BLISTERING barnacles, someone has introduced sex scenes in a Tintin comic book.

A Spanish version of one of Tintin's most famous tales, The Blue Lotus, has turned the Belgian reporter into a voracious lover, reported the Guardian.

Entitled The Pink Lotus and written by Spanish author Antonio Altarriba, it depicts the youthful Belgian hero as a dissolute tabloid journalist in his 30s undergoing a mid-life crisis.

The book charts his many affairs and includes a graphic sex scene.

The book has now been pulled from bookshops in Europe after pressure from the late author's family, who control the rights to the books, reported the Telegraph.

The book was published last year to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the birth of Tintin's creator, Georges Remi (pen name Herge), who died in 1983.

More than two decades after Herge's death, Tintin remains a symbol of childhood for generations of readers who followed the exploits of the quiffed reporter and his faithful dog companion, Snowy.

Tintin books, which have sold more than 200 million copies around the world, are available in 50 languages.

Altarriba said: 'I am an author and am totally against plagiarism, but the use of personalities which are already in existence is common.

'I have used many characters from the past in my books and I have never had a problem. But after this, I will never write again about Tintin.'

The Herge's family claimed The Pink Lotus 'perverted the essence of the personality' of Tintin.

This is not the first time someone has added sexual scenes to Tintin and the Herge estate always defends Tintin in the courts and is usually successful.

But Tintin has also been the target of legal action. Last year, Belgium's state prosecutor began an investigation into the books for alleged racism after a complaint from a Congolese student.

Mr Bienvenu Mbutu Mondondo started legal action claiming that Herge's controversial Tintin in the Congo, which was published in 1931, 'constitutes an insult for all the Congolese'.

Movie adaptation

Meanwhile mega-directors Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson will bring a Tintin trilogy to the movie screen.

During the Cannes Film Festival 2008, Spielberg confirmed that he will direct the first film himself.

Main shooting is scheduled to start in September 2008. The second film will be directed by Lord of the Ring's Peter Jackson, and the third will be co-directed by Spielberg and Jackson.

Spielberg has been an avid fan of The Adventures of Tintin comic books, which he discovered in 1981 when a film critic compared Raiders of the Lost Ark to Tintin.

For over 25 years, Spielberg had wanted to adapt the comic book series as a motion picture. He had the opportunity to talk about the project on the phone with Herge himself, but the artist died before actually meeting with Spielberg, reported the Hollywood reporter.

The first movie is expected to be released at some point next year, the BBC said.

Thomas Sangster, 18, will take the lead role. He is known for playing Liam Neeson's son in British comedy Love Actually. And the voice of Gollum from Lord of the Rings, Andy Serkis, has signed up to play Captain Haddock.

This article was first published in The New Paper on August 19, 2008.