Philippe Goddin

Philippe Goddin was a Belgian author who was a leading expert and literary critic of The Adventures of Tintin, and author of several books on Tintin and his creator, Hergé. He was general secretary of the Fondation Hergé from 1989 to 1999.

Life and career

Goddin was born in Schaerbeek, Belgium, on 27 May 1944. He studied at the Saint-Luc Institute art school in Brussels and became an art teacher.
Goddin wrote numerous books on Hergé, which include Hergé and Tintin, Reporters. He produced a biography, Hergé: lignes de vie.
His masterwork is the seven-volume Hergé - Chronologie d'une oeuvre, which Belgian magazine La Libre called "Magnificent. Monumental. Unique in its kind."
His study of Tintin was published in English in 3 volumes as The Art of Hergé, Inventor of Tintin; Volume 1 was criticized by Publishers Weekly for being content to retell plots rather than providing critical analysis. It was also published in Dutch as De Kunst van Hergé, schepper van Kuifje; Belgian newspaper De Standaard reviewed volume 2, awarding it 4/5 stars.
He also helped to keep the television series The Adventures of Tintin more true to the books.
Goddin died in Brussels on 8 September 2025, at the age of 81.