Goddin was born in
Schaerbeek, Belgium, on 27 May 1944. He studied at the
Saint-Luc Institute art school in Brussels and became an art teacher. Goddin wrote numerous books on
Hergé, which include
Hergé and Tintin, Reporters. He produced a biography,
Hergé: lignes de vie. His masterwork is the seven-volume (totalling 3000 pages) ''Hergé - Chronologie d'une oeuvre
(Hergé - Chronology of his work
), which Belgian magazine La Libre'' called "Magnificent. Monumental. Unique in its kind." ("Magnifique. Monumental. Unique en son genre.") His study of Tintin was published in English in 3 volumes as
The Art of Hergé, Inventor of Tintin; Volume 1 was criticized by
Publishers Weekly for being content to retell plots rather than providing critical analysis. It was also published in Dutch as
De Kunst van Hergé, schepper van Kuifje; Belgian newspaper
De Standaard reviewed volume 2, awarding it 4/5 stars. He also helped to keep the television series
The Adventures of Tintin more true to the books. Goddin died in Brussels on 8 September 2025, at the age of 81. == Bibliography ==