Slingsby Bros, Ink! may be a publisher best known for its astonishing collections of the newspaper strip, Carol Day, but more generally, the team are all complete and total lifelong comic nuts. It should, then, come as no surprise to learn they are spreading their wings with new projects – and what a terrific extension the English language edition of the award-winning In Search of Lost Tintin, by Ricardo Leite, is.
Ricardo Leite, a brilliant Brazilian designer and artist, is a twin soul. His love of comics has informed and directed his life. In 2013, an exciting trip to Belgium for a visit to Brussels and the Hergé Museum led Ricardo to weave the threads of a grand tribute to the world art of Comics. The result is his graphic novel, In Search of Lost Tintin, a grand psychological reflection on the art of comics, memory and time, an “autobiographical fantasy”.
Published in late 2022 in France, Belgium, Holland, Portugal, and Brazil, In Search of Lost Tintin has received numerous awards, including the HQMIX Trophy 2023 in two categories, including Best Comic Book published in Brazil, and has been awarded the insignia of Knight of the Order of the Crown of the Kingdom of Belgium.
Slingsby Bros, Ink! are a small publisher that focuses on promoting great comics that might otherwise get lost in the blizzard of new material and the latest fan craze. When they see something they love, they’re compelled to introduce it to other comic fans, whether it’s an obscure comic strip from decades ago or a contemporary graphic novel.
“Ricardo approached us about marketing an English version of his book in the United States under the Slingsby Bros, Ink! banner, based on what he saw with Lance Hallam,” Chris Killackey tells downthetubes – and they were quick to say yes.
“This will be its first publication for English-speaking markets,” Chris notes. “We’re thrilled to be partnered with him.
“When Ricardo came to us with his book, it would have been easy to say ‘Not what we do. Best of luck'”, Chris continues. But first, we read it. Then we realised it is what we do – we’re all about celebrating great comics and particularly about bringing forward masterpieces that might otherwise get lost in the blizzard of new material and the latest fan craze. From that larger perspective, In Search of Lost Tintin fits perfectly with the Carol Day books as part of our core mission.”
In Search of Lost Tintin is beautiful, stunningly-realised graphic novel that presents Ricardo’s travels through the symbolic and cultural universes of comics that have enchanted him throughout his life, as he maintains a semi-real, semi-dreamlike relationship with Hergé, his world and his work, in particular The Adventures of Tintin.
As he travels, Ricardo has an ongoing imaginary dialogue about the art, technique and history of comics with the great creators, particularly seeking advice in relation to his own frustrations in trying to become a published comic artist. Sometimes these conversations are based on real encounters, while other times they are inspired by wide reading. Will Eisner, Winsor McCay, Joe Kubert, Art Spiegelman, Scott McCloud, Chris Ware and many others participate in Ricardo’s return to his dream of creating and drawing comics.
The title, In Search of Lost Tintin, is a triple play: an explicit echo of Marcel Proust’s great novel, In Search of Lost Time; a reference to the Hergé character so inspirational to Ricardo, and a reference to contemporary French slang in which “lost Tintin” means to be frustrated or deprived of something.
Many readers may lack Ricardo’s comprehensive knowledge of the history of comics, and so at the back the book, he provides extensive annotations on the characters and scenes of the novel, the history of comics and his recommended works, all combining to form his personal history of comics.
• This first English language edition of In Search of Lost Tintin is available now as an eBook, hardcover (available Autumn 2024 via The Book Palace, the Slingsby Bros, Ink! ebay store and other outlets, and will also be published as a Collector edition in 2025
• Slingsby Bros, Ink! are online at slingsbybros.com | eBay | Linktree
• To read a sample chapter of In Search of Lost Tintin, click here for a pdf
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Comic Art, Comic Previews, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
2000AD announces Apex Edition to showcase stunning “Sláine” art of Mick McMahon 
Comic Art Europe teases new exhibition, “Living Together” part of Lakes International Comic Art Festival line-up this year