IV from the current King Muskar XII before St. Vladimir's Day, thus forcing him to abdicate, he follows the professor to Syldavia to attempt to prevent the coup d'état. But there are more people to the conspiracy than he realizes, on both sides, and he is soon faced with overwhelming odds to prevent the kingdom of Syldavia from being forcefully annexed by its sinister neighbour.
My rating: 8/10
My review: I enjoyed how political this volume was. Whilst obviously a parody on Nazi Germany (with evil Müsstler appearing to be a combination of Mussolini and Hitler), what I found both interesting and amusing is that to me it felt very much like a mix of a Soviet and Turkish cultures. The concept of having to have an object on a specific date or automatic abdication was a little silly, but I suppose something had to be in a volume with such heavy subject matter. I really loved the vibrant culture portrayed, though, and the fast-paced plot that has Tintin neck-deep in royal intrigue and always only just a step ahead of his many pursuers. Definitely one of the more enjoyable Tintin adventures.