Snowy (character)
Encyclopedia
Snowy is a fictional character in The Adventures of Tintin
, the series of classic Belgian
comic books written and illustrated by Hergé
. He is a white Wire Fox Terrier and Tintin
's four-legged companion who travels everywhere with him. The bond between Snowy and Tintin is very deep and they have saved each other from perilous situations many times.
to remember that he was abducted by aliens. Snowy has rescued Tintin (often by gnawing through restraints, or seeking help), or rescued him from a tight spot by biting or distracting a villain, many times throughout the series.
Like Captain Haddock
, Snowy is fond of Loch Lomond brand Scotch whisky
, and his occasional bouts of drinking tend to get him into trouble, as does his acute arachnophobia
. Snowy is also fond of bones, to the point of being easily tempted, even when the last thing he should think about is the bone; for example, he once lost a message from Tintin because of a bone.
The character of Snowy evolved through the course of the Tintin series, and was most dramatically affected by the introduction of Captain Haddock
in The Crab with the Golden Claws
. Before Haddock's appearance, Snowy was the source of dry and cynical side-commentary, which balanced out Tintin's constantly positive, optimistic perspective. When Haddock entered the series, the Captain took over the role of the cynic, and Snowy gradually shifted into a more light-hearted role, serving to create comic relief by chasing the Marlinspike
cat (they become friends in the end of The Calculus Affair), drinking the Captain's whisky, etc. Milou was named after Hergé's first girlfriend Malou (a contraction of the name Marie-Louise), although the character is referred to as male throughout the books.
The 1939 Portuguese edition of Tintin in the Congo
, renamed as Tintin em Angola, was locally colored and had a yellow female Snowy, renamed Rom-Rom.
graphic novel
Grandville
, there is a white Wire Fox Terrier named "Snowy Milou". In a drug induced delerium, he describes the dreams he has had, with close parallels to the various adventures of the Tintin books.
The Adventures of Tintin
The Adventures of Tintin is a series of classic comic books created by Belgian artist , who wrote under the pen name of Hergé...
, the series of classic Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
comic books written and illustrated by Hergé
Hergé
Georges Prosper Remi , better known by the pen name Hergé, was a Belgian comics writer and artist. His best known and most substantial work is the 23 completed comic books in The Adventures of Tintin series, which he wrote and illustrated from 1929 until his death in 1983, although he was also...
. He is a white Wire Fox Terrier and Tintin
Tintin (character)
Tintin is a fictional character in The Adventures of Tintin, the series of classic Belgian comic books written and illustrated by Hergé. Tintin is the protagonist of the series, a reporter and adventurer who travels around the world with his dog Snowy....
's four-legged companion who travels everywhere with him. The bond between Snowy and Tintin is very deep and they have saved each other from perilous situations many times.
Character history
With a few exceptions, Snowy never speaks (although he is regularly seen thinking in human words), since he is "only a dog". However, he always manages to communicate well with Tintin, particularly in the early stories. Snowy often adds to the story in notable ways. For instance, Snowy is the only character in Flight 714Flight 714
Flight 714, first published in 1968, is the 22nd and penultimate complete volume of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of classic comic-strip albums by the Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé, featuring young reporter Tintin as a hero. Its original French title is Vol 714 pour Sydney...
to remember that he was abducted by aliens. Snowy has rescued Tintin (often by gnawing through restraints, or seeking help), or rescued him from a tight spot by biting or distracting a villain, many times throughout the series.
Like Captain Haddock
Captain Haddock
Captain Archibald Haddock is a fictional character in The Adventures of Tintin, the series of classic Belgian comic books written and illustrated by Hergé...
, Snowy is fond of Loch Lomond brand Scotch whisky
Scotch whisky
Scotch whisky is whisky made in Scotland.Scotch whisky is divided into five distinct categories: Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Single Grain Scotch Whisky, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky , Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, and Blended Scotch Whisky.All Scotch whisky must be aged in oak barrels for at least three...
, and his occasional bouts of drinking tend to get him into trouble, as does his acute arachnophobia
Arachnophobia
Arachnophobia or arachnephobia is a specific phobia, the fear of spiders and other arachnids such as scorpions. It is a manifestation of zoophobia, among the most common of all phobias. The reactions of arachnophobics often seem irrational to others...
. Snowy is also fond of bones, to the point of being easily tempted, even when the last thing he should think about is the bone; for example, he once lost a message from Tintin because of a bone.
The character of Snowy evolved through the course of the Tintin series, and was most dramatically affected by the introduction of Captain Haddock
Captain Haddock
Captain Archibald Haddock is a fictional character in The Adventures of Tintin, the series of classic Belgian comic books written and illustrated by Hergé...
in The Crab with the Golden Claws
The Crab with the Golden Claws
The Crab with the Golden Claws is the ninth of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of classic comic-strip albums, written and illustrated by Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé, featuring young reporter Tintin as a hero...
. Before Haddock's appearance, Snowy was the source of dry and cynical side-commentary, which balanced out Tintin's constantly positive, optimistic perspective. When Haddock entered the series, the Captain took over the role of the cynic, and Snowy gradually shifted into a more light-hearted role, serving to create comic relief by chasing the Marlinspike
Marlinspike Hall
Marlinspike Hall is Captain Haddock's country house in Hergé's comic book series The Adventures of Tintin.The hall is modeled after the central section of the Château de Cheverny...
cat (they become friends in the end of The Calculus Affair), drinking the Captain's whisky, etc. Milou was named after Hergé's first girlfriend Malou (a contraction of the name Marie-Louise), although the character is referred to as male throughout the books.
The 1939 Portuguese edition of Tintin in the Congo
Tintin in the Congo
Tintin in the Congo is the second title in the comicbook series The Adventures of Tintin, written and drawn by Belgian cartoonist Hergé. Originally serialised in the Belgian children's newspaper supplement, Le Petit Vingtième between June 1930 and July 1931, it was first published in book form...
, renamed as Tintin em Angola, was locally colored and had a yellow female Snowy, renamed Rom-Rom.
Other appearances
Among the anthropomorphic cast of Bryan Talbot'sBryan Talbot
Bryan Talbot is a British comic book artist and writer, born in Wigan, Lancashire, in 1952. He is best known as the creator of The Adventures of Luther Arkwright and its sequel Heart of Empire.-Career:...
graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
Grandville
Grandville (comics)
Grandville is a British graphic novel series written and drawn by Bryan Talbot. It is a mixture of the steampunk, alternative history and thriller genres. It is set in a world in which France won the Napoleonic Wars and invaded Britain, and in which the world is populated mostly by anthropomorphic...
, there is a white Wire Fox Terrier named "Snowy Milou". In a drug induced delerium, he describes the dreams he has had, with close parallels to the various adventures of the Tintin books.