To create sets, Hergé wanted to be as accurate as possible. Thus, for scenes that take place in Switzerland, he performed trails around Lake Geneva and the various places frequented by our heroes such as Hotel Cornavin, road or Cervens Nyon.
But in 1956, the West was during the Cold War. If Switzerland was chosen for its neutrality, it does not hold true for Syldavia and Borduria, the two enemy countries invented by Hergé. Pleksy-Gladz, the dictator of Borduria represents Stalin. The two fictitious countries are the metaphor of the Eastern bloc and the Western bloc. The invention of Sunflower, which can become the most powerful weapons, symbolizes this race for nuclear armament raging at that time.
In this album, there is also the appearance of Lampion (which will not hesitate to return to Moulinsart) and the help offered by La Castafiore (the first is discovered in King Ottokar's Sceptre) Tintin Haddock and when they are wanted by the authorities Borders.
