Professor Calculus, also known as Cuthbert Calculus, was one of the funniest characters in the world of Tintin. Known as Professor Tryphon Tournesol (which means: sunflower) in French, his character was hard of hearing, which caused a lot of hilarity as he did not understand the conversations. For example: “buckle up” is repeated as “a paint stain?” (a paint stain). Calculus never admits to being deaf and insists he only has one ear hard of hearing in Destination Moon. In the Moon book series, Cuthbert acquires a hearing aid that causes a change in character as he becomes more serious.

In later adventures, however, Professor Calculus loses his hearing aid and once again reverts to his dear old deaf self. Where he is often distracted but who invents many objects in the series. The most famous of these inventions are the shark-shaped one-man submarine, the lunar rocket (looks a lot like a V-2 rocket!), And an ultrasound weapon (now used in modern warfare today ). Professor Calculus has a humanistic side and tries to benefit the world with inventions such as a cure for alcohol that makes alcohol taste horrible to the patient. In recognition of the contributions made by Caculus’ anti-drinking tablets, General Alcazar appointed Cuthbert Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Ferdinand with Oak Leaves in Tintin and the Picaros.

Captain Haddock often hates these inventions (he’s a bit of a drinker himself!) Although Calculus often interprets this backwards due to his deafness. The professor has a weakness, it’s if someone (especially Haddock) calls him a goat. Or as the famous Captain Haddock said in Destination Moon “acting like a goat”, the mild mannered Professor Calculus was enraged and joked about the famous answer “Goat, is it me?”, Which to Tintin fans is a legend.

Cuthbert Calculus is a fervent believer in dowsing and carries a pendulum for that purpose. It’s hard to believe, but Calculus comments from time to time that he was a great athlete in his youth, with a very athletic lifestyle. On Flight 714 he demonstrates his old love for the French martial art savate rather badly, which leaves the reader very amused.

Calculus first appears in Red Rackham’s Treasure and presses the end of a long search for a type of mad professor that had led to the creation of earlier characters such as Dr. Sarcophagus in Cigars of the Pharoh and Professor Alembick in King Ottokar’s Scepter. The character was inspired by the famous inventor of the bathyscaphe, Professor Auguste Piccard.