Le Sceptre d’Ottokar (King Ottokar’s Sceptre) (1939, revised 1947) by Hergé is a pivotal Tintin adventure that blends political intrigue with thrilling espionage. The story follows Tintin as he uncovers a plot to overthrow the monarchy of Syldavia, a fictional Balkan kingdom, by thwarting agents from neighboring Borduria who aim to steal King Muskar XII’s royal scepter—a symbol of legitimacy. Alongside the intrepid Snowy and the bumbling detectives Dupond and Dupont, Tintin navigates sabotage attempts, aerial dogfights, and a climactic palace confrontation.
Hergé’s meticulous worldbuilding shines in the richly detailed Syldavian culture (complete with a faux Cyrillic alphabet and invented folklore), while the story’s anti-fascist undertones reflect pre-WWII tensions. A masterclass in adventure storytelling, this album also marks the first appearance of Bianca Castafiore, the opera diva who later becomes a series staple.
