Death of Hergéologist Philippe Goddin

It is with deep sadness that Fanny and Nick Rodwell, along with the entire teams at Tintinimaginatio and the Hergé Museum, have learned of the death of their colleague Philippe Goddin. They extend their sincere condolences to his family and wish to pay tribute to a man who was, for all of them, a respected and friendly figurehead in the study and analysis of Hergé's work.

Philippe Goddin, born in Brussels in 1944, was one of the world's leading experts on Hergé's work, to the extent that his publisher once described him as a “Hergéologist”. After studying fine arts, he pursued a career in teaching before devoting himself entirely to the study and dissemination of Hergé's work.

He developed a passion for comic strip books at an early age and came into contact with Hergé. From 1989 to 1999, he served as secretary general of the Hergé Foundation, which holds the archives of the great master, thus playing a central role in the conservation, cataloguing and promotion of the treasures left by the creator of Tintin.

Philippe Goddin is the author of numerous reference works, including Hergé et Tintin, Reporters (1986, Le Lombard), the biography Hergé, lignes de vie (2007, Éditions Moulinsart), and the monumental seven-volume series Hergé – Chronologie d'une œuvre (2000-2011, Éditions Moulinsart), considered the most comprehensive study ever undertaken on Hergé's creative process. Also noteworthy is Les Tribulations de Tintin au Congo (2018, Éditions Moulinsart), in which he demonstrates that Tintin au Congo (1930) is not a racist book, even though it is steeped in the colonialist environment of its time.

His approach combines the rigour of a historian, the acuity of a critic and the passion of a reader. He highlights the artistic, literary and historical influences that nourish the world of Tintin, and reveals Hergé's personal evolution through his drawings and his storytelling. His clear and erudite writing has contributed to Hergé's recognition not only as a master of comic strip books, but also as a major creator of the 20th century.

Philippe Goddin passed away on 8th September 2025 in Brussels.