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Corto Maltese #5
Korto Malteze 5: Etiopljani
Etiopljani su poslednja u nizu od četiri knjige koje objedinjuju Kortove pustolovine kratkog metra, donoseći četiri priče koje se dešavaju na rogu Afrike. U njima se govori o susretu Maltežanina i njegovog prijatelja Kuša, i o njihovim avanturama u zemlji tamjana, sandala, mimoze… i ljudi-leoparda.
Korto se ovde obreo između 1916. i 1918. prolazeći kroz teritorije pod različitim okupacionim snagama. Kao i uvek u istoriji, na žalost onih koji je poznaju dovoljno dobro, dah evropskog romantizma morao je da ustukne pred duhom evropskog kolonijalizma.
Naš junak ipak uspeva da gazeći putevima poslednjih pustolova ispravi nekoliko krivih Drina, donoseći usput šačicu naizgled pogrešnih odluka, a uz sve to recitujući poeziju i pucajući. Možda vam se učini da je ovo avantura kao i svaka druga, no ona je različita u onoj meri u kojoj je i Korto junak koji nije nalik nijednom drugom.
Korto se ovde obreo između 1916. i 1918. prolazeći kroz teritorije pod različitim okupacionim snagama. Kao i uvek u istoriji, na žalost onih koji je poznaju dovoljno dobro, dah evropskog romantizma morao je da ustukne pred duhom evropskog kolonijalizma.
Naš junak ipak uspeva da gazeći putevima poslednjih pustolova ispravi nekoliko krivih Drina, donoseći usput šačicu naizgled pogrešnih odluka, a uz sve to recitujući poeziju i pucajući. Možda vam se učini da je ovo avantura kao i svaka druga, no ona je različita u onoj meri u kojoj je i Korto junak koji nije nalik nijednom drugom.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1979
9 people are currently reading
261 people want to read
About the author
Hugo Pratt
718 books417 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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
August 19, 2025
Korto Malteze je samo nemoguće kul, i sve drugo što ima da se doda u ovu recenziju je manje važno. Sem toga, prija mi simpatija sa kojom Prat piše sporedne likove. Prija mi Kortov hejt ka kolonijalcima (vraćamo se na prvu rečenicu). Na kraju, prija mi i ovo prelepo izdanje.
March 2, 2019
Interesting change of scenery to a little represented time and place in literature and comics, but there is a loss of focus with CM being more of an observer than a participant in the stories.
February 4, 2024
He was a character in a terrible story. . . A story of a faraway land where the grass is always green and where brother hates brother.
Thanks again to Joel for his hoping I’d eventually embrace the graphic novel. Alas, I have not. Very compelling story: four stories featuring East Africa and Yemen during the Great War. There just isn’t enough there, in this maddening medium.
Thanks again to Joel for his hoping I’d eventually embrace the graphic novel. Alas, I have not. Very compelling story: four stories featuring East Africa and Yemen during the Great War. There just isn’t enough there, in this maddening medium.
Read
December 31, 2016The inscrutable sailor, whom I can only picture being played by Harrison Ford, gets tangled up in the tail end of the Great War in Africa and the Middle East. Here he meets Cush, a local who rivals him both for combat skills and being a bit of an arse. Yet somehow, away from the sea until the last story, Corto feels out of his element - without anything much ever being made of that.
November 1, 2020
Sasvim solidne priče o Kortovim pustolovinama u Africi. Posebno mi se svideo Kortov odnos sa Kušem.
May 5, 2017
In this volume, Corto Maltese ends up on Ethiopia, fighting against the bad guys with the help of local Bedouins, Abysinnians, and mystic shamans. He meets a cowardly British officer and the Leopard Men of Africa, who count for justice those who prey on the good. Wonderful stories.
April 20, 2018
Hugo Pratt manages to portray African people in a much more realistic and authentic way than most other graphic novels of the time. The art is still superb and the stories are exciting and have their own voice.
October 6, 2019
a great mix of the magic of corto maltese and the more military history side of his stories !!! i love cush so much. this is probably my favorite corto album that i've read so far.
August 5, 2024
This is a great series of adventures for Corto on and around the Horn of Africa. We meet a few old friends and make some new ones. It doesn't have the scope or gravitas of Corto Maltese: La ballade de la mer salée, but it still delivers powerful narrative, restrained by eloquent penwork, and of course the amazing Corto!
May 24, 2012
This is probably my favorite Corto. I just love how pratt made Cush up. Also the few allusions to Rimbaud in it.
September 25, 2012
Masterpiece from genius Mr Hugo Pratt.
December 25, 2017
Very well drawn, catchy script and exotic atmosphere. I can hardly wait to read the next graphic novel in the series.
April 9, 2025
Hugo Prattin "Etiopialainen romanssi" (Jalava, 1999) sisältää neljä Corto Maltese -tarinaa, jossa oman onnenviivansa käteen viiltänyt sankarimme seikkailee vaihteeksi Afrikan mantereella. Sarjakuvaa lukiessa tuntee välillä olevansa pienen hämmennyksen vallassa - mitä tässä oikein tapahtuikaan ja ketä nämä kaikki ihmiset ovat - mutta tyylikästä piirrosta katselee mielellään.
Sarjakuvassa viitataan ohimennen tekijän ensimmäiseen sarjakuvaromaaniin Anna ja Dan viidakossa.
Sarjakuvassa viitataan ohimennen tekijän ensimmäiseen sarjakuvaromaaniin Anna ja Dan viidakossa.
November 15, 2024
Eu am citit versiunea în limba română - "Etiopicele", tradusă din italiană de Iulia Dromereschi, cu o prefață de Andrei Gorzo, publicată de Editura Cartea Copiilor în 2022 (https://carteacopiilor.ro/corto-malte...).
Am citit cartea cu bucurie și cu nostalgia copilăriei. Pagină după pagină, îmi aminteam de aventurile lui Corto Maltese din revista "Pif", unde au fost publicate prima dată. Iar dacă, în anii '70, mi se păreau destul de dificil de înțeles și de apreciat, pentru că grafica și tehnicile autorului erau mult diferite de cele obișnuite ale benzilor desenate, din "Pif" și din alte reviste de gen, totuși aveau ceva aparte, o magie a liniilor, umbrelor și perspectivelor, care te atrăgeau și ți le strecura, pentru totdeauna, în suflet și în memorie.
Prefața este foarte bine venită, pentru că este scrisă de Andrei Gorzo, critic de film (doctor în cinematografie), jurnalist și traducător, un împătimit al revistei "Pif". Iar acesta explică, plin de miez, esența și frumusețea artei lui Hugo Pratt, transformând cititorul într-un pasionat căutător al acelor elemente deosebite, unice chiar, prin care autorul lui Corto se face cunoscut și apreciat în întreaga lume.
Iată doar un exemplu, în acest sens.
"[...] În Etiopicele se regăsesc două dintre cele mai faimoase experimente prattiene în direcția unei dialectici între figurativ și abstract. Unul se găsește în secvența avalanșei de pietre din ... Despre alți Romeo și alte Juliete, unde pietrele care-l atacă pe Corto în fiecare casetă se adună, la nivelul întregii pagini, într-un model abstract – „o avalanșă de cerneală”, cum a numit-o Matt Seneca. E un moment crucial din povestire, dar la conflictul dramatic se adaugă și acest conflict între conținutul figurativ și puterea designului pur (caseta a șasea consfințind triumful acestuia din urmă). La fel de faimoasă e și prima planșă din Leoparzi: un model abstract cu dungi se transformă de la o casetă la alta, printr-un fel de zoom înapoi (sau poate un travelling), în imaginea a două zebre, imagine care apoi se complică prin intrarea în cadru a unor scuturi (purtate de trei războinici) pictate cu dungi ca de zebră. Asemenea jocuri nu sunt izolate în arta lui Pratt, pentru care, în cuvintele lui Thomas [Thierry], „deșerturile, paltoanele, deflagrațiile, zidurile de cărămidă sau date cu var, ferestrele și frunzișurile sunt tot atâtea pretexte ca săși dea frâu liber înclinației spre abstracționism”."
Evident, am căutat aceste elemente, și multe altele, în povestirile menționate și în celelalte două, incluse în volum. Iar descoperirea și înțelegerea lor profundă au conferit sensuri noi poveștilor și artei cu care au fost reprezentate.
O apreciere deosebită trebuie acordată și traducătorului - textul se integrează perfect firului grafic narativ, conferindu-i esență și facilitând înțelegerea și conexiunile necesare.
Am citit cartea cu bucurie și cu nostalgia copilăriei. Pagină după pagină, îmi aminteam de aventurile lui Corto Maltese din revista "Pif", unde au fost publicate prima dată. Iar dacă, în anii '70, mi se păreau destul de dificil de înțeles și de apreciat, pentru că grafica și tehnicile autorului erau mult diferite de cele obișnuite ale benzilor desenate, din "Pif" și din alte reviste de gen, totuși aveau ceva aparte, o magie a liniilor, umbrelor și perspectivelor, care te atrăgeau și ți le strecura, pentru totdeauna, în suflet și în memorie.
Prefața este foarte bine venită, pentru că este scrisă de Andrei Gorzo, critic de film (doctor în cinematografie), jurnalist și traducător, un împătimit al revistei "Pif". Iar acesta explică, plin de miez, esența și frumusețea artei lui Hugo Pratt, transformând cititorul într-un pasionat căutător al acelor elemente deosebite, unice chiar, prin care autorul lui Corto se face cunoscut și apreciat în întreaga lume.
Iată doar un exemplu, în acest sens.
"[...] În Etiopicele se regăsesc două dintre cele mai faimoase experimente prattiene în direcția unei dialectici între figurativ și abstract. Unul se găsește în secvența avalanșei de pietre din ... Despre alți Romeo și alte Juliete, unde pietrele care-l atacă pe Corto în fiecare casetă se adună, la nivelul întregii pagini, într-un model abstract – „o avalanșă de cerneală”, cum a numit-o Matt Seneca. E un moment crucial din povestire, dar la conflictul dramatic se adaugă și acest conflict între conținutul figurativ și puterea designului pur (caseta a șasea consfințind triumful acestuia din urmă). La fel de faimoasă e și prima planșă din Leoparzi: un model abstract cu dungi se transformă de la o casetă la alta, printr-un fel de zoom înapoi (sau poate un travelling), în imaginea a două zebre, imagine care apoi se complică prin intrarea în cadru a unor scuturi (purtate de trei războinici) pictate cu dungi ca de zebră. Asemenea jocuri nu sunt izolate în arta lui Pratt, pentru care, în cuvintele lui Thomas [Thierry], „deșerturile, paltoanele, deflagrațiile, zidurile de cărămidă sau date cu var, ferestrele și frunzișurile sunt tot atâtea pretexte ca săși dea frâu liber înclinației spre abstracționism”."
Evident, am căutat aceste elemente, și multe altele, în povestirile menționate și în celelalte două, incluse în volum. Iar descoperirea și înțelegerea lor profundă au conferit sensuri noi poveștilor și artei cu care au fost reprezentate.
O apreciere deosebită trebuie acordată și traducătorului - textul se integrează perfect firului grafic narativ, conferindu-i esență și facilitând înțelegerea și conexiunile necesare.
July 25, 2017
Πολύ ταξιδιάρικο άλμπουμ. Ίσως από τα περισσότερο ταξιδιάρικα που έχω διαβάσει μέχρι στιγμής. Τελικά ο Πρατ πρέπει να ήταν μεγάλος οπαδός του ρητού "η ομορφιά βρίσκεται στην απλότητα", μιας και οι ιστορίες χωρίς το σύνθετο σενάριο (έχουμε να κάνουμε με σχετικά τυπικές περιπέτειες με θησαυρούς, πρίγκιπες/πριγκίπισσες κλπ) έχουν τόσο καταπληκτική σκηνοθεσία και αφήγηση με μερικές ατάκες του Κόρτο που σε ταξιδεύουν στην Αιθιοπία μέσα σε δευτερόλεπτα.
Αυτή τη φορά βλέπουμε έναν πιο ανθρώπινο Κόρτο, ίσως λίγο πιο συμφεροντολόγο αλλά ταυτόχρονα πιστό στον προσωπικό του ηθικό κώδικα που πάνω από την απόδοση της δικαιοσύνης του δεν βάζει ούτε φυλές, ούτε χρώμα ούτε τους πολέμους των ανθρώπων. Αγαπημένες ιστορίες η τέταρτη με τους leopard men λόγω του συμβολισμού και της αγάπης που φάινεται πως είχε ο Πρατ στον Αφρικανικό πολιτισμό από τα χρόνια του εκεί και η τρίτη για το περαιτέρω χτίσιμο της ανθρώπινης πλευράς του μελαγχολικού καπετάνιου (δεν θυμάμαι να τον έχω δει να ασκεί τέτοια αυτοκριτική σε κάποιο άλλο άλμπουμ απ'όσα έχω διαβάσει).
Δεν το περίμενα στο σημείο που το έσκασε από την μάχη στο χωριό να προσπαθεί να καθησυχάσει τον εαυτό του ότι και αυτός άνθρωπος είναι και επιτρέπεται να φοβάται και να κάνει λάθη, αφού μάλλον τον έπνιγαν οι τύψεις που άφησε πίσω τον Κους (ο οποίος εν τέλει έκανε το ίδιο και στο τέλος της τρίτης ιστορίας ο Κόρτο το παίζει και θιγμένος όταν το μαθαίνει! ).
Ένα ακόμα πολύ καλό άλμπουμ όπως όλα τα Κόρτο Μαλτέζε με έναν ενδιαφέροντα χαρακτήρα, τον Cush, με κάποια στοιχεία Ρασπούτιν αλλά και πολλά στοιχεία Κόρτο (γι'αυτό ταιριάζανε, αφού συμπεθεριάζανε). :) Το διάβασα από την Αγγλική έκδοση της IDW, που με την εξαιρετική ποιότητα χαρτιού και αναδιπλούμενων χαρτών στα εξώφυλλα με έβαλε στο τρυπάκι του να σκέφτομαι αν τα Κόρτο θα είναι η πρώτη σειρά που θα έχω και στα Αγγλικά και στα Ελληνικά. Παρόλο αυτά ακόμα και αυτή έχανε κάμποσο αφού έλειπαν τα έξτρα της Γαλλικής/ Β' Ελληνικής. Μόνο ένα βιογραφικό σημείωμα του Πρατ υπήρχε πέρα από τους χάρτες.
Αυτή τη φορά βλέπουμε έναν πιο ανθρώπινο Κόρτο, ίσως λίγο πιο συμφεροντολόγο αλλά ταυτόχρονα πιστό στον προσωπικό του ηθικό κώδικα που πάνω από την απόδοση της δικαιοσύνης του δεν βάζει ούτε φυλές, ούτε χρώμα ούτε τους πολέμους των ανθρώπων. Αγαπημένες ιστορίες η τέταρτη με τους leopard men λόγω του συμβολισμού και της αγάπης που φάινεται πως είχε ο Πρατ στον Αφρικανικό πολιτισμό από τα χρόνια του εκεί και η τρίτη για το περαιτέρω χτίσιμο της ανθρώπινης πλευράς του μελαγχολικού καπετάνιου (δεν θυμάμαι να τον έχω δει να ασκεί τέτοια αυτοκριτική σε κάποιο άλλο άλμπουμ απ'όσα έχω διαβάσει).
Δεν το περίμενα στο σημείο που το έσκασε από την μάχη στο χωριό να προσπαθεί να καθησυχάσει τον εαυτό του ότι και αυτός άνθρωπος είναι και επιτρέπεται να φοβάται και να κάνει λάθη, αφού μάλλον τον έπνιγαν οι τύψεις που άφησε πίσω τον Κους (ο οποίος εν τέλει έκανε το ίδιο και στο τέλος της τρίτης ιστορίας ο Κόρτο το παίζει και θιγμένος όταν το μαθαίνει! ).
Ένα ακόμα πολύ καλό άλμπουμ όπως όλα τα Κόρτο Μαλτέζε με έναν ενδιαφέροντα χαρακτήρα, τον Cush, με κάποια στοιχεία Ρασπούτιν αλλά και πολλά στοιχεία Κόρτο (γι'αυτό ταιριάζανε, αφού συμπεθεριάζανε). :) Το διάβασα από την Αγγλική έκδοση της IDW, που με την εξαιρετική ποιότητα χαρτιού και αναδιπλούμενων χαρτών στα εξώφυλλα με έβαλε στο τρυπάκι του να σκέφτομαι αν τα Κόρτο θα είναι η πρώτη σειρά που θα έχω και στα Αγγλικά και στα Ελληνικά. Παρόλο αυτά ακόμα και αυτή έχανε κάμποσο αφού έλειπαν τα έξτρα της Γαλλικής/ Β' Ελληνικής. Μόνο ένα βιογραφικό σημείωμα του Πρατ υπήρχε πέρα από τους χάρτες.
December 3, 2020
This is a truly exceptional omnibus of four stories set in Africa together with a historical dossier concerning the events of the First World War in the Horn of Africa, together with details of the author’s childhood in Ethiopia.
Corto Maltese meddles in the politics of the Ottoman Empire in the Yemen, then finds himself embroiled in the Mahdi rebellion in the Sudan before resolving a tribal dispute in the Danakil desert under the guidance of a sorcerer. The fourth story takes him to the end of the war and to Tanzania, into the heart of the struggle against colonialism. This is hugely politically aware, sensitive, forward thinking and hence unique at its time of publication (early 1970s).
All these stories are beautifully written. The plots, the banter, the erudition concerning local religions and cultures, the sensitivity of portrayal of local people, the understanding of the politics and events, all are magisterial. This is storytelling at its finest, not just in graphic novel format but across all media. Every word, every pause is laden with more meaning than other authors manage in an entire chapter. The wit and humour are unparalleled. These are all grown up, intelligent, moral characters. Pratt addresses heroism and cowardice, madness, duty, religious fanaticism, greed, and so much more with such deep insight and humanity. It’s nothing less than jaw dropping.
The art is exceptional. Pratt’s idiosyncratic style is impressionistic, minimalist, highly stylised, but it conveys so much story from the merest line or contrast. There is such cinematic movement, such subtle conveyance of scenery, of the desert’s heat and the jungle’s humidity, of the sounds and silences of landscape and the hard men inhabiting it. Simple as it is, the art is so full of meaning, regular rereading uncovers more layers of subtlety. I am in awe.
One criticism? There is only one female character in the whole thing, but what a formidable, powerful matriarch.
This is high art in graphic novel format. A true “wow”, time and again.
Corto Maltese meddles in the politics of the Ottoman Empire in the Yemen, then finds himself embroiled in the Mahdi rebellion in the Sudan before resolving a tribal dispute in the Danakil desert under the guidance of a sorcerer. The fourth story takes him to the end of the war and to Tanzania, into the heart of the struggle against colonialism. This is hugely politically aware, sensitive, forward thinking and hence unique at its time of publication (early 1970s).
All these stories are beautifully written. The plots, the banter, the erudition concerning local religions and cultures, the sensitivity of portrayal of local people, the understanding of the politics and events, all are magisterial. This is storytelling at its finest, not just in graphic novel format but across all media. Every word, every pause is laden with more meaning than other authors manage in an entire chapter. The wit and humour are unparalleled. These are all grown up, intelligent, moral characters. Pratt addresses heroism and cowardice, madness, duty, religious fanaticism, greed, and so much more with such deep insight and humanity. It’s nothing less than jaw dropping.
The art is exceptional. Pratt’s idiosyncratic style is impressionistic, minimalist, highly stylised, but it conveys so much story from the merest line or contrast. There is such cinematic movement, such subtle conveyance of scenery, of the desert’s heat and the jungle’s humidity, of the sounds and silences of landscape and the hard men inhabiting it. Simple as it is, the art is so full of meaning, regular rereading uncovers more layers of subtlety. I am in awe.
One criticism? There is only one female character in the whole thing, but what a formidable, powerful matriarch.
This is high art in graphic novel format. A true “wow”, time and again.
June 25, 2018
The laconic hero is in North Africa and Ethiopia during the close of the first world War. Perspectives on the British and the Germans are very indicative of the colonial disdain for their hosts that Europeans expressed during this period, but what's also interesting is the perspective of native populations. Bedouins, Ethiopian warriors, North African Tribal Manhunters and Turkish conquerors in Africa all have a role to play. And it's rare to see them act with such agency under colonial rule. Yet they do. The story is absolutely their own. Fittingly Corto is a passenger within their journey.
It's not the kind of story that offers you a depth of world building about the central character or a greater look into Corto's life. But none of his stories are. He adventures through each global rendezvous like a figure in a dream. Letting the fictional historical figures take center stage.
Hugo Pratt's art is fanatic as always. The book is unfortunately short. But nothing is indulged in and nothing is dwelled on.
A fantastic read for anyone into European History, Band Dessinee or Laconic Short Stories
It's not the kind of story that offers you a depth of world building about the central character or a greater look into Corto's life. But none of his stories are. He adventures through each global rendezvous like a figure in a dream. Letting the fictional historical figures take center stage.
Hugo Pratt's art is fanatic as always. The book is unfortunately short. But nothing is indulged in and nothing is dwelled on.
A fantastic read for anyone into European History, Band Dessinee or Laconic Short Stories
December 29, 2024
Este cómic o novela gráfica, llamadlo como queráis, ofrece 4 historias impecables de Corto en las que cosecha pequeñas hazañas bélicas posicionándose contra los turcos y contra la avaricia y el abuso del hombre blanco en África. Durante la lectura me he vuelto muy fan de los compañeros y secundarios que aparecen, especialmente de Cush, que funciona como el sustituto de Rasputín y de Shamael el brujo ¿un ángel caído? ¿un adivino con poderes reales? ¿un cuentista? Quién sabe...
ENGLISH
This comic or graphic novel, call it what you want, offers 4 impeccable stories by Corto in which he achieves small war exploits by positioning himself against the Turks and against the greed and abuse of the white man in Africa. During reading I have become a big fan of the companions and secondary characters that appear, especially Cush, who functions as the substitute for Rasputin and Shamael the witcher, a fallen angel? a fortune teller with real powers? a storyteller? Who knows...
ENGLISH
This comic or graphic novel, call it what you want, offers 4 impeccable stories by Corto in which he achieves small war exploits by positioning himself against the Turks and against the greed and abuse of the white man in Africa. During reading I have become a big fan of the companions and secondary characters that appear, especially Cush, who functions as the substitute for Rasputin and Shamael the witcher, a fallen angel? a fortune teller with real powers? a storyteller? Who knows...
November 16, 2022
No tengo dudas de la calidad que me entrega Corto Maltese, y así mismo me invita a investigar mucho sobre la historia. Lo que me lleva a entender lo ignorante que soy de lo ocurrido en el norte de África (probablemente en todo este continente) y la península arábica en los sucesos de la primera y segunda guerra mundial, de los cuales se narran acá. Y a su vez, tampoco me siento conocedor de la ocupación de Alemania, Francia e Inglaterra en esta zona y como estos utilizaron a los pueblos originarios para los conflictos bélicos. Así mismo, hay mucho que contar sobre el contraste religioso, donde muchas veces dejaban varios debates entre la religión católica y musulmana, como también de las propias creencias de cada pueblo. Unos capítulos muy entretenidos, donde siento que me encantaría releerlos luego de haber aprendido más de todo el contexto que le rodea.
February 16, 2019
Ce n'est pas mon aventure préferée de Corto. Mais ce que je retiens surtout dans ce récit, c'est cette capacité (de Corto et Pratt) à parler en différentes langues et naviguer entre cultures. Corto est un marin sans bateau, qui a grandi ici et lá, comme Pratt d'ailleurs. Son nomadisme est libre de contraintes et parle le language du symbolisme universel. Indispensable pour les amants de l'Histoire du siècle XX.
August 11, 2023
I loved everything about Captain Corto, specially the way he replaced the dead muzzein and gave the call for prayer. His banters with Cush was fun. I liked the mystery surrounding the Leopard men of Africa. Then last but not the least is the stories around Fala Mariam, the lively sketches from the memoirs of Hugo himself, walking the memory lanes back with Hugo Pratt was a touching affair. I simply enjoyed it all.
December 24, 2024
опять путаница с изданиями - я читаю англоверсию, но с французской обложкой, а не вот эту, где множественное число эфиопов почему-то превратилось в единственное. впрочем, этот выпуск несколько бессвязен, хоть и переносит нас опять во вселенную Пинчона, а самого Корто - из Ирландии прежнего выпуска зачем-то примерно в Африку. что он делал в Ирландии, впрочем, тоже осталось непонятным. сокровищ Му он уже не ищет - ни там, ни тут.
February 9, 2020
The best Corto Maltese collection. The way Hugo Pratt draws Corto’s feverish hallucinations after being shot—the bold blacks of the frame squeezing him in and a talking leopard—are worth everything. This should be translated. These adventures in colonial Africa are not demeaning like “Tintan in the Congo.”
April 16, 2020
Siempre he querido ser como ese marinero burlón, irónico, comprometido con batallas imposibles pero siempre sin caer en el sectarismo, pacifista pero que lleva armas a los rebeldes, constantemente enamorado y constantemente huyendo de los lazos, radicalmente comprometido con la verdad, que nunca se equivoca de bando ni de amigos. Aunque sean un puto desastre.
January 7, 2022
Dei uma segunda oportunidade às aventuras de Corto Maltese e valeu a pena.
“As Etiópicas” fala das guerras paralelas entre tribos rivais em África, enquanto os europeus também se debatiam neste vasto continente. Há bruxaria, estratégia militar e até poemas de Rimbaud, que tornaram a leitura muito interessante.
“As Etiópicas” fala das guerras paralelas entre tribos rivais em África, enquanto os europeus também se debatiam neste vasto continente. Há bruxaria, estratégia militar e até poemas de Rimbaud, que tornaram a leitura muito interessante.
October 20, 2019
1. verdenskrig går heller ikke stille for sig på Afrikas Horn, hvor Corto som altid aldrig rigtig er på nogen af siderne, andet end retfærdighedens. Leopardmændene opretholder den afrikanske lov og ret, mens kolonimagterne udkæmper deres egne slag.
October 22, 2020
Another set of solid adventures - I'm curious how much research Pratt did in his depictions of Africa, but it's nice to see a good mix of honorable and less-than-honorable people crossing Corto's path during this jaunt.
May 21, 2017
Pratt rende materia di narrazione avventurosa la propria nostalgia della letteratura, e la nostra. (prefazione di Umberto Eco).
July 22, 2017
Great fun. A brilliant dry adventure with a wonderful hero. I shall be reading more from the Venetian graphic novelist.
January 7, 2019
Another pleasure to read. I'm glad I took the plunge on this series as they've been a treat.
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