Hugo Pratt (1927–1995)

Corto is the epitome of romantic adventure, the rise and downfall of all us dreamers. He charms, of course, but more than his person, it's really his life, his song, his melancholy, his ships and desert treks, his labyrinths and Venetian gardens, his treasure hunts and pursuits of myth, his run-ins with pirates, mad monks, freemasons, charlatans, poets, drunkards, magnificent women--every one of them eccentric yet real, larger than life yet authentic--it's all that that seduces, the show more variegated turmoil around the one fixed centre, the calm eye of the storm, where Corto dreams. show less

When I want to relax, I read an essay by Engels. When I want to read something serious, I read Corto Maltese.
Umberto Eco

The season hasn't been kind. Shit, 2016 was rather rough from the beginning. My soul has been in slow hemorrhage for over a week and my wife and I turned to Mr. Robot. Then my wife had the flu. Left in a slow drift, I picked up this novel as I did enjoy the compendium that Joel gave me for the Yule.

Titular man of adventure goes to Siberia during the blurred glory of the show more late Russian Civil War when the US and the west sent troops to support the White/Czarist forces against the Bolshies. The Wild East in its splendor, Hugo Pratt is a master at this. If only Flashman could manage such. show less

Corto Maltese! This is an awesome 1970's Italian pulp adventure comic given to me by Tom as a birthday present. This particular volume covers some WWI adventures in and around England, Ireland and Germany, hence the subtitle "Celtic Tales". All black and white, almost realist style, everyone is a bit elongated, but it works. Corto is a bit of an anti-hero but has a soft side. Sometimes he's jacking hidden gold on the western front, sometimes he's hanging with Senn Fein operatives, sometimes show more he's steering a tugboat on a suicide run against a German U-Boat. Here is a sample chapter title: "Concerto in O' Minor for Harp and Nitroglycerine". It's not just pulpy though, there are dozens of literary references throughout: D.H. Lawrence, Hemingway, Morte D'Arthur, The Song of Roland, Cervantes. Hugo Pratt knows his stuff but likes to have fun too.
Speaking of Pratt, the bio on this guy is incredible. His mother trained him at a young age in the esoteric secrets of Kabbalah and cartomancy. When he was fourteen years old he was forced to join the colonial police in Abyssinia where his father served as soldier in the Italian Army. After Italy surrendered in WWII, he returned at the age of 21 and served as an interpreter for the allied forces. Then he moved to Argentina to join a comic writers commune. He traveled the world going on adventures and eventually retired to Switzerland where he died on the Lake of Lausanne in 1995. Sounds like a full life.
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed the story lines and appreciated a comic where the author expects you to know the cultural high marks of various literary traditions. I plan on picking up the other volumes as they are translated into English by EuroComics IDW. Thanks for hooking me up Tom. show less

The first sixty six panels of this story, where no word is spoken – and no word need be – is one of the most breathtaking sequences Manara has ever produced. Just by looking at the graphics, one can almost hear the roar of the surf and the screech of the gulls drowning the scream of the raped girl. There are a few more of this nature in this 151pp edition although non with the poignancy of this opening sequence.

This is one of the most successful collaborations Manara has had with Hugo show more Pratt, telling the more or less accurate story of early Puritan settlers struggle for survival in the Americas. Individual emotions, without narrative help, are superbly illustrated by Manara, while the narrative has historical accuracy dyed deeply.

This is a sad story, one small episode amongst many such conflicts in those early colonial days, born of human foibles and misunderstanding (on both sides) that ends in tragedy.

A brilliant rendition of an unfortunate human condition presented in graphic novel format, providing both entertainment and insight. show less