Corto Maltese: Ballad of the Salty Sea Paperback – Import, 3 March 2020

I like the adventures and illustrations.

I'm a big fan of the Corto Maltese series, and love the quality of the IDW issues. That said, four of the pages were printed with two different images at the same time, making them almost impossible to read. So, I'm knocking off one star for that.

This is really really great. I didn’t expect the spirit of the work resonates so well with my internationalist worldview. Recommend if you like freedom, peace, human connections, history and adventure!

For sheer breadth of vision and dynamism of draughtsmanship, there is nothing of its era that touches Hugo Pratt's "Ballad of the Salty Sea." Unlike some comic strip 'heroes', Corto Maltese (the name means 'quick hands' in Spanish dialect) is an ambiguous figure, always happy to indulge in a bit of violence or skullduggery, if it suits him or will advance the chances of those he likes. From the children of millionaires set adrift at sea, to cunning Fijians, to conniving imperialist German naval officers, to Rasputin himself as a piratical captain - yes, you read that right - this is one helluva ride.

This is what classic graphic storytelling is about.