Pablo (Tintin character)

Pablo is a character from "The Adventures of Tintin" series of classic comic books written and drawn by Hergé. He is a native of the fictional country of San Theodoros and lives in the capital Los Dopicos.

His first appearance was in "The Broken Ear" which was first serialised in 1935. In this version, Pablo's full name was given as Juan Paolino, the Terror of Los Dopicos, and the best shooter in the entire country.

The Original Pablo versus the Latter

There were two versions of "The Broken Ear": a black-and-white edition published in the mid-1930s and a colourised version in the early 1940s. Both feature a corrupt businessman called Trickler who asks an underworld contact to organise the murder of Tintin. The contact proceeds to hire a hitman.

In the 1930s version it is implied that Pablo is the name of the contact while the hitman is actually named as Juan Paolino.

In the colourised (and most commonly available) edition of the story, the contact is renamed as Rodriguez and it is the hitman who is called Pablo.

Biography

The Broken Ear

Pablo was a long-moustached gangster who was hired to kill Tintin. His attempt failed due to a separate one being made at the same time by another of Tintin's enemies. Tintin captured Pablo who begged for forgiveness. Taking pity on the pathetic hitman, Tintin let him go and Pablo swore undying loyalty.

(When captured by Tintin in the original 1930s version, Paolino denies knowing anything on who hired him. This, it has to be said, is the rule in such a business. But in the later 1940s edition, Pablo confirms that he was hired by Rodriguez who works for Trickler.)

Tintin was later framed by Trickler for espionage. He was held in prison awaiting execution when Pablo, at the head of a gang of men, broke in and freed him. Pablo then gave Tintin a car with which to reach the border. They parted in gratitude for what each one had done for the other.

(In the original 1930s edition, Tintin, on being told that his rescuer is staying in the city, insists on staying as well, but is talked out of it on the basis that he'd be recaptured the next day, while Paolino has taken his precautions.)

Tintin and the Picaros

Pablo later returned in "Tintin and the Picaros". Tintin and his friends Captain Haddock and Professor Calculus were in San Theodoros and staying in a luxury villa. Despite appearances to the contrary they were still prisoners of the new regime led by General Tapioca. Pablo replaced their original manservant, Manolo, and claimed to be an agent of their friend, rebel General Alcazar, who was going to help them escape.

Pablo led them on a visit to an ancient pyramid where, once separated from Tapioca's men, he got Tintin to disarm him and tie him up with rope. Tintin and his friends then ran off and joined Alcazar and his guerrillas.

The idea was to make it appear that Pablo had been assaulted by Tintin. This would enable him to return to Tapioca's service without raising suspicions. Alcazar himself trusted Pablo, describing him as a figure of loyalty.

In fact Pablo was a double agent acting for Tapioca and the whole scheme was a way of killing Tintin, Alcazar and their friends in one go. However, the attempt failed and his treachery was exposed.

Pablo was captured during Alcazar's coup during the Carnival. Some like Haddock were tempted to have him shot, disgusted as they were by his double-dealing and pathetic nature. But Tintin set him free out of gratitude for having previously saved his life.