History Recap / TintinExplorersOnTheMoon

* AlmostOutOfOxygen / ColdEquation: The biggest problem during the book, beginning with the discovery that the Thompsons accidentally found themselves on board during liftoff... and even that doesn't cover the extent of the stowaways on board. It's solved in part by the HeroicSacrifice of TheMole.

* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Frank Wolff leaves the rocket so that the others have enough oxygen to survive the trip back home.]]
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Wolff]].

* KilledOffScreen: [[spoiler:Jorgen and Wolff died outside the view of the reader.]]

* TragicVillain: [[spoiler:Frank Wolff was the first character in the Tintin universe who wasn't particularly good, but not particulary bad either. He sides with Colonel Jorgen to sabotage the flight, but is more or less manipulated by him. When Jorgen wants to shoot everybody Wolff protests and interferes, killing Jorgen accidentally with his own gun. Wolff is forgiven by Tintin, but later feels remorse and decides to commit suicide by throwing himself out of the rocket so that the others can safely travel home again.]]

After the events of ''[[Recap/TintinDestinationMoon Destination Moon]]'' Tintin, Haddock, Snowy, Professor Calculus and his assistant Frank Wolff are currently en route to the Moon in Calculus' rocket. Shortly into the trip however, a serious predicament arises: Thomson and Thompson are found inside the rocket, having decided to "guard it" having thought the time of the launch was at 1:34 AM instead of 1:34 PM and the oxygen supply was designed for four people (plus Snowy), not six.

* AlmostOutOfOxygen: The biggest problem during the book, beginning with the discovery that the Thompsons accidentally found themselves on board during liftoff... and even that doesn't cover the extent of the stowaways on board. It's solved in part by the HeroicSacrifice of TheMole.

* ArtisticLicenseTechnology: Creator/{{Herge}} was well aware that the space suits would require helmets much like the astronauts we see today, but then the readers wouldn't be able to tell who was Haddock and who was Tintin? So, for their convenience he made the helmets more fish bowl shaped.

* DarkerAndEdgier: While people have been killed in a number of ''Tintin'' stories, this is the first to cover the topic of suicide.

* OffScreenDeath: [[spoiler:Jorgen and Wolff died outside the view of the reader.]]

* HeroicSacrifice: Wolff.

* KnightOfCerebus: The story is fairly lighthearted for a Tintin album, until Jorgen appears. Unlike other villains in the series, he is played completely seriously.

* ExecutiveMeddling: The Catholic clergy who were Hergé's editors required him to add a final line to Wolff's suicide note: "Perhaps by some miracle I will survive as well," in order to avoid making it ''look'' like he was committing suicide. The possibility of Wolff's survival is of course hopeless.

* [[ThrownOutTheAirlock Threw Himself Out The Airlock]]: Wolff.

* AlmostOutOfOxygen: The biggest problem during the book, beginning with the discovery that the Thompsons accidentally found themselves on board during liftoff... and even that doesn't cover the extent of the stowaways on board. It's solved in part by the HeroicSacrifice [[RedemptionEqualsDeath of]] TheMole.

* AlmostOutOfOxygen: The biggest problem during the book, beginning with the discovery that the Thompsons accidentally found themselves on board during liftoff... [[spoiler:and even that doesn't cover the extent of the stowaways on board. It's solved in part by the HeroicSacrifice [[RedemptionEqualsDeath of]] TheMole.]]

* AscendedExtra: [[spoiler:Colonel Jorgen.]] In his first appearance in [[spoiler:''King Ottokar's Sceptre'']] he was a pretty minor character who disappeared halfway through the book and was never mentioned again. [[spoiler:In this volume, he proves himself to be one of Tintin's most out-and-out heartless and dangerous foes.]]
* [[spoiler:BurialInSpace: It doesn't occur on the page, but the heroes jettison Jorgen's body into space. And, of course, Wolff's fate is comparable, although chosen himself.]]
* [[spoiler:DeadManWriting: Wolff leaves a letter explaining his suicidal action and asking for forgiveness.]]
* ExecutiveMeddling: The Catholic clergy who were Hergé's editors required him to [[spoiler:add a final line to Wolff's suicide note: "Perhaps by some miracle I will survive as well," in order to avoid making it ''look'' like he was committing suicide. The possibility of Wolff's survival is of course hopeless.]]
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: Wolff.]]

* [[spoiler:NeverSpeakIllOfTheDead: Haddock regrets his harsh words against Wolff once he learns of his HeroicSacrifice.]]
* [[spoiler:RedemptionEqualsDeath: Wolff throws himself out the airlock so that the rest of the explorers will have enough oxygen to get back to Earth. Considering that they just ''barely'' make it back alive (and still need supplemental oxygen administered), his sacrifice probably did make the difference.]]

* SneakyDeparture: [[spoiler:Frank Wolff has to go about his HeroicSacrifice in a stealthy manner, lest the others wake up and try to dissuade him. Of course, Thomson wakes up and, [[WhatAnIdiot showing the presence of mind expected of the twins,]] permits him to go down into the hold anyway.]]

* [[spoiler:[[ThrownOutTheAirlock Threw Himself Out The Airlock]]: Wolff.]]

* ScienceMarchesOn: Debatable example when Tintin finds ice in a crevasse--for a long time it was thought there was no ice on the moon, but more recently this has been called into question again.

* ReentryScare: Good lord, yes. Admittedly, the tension involved doesn't really concern the condition of the spacecraft itself so much as the condition of its crew, but all the same, both taking off and landing the craft are consistently depicted as ''extremely'' uncomfortable and frightening experiences.

* AlmostOutOfOxygen: The biggest problem during the book. It's solved in part by the HeroicSacrifice [[RedemptionEqualsDeath of]] TheMole.
* HeroicSacrifice: Wolff.

* TechMarchesOn: The rocket operates by the "direct ascent" model of the whole rocket landing and later leaving on the moon in one piece. Later, [=NASA=] concluded that they could never make such a vehicle land tail down safely and went with the method of "Lunar orbit rendezvous," having the rocket traveling in ejecting stages and using a separate lander to land on the moon with the command capsule waiting in orbit to link back up and return to Earth.

* HeroicSacrifice: Wolff

They quickly proceed to unpack their scientific payload and explore Earth's natural satellite. Unfortunately the trip has to be cut short not only because of the oxygen issue but due to a far graver development: the spy subplot of the previous book comes to a head when Colonel Jorgen is revealed to have stowed away on the rocket with a gun, and Wolff is revealed as his accomplice and the foreign power's [[TheMole mole]] in the center. Wolff, who was informed that Jorgen was simply there to observe the expedition is horrified when he finds out Jorgen's plan is to steal the rocket for his employers and maroon everyone else on the Moon. Wolff is forced to launch the rocket at gunpoint but Tintin manages to sabotage it and foil the plot. After interrogating the two, they are locked in the hold but Tintin's move had a grave price: the rocket will have to be repaired while the oxygen supply quickly dwindles.

After the events of ''[[Recap/TintinDestinationMoon Destination Moon]]'' Tintin, Haddock, Snowy, Professor Calculus and his assistant Frank Wolff are currently en route to the Moon in Calculus' rocket. Shortly into the trip however, a serious predicament arises: Thomson and Thompson are found inside the rocket, having decided to "guard it" having thought the time of the launch was at 1:34 AM instead of 1:34 PM and the oxygen supply was designed for four people and Snowy, not six.

* KarmaHoudini: Miller, due to none of the characters even knowing about his involvement.

After leaving the Moon in haste and an incorrect trajectory which causes them to waste even more time and oxygen, Jorgen manages to break free and regain his gun, intending to kill the rest of the crew for the oxygen. He and Wolff struggle causing Jorgen's death. Eventually, Wolff decides to without the others' knowledge sacrifice himself by leaving the rocket, so the others have enough oxygen to make it to Earth, leaving a note asking for forgiveness.

They quickly proceed to unpack their scientific payload as well as explore the Earth's satellite. Unfortunately the trip has to be cut short not only because of the oxygen issue but due to a far graver development: the spy subplot of the previous book comes to a head when Colonel Jorgen is revealed to have stowed away on the rocket with a gun, and Wolff is revealed as his accomplice and the foreign power's [[TheMole mole]] in the center. Wolff, who was informed that Jorgen was simply there to observe the expedition is horrified when he finds out Jorgen's plan is to steal the rocket for his employers and maroon everyone else on the Moon. Wolff is forced to launch the rocket at gunpoint but Tintin manages to sabotage it and foil the plot. After interrogating the two, they are locked in the hold but Tintin's move had a grave price: the rocket will have to be repaired while the oxygen supply quickly dwindles.

* HeroicSacrifice: Wolff