Tintin and the Thermozero

Among the many lesser-known Tintin-related projects and fragments, Tintin and the Thermozero stands out as a particularly intriguing case of an unfinished collaboration.

The project began with a story suggestion from another contributor. Hergé himself then produced a small number of preliminary sketches, exploring the visual direction and early structure of the adventure. Alongside these drawings, a full story outline was also developed, although the exact division of creative responsibility between Hergé and the original proposer is unclear to me.

For a long time, this material remained difficult to access. The full outline, along with additional sketches, is not widely known.

In preparing this post, I have translated the surviving outline and related material into English.

Even in its incomplete form, Thermozero shows promise as a concept. The combination of early Hergé sketches and structured story planning makes it possible to imagine how it could have evolved into a fully realized adventure, fitting alongside the more experimental corners of the Tintin universe.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD TINTIN AND THE THERMOZERO IN ENGLISH

Tintin and the Blue Oranges

Among the many adaptations and reinterpretations of Tintin, one of the more unusual artifacts is the script for the French live-action production Tintin and the Blue Oranges, the second live-action Tintin film.

What I’ve done here is a translated version of the script, rendered into English so that readers can follow the story as it was originally structured. Reading the script in this way provides a unique perspective on how Tintin was interpreted for live-action cinema at the time. The humor, mystery elements, and character dynamics are all present, but filtered through the conventions of screenplay writing rather than Hergé’s comic panel storytelling.

Although it is not a substitute for watching the film itself, this script allows us to experience the story for those of you who may never watch the film.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD TINTIN AND THE BLUE ORANGES SCRIPT IN ENGLISH

Thomson and Thompson Detectives

Between the major Tintin albums Red Rackham’s Treasure and The Seven Crystal Balls, Hergé’s work took an unusual detour during the wartime period in Belgium. In the pages of Le Soir, a serialized story appeared under the title Thomson and Thompson Detectives, offering a very different kind of Tintin-related adventure.

Unlike the standard album format, this story was produced in a hybrid style: each week featured a single drawing by Hergé, accompanied by narrative text written by another author. This created a distinctive rhythm, more akin to illustrated fiction than a conventional comic strip.

The story opens in a surprisingly grounded setting, with the Thomson & Thompson detectives assisting a farmer and becoming involved in the everyday work of churning wheat on a rural farm. From this humble beginning, however, the narrative gradually develops into something far more complex.

As the plot unfolds, the twins find themselves drawn into a murder investigation, giving the story a noticeably darker tone than many typical Tintin-related works. Despite this, Hergé’s signature humor remains present throughout, largely carried by the Thompsons’ misunderstandings and misadventures.

The result is a fascinating blend of comedy, mystery, and wartime serialization constraints. It stands out not only for its unusual format, but also for the way it bridges lighthearted rural scenes with a more serious investigative storyline.

Though it is not part of the official Tintin albums, Thomson and Thompson Detectives remains an intriguing example of how Hergé’s universe expanded into experimental formats during a turbulent period in history.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THOMSON AND THOMPSON DETECTIVES IN ENGLISH

Ramo Nash's Tintin and Alph-Art

Among the unfinished works left behind by Hergé, Tintin and Alph-Art remains the most discussed and widely reimagined. After Hergé’s death, several artists attempted to complete the story in different forms, the most well-known being the color reconstruction by Yves Rodier.

However, far less attention has been given to another interpretation often referred to as the Ramo Nash version. This version remains anonymous in origin and is presented as a full 62-page treatment, and is very faithful in style and true to the spirit of Tintin. It is entirely in black and white and follows the narrative directly from Hergé’s surviving sketches.

I have chosen not to reproduce the earlier pages that closely mirror Hergé’s original notes or overlap with material already expanded in Rodier’s version. Instead, the focus here is on the continuation—the material that picks up where Hergé’s own work ends and attempts to carry the story forward.

While the authenticity and origins of the Ramo Nash version remain uncertain, it stands as another example of the fascination surrounding Hergé’s final unfinished adventure. Each reconstruction, whether official or unofficial, reflects a different interpretation of how Tintin’s last case might have concluded.

What follows is a translated excerpt of the continuation beyond Hergé’s original pages. Enjoy exploring this rare and lesser-known interpretation of Tintin’s final journey.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD RAMO NASH'S TINTIN AND ALPH-ART IN ENGLISH