In 1941 and 1942, Herge's native land of Belguim is occupied by the Germany, and Herge is under terrible censorship pressure. In his efforts to find a neutral subject that the Nazis would allow him to print, Herge takes Tintin and Snowy on a scientific search for a fallen meteorite in the arctic waters of the North Atlantic. Professor Phostle's discovery of a valuable new metal in the meteorite, worth a colossal fortune, sends Tintin, Snowy and Captain Haddock on a hazardous search in polar regions.