Researchers speculate comic character "Tintin" suffering 224 health problems, 191 injuries

Were the internationally popular Belgian comic strip character Tintin a real person, he would have suffered numerous serious health problems over the course of his many adventures, a team of researchers has concluded.

According to a report in La Libre Belgique on Tuesday, a group of researchers, mainly from Atlanta and Paris, theorized that Tintin would have suffered some 224 health problems, as well as 191 other injuries, owing to his globe-trotting escapades.

The study, entitled "Tintin Travel Injury: Health Problems Affecting the Intrepid Globetrotter," is based on researchers' findings over nearly 50 years of adventures, from 1930-1976, covering 23 albums.

"The almost superhuman qualities of Tintin make him a character very resistant to fictitious trauma," said the researchers, "but this does not seem to extend to his travelling companions, including his faithful dog, Snowy."

While Tintin travelled extensively during his adventures, he did not seem to be affected by travel-related diseases, such as malaria. As well, if Tintin had been alive, he would have suffered degenerative diseases, according to the research.

Researchers also identified a 62-percent chance of head injuries. The intrepid reporter flew airplanes, helicopters and other locomotives. He drove cars and motorcycles. He also received numerous batons to the head and suffered concussions on account of physical fights.

In the comic strip "The Blue Lotus," he was even shot in the head while saving his friend, Chang. Endit