The Red Sea Sharks

The Red Sea Sharks

The Red Sea Sharks (French: Coke en Stock) is the nineteenth volume of The Adventures of Tintin, the comic series by Belgian cartoonist Hergé. Initially serialized weekly in Belgium's Tintin magazine from October 1956 to January 1958, it was later published as a collected volume by Casterman in 1958. The narrative follows Tintin, his dog Snowy, and Captain Haddock as they travel to the fictional Middle Eastern kingdom of Khemed. Their mission is to aid Emir Ben Kalish Ezab in regaining control of his kingdom following a coup orchestrated by his nemesis, Sheikh Bab El Ehr, with financial backing from slave traders led by Tintin's old adversary, Roberto Rastapopoulos.

The story serves as a continuation of The Calculus Affair and features a wide cast of characters from earlier adventures, inspired by Hergé's admiration for Honoré de Balzac's The Human Comedy. Thematically, the story addresses the Red Sea slave trade, which was ongoing at the time of publication. Despite its critical acclaim as one of Tintin's best adventures, the book faced controversy in the 1960s over alleged racist depictions of Africans, prompting Hergé to make revisions in later editions.

Plot Summary

Tintin and Captain Haddock encounter General Alcazar in Brussels, shortly before returning to Marlinspike Hall. There, they learn that Emir Ben Kalish Ezab has been overthrown by Sheikh Bab El Ehr, and that the Emir has sent his mischievous son, Abdullah, to Marlinspike for safekeeping. The detectives Thomson and Thompson inform Tintin that Alcazar is purchasing military aircraft from J.M. Dawson, who is also arming Bab El Ehr.

Realizing that restoring the Emir's power is the only way to send Abdullah home, Tintin, Haddock, and Snowy travel to Khemed. They survive an assassination attempt when a bomb destroys their plane, forcing an emergency crash landing. In the capital city of Wadeshah, they reunite with their old friend Oliveira da Figueira, who helps them escape to the Emir's mountain hideout. En route, they evade Bab El Ehr's forces, including armored vehicles and fighter planes commanded by "Mull Pasha," revealed to be Dr. Müller, another old nemesis.

The Emir explains the ongoing slave trade in Khemed, orchestrated by the international businessman "Marquis di Gorgonzola." The traffickers deceive African pilgrims traveling to Mecca, enslaving them instead. Tintin and Haddock investigate by boarding a sambuk, only to be attacked by fighter planes. After downing one, they rescue the mercenary pilot, Piotr Skut, and are later picked up by di Gorgonzola's yacht, the Scheherazade. Di Gorgonzola is revealed as Rastapopoulos.

Transferred to the tramp steamer SS Ramona, a fire breaks out onboard, and the crew, led by Allan, flees, leaving the passengers behind. Haddock assumes command, extinguishing the fire and sending distress signals. They are rescued by the USS Los Angeles, which pursues Rastapopoulos. Although Rastapopoulos fakes his death and escapes in a mini-submarine, Tintin and Haddock return to Belgium, where they learn that the Emir has reclaimed his throne. However, their peaceful return is interrupted by the antics of Jolyon Wagg, who has arranged an auto rally at Marlinspike Hall.

Background and Development

Hergé conceived The Red Sea Sharks after reading an article about the ongoing slave trade in the Arab world. The article detailed the enslavement of African pilgrims during their journey to Mecca. Hergé incorporated these themes into the story, using "coke" as a codeword for enslaved people in the original French title, Coke en Stock.

Inspired by Balzac's use of recurring characters, Hergé reintroduced numerous figures from earlier adventures, including Dr. Müller (The Black Island), Allan (The Crab with the Golden Claws), and Oliveira da Figueira (Cigars of the Pharaoh). New characters, such as the Estonian pilot Piotr Skut, added depth to the narrative. The story also references real-world locations, such as Petra’s Al Khazneh, which inspired the Emir's hideout.

Hergé and his team at Studios Hergé meticulously researched the technical aspects of the story. For the Ramona, Hergé and his assistant Bob de Moor sailed aboard a Swedish cargo ship, the MS Reine Astrid, to create accurate depictions. The Scheherazade was modeled after the yacht of Greek magnate Aristotle Onassis.

Controversy and Revisions

In the 1960s, The Red Sea Sharks was criticized for its portrayal of Africans, particularly their simplified language, which some viewed as racist. Hergé, who had previously faced similar allegations for Tintin in the Congo, was deeply affected by these accusations. For the 1967 reprint, he revised the dialogue to give the African characters more grammatically accurate speech, though Haddock’s use of pidgin remained unchanged.

Additionally, Hergé altered the Emir’s letter to Tintin, adopting a more elaborate and poetic style. He also expressed regret over depicting the killing of a shark in the story, later admitting he had misunderstood the animal’s nature at the time.

The Treasury (Al Khazneh) in Petra depicted in the book

Themes and Analysis

Political and Social Commentary

The Red Sea Sharks explores themes of political instability, the commodification of human life, and Western complicity in global injustices. Rastapopoulos, representing the global market, exploits both human lives and political alliances for personal gain. Critics have noted parallels between the Emir's alliances and Western governments’ relationships with authoritarian regimes.

Character Dynamics

The story functions as a "family reunion" of Tintin characters, blending nostalgia with a more mature tone. Critics noted that this crowded narrative left little room for regulars like Professor Calculus and the Thompson twins. Piotr Skut, while introduced as a new character, was described as a minor supporting figure.

Reception

The Red Sea Sharks was widely praised upon publication. Critics lauded its intricate plot, mature themes, and sharp political commentary. Benoît Peeters called it "complex, ambiguous, even labyrinthine," noting its retrospective quality as Hergé revisited earlier characters and themes. Harry Thompson described it as "a first-rate thriller," and the Lofficiers rated it four out of five, praising its realism and political undertones.

However, the story’s conclusion was criticized as rushed. Later commentators viewed it as a transitional work, bridging the action-adventure tone of earlier volumes with the introspective nature of Tintin in Tibet.

Adaptations and Legacy

In 1991, The Red Sea Sharks was adapted as part of the Ellipse/Nelvana animated series, praised for its fidelity to Hergé's original artwork. It was also dramatized for BBC Radio 5 in 1992-1993.

The story remains a hallmark of The Adventures of Tintin, exemplifying Hergé’s ability to blend humor, action, and social commentary. It is regarded as a key work in the series, representing the culmination of Hergé's "golden age."

External links

• The Red Sea Sharks at the Official Tintin Website
• The Red Sea Sharks at Tintinologist.org