Captain Haddock In later volumes he is clearly retired. Throughout it all, the Captain's coarse humanity and sarcasm act as a counterpoint to Tintin's often implausible heroism. He is always quick with a dry comment whenever the boy reporter gets too idealistic. Until Haddock's introduction, Tintin's constantly positive, optimistic perspective was offset by his faithful companion Snowy. Before Haddock, Snowy was the source of all dry and cynical side-commentary for the series. Hergé, however, realised Haddock's potential as a foil to Tintin. After he brought Haddock into the series, the Captain took over the role of the cynic, relieving Snowy, and establishing
Captain Haddock the Picaros", when Professor Calculus 'cures' him of his taste for alcohol. In the adventure "Secret of the Unicorn" (and continuing in "Red Rackham's Treasure") he and Tintin travel to find a pirate's treasure captured by his ancestor, Sir Francis Haddock (François de Hadoque in French). With newfound wealth and regaining his ancestral home Marlinspike Hall, Captain Haddock becomes a socialite; riding a horse, wearing a monocle, and sitting in a theatre box seat ("The Seven Crystal Balls"). He then evolves to become genuinely heroic, volunteering to sacrifice his life to save Tintin's own in the pivotal "Tintin in Tibet".