Kick Butt Villains Volume VI

Stardate 3962.6

Roberto Rastapopoulos was a Greek-American tycoon, who was also known as the Marquis di Gorgonzola. He first appeared in Tintin in the "Cigars of the Pharaoh" adventure, and seemed to be a good guy in fact. He was producing a movie in Egypt for his Cosmos Pictures film company when he took Tintin in for shelter and food.

He quickly became Tintin's arch-nemesis however, and in "The Blue Lotus", he was actually revealed as the ringleader of a massive opium smuggling operation. Later on in Tintin's adventures, he surfaced again as a slave trader in "The Red Sea Sharks". Further nastiness begotten by Rastapopoulos included the kidnapping of the millionaire, Lazslo Carreidas in "Flight 714". In most stories, Rastapopoulos was accompanied by his ham-fisted sidekick, Captain Allen, who played the part of villain for Captain Haddock's character.

Finally, in "Tintin and the Lake of Sharks", Rastapopoulos was the neferious mastermind behind a large criminal gang. He was trying to use a device to create replicas of everything, in order to become even wealthier. At the end of this adventure, he was apprehended by Tintin and Captain Haddock.

At one point, Rastapopoulos was compared successfully to a Proboscis Monkey by Captain Allen! He was quite irate after that!

Coming up next time...

Darth Vader!!!