C O R T O M a L T E

HUGO PRATT Praise for HUGO PRATT and CORTO ALTESE

h HARVEY AWARD WINNER and EISNER AWARD NOMINEE h Best U.S. Edition of International Material

“An absolute treasure, containing outstanding work by an acknowledged master creator, one who has long been out of reach of comic book fans…. I recommend this to any true fan C of comic book storytelling. It’s that good.” O Project-Nerd R “Classic adventure comics for adults, enjoyable but with depth. Strongly recommended.” Library Journal T

“Pratt’s tales are like coming home to an entire oeuvre of fables you’ve never known existed but O have always been waiting to read…I can guarantee that Corto Maltese will quickly become one of your most beloved protagonists.” M Alex Mangles, tor.com A “Classic adventure literature of the highest order.” L The New York Journal of Books T “The wordly magic of Hugo Pratt…an Italian masterpiece is coming to America.” Publishers Weekly E S “IDW’s collection brings Pratt’s iconic work to the U.S. without losing any of its heart and soul, and readers should quickly seize this opportunity to experience one of the medium’s great works.” E A.V. Club

“These are the lines of a master, bringing you far-flung escapist adventures that take place in the early part of the 20th Century, a romantic world of rogues and scoundrels.” Dan Greenfield, 13th Dimension IN SIBERIA “There’s a reason that the EuroComics editions of Hugo Pratt’s Corto Maltese have been nominated for both the Eisner and Harvey Awards…. Like Under The Sign of Capricorn, Beyond The Windy Isles, and Celtic Tales before it, The Ethiopian transports the reader into a brilliantly crafted world, one in which Pratt continues his incredible blend of Ernest Hemingway and Milton Caniff.” Scoop

“Corto Maltese has counted prominent names among its admirers, the recently-departed Umberto Eco perhaps most famously, but all you have to do is read these comics to know that there has never been anything else quite like them.” Joe McCullough, The Comics Journal

7 $29.99 • EuroComics.us • idwpublishing.com EDITED AND DESIGNED BY Dean Mullaney ART DIRECTOR AND CO-COVER DESIGNER Lorraine Turner CONSULTING EDITOR Patrizia Zanotti

Lettering font based on hand-lettering by Frank Engli.

EuroComics.us

EuroComics is an imprint of IDW Publishing a Division of Idea and Design Works, LLC 2765 Truxtun Road San Diego, CA 92106 www.idwpublishing.com

Distributed by Diamond Book Distributors 1-410-560-7100

ISBN: 978-1-63140-848-9 First Printing, February 2017

IDW Publishing Ted Adams, Chief Executive Officer/Publisher Greg Goldstein, Chief Operating Officer/President Robbie Robbins, EVP/Sr. Graphic Artist Chris Ryall, Chief Creative Officer David Hedgecock, Editor-in-Chief Matthew Ruzicka, CPA, Chief Financial Officer Laurie Windrow, Senior VP of Sales and Marketing Dirk Wood, VP of Marketing Lorelei Bunjes, VP of Digital Services Jeff Webber, VP of Digital and Subsidiary Rights Jerry Bennington, VP of New Product Development

THANKS TO: Diana Schutz, Bob Schreck, Justin Eisinger, and Alonzo Simon.

The IDW logo is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All rights reserved. The EuroComics logo and colophon is a trademark of The Library of American Comics, LLC. All rights reserved. With the exception of artwork used for review purposes, none of the comic strips in this publication may be reprinted without the permission of the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in Korea. thinking that I should leave. whenever I come to Venice I get lazy.

There are three secret, magical places in Venice. One in the street of friends’ love. the second is near the bridge of wonders. the third is in the street of Corto, what the Marranos, close to San Geremia in are you doing the old ghetto. When Venetians grow out there ? weary of the authorities they seek one of these courtyards, open a door at the far end, and disappear into a beautiful world of new adventures.

Ah, yes, yes… Venice does that. Would I came here in 1300 with the cab- you like a small glass of rosolio ? alist Manoello Giudeo. Ah, yes, it would be yes…we were friends with Dante. nice to live in Rosolio ? I didn’t all you need to do is a fairy tale. think anyone drank that open that door to anymore. tell me, Gold travel back and forth Mouth, how long have in time. Like in a you been in Venice ? fairy tale…

Ah yes, yes… but you're already living No. Yes… maybe Ah yes, yes… but Christmas CAME on in one. you just don’t notice it any- we're late, today the 27th. The years are more. When an adult enters the is December 34th slowly getting world of fairy tales he can never and new year's longer in Venice. get out again. Didn't you know ? hasn't come yet.

[What else is to be con- Never mind, Corto… you cluded from this, but that wouldn't have time. Your you first make thieves and horoscope says that you'll then punish them]… I’ve make a long voyage full of never been able to finish adventures. Ah, yes, yes… this book. But what are you doing ? Are you asleep ?

9 There are many ways to begin A story and this one, the adventure involving COrto Maltese and the madman named Baron ROman von Ungern-SteRnberg, can begin with a broken line that means [no] in the game of [Kings]… the boOk of changes.

Due to the change, the number 9 becomes a movable solid line.

And so we have the hexagram of… of… I’ve forgotten… From a strong line a weak one is born and from a weak line a strong one…

The Marrying Maiden means that New I'm getting old… I can't endeavors will have an inauspicious remember… ah, yes… the sign is beginning and may lead to KUEi MEi, the marrying maiden. misfortune. it's not a lucky sign.

Hey, Corto Maltese, No ! I was thinking of Venice and Gold what are you doing… Mouth… I beg your are you asleep ? pardon.

10 You were saying that the You're always joking. But the Book of Changes is bride-to-be brings bad not a joke. it was a source of inspiration for luck ? Fine. Then I'll never Confucius and Lao-Tse, people marry. who knew much more than you about the game of life and death.

Okay, Long Life, I'll be careful.

We're living in difficult in certain circumstances, a religious times. The Russians are sect can turn into a political associ- And what are fighting in the north… ation and vice versa. Secret societies you doing, Long The Japanese in the east. are banding together against the Life ? in times of confusion and foreigners:the [white lotus] in upheaval even religious league with the [three incense sects aim for sticks,] the [society of brothers] more ambitious with the [five rice piles]… enter- prises.

The [red triangle] waits for the Well… time to go, sounds signal from the [black rumble] Long Life. Thank you like a and reports it to [red square,] for everything. who will pass it on to [white geometry rectangle] and to [green lesson. circle.]

How do The [triad] will I Look ? watch after you, wonderful. the Corto Maltese. girls of Hong Kong will go crazy for you. This [Brother of the night] says goodbye and thanks.

11 War over in Europe. fighting continues in Siberia @

one hundred thousand Czechoslovakian admiral Kolchak, The Russian deserters from the counter-revolutionary, has Austrian army rose up conquered most of siberia, against the Bolsheviks and has proclaimed himself and took over the dictator of all of Russia. Trans-Siberian railway. The warlords are fighting allied forces landed in Manchuria… hmmm… at Vladivostok, follow- they're all just the ed by the Japanese best of friends. and the Americans.

12 I don’t believe it @

Why ? You don't own Rasputin, what Hong Kong. are you doing in Hong Kong ?

The last time I saw you was two it was You still haven't years ago on St. Kitts… by the a gift. answered my way, You look elegant in that question… trench coat.