Tintin Travels

2011 In Review

Although 2011 has been a busy year for me, it’s been a relatively quiet year for the blog. Therefore, as the calendar year closes I figured it would be as good a time as any to recap and regroup. A year ago today I was exactly half way into my Fellowship year ringing in the new year in Cairo (before a bit of first-hand revolution witnessing and Anderson Cooper meeting). Now six months back into the United States I am having as much fun parsing through my collection of Arab comics in California (where I have re-relocated) as I did collecting them in Egypt. In the intermediate time I have been fortunate enough to gain a whole fathom of new readership (thanks Spielberg!) who have been very kind in bearing with me as my focus has expanded beyond Tintin into entire different histories of foreign Children’s Comics, contemporary artists throughout the Middle East and Asia, and critical writing on non-Hergé comics. For the sake of new and old readers alike, I present here a sampling of some of the best of my writing from 2011 as well as my plans for 2012:

• Made For You and Me: Localizing Disney’s Imperialism for an Egyptian Audience (January 31) - My first article for The Hooded Utilitarian and the foundation of what became my ongoing “Can The Subaltern Draw?” Column. I explore the problematic — but fun to look at — Egyptification of Mickey Mouse into the beloved “Mîkî.”

• Waiting for Nabil Fawzi (April 29) - An updated version of my exploration of Superman’s translation into Arabic by Lebanese publisher Illustrated Publications in the 1970s.

• Samir Magazine and the Art of Bootlegging Tintin (April 16) - An overview of Tintin’s first illegal translation into Arabic (where he became Timtim) by the amazing Children’s magazine Samir. Complete with trippy colors: 

• Defining Manhua: A Translated Marketplace in Contemporary China (June 1) - An overly brief summation of the founders of comics (Manhua) in mainland China and a few contemporary independent artists who are furthering their legacy.

• The Case of The Arab Henchman (July 11) - In this twist on an old staple of mine, I look at Hergé’s long history of edits to The Crab with the Golden Claws (now a major motion picture) and particularly how he handles one henchman from the later part of the album. 
• Show and Tintin: Tintin’s Footprint in China, Wooden Tintins in Dubai, and Bootleg 丁丁 - I started this “Show+Tintin” series as a brief way to showcase Tintin sitings that were more fun to look at then to write critically about. These are designed to help readers understand just how much of a commercial product the boy reporter is abroad.
• A Survey of Contemporary Arab Comics (September 2) - A brief taste of the amazing comics scene currently renaissancing around the Middle East. Mainly, this is a hopeful launching point for new fans of Arab comics.

• The Spectre of Orientalism in Craig Thompson’s Habibi (October 4) and A Conversation with Craig Thompson on Habibi’s Orientalism (November 16) - These two complementary pieces of writing critically explore the use of Orientalism in Craig Thompson’s Habibi. The response has been a very encouraging and wonderful way to round out the year.

From here on out, I’ll keep a list like this updated in my newly created Index section.

But on to 2012, which for those of you that have read my recent press or attended my recent lectures knows is the year of THE BOOK. Well, my book to be specific. That’s right! I’ve been working hard at turning my Middle East findings so far into a cohesive book which tracks the history of Arab comics from their inception into their recent incarnations, all set up through the lens of Tintin. I will definitely be providing updates as the project develops! Also, in the new year I am looking forward to giving a lot more lectures on Tintin’s travels through “the Orient,” with a few engagements already lined up. All and all, it’s been a great year to be a Tintinologist and I look forward to continuing the pursuit in the new year!

Sharjah International Book Fair

Hey readers! Just dropping in to provide a quick update that I will be talking about Hergé’s imagination of the Middle East in Tintin as well as contemporary Arab comics later this week at the Sharjah International Book Fair from November 15-20. I very much look forward to returning to the United Arab Emirates after my research took me to Dubai and Abu Dhabi last Winter.

While I’m back in the Middle East I will also make a trip to Beirut, Lebanon where I will talk Tintin at the Institut Français du Proche-Orient on November 23. More details to follow on both of these exciting speaking engagements! If you are in the area for either please stop by.