As Steven Spielberg’s film introduces a new generation to the exploits of Herge’s intrepid reporter, Frank Gardner explores the origins of the cartoon strip that inspired him to become a news correspondent. He investigates the similarities between Tintin’s adventures and those of real-life photojournalist Robert Sexe, on whom the character is allegedly based. His quest leads him to Belgium and then on to Russia, where he explores the secretive world of the early Soviet Union and an era now seen as a golden age of exploration and travel.
