 Jean @-@ Marc Lofficier and Randy Lofficier described the story as " a thinly @-@ disguised remake of Cigars of the Pharaoh " , an Adventure of Tintin which had been first serialised in 1934 . Both feature the smuggling of opium , in crab tins and cigars respectively , and " desert treks , hostile tribes and , at the end , the infiltrating of a secret underground lair . " They also opined that artistically , the story represented " a turning point in Hergé 's career " , because he had to switch to a daily format in Le Soir , although as a result of this they felt that the final third of the story " seems rushed " . Stating that the inclusion of a Japanese detective investigating drug smuggling in the Mediterranean makes no sense within the context of 1940s Europe , they ultimately awarded the story three out of five stars . 
 Jean @-@ Marc Lofficier and Randy Lofficier described the story as " a thinly @-@ disguised remake of Cigars of the Pharaoh " , an Adventure of Tintin which <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> been first serialised in 1934 . Both feature the smuggling of opium , in crab tins and cigars respectively , and " desert treks , hostile tribes and , at the end , the infiltrating of a secret underground lair . " They also opined that artistically , the story represented " a turning point in Hergé <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>career " , because he had to switch to a daily format in Le Soir , although as a result of this they felt that the final third of the story " <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>seems</mark></a> rushed " . Stating that the inclusion of a Japanese detective investigating drug smuggling in the Mediterranean <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>makes</mark></a> no sense within the context of 1940s Europe , they ultimately awarded the story three out of five stars . 
Jean @-@ Marc Lofficier and Randy Lofficier described da story as " a thinly @-@ disguised remake of Cigars of the Pharaoh " , an Adventure of Tintin which done been first serialised in 1934 . Both feature tdasmuggling of opium , in crab tins and cigars respectively , and " desert treks , hostile tribes and , at the end , thdanfiltrating of a secret underground lair . " They also opined that artistically , thedaory represented " a turning point in Hergé  career " , because he had to switch to a daily format in Le Soir , although as a result of dis they felt dat the final third of the story " seem rushed " . Stating tdatthe dalusion of a Japanese detective investigating drug smuggling in the Mdaterranean make no sense within the context of 1940s Europe , they ultimately awarded the story three out of five stars .