Bianca Castafiore first appears in King Ottokar’s Scepter and was to appear in several of the Adventures of Tintin albums written and illustrated by Hergé. Bianca Castafiore’s character is a Milanese opera singer and her disposition is definitely that of an opera diva.

Hergé, the creator of Tintin, was not a big fan of opera, and the creation of Bianca Castafiore was seen by many as an acknowledgment of that fact. Castafiore presents herself as one of the leading operatic figures of her generation, but in all of her appearances on the albums she is only heard singing a couple of lines from Faust’s The Jewel Song (l’air des bijoux) and then only on deafening volumes “Ah, my beauty beyond compare, these shining jewels I wear!… Was I ever Marguerite? Was it me? Come answer… Mirror, mirror, tell me the truth!” It was fair to say that Castafiore was not liked by everyone in the Tintin gang.

Captain Haddock in particular is not a big fan of Castafiore and at one point even calls him a “scruffy little schoolboy”. She shows a maternal instinct for Haddock which he really hates and when he is later romantically linked to Bianca Castafiore by a newspaper reporter, Herge reveals him as a very unhappy character. Captain Haddock is further upset by the fact that the signora can never get her name right (see end of post for details) and when she ever shows signs of affection for the Captain through gifts, the results they are always calamitous.

Bianca Castafiore (her name means “chaste flower”) ends up captured along with her entourage (her maid Irma, her musician Igor Wagner and the detectives Thompson and Thompson) on the album Tintin and the Rogues of General Tapioca on the advice of Colonel Sponsz. . The general and colonel’s goal is to lure Captain Haddock, Tintin, and Professor Calculus to San Theodoros, where they are later accused of conspiring with Castafiore to assassinate and overthrow General Tapioca. Then, however, through an unseen chain of events, General Tapioca is overthrown with the help of the defendants. This does not help Castafiore, as she is unfortunately still imprisoned and is seen complaining about overcooked pasta.

Captain Haddock’s names used incorrectly by Bianca Castafiore

1. “Mr. Paddock” – pg. 12, The matter of calculation.

Actually, the first time the Captain and Bianca met, even the Captain said that his

incorrect own name, introducing himself as “Hoddack”.

2. “Padlock” – p. 40, The sharks of the Red Sea

3. “Harrock” – pg. 40, The Sharks of the Red Sea.

Instead of correcting Castafiore, the Captain said, “…and roll, Signora

Castoroli, Harrock and roll!”

4. “Captain Bartok” – p. 6, The Emerald Castafiore.

Usually when he says his name wrong, the Captain says his name.

wrong back on purpose calling her “Castoroili”.

5. “Captain Fatstock” – pg. 8, Emerald Castafiore

6. “Captain Drydock” – pg. 9, Emerald Castafiore

Um, aren’t all the docks dry?

7. “Captain stopcock” – pg. 10, Emerald Castafiore

8. “Halibut” – p. 17 Emerald Castafiore

Bianca never actually called Haddock that, but she obviously welcomed him.

delivery man that name instead of Haddock when he was

handing over his piano

9. “Captain Hammock” – pg. 21 Emerald Castafiore

10. “Captain Paddock” – pg. 22, Emerald Castafiore

Hey, she called him that in the past!

11. “Captain Hassock” – pg. 22, Emerald Castafiore

12. “Captain Bedsock” – pg. 34 Emerald Castafiore

13. “Captain Padlock” – pg. 55 Emerald Castafiore

She used this name before too!

14. “Captain Hatbox” – pg. 56 Emerald Castafiore

15. “Captain Hemlock” – pg. 61, Tintin and the Rogues