Mcellen

Mcellen is a fictional element appearing in the comic book series The Adventures of Tintin. It was created by Hergé, the author of the series, as a plot device in the story "The Shooting Star." In the narrative, Mcellen is depicted as a newly discovered celestial body, a type of "star" or "meteor" that is on a collision course with Earth. The element itself is not scientifically defined or explored beyond its role in the adventure.

The discovery of Mcellen triggers a global race to reach it before it impacts Earth, with Tintin, his dog Snowy, and Captain Haddock embarking on an expedition aboard the rocket ship Aurora. The pursuit of Mcellen is driven by the scientific desire to study it and potentially prevent a catastrophe. The element's name is a playful nod to "météore" (meteor) and "étoile" (star) in French, reflecting its dual nature in the story.

"The Shooting Star" was published in 1942 during World War II, and the depiction of the international race to Mcellen can be interpreted as a commentary on the geopolitical tensions of the era. The fictional element serves as the central MacGuffin, propelling the plot and allowing Hergé to explore themes of discovery, competition, and the vastness of space within his characteristic adventure narrative. Mcellen remains a unique element in Tintin lore, representing the extraordinary scientific challenges and the human drive to explore the unknown.