 Jean @-@ Marc and Randy Lofficier considered Cigars of the Pharaoh to be graphically between Tintin in America and The Blue Lotus , as Hergé was expanding his " visual vocabulary " and making use of " unforgettable moments " such as the dream sequence in the tomb . Although recognising that Hergé was still devising his plot on a week @-@ by @-@ week basis , they thought that the work was an improvement on his earlier stories because of the inclusion of " mystery and fantasy " . Awarding it three stars out of five , they thought the book was a " surreal thriller , drenched and atmospheric . " Believing that the work not only dealt with madness , but also was madness , they thought the book evoked " a sense of dreamlike suspension of belief . " They also highlighted the inclusion of the Kih @-@ Oskh symbol throughout the book , describing it as being akin to a recurring musical theme , stating that it added " a note of pure <unk> . " 
