Tintin is 8216;racist8217;?

Bienvenu Mbutu Mondondo,a Congolese man based in Brussels,Belgium,launched the case over a story in which the beloved schoolboy visits what was then the Belgian Congo,Contactmusic reported.

Mondondo has been chasing the writer8217;s foundation Moulinsart,which looks after author Herge8217;s works,in criminal courts for the last three years,urging authorities to ban the comic book,titled Tintin in the Congo.

But Mondondo launched a civil case on Tuesday in a bid to speed up the suit,naming publishers Casterman as respondents.

A Casterman spokesperson argues that the book shouldn8217;t be banned because it was written such a long time ago.

8220;We will appear in court on May 12 after having been named both as editor and distributor of Tintin in the Congo8230; Mondondo demands that the album be withdrawn from sale or,failing that,that a warning be inserted8230; Casterman opposes such a withdrawal. This work was created 80 years ago,it is just a snapshot of the sentiments of the day,and is distributed in Europe and Africa without problem,8221; Valeria Constant,the spokesperson said.