The adventures of Tintin in Manila

The teenage reporter and his furry partner-in-crime have encapsulated the childhood of thousands worldwide, and walking through the new Tintin store on the ground floor of Fully Booked’s Bonifacio branch is like taking a trip down memory lane. Linng the walls of the store are posters of the book covers arranged in the order they were published, while a grinning Tintin greets you at the entrance. 

The store’s layout mimics the defining, clean lines that the illustrations are known for: shelves and stands are arranged in a clean and crisp geometric style, while walls are painted a sparse white.

Tintin made his first appearance in 1929 in the youth insert Le Petit Vingtième (The Little Twentieth) in the newspaper Le Vingtième Siècle (The Twentieth Century), where his creator, Georges Remi – better known under his pen name Hergé – worked as an illustrator. 

Props from the comics are for sale in the store, with one ceramic Chinese vase, featured prominently on the cover of The Adventure of Tintin: The Blue Lotus, on display. The prop is complete with Tintin peeking out from the top, decked out in a blue outfit and cap, while Snowy can be seen cowering behind him. The prop is going for a whopping P24,999, while a smaller yet equally lifelike version is available for P8,999. Blue Lotus fans can also find erasers, rulers, folders, and notebooks printed with its scenes for under P380.

Individual t-shirts emblazoned with the characters Tintin, Snowy, and Captain Haddock, start at P999, while vivid red, green, blue, and yellow shopper totes printed with the crime-fighting duo start at as low as P99. 

Neatly lining the shelves are hardcover and paperback versions of the comics that come in standalone and volume form, however the standout piece is Hergé and The Treasures of Tintin priced at P1799, which contains over 20 removable artworks, sketches, and memorabilia explaining how the beloved character came to be. 

Meanwhile, younger audiences can instead opt for the ‘Young Reader’ series for P360, which features a special section at the end of the book that explains the context behind the story, including history, geography, and culture.   

Those wanting to turn their home into a Tintin shrine can line their shelves with ceramic figurines and scene collectibles starting at P7399 and P1199 respectively – but for the less extreme are character-stamped bowls and mugs channeling the “I Heart NY” style priced at a much more affordable P499. 

Miscellaneous items also have their place in the store, with Tintin paper masks, puzzles, band-aids, playing cards, die-cast car models, and even tin pencil cases just like what you might have had in the ’90s. 

The shining item, however, is a Snowy stuffed toy retailing at P1499- according to the sales assistant, this four-legged furry (whose French name, Milou, was Hergé’s first love’s nickname) is a bestseller. 

Whether you’re looking to stock up on Tintin-inspired stationary for the new school year or simply wanting to relive your childhood, the Tintin store eagerly fulfills either purpose. 

Did you grow up with Tintin and his friends? Let us know in the comments. – Rappler.com

Learn more about the Tintin store at fullybookedonline.com and on their Facebook and Instagram at @_FullyBooked. Or, see the store yourself at the Ground Floor of Fully Booked’s Bonifacio Global City branch at Building 6, 902 Bonifacio High Street