User Reviews

THE BLACK ISLAND is another solid story in the ADVENTURES OF TINTIN TV series; I've yet to see a bad episode. This one's another two-parter and another complex, fast-paced tale packed with adventure and derring-do. Tintin's investigations take him to England, where he uncovers a counterfeiting ring presided over by the sinister Dr Muller and many near-death experiences.

There's little to dislike about this story which perfectly captures the spirit of Herge's original comics. Tintin and Snowy are well-characterised and look great, and the bright and colourful backdrops transfer to the screen very well. I liked THE BLACK ISLAND's King Kong tribute and the way that Snowy plays an integral part of the story, helping Tintin out on more than one occasion. The stuff with the planes and trains is always fun. Once again there's no Calculus or Haddock here, although the Thompson Twins get bigger roles than usual.

After seeing a plane making an emergency landing, Tintin goes to investigate to only be shot at. He awakes at a hospital, were detectives Thompson and Thompson are called upon the case. After he learns were that plane crashed in England, Tintin heads there by train, but some criminals frame him for theft to him of their trail. The Thompsons have him arrested, but he manages to fool them and arrives in England. Though the criminals kidnap him and force him to jump off a cliff, but he escapes thanks to Snowy. Then he follows the clues that leads him to Dr. J.W. Müller's estate and his counterfeit business.

"The Black Island" is Herge's seventh comic strip album and the tenth episode (part 1 of 2) of Season 1. This particular item happens to be one of my favourites, because it naturally gets right into it, drums out interesting themes (with influences) and play its all in a maturely dangerous tone. In this story, Tintin seems to get captured or caught in trouble constantly. He's living dangerously and with a bit of luck! More so then ever. While, it's indeed a nice suspense builder, the delightful comic mishaps of Thompson and Thompson add more to the film's random nature. Like their arrest of Tintin and finally the chase of him around a small town. The script disguises the surprises quite well and gives Tintin a lot of work to uncover by sporting ample pathways that makes sure it never slows down. He gets down to the bottom of it with the right moves. His arch nemesis Dr. J.W. Müller makes his first and probably most memorable appearance. An accomplished and sparkling opening half gets you gripped for the final siege.