A hundred years after his birth, Georges Remi, better known as Herge, is celebrated for creating Tintin, the dauntless young reporter-hero of the strip cartoon first introduced in 1929. Generously illustrated, this book examines the life and passions of a man who, despite his international fame, preferred to avoid the limelight, finding inspiration in modern art, the latest scientific developments and world affairs, and seeking enlightenment in Zen Buddhism and philosophy. It considers his role as the European pioneer of the strip cartoon and establishes the role played by contemporary cinema in his development, from the slapstick of the 1920s, through the drama and suspense of the Hitchcock thrillers, to the early works of Steven Spielberg--the one filmmaker he believed could successfully bring Tintin to the large screen. The book also covers his work as graphic designer and typographer as well as his less successful aspirations to become an abstract painter.--From publisher description.