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Corto Maltese #3
Corto Maltese 3. Departe, tot mai departe
Când compune lumea lui Corto Maltese, linia desenului lui Pratt are un nu-știu-ce misterios-nostalgic, o sugestie de mai-mult exprimat printr-o limitare voită la un doar-atât — un „doar-atât” al celui care fie știe, fie știe că a știut că, în lumea ireversibilului și irepetabilului, nimic nu merge mai mult (rien ne va plus strigă crupierii când jocurile sunt deja făcute). În același fel, compozițiile lui grafice, atât de persuasive, în ciuda unor stângăcii (ale corpurilor în mișcare, uneori; ale neasemănării unor chipuri, alteori; ale unor decoruri brusc pueril desenate, câteodată), degajă o extraordinară mireasmă de autenticitate. Ea provine, desigur, din rafinamentul artistului: el uzează de primitivism, dar, mai presus de asta, autenticitatea vine din sugestia, întreținută de desen, că tot ce vedem aparține unui trecut al originilor, nu unui trecut al istoriei. (Horia-Roman Patapievici, fragment din prefață)
Traducere de Tudor Călin Zarojanu/ Prefață de Horia-Roman Patapievici
Traducere de Tudor Călin Zarojanu/ Prefață de Horia-Roman Patapievici
128 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1971
5 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
About the author
Hugo Pratt
722 books419 followersHugo Pratt, born Ugo Eugenio Prat (1927–1995), was an Italian comic book writer and artist. Internationally known for Corto Maltese, a series of adventure comics first published in Italy and France between 1967 and 1991, Pratt is regarded as a pioneer of the literary graphic novel.
Born in Rimini, Italy, Pratt spent his childhood in Venice in a cosmopolitan family environment. In 1937, ten-years old Hugo moved with his parents to Ethiopia, East Africa, following the Italian occupation of the country. Pratt's father eventually died as a prisoner of war in 1942. Hugo himself and his mother spent some time in a British prison camp in Africa, before being sent back to Venice. This childhood experiences shaped Pratt's fascination with military uniforms, machineries and settings, a visual constant in most of his adult works.
As a young artist in post-war Italy, Pratt was part of the so-called 'Venice Group', which also included cartoonists Alberto Ongaro, Mario Faustinelli. Their magazine Asso di Picche, launched in 1945, mostly featured adventure comics.
In 1949 Pratt moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he worked for various local publishers and interacted with well-known Argentine cartoonists, most notably Alberto Breccia and Solano López, while also teaching at the Escuela Panamericana de Arte. During this period he produced his first notable comic books: Sgt. Kirk and Ernie Pike, written by Héctor Germán Oesterheld; Anna nella jungla, Capitan Cormorant and Wheeling, as a complete author.
From the summer of 1959 to the summer of 1960, Pratt lived in London drawing war comics by British scriptwriters for Fleetway Publications. He returned to Argentina for a couple more years, then moved back to Italy in 1962. Here he started collaborating with the comics magazine Il Corriere dei Piccoli, for which he adapted several classics, including works by Robert Louis Stevenson.
In 1967, Hugo Pratt and entrepreneur Florenzo Ivaldi created the comics magazine Il Sergente Kirk, named after one of Pratt's original characters. Pratt's most famous work, Una ballata del mare salato (1967, The Ballad of the Salty Sea) was serialised in the pages of this magazine. The story can be seen as one of the first modern graphic novels. It also introduced Pratt's best known character, mariner and adventurer Corto Maltese. Corto became the protagonist of its own series three years later in the French comics magazine Pif gadget. Pratt would continue releasing new Corto Maltese books every few years until 1991. Corto's stories are set in various parts of the world, in a given moment in the first three decades of the 20th century. They often tangently deal with real historical events or real historical figures. The series gave Pratt international notoriety, being eventually translated into fifteen languages.
Pratt's other works include Gli scorpioni del deserto (1969-1992), a series of military adventures set in East Africa during WWII, and a few one-shots published for Bonelli's comic magazine Un Uomo Un'Avventura ('One Man One Adventure'), most notably the short story Jesuit Joe (1980, The Man from the Great North). He also scripted a couple of stories for his pupil Milo Manara.
Pratt lived in France from 1970 to 1984, then in Switzerland till his death from bowel cancer in 1995.
Born in Rimini, Italy, Pratt spent his childhood in Venice in a cosmopolitan family environment. In 1937, ten-years old Hugo moved with his parents to Ethiopia, East Africa, following the Italian occupation of the country. Pratt's father eventually died as a prisoner of war in 1942. Hugo himself and his mother spent some time in a British prison camp in Africa, before being sent back to Venice. This childhood experiences shaped Pratt's fascination with military uniforms, machineries and settings, a visual constant in most of his adult works.
As a young artist in post-war Italy, Pratt was part of the so-called 'Venice Group', which also included cartoonists Alberto Ongaro, Mario Faustinelli. Their magazine Asso di Picche, launched in 1945, mostly featured adventure comics.
In 1949 Pratt moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he worked for various local publishers and interacted with well-known Argentine cartoonists, most notably Alberto Breccia and Solano López, while also teaching at the Escuela Panamericana de Arte. During this period he produced his first notable comic books: Sgt. Kirk and Ernie Pike, written by Héctor Germán Oesterheld; Anna nella jungla, Capitan Cormorant and Wheeling, as a complete author.
From the summer of 1959 to the summer of 1960, Pratt lived in London drawing war comics by British scriptwriters for Fleetway Publications. He returned to Argentina for a couple more years, then moved back to Italy in 1962. Here he started collaborating with the comics magazine Il Corriere dei Piccoli, for which he adapted several classics, including works by Robert Louis Stevenson.
In 1967, Hugo Pratt and entrepreneur Florenzo Ivaldi created the comics magazine Il Sergente Kirk, named after one of Pratt's original characters. Pratt's most famous work, Una ballata del mare salato (1967, The Ballad of the Salty Sea) was serialised in the pages of this magazine. The story can be seen as one of the first modern graphic novels. It also introduced Pratt's best known character, mariner and adventurer Corto Maltese. Corto became the protagonist of its own series three years later in the French comics magazine Pif gadget. Pratt would continue releasing new Corto Maltese books every few years until 1991. Corto's stories are set in various parts of the world, in a given moment in the first three decades of the 20th century. They often tangently deal with real historical events or real historical figures. The series gave Pratt international notoriety, being eventually translated into fifteen languages.
Pratt's other works include Gli scorpioni del deserto (1969-1992), a series of military adventures set in East Africa during WWII, and a few one-shots published for Bonelli's comic magazine Un Uomo Un'Avventura ('One Man One Adventure'), most notably the short story Jesuit Joe (1980, The Man from the Great North). He also scripted a couple of stories for his pupil Milo Manara.
Pratt lived in France from 1970 to 1984, then in Switzerland till his death from bowel cancer in 1995.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
February 5, 2024
I can’t imagine an anarchist buried in consecrated ground!
GR friend Alan and Umberto Eco keep a firm hand on my back. I continue but the results haven’t really changed. These tales occur in the Caribbean and the Amazon: there’s voodoo, scorpions, embezzlement and race-mixing.
GR friend Alan and Umberto Eco keep a firm hand on my back. I continue but the results haven’t really changed. These tales occur in the Caribbean and the Amazon: there’s voodoo, scorpions, embezzlement and race-mixing.
November 27, 2019
Corto Maltese, as a merchant marine salesman and debonnaire adventurer certainly gets around. This adventure takes place in South America, Venezuela to be exact, and metes out the normal ration of mystery and romance with a dose of existentialism. It is - as all of Hugo Pratt's work - gorgeously illustrated.
December 22, 2017
A very nice album altogether. A special mention for the episode "The Sweet-Dream Lagoon", which reads like a mixture of Joseph Conrad and Sigmund Freud, with a pinch of Claude Lévi-Strauss.
December 3, 2024
продолжение ленты мебиуса с нескончаемым приключением хз где и хз зачем. в этом и прелесть. хотя техническая причина - в общем, поиски затерянной цивилизации Му и ее сокровищ, конечно. а постмодерновые отсылки - это, конечно, отдельный фан для литературоцентричного ума, а монтажные приемы и композиции кадров - чистое удовольствие для синефила. ну и вставные новеллы из галлюцинаций очень хороши.
заодно тут дается забавный способ употребления известных грибов: подмешать их в ризотто. результат гарантирован.
...поскольку с разными изданиями серий этого романа полная чехарда, то надо сказать, что читал я другое издание, с другим названием и под другой обложкой, но книжкм та же самая.
заодно тут дается забавный способ употребления известных грибов: подмешать их в ризотто. результат гарантирован.
...поскольку с разными изданиями серий этого романа полная чехарда, то надо сказать, что читал я другое издание, с другим названием и под другой обложкой, но книжкм та же самая.
October 2, 2015
Another great volume in Dean Mullaney's EuroComics series of Corto Maltese books. Had the opportunity to talk with Dean about this, and other books he's been editing, for the podcast: http://comicsalternative.com/comics-a....
January 11, 2020
This is the second volume, but the only one I’ve read. I don’t imagine reading the first would make the enigmatic sailor any less so. In these episodes he is always in the right spot, always able to get out of the tightest jam. The volume is large, with good maps on the end flaps. However, the episodic nature of the adventures means there is plot device repetition and no character development. The enigmatic sailor is what he is, and no more. If you like this style, it is very well done
May 3, 2017
This is the second volume released by IDW EuroComics, although it's the fourth in the series, judging by the list in the back. Here, our intrepid sailor Corto Maltese ends up in a few more adventures in the South American jungle, coming up against head shrinkers, assassins, and political revolutionaries. All told in Pratt's somewhat stilted, Hemingwayesque style, which actually works well for these types of stories. The black and white art is a pleasure to look at, and shows the versatility of Pratt working in this medium
Great classic European adventure comics.
Great classic European adventure comics.
January 26, 2019
A treasure in both art and story. It's difficult to say whether this volume is better translated than the first or if I've just become accustomed to the slightly stilted language; in either case I'll be reading the rest soon.
October 24, 2015
Immer noch ein bisschen weiter
Die erste Begegnung, die ich mit Corto Maltese hatte, war eher unglücklich. Gedruckt im Miniformat auf schlechtem Papier mit schlechter Bindung in grausiger deutscher Übersetzung. Ich hoffe, ich bin nicht der einzige, der dieser fantastischen Serie nach so einem schlechten Anfang eine zweite Chance gab. In Großformat, französisch und besserer Aufmachung.
Pratt ist ein Genie, wenn es darum geht, mit dicken, krummen und wild dahingeworfenen Strichen, amateurhaften Schraffuren und skizzenhaften Panels eine einmalige Atmosphäre zu erzeugen, die ihresgleichen sucht. Von der Südsee über die Karibik bis nach Brasilien, überall dort, wo es noch Abenteuer zu erleben gibt, und wo andere erschreckt vor der brutalen Urgewalt des Dschungels und seiner indigenen, rätselhaften Bevölkerung zurückweichen. Dabei ist Corto kein Held, mehr ein Glücksritter, der sich vom Wind und den Wellen treiben lässt; wohin es ihn verschlägt, er findet schnell Freunde und Feinde.
Faszinierend sind die Geschichten, weil sie gut recherchiert und dicht sind, erzählerisch erstklassig, vom Tempo aber immer sehr langsam, gemächlich, wellenartig, diesig und traumwandlerisch. Gerade die erste der 5 Kurzgeschichten dieses Bands, in dem Zauberpilze aus Mexiko eine wichtige Rolle spielen, zeigt, wie leicht Pratt mit Zeit- und Raumebenen hantieren kann.
Eine wirklich außergewöhnliche Reihe. Ein außergewöhnlicher Zeichner. Ein außergewöhnlicher Protagonist. Literatur und Kunst auf höchster Ebene.
Die erste Begegnung, die ich mit Corto Maltese hatte, war eher unglücklich. Gedruckt im Miniformat auf schlechtem Papier mit schlechter Bindung in grausiger deutscher Übersetzung. Ich hoffe, ich bin nicht der einzige, der dieser fantastischen Serie nach so einem schlechten Anfang eine zweite Chance gab. In Großformat, französisch und besserer Aufmachung.
Pratt ist ein Genie, wenn es darum geht, mit dicken, krummen und wild dahingeworfenen Strichen, amateurhaften Schraffuren und skizzenhaften Panels eine einmalige Atmosphäre zu erzeugen, die ihresgleichen sucht. Von der Südsee über die Karibik bis nach Brasilien, überall dort, wo es noch Abenteuer zu erleben gibt, und wo andere erschreckt vor der brutalen Urgewalt des Dschungels und seiner indigenen, rätselhaften Bevölkerung zurückweichen. Dabei ist Corto kein Held, mehr ein Glücksritter, der sich vom Wind und den Wellen treiben lässt; wohin es ihn verschlägt, er findet schnell Freunde und Feinde.
Faszinierend sind die Geschichten, weil sie gut recherchiert und dicht sind, erzählerisch erstklassig, vom Tempo aber immer sehr langsam, gemächlich, wellenartig, diesig und traumwandlerisch. Gerade die erste der 5 Kurzgeschichten dieses Bands, in dem Zauberpilze aus Mexiko eine wichtige Rolle spielen, zeigt, wie leicht Pratt mit Zeit- und Raumebenen hantieren kann.
Eine wirklich außergewöhnliche Reihe. Ein außergewöhnlicher Zeichner. Ein außergewöhnlicher Protagonist. Literatur und Kunst auf höchster Ebene.
October 18, 2020
There is nothing more needed to say about Corto. First page of Banana Conga is a masterpiece in itself!
IDW made a beautiful edition. Quality of paper and print is just perfect. Very, very small objection is that in two places there is a duplication of words the and to in speech balloons, but that is negligible.
A joy to read and reread.
*Note: on the second reading I noticed a couple of typos - mostly repeating two letter words like UP or AS at the end of the line. I completely missed it the first time, therefore no big deal (but a small detriment to perfection)
IDW made a beautiful edition. Quality of paper and print is just perfect. Very, very small objection is that in two places there is a duplication of words the and to in speech balloons, but that is negligible.
A joy to read and reread.
*Note: on the second reading I noticed a couple of typos - mostly repeating two letter words like UP or AS at the end of the line. I completely missed it the first time, therefore no big deal (but a small detriment to perfection)
January 1, 2017
Hugo Prattin "Banaaniconga ja muita kertomuksia" (Jalava, 1997) pitää sisällään viisi lyhyttä tarinaa, joissa karismaattinen onnensoturi Corto Maltese seikkailee Etelä-Amerikassa ja Karibialla. Corto törmää mitä mielenkiintoisimpiin persoonallisuuksiin ja joutuu tekemisiin niin voodoon, pääkallonmetsästäjien kuin tarunomaisen El Doradon kanssa.
Sarjakuvanovellit ovat tunnelmallisia, hetkittäin unenomaisia ja vähän mystisiäkin.
Sarjakuvanovellit ovat tunnelmallisia, hetkittäin unenomaisia ja vähän mystisiäkin.
October 14, 2020
Terrific and engaging. Graphically very striking.
+++++++++++
Second reading, this one part of a "complete Corto Maltese" read, and it's definitely worth the time to read all the Corto stories in a small time frame. All the recurring characters and trouble really bring Corto's world together when you remember how everybody fits together.
+++++++++++
Second reading, this one part of a "complete Corto Maltese" read, and it's definitely worth the time to read all the Corto stories in a small time frame. All the recurring characters and trouble really bring Corto's world together when you remember how everybody fits together.
Read
February 13, 2017Amnesia, revolutions, a witch doctor using his powers to break the people's belief in sorcery...it's not as if the half Rick from Casbalanca, half Indiana Jones figure of Corto Maltese doesn't encounter plenty of incident here. But for me the real attraction remains the play of light and shadow, the leaves and the clouds.
December 1, 2016
Corto Maltese is one of the greatest comics in the world. I've been reading it for years, and I'm only now starting to appreciate its true greatness.
December 20, 2017
So great to see these stories in English - very nice editions.
May 30, 2025
Mi-a plăcut.
Traducerea mi s-a părut bună.
Aventurile în zona Mării Caraibilor și în nordul Americii de Sud continuă. Între întâlniri cu prieteni vechi, comploturi complexe în mijlocul cărora se nimerește întâmplător și rugăminți pentru a rezolva diverse probleme, Corto Maltese se trezește în fața unor povești de secole care orbitează în jurul legendelor despre El Dorado.
Pe măsură ce parcurg seria încep să mă obișnuiesc cu stilul ei. Și să-mi dau seama de ce, la primul contact cu ea - în vreme adolescenței - nu m-a atras. Poveștile lui Corto Maltese sunt ca o degustare de vinuri: privești desenele schematice - tușe negre trasate grăbit pe fundalul alb, ce sugerează bogăția culorilor tropicale. Miști ușor paginile și îți umpli nările cu aroma de poveste veche, exotică. Iei apoi o înghițitură și o plimbi pe limbă, descoperind bogăția texturilor - straturi peste straturi, fiecare dintre ele o picătură în interiorul căreia se ghicește o întreagă lume (uneori liniștită, alteori periculoasă, erotică ori violentă, tristă sau veselă). La final, rămâi cu un gust ușor melancolic, ușor condimentat, de lume unde timpul curge leneș, fără a ajunge vreodată la capăt.
Și în albumul acesta Pratt se mai joacă, experimentând diverse stiluri, alternându-le, căutând modul în care stilul său minimalist să nu cadă în caricatural, ci se prindă esența a ceea ce vrea să transmită. Și îi iese de multe ori, reușind să evoce superb exotismul naturii, ori al artefactelor specifice zonei. E mai temperat decât în precedentele volume, mâna e mai sigură. În unele casete care duc minimalismul la extrem experimentul ii reușește. În altele, însă, pare că a inserat mâzgălitura unui copil mic. Scenele de acțiune îi pun în continuare probleme, mișcările arătând nenatural. Dar nu mai abuzează de ele, ca înainte, ci preferă să se concentreze pe cadre statice, pe câte un detaliu care sugerează desfășurarea lucrurilor, nu pe dinamica ansamblului - ceea ce aduce un plus. Mâna nu-i este încă sigură când vine vorba de figurile personajelor - inconsistente, chiar și în cazul protagonistului, arătând la fel preț de mai multe casete, pentru ca, brusc, să „nu-i mai iasă”.
Poveștile prezintă diverse aventuri, dar pun, în continuare, accentul pe discuții, pe probleme morale, filozofice, ceea ce conferă un aer aparte, o ușoară nostalgie, un anume „laissez-faire”, un „je m'en fiche”-ism ce se insinuează în cititor, îl face să se lase purtat de întâmplările ce curg lent, leneș, în căldura locurilor. Aceasta iese din casetă, cuprinzându-l în mrejele ei. Periodic, are loc trezirea la realitatea dură prin apariția unui incident de o violență extremă, apoi se revine la cursul obișnuit. În albumul de față, un element aparte îl constituie trans-temporalitatea - peste prezentul seriei se suprapune, uneori, trecutul. Amestecul are un aer natural, adăugând o doză de mister, fără, însă, a scădea din credibilitatea și cursivitatea poveștii.
Îmi pare bine că, la fel ca în cazul „Aventurilor lui Tintin”, am decis să acord o nouă șansă seriei acum, după ce viața a mai trecut peste mine. În adolescență, nu eram pe aceeași lungime de undă cu ea (ele). Acum, abia aștept să trec la al patrulea album.
Traducerea mi s-a părut bună.
Aventurile în zona Mării Caraibilor și în nordul Americii de Sud continuă. Între întâlniri cu prieteni vechi, comploturi complexe în mijlocul cărora se nimerește întâmplător și rugăminți pentru a rezolva diverse probleme, Corto Maltese se trezește în fața unor povești de secole care orbitează în jurul legendelor despre El Dorado.
Pe măsură ce parcurg seria încep să mă obișnuiesc cu stilul ei. Și să-mi dau seama de ce, la primul contact cu ea - în vreme adolescenței - nu m-a atras. Poveștile lui Corto Maltese sunt ca o degustare de vinuri: privești desenele schematice - tușe negre trasate grăbit pe fundalul alb, ce sugerează bogăția culorilor tropicale. Miști ușor paginile și îți umpli nările cu aroma de poveste veche, exotică. Iei apoi o înghițitură și o plimbi pe limbă, descoperind bogăția texturilor - straturi peste straturi, fiecare dintre ele o picătură în interiorul căreia se ghicește o întreagă lume (uneori liniștită, alteori periculoasă, erotică ori violentă, tristă sau veselă). La final, rămâi cu un gust ușor melancolic, ușor condimentat, de lume unde timpul curge leneș, fără a ajunge vreodată la capăt.
Și în albumul acesta Pratt se mai joacă, experimentând diverse stiluri, alternându-le, căutând modul în care stilul său minimalist să nu cadă în caricatural, ci se prindă esența a ceea ce vrea să transmită. Și îi iese de multe ori, reușind să evoce superb exotismul naturii, ori al artefactelor specifice zonei. E mai temperat decât în precedentele volume, mâna e mai sigură. În unele casete care duc minimalismul la extrem experimentul ii reușește. În altele, însă, pare că a inserat mâzgălitura unui copil mic. Scenele de acțiune îi pun în continuare probleme, mișcările arătând nenatural. Dar nu mai abuzează de ele, ca înainte, ci preferă să se concentreze pe cadre statice, pe câte un detaliu care sugerează desfășurarea lucrurilor, nu pe dinamica ansamblului - ceea ce aduce un plus. Mâna nu-i este încă sigură când vine vorba de figurile personajelor - inconsistente, chiar și în cazul protagonistului, arătând la fel preț de mai multe casete, pentru ca, brusc, să „nu-i mai iasă”.
Poveștile prezintă diverse aventuri, dar pun, în continuare, accentul pe discuții, pe probleme morale, filozofice, ceea ce conferă un aer aparte, o ușoară nostalgie, un anume „laissez-faire”, un „je m'en fiche”-ism ce se insinuează în cititor, îl face să se lase purtat de întâmplările ce curg lent, leneș, în căldura locurilor. Aceasta iese din casetă, cuprinzându-l în mrejele ei. Periodic, are loc trezirea la realitatea dură prin apariția unui incident de o violență extremă, apoi se revine la cursul obișnuit. În albumul de față, un element aparte îl constituie trans-temporalitatea - peste prezentul seriei se suprapune, uneori, trecutul. Amestecul are un aer natural, adăugând o doză de mister, fără, însă, a scădea din credibilitatea și cursivitatea poveștii.
Îmi pare bine că, la fel ca în cazul „Aventurilor lui Tintin”, am decis să acord o nouă șansă seriei acum, după ce viața a mai trecut peste mine. În adolescență, nu eram pe aceeași lungime de undă cu ea (ele). Acum, abia aștept să trec la al patrulea album.
December 8, 2017
Πρώτη πρώτη παρατήρηση με το που ξεκίνησα το "Βουντού για τον κύριο πρόεδρο", και πριν μνημονεύσω την εσωτερική χρονολόγηση των ιστοριών, είναι ότι πάει πακέτο με το "Ο αετός της Βραζιλίας". Ίδια περιβάλλοντα, αναφορές μεταξύ των δύο τευχών τα οποία είχαν βγει ως ένα αρχικά. Οπότε για πιο ολοκληρωμένη αναγνωστική εμπειρία ας θεωρηθούν ένα και ας διαβαστούν έτσι.
Το "Βουντού για τον κύριο πρόεδρο" το ευχαριστήθηκα εξίσου με άλλα αν και οι περιπέτειες που συμβαίνουν στους τροπικούς (λατινική Αμερική, Αφρική κλπ) δεν με τρελαίνουν και πολύ. Προτιμώ τα βόρεια κλίματα, γι'αυτό λάτρεψα την Σιβηρία και σίγουρα θα λατρέψω και τα κέλτικα. Ο Πραττ όμως δεν γίνεται να μην σε κερδίσει ακόμα και σε αυτή την περίπτωση που δεν γοητεύεσαι από τους πολιτισμούς των ιθαγενών/ίντιος, προσφέροντας τέσσερις ιστορίες λίγο πολύ εξαιρετικές. Ξεχώρισα με διαφορά την "Η λιμνοθάλασσα των χαμένων ονείρων", μια ονειρική και πολύ θλιβερή ιστορία που αφήνει το σημάδι της στον Κόρτο περισσότερο απ'ότι δείχνει στο τέλος της, ενώ απόλαυσα και τις "Παραμύθια για παππούδες" και "Βουντού για τον κύριο πρόεδρο". Το "παραμύθια για παππούδες" παραπέμπει στην αρχή των κέλτικων (είχα διαβάσει τις δύο πρώτες σελίδες των κέλτικων με το χάρτη πάνω σε δέρμα φραγκισκανού μοναχού), οπότε έπεσε κουτί που το επόμενο στην λίστα ανάγνωσης ήταν τα κέλτικα.
Τέλος, η ιστορία "Η κόνγκα της μπανάνας" πέρασε και δεν ακούμπησε. Εγώ τουλάχιστον κατάλαβα στο πολύ τέλος τι έπαιζε γενικά, όχι μόνο με την ανατροπή και την χειραγώγηση που έκανε η χρυσόστομη. Το σχέδιο είναι από τα πλέον εξαιρετικά του Πραττ, μπορείς από τέσσερις ιστορίες και μόλις 95 σελίδες να πάρεις πάνω από 50 πορτραίτα του Κόρτο υπό διαφορετική γωνία έκαστο.
Το "Βουντού για τον κύριο πρόεδρο" το ευχαριστήθηκα εξίσου με άλλα αν και οι περιπέτειες που συμβαίνουν στους τροπικούς (λατινική Αμερική, Αφρική κλπ) δεν με τρελαίνουν και πολύ. Προτιμώ τα βόρεια κλίματα, γι'αυτό λάτρεψα την Σιβηρία και σίγουρα θα λατρέψω και τα κέλτικα. Ο Πραττ όμως δεν γίνεται να μην σε κερδίσει ακόμα και σε αυτή την περίπτωση που δεν γοητεύεσαι από τους πολιτισμούς των ιθαγενών/ίντιος, προσφέροντας τέσσερις ιστορίες λίγο πολύ εξαιρετικές. Ξεχώρισα με διαφορά την "Η λιμνοθάλασσα των χαμένων ονείρων", μια ονειρική και πολύ θλιβερή ιστορία που αφήνει το σημάδι της στον Κόρτο περισσότερο απ'ότι δείχνει στο τέλος της, ενώ απόλαυσα και τις "Παραμύθια για παππούδες" και "Βουντού για τον κύριο πρόεδρο". Το "παραμύθια για παππούδες" παραπέμπει στην αρχή των κέλτικων (είχα διαβάσει τις δύο πρώτες σελίδες των κέλτικων με το χάρτη πάνω σε δέρμα φραγκισκανού μοναχού), οπότε έπεσε κουτί που το επόμενο στην λίστα ανάγνωσης ήταν τα κέλτικα.
Τέλος, η ιστορία "Η κόνγκα της μπανάνας" πέρασε και δεν ακούμπησε. Εγώ τουλάχιστον κατάλαβα στο πολύ τέλος τι έπαιζε γενικά, όχι μόνο με την ανατροπή και την χειραγώγηση που έκανε η χρυσόστομη. Το σχέδιο είναι από τα πλέον εξαιρετικά του Πραττ, μπορείς από τέσσερις ιστορίες και μόλις 95 σελίδες να πάρεις πάνω από 50 πορτραίτα του Κόρτο υπό διαφορετική γωνία έκαστο.
January 12, 2025
Beyond the Windy Isles contains five stories that serve as the culmination of the "Caribbean Suite" cycle of stories that begun in Under the Sign of Capricorn. The journeys of Corto Maltese continue around South America in 1917, a portion of the world untouched by the bloodbath of the First World War. But the adventures of Corto and his allies are no less turbulent, as colonialism, political strife and dangerous tribes. The recurring character Levi Colombia, an antiquarian searching for the treasure of El Dorado, is introduced in the opening story, and further adventures introduce other unique characters like Venexiana Stevenson.
"Sweet Dream Lagoon" a somewhat surreal story set in the deep jungles serves as this collection's best, but the other stories are all just as engaging. The crisp black-and-white artwork is reproduced to high level in these IDW editions, and makes for a truly wonderful reading experience. While one can start reading Corto Maltese with any edition available, I would suggest reading Under the Sign of Capricorn before this one, though it is not fully necessary either.
"Sweet Dream Lagoon" a somewhat surreal story set in the deep jungles serves as this collection's best, but the other stories are all just as engaging. The crisp black-and-white artwork is reproduced to high level in these IDW editions, and makes for a truly wonderful reading experience. While one can start reading Corto Maltese with any edition available, I would suggest reading Under the Sign of Capricorn before this one, though it is not fully necessary either.
May 15, 2019
This is an omnibus of five linked short stories immediately following on from the episodes in “Sous Le Signe Du Capricorne”.
These ones are darker, concerned with magic and madness, revolutions in banana republics, deserters from the First World War, and abuses of colonial power. Corto Maltese travels through the Caribbean, Central America, Venezuela, and Peru. These stories are less contemplative and dreamy, more driven by greed, guilt, and gain, than the stories in the previous omnibus. Nevertheless, the storytelling has a great maturity and humanity, and the graphics are even more stylised and impressionistic.
The recurring secondary characters and themes give the world of Corto Maltese depth and mystery, and hence makes even the weaker stories (and these do feel a little weaker than in the previous omnibus) compelling to read.
These ones are darker, concerned with magic and madness, revolutions in banana republics, deserters from the First World War, and abuses of colonial power. Corto Maltese travels through the Caribbean, Central America, Venezuela, and Peru. These stories are less contemplative and dreamy, more driven by greed, guilt, and gain, than the stories in the previous omnibus. Nevertheless, the storytelling has a great maturity and humanity, and the graphics are even more stylised and impressionistic.
The recurring secondary characters and themes give the world of Corto Maltese depth and mystery, and hence makes even the weaker stories (and these do feel a little weaker than in the previous omnibus) compelling to read.
November 13, 2022
La genialidad en como cuenta las historias Hugo Pratt es admirable, como en una historia puede contar tantas tramas con distintos personajes, dando giro tras giro. De hecho, en la historia La conga de las bananas es una representación espectacular de “Nadie sabe para quién trabaja”, y eso hace muy emocionante y entretenida la historia. Así mismo, las historias de Corto Maltese son muy serias, hay disputas políticas, raciales, religiosas, pero también hay mucho humor, nuestro aventurero constantemente está riéndose de las distintas situaciones que le ocurren o simplemente ocurren situaciones cómicas, dentro de los entuertos que se presentan. Eso hace que este tipo de historias cortas se disfruten muchísimo, porque son dinámicas, más aun porque son acompañadas de un carismático y misterioso personaje.
July 13, 2025
Il mio terzo libro in Italiano.
Once again I thought about rating this 4 or 4.5, but the overall quality is just so good! I would say the only I don't like was "Vudù per il presidente" / "Voodoo for the President" where the action was strangely off screen somehow and the overall story a bit too inexplicable. "Teste e funghi" / "Heads and Mushrooms" was enjoyably quirky and tied into the previous volume, the beginning of the "La conga delle banane" / "Banana Conga" is truly iconic and the action almost non-stop, and "Nonni e fiabe" / "A Tale of Two Grandfathers" is just lovely. The standout, however, is "La Laguna dei bei Sogni" / "Sweet Dream Lagoon" that is a truly great piece of storytelling where Corto himself only acts as a bookend. The dream-like quality is infinitely enjoyable.
Can't wait for the next collection!
Once again I thought about rating this 4 or 4.5, but the overall quality is just so good! I would say the only I don't like was "Vudù per il presidente" / "Voodoo for the President" where the action was strangely off screen somehow and the overall story a bit too inexplicable. "Teste e funghi" / "Heads and Mushrooms" was enjoyably quirky and tied into the previous volume, the beginning of the "La conga delle banane" / "Banana Conga" is truly iconic and the action almost non-stop, and "Nonni e fiabe" / "A Tale of Two Grandfathers" is just lovely. The standout, however, is "La Laguna dei bei Sogni" / "Sweet Dream Lagoon" that is a truly great piece of storytelling where Corto himself only acts as a bookend. The dream-like quality is infinitely enjoyable.
Can't wait for the next collection!
September 26, 2022
Hugo Pratt, çizgi roman sanatının doruklarından biri. Joseph Conrad, Herman Melville roman sanatı için ne yaptıysa, Pratt da Corto Maltese serisini yaratarak grafik roman için aynısını yapmıştır. Jack London'ın, Corto'nun dostlarından biri olması da tesadüf değildir! Corto'nun serüvenleri gerçek dünya ahvâline gönderme yaptığı için, bir kronoloji takip ediyor. İlk kitap 1913-15, ikinci kitap 1916-17 yıllarında geçmişti; bu kitap ise 1917 yılındaki serüvenlere karşılık geliyor. Bir yanda savaş, köle ticareti, sömürgecilik; diğer yanda büyücüler, ayinler, gizli defineler, gizli kodlar, yaban hayatın acımasız koşulları var. (Sonradan renklendirilmişlere kıyasla, orijinal siyah-beyazları okumanın ayrı bir zevki olduğunu da vurgulamalıyım.)
June 23, 2024
This was a pretty fun book. It’s incredible how good this is for being made 50+ years ago. It flows fairly well and the translations mostly make sense.
The sequential art is the star of the show here. Pratt manages to portray motion very well. Most of the characters look great, some however are a bit odd looking.
I’m not used to reading books from this era so adjusting to the dialog to took some adjusting, however I am very happy that there aren’t any of those description boxes (?) cluttering up all the panels like with a lot of older comics.
The first story was my favorite in here, but they were all pretty good.
The sequential art is the star of the show here. Pratt manages to portray motion very well. Most of the characters look great, some however are a bit odd looking.
I’m not used to reading books from this era so adjusting to the dialog to took some adjusting, however I am very happy that there aren’t any of those description boxes (?) cluttering up all the panels like with a lot of older comics.
The first story was my favorite in here, but they were all pretty good.
November 25, 2025
Titled “Just a Little Further Away” in the English translation, these are the best Corto Maltese stories so far.
Each story a unique episode and the art style is developing! with memorable frames like the “talking guns” and the British deserter’s fever dream.
A beautiful trip into the mysterious and pestilent jungles of South America— the best of Corto’s time in this part of the world so far.
Each story a unique episode and the art style is developing! with memorable frames like the “talking guns” and the British deserter’s fever dream.
A beautiful trip into the mysterious and pestilent jungles of South America— the best of Corto’s time in this part of the world so far.
July 6, 2023
My first meeting with Corto Maltese and I throughly enjoyed it. The tidbits from the world of Amazon Rainforest, Carribean Islands. I loved the shrunken head a tsantsa and ayahuasca.
I think I got a trace of love stricken Corto on the last tale, which is of all very human. All in all I loved the character.
I think I got a trace of love stricken Corto on the last tale, which is of all very human. All in all I loved the character.
August 18, 2021
An action/adventure graphic novel. Kind of Indiana Jones style. In this one Corto spends his time in South America and the Amazon. I was a little surprised that enjoyed it since it's from the 70s, but adventure is the same I guess no matter the era.
August 9, 2023
Hugo Pratt's artwork is incredible, with luscious, thick inky blacks and lively line work. But the panel-to-panel storytelling leaves a lot to be desired. The action is often ambiguous and jarring, and it can be hard to follow where the characters are in relation to one another.
January 11, 2018
A nice collection of tales with less a coherent central storyline than the previous volume which held together in a chronology. Which is not at all to the book's detriment. Very enjoyable.
July 8, 2018
Surumielistä hauskaa seikkailua. Corto on todellakin parhaimmillaan näissä lyhyissä tarinoissa.
November 10, 2019
Mieux que le tome précédent mais pas grandiose. Le dessin d’action est toujours aussi laborieux pour cet illustrateur.
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