This post is kind of a 'next man up' response to Sergio's fun post from earlier today, in which Haddock is stumbling around in a theatre set, wearing a huge cattle head.

Note that the stained glass artist above is "p-tanks," who you can lookup on the Web. Last I recall, they did some fun Tintin-themed stained glass art.

(right so, see today's earlier post, i.e. Haddock with a cattle-head)

So, the backstory here is uplifting, yet brutal at this particular moment. Haddock's suddenly gone from an alcoholic merchant-marine captain with a dim future, all the way to a wealthy man living in a mansion, along with his new friends Tintin and Calculus. Problem is, he falls hard in love with the image of that new reality, and becomes something of an upper class dandy. Now he wears a monocle, puts on airs, dresses in fancy clothing, and wants to ride horses. All those things wearing pretty absurdly on someone who's usually the salt of the earth.

(Hugh Jackman as Haddock)

In the above sequence, Haddock and Tintin are attending a theatrical variety show, and have gone backstage so the reporter can greet his old frenemy, General Alcaraz. Problem is, Haddock gets lost, and manages to stumble headfirst in to a cattle-head costume. Now, instead of soberly stopping and disentangling himself, he panics (claustrophobia perhaps?) and goes on a mad dash, crashing set-pieces and in a few moments, going on to severe public humiliation. And just like that, his illusion of being 'upper-crust respectable' is gone in the wind...

(Tom Holland as Tintin)

Just savage, really.
Poor Haddock. Poor, poor Haddock...

IMO, the fact that Hergé wove together so many little plot points, emotional intrigues, and aspects of the main actors' character are yet another tribute to his exactingly-crafted Tintin adventures. To me, he was a pretty mediocre gag-maker in his earlier Quick & Flupke series, but absolutely found his footing with this young reporter / detective series.

Indeed, I wonder if there had never been a Tintin, could his Jo, Zette and Jocko series have possibly gone on to international success, like Tintin did?