Szut The Friend Of Captain Haddock – Figurines Tintin La Collection Officielle – 33 – Szut L’Ami Du Capitaine Haddock

Author: Hergé & Editions Moulinsart
Price: £45.00
Publisher: Editions Moulinsart
Publication date: 2012
Format: Original pictorial boards with passport and figurine
Condition: In fine condition
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout

Description:

Original pictorial boards. Includes passport loosely inserted. Text in French. Includes the accompanying figurine. One from the collection of 111 books and figurines. In fine, clean condition overall.

Piotr Szut: A Brief Biography

Piotr Szut (often referred to simply as Szut) is a secondary character in Hergé’s The Adventures of Tintin. Introduced as an antagonist in The Red Sea Sharks, he later becomes one of Tintin’s allies — a transformation that highlights one of Hergé’s recurring themes: redemption through courage and conscience.

Character Profile

Szut is portrayed as a young European with fair hair, a clean-shaven face, and a calm, slightly melancholic expression. He usually wears a naval uniform, as he is a professional pilot. His manner is polite, restrained, and dignified, even when he first appears on the side of Tintin’s enemies.

He is competent, brave, and honourable — qualities that distinguish him from the more corrupt and self-serving villains with whom he is initially associated. Szut’s physical appearance and demeanour reflect decency beneath external circumstance, foreshadowing his eventual moral awakening.

First Appearance: The Red Sea Sharks

Szut first appears in The Red Sea Sharks, one of the later Tintin adventures, which deals with human trafficking and political corruption. Initially, he serves as an airman under the command of the criminal mastermind Rastapopoulos. His task is to pilot an aircraft involved in the villain’s illicit operations.

During an aerial encounter, Tintin and Captain Haddock shoot down Szut’s plane, forcing him to crash-land at sea. Displaying compassion, Tintin rescues him from the wreckage rather than leaving him to drown. This act of mercy changes the course of Szut’s life and firmly establishes Tintin’s moral influence as transformative.

Redemption and Later Role

Following his rescue, Szut renounces his former employers and joins Tintin and Haddock. He proves himself to be brave and dependable, assisting them in their struggle against Rastapopoulos and the slavers. His technical expertise as a pilot and his calm judgement in dangerous situations earn Tintin’s respect and Captain Haddock’s trust.

In the closing chapters of The Red Sea Sharks, Szut takes part in the final rescue operations, demonstrating both skill and loyalty. His transition from enemy to ally represents one of the story’s key moral arcs — that even those caught in wrongdoing can find redemption through courage, gratitude, and friendship.

Relationship with Tintin and Captain Haddock

Szut’s relationship with Tintin is marked by deep gratitude and respect. Tintin’s refusal to treat him as an enemy after the crash inspires Szut’s loyalty and sense of moral purpose. Their friendship is understated but sincere, grounded in mutual admiration.

With Captain Haddock, Szut enjoys a warmer, more relaxed rapport. Haddock appreciates Szut’s reliability and courage, though he occasionally teases him in his gruff, affectionate manner. By the story’s end, Szut is accepted as part of Tintin’s extended circle of trusted allies — a distinction few characters achieve.

Personality and Symbolism

Szut symbolises moral transformation and the triumph of decency over corruption. Unlike the hardened villains who surround him, Szut’s conscience remains intact. His rescue and redemption underscore Tintin’s consistent message that compassion and integrity have the power to inspire change.

He also serves as a contrast to characters such as Allan Thompson, who succumb fully to greed and criminality. Szut’s ability to recognise his mistakes and act honourably places him among the morally rehabilitated figures in Tintin’s world.

Legacy

Although Szut appears in only one completed Tintin adventure, his presence is memorable for its emotional weight and moral clarity. He stands as proof of Tintin’s influence — not through force, but through example.

Piotr Szut’s arc from servant of evil to ally of good encapsulates one of Hergé’s central ideas: that redemption is possible through courage, honesty, and the willingness to change. In this way, Szut enriches The Red Sea Sharks and exemplifies the humane spirit that defines The Adventures of Tintin.

Why Buy from Us?

At Hornseys, we are committed to offering items that meet the highest standards of quality and authenticity. Our collection of objects and rare books are carefully curated to ensure each edition is a valuable piece of bibliographical history. Here’s what sets us apart:

• Authenticity and Provenance: Each item is meticulously researched and verified for authenticity and collation.
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Cataloguer: Daniel Hornsey

Daniel Hornsey has specialised in fine and rare books, ephemera, and collectors’ editions for over thirty years. As a long-standing member of the antiquarian book trade, he has advised private collectors, curated catalogues, and sourced works for leading dealers, libraries and institutions across the world.

Hornseys’ exhibit regularly at book and map fairs in London and throughout the UK and are members of the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association, the PBFA.

His fascination with Hergé’s work — especially ‘The Adventures of Tintin’ — began in childhood. Daniel recalls reading Tintin in original European editions and quickly recognising that these were not merely children’s books, but finely illustrated narratives crafted with artistic depth and wit.

As noted by the Musée Hergé in Louvain-la-Neuve, Hergé’s ‘ligne claire’ style has influenced generations of European comic artists and his original drawings and paintings command very high prices with his painting of ‘The Blue Lotus’ jar fetching £2.8m at auction in 2021.

By presenting these works through Hornseys’, he hopes to contribute to the continued appreciation of one of the 20th century’s most influential illustrators, helping new generations discover the artistry and legacy of Hergé.