Colonel Sponz

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Colonel Sponz (Colonel Sponsz) is a character from The Adventures of Tintin series of classic comic books drawn and written by Hergé. Former Bordurian Chief of Police of Szohôd, Sponz masterminded the plot to kidnap Professor Calculus in The Calculus Affair. Sponz intended to force Calculus to hand over his plans for the ultrasound weapon, or be imprisoned in Borduria for the rest of his life if the proposition is refused.

In Tintin and the Picaros, Sponz is "lent" as an adviser to General Tapioca, under the pseudonym Colonel Esponja. Sponz forges documents laying out a plan to assassinate Tapioca and plants them into the possession of a touring Bianca Castafiore, framing her as a conspirator. As Castafiore paid a disastrous visit to Haddock in The Castafiore Emerald, Sponz frames Tintin, Haddock, and Calculus as well, out of revenge for the humiliation they bestowed upon him in The Calculus Affair. Sponz is finally revealed after Alcazar's Picaros take over the country, and, defeated once again, is shipped off to Borduria.

The physical appearance of Colonel Sponz is based on Herge's brother, Paul Remi, a career soldier. Paul had been the original inspiration for Tintin himself back in 1929. Dubbed "Major Tintin", he took on a new appearance in an attempt to get away from the image. This new look was to serve as the model for Sponz.

A possible younger Sponsz appears among the audience at Tintin's knighthood investiture ceremony at the end of King Ottokar's Sceptre (though it is more likely Paul, since Herge includes caricatures of himself, his first wife and other artists).

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