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THE boy-reporter Tintin, created by Belgian cartoonist Hergé in 1929, roamed the planet in 23 comic books until 1975. But why did he never grow taller than a 12-year-old or show any signs of puberty and an interest in sex?

Now researchers believe they know. In the December issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal – which in previous years has carried a psychiatric analysis of Winnie the Pooh – they point out that Tintin experienced no fewer than “50 significant losses of consciousness”. They blame his lack of maturation and libido on damage to the pituitary gland caused by…

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