The debut of a new, English-language edition of the classic anti-hero, Corto Maltese.
Corto Maltese by Hugo Pratt: The Ballad of the Salt Sea is the adventure that saw the birth of the legendary character, Corto Maltese, a “cult” icon of the world of European adventurers.
Hugo Pratt’s drawing shows attention to and familiarity with authentic exotic details; these are not images gleaned from shelves filled with National Geographic magazines. There is absolutely nothing that is purloined, or even borrowed, in Pratt’s work; even his irony seems to come from some absolutely unclassifiable experience. — Frank Miller
When I want to relax, I read essays by Engels. When I want something more challenging, I read Corto Maltese. — Umberto Eco
Initially published in 1967, Corto Maltese: The Ballad of the Salt Sea introduces this hero for the first time. The story begins around the time of World War I with Corto Maltese adrift in the Pacific Ocean. He is picked up by Rasputin, a Russian pirate-corsair. The story centers around Corto’s adventure.
Corto Maltese: The Ballad of the Salt Sea is sure to be popular with sophisticated readers of classy adventure stories.