L’Île Noire (The Black Island) (1938, revised 1943 and 1966) by Hergé is the seventh Tintin adventure, a gripping mystery that takes Tintin and Snowy to the fog-shrouded shores of Scotland. The story begins with Tintin witnessing the crash-landing of a plane carrying a gang of counterfeiters, leading him to the titular “Black Island,” where a fearsome beast terrorizes locals. Packed with eerie atmospherics—creaking manor houses, secret passages, and a climactic showdown with a gorilla—the album is a masterclass in suspense.
Hergé’s 1966 revision sharpened the artwork and anglicized the setting (originally a generic “Europe”), reflecting his commitment to authenticity. The adventure also marks the first appearance of Thomson and Thompson’s iconic bowler hats.
A cornerstone of the series, L’Île Noire balances chills with Hergé’s signature wit.
