Red Rackham's Treasure – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Red Rackham's Treasure

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book1974

90%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

A shark-shaped sub, a grumpy captain, and a treasure hunt that actually delivers the goods—this is the peak of the Tintin series.

Red Rackham's Treasure

book

1974

90%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

A shark-shaped sub, a grumpy captain, and a treasure hunt that actually delivers the goods—this is the peak of the Tintin series.

4.8

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Screenwise Verdict

This is the gold standard for adventure comics. Unlike some older books that feel like a chore to get through, Red Rackham’s Treasure is genuinely exciting and visually stunning.

It avoids the cringey colonial tropes found in earlier Tintin books and settles into a rhythm of pure, imaginative discovery. It's the Indiana Jones of the 1940s, and it holds up remarkably well for a modern kid used to faster media. If you want to get your kid into graphic novels that aren't 'Dog Man,' this is your gateway drug.

Age Fit

Perfect for 7 to 12-year-olds. Younger kids will love the pictures and the shark sub, while older kids will actually follow the clever mystery. Adults often keep these on their coffee tables, too.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Tintin is the ultimate moral compass, and his friendship with the grumpy but loyal Captain Haddock is a great model of sticking by people. It’s high-seas adventure without the mean-spiritedness of modern 'edgy' content.

Imaginative

The shark-shaped submarine is one of the most iconic inventions in comic history. Hergé’s attention to detail with diving bells and treasure maps sparks a massive amount of 'I want to build that' energy.

Safe

Very safe for elementary kids. You've got some slapstick fights and Captain Haddock’s frequent drinking (which is mostly played for comedic grumpiness), but it lacks the problematic racial caricatures found in some other Tintin volumes.

Enriching

It’s a vocabulary builder disguised as a comic. It introduces kids to nautical terms, basic archaeology, and the idea that the 'treasure' isn't always a pile of gold coins.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Introduction of Professor Calculus, the lovable but hard-of-hearing genius who changes the series forever.
The shark submarine is a top-tier piece of retro-tech that kids still find cool today.
It’s a direct sequel to 'The Secret of the Unicorn,' making it a satisfying conclusion to a mystery.
Hergé’s 'clear line' art style is incredibly easy on the eyes and doesn't feel dated like other 20th-century comics.

⚠

What to Watch For

Captain Haddock is a heavy drinker (whiskey is his personality trait), though it's usually the catalyst for his clumsy heroics.
The pace is a bit slower than a modern Marvel movie, so it requires a slightly longer attention span for the dialogue.

Conversation Starters

"If you were going to build a secret submarine, what animal would it look like?"
"Why does Captain Haddock get so frustrated with Professor Calculus?"
"The 'treasure' Tintin finds isn't what they expected—was the trip still worth it?"
"How do Tintin and Haddock use their different strengths to work as a team?"

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Related Guides

The Adventures of Tintin: Retro Mystery or Problematic Classic?

Navigate the world of Hergé’s classic comics and movies while handling outdated tropes, stylized violence, and Captain Haddock’s antics.

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