# Explorers on the Moon

![Book cover of Explorers on the Moon](/books/covers/explorers_on_the_moon.jpg)

by [Hergé](/books/authors/herg%C3%A9/)
Book 17 of [The Adventures of Tintin](/books/series/the_adventures_of_tintin/)
★★★★☆

## Review

_Explorers on the Moon_, by Hergé,
is the seventeenth book in _The Adventures of Tintin_. It's the
second part of a two-book arc in which Tintin, Haddock, and Calculus land on
the Moon.

_Explorers on the Moon_ is the second half of the story that started in [_Destination Moon_](/books/destination_moon/). It
improves on the previous book in almost every way: it's a little less verbose,
there's more slapstick, and there are surprising twists that are smartly
wrapped up.

The artwork remains the highlight, with stark, precise drawings of the lunar
landscape. Hergé fills every panel with fascinating machines, from
the bulky spacesuits to the lunar rover and, of course, the rocket. Overall, a
massive improvement from the sparse, sound-stage-like setting drawn for [_Tintin in the Congo_](/books/tintin_in_the_congo/).

The plot of _Explorers on the Moon_ moves a little faster, and there are a series of
smaller challenges, culminating in the discovery of the stowaway Jorgen, who
is aided by the traitor Wolff. Jorgen first appeared in _King Ottokar's Sceptre_, which
suggests that the unnamed enemies from the previous book were working for the
nation of Borduria.

Staying true to Hergé's focus on realism in this arc, the story ends
in a darker way than most other Tintin comics: Jorgen is killed during a
struggle with the reformed Wolff, who later sacrifices himself by exiting the
airlock into space to give the rest of the crew enough oxygen to make it back
to Earth. Hergé was compelled by the Church to soften this suicide
by implying that Wolff might have survived,[^ref] although the reference is so
weak that it barely registers.

[^ref]:
    > When the story was first published Hergé was persuaded by the
    > Church, against his wishes, to modify this part of the narrative to
    > allow for the possibility of a miracle. Wolff's letter refers to the
    > possibility that he might escape death, which dampens the suicidal tone.
    >
    > --- ["Explorers on the Moon"](https://www.tintin.com/en/albums/explorers-on-the-moon) *Tintin.com*. 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2025.

Together, [_Destination Moon_](/books/destination_moon/) and _Explorers on the Moon_ are a highlight of [_The Adventures of Tintin_](/books/series/the_adventures_of_tintin/),
showcasing Hergé's skill at both storytelling and illustration. I've
let the kids pick the next book to read, and they agreed on [_Cigars of the Pharaoh_](/books/cigars_of_the_pharaoh/); expect
that review soon!

## Reviews that mention _Explorers on the Moon_
- [_The Blue Lotus_](/books/the_blue_lotus/)
- [_Cigars of the Pharaoh_](/books/cigars_of_the_pharaoh/)
- [_Destination Moon_](/books/destination_moon/)
- [_Tintin in the Congo_](/books/tintin_in_the_congo/)

## Related Books
- [_Cigars of the Pharaoh_](/books/cigars_of_the_pharaoh/) by [Hergé](/books/authors/herg%C3%A9/) --- ★★☆☆☆: Cigars of the Pharaoh, by Hergé, is the fourth book in The Adventures of Tintin. It follows Tintin as he explores Egypt and India and uncovers an opium-smuggling ring.
- [_The Blue Lotus_](/books/the_blue_lotus/) by [Hergé](/books/authors/herg%C3%A9/) --- ★★★☆☆: The Blue Lotus, by Hergé, is the fifth book in The Adventures of Tintin. It continues the story started in Cigars of the Pharaoh, ending with Tintin busting an opium ring in China.
- [_Destination Moon_](/books/destination_moon/) by [Hergé](/books/authors/herg%C3%A9/) --- ★★★★☆: Destination Moon, by Hergé, is the sixteenth book in The Adventures of Tintin. It’s the first part of a two-book story arc where Tintin, Haddock, and Calculus prepare for a mission to the moon.