2017

Independent Comics

Corto Maltese is a fictional sailor and adventurer, created by Italian comic book author Hugo Pratt. He first appeared in July 1967 in the comic book series *Una ballata del mare salato* (A Ballad of the Salt Sea).

Born in Valletta, Malta, on July 10, 1887, Corto is the illegitimate son of a British sailor from Cornwall and a Sephardic Jewish-Andalusian Gypsy witch. Growing up in Gibraltar, his adventurous spirit led him to abandon formal education early on.

Corto is known for his distinctive appearance: a tall, handsome man with a gold earring in his left ear and a mysterious, independent demeanor. Despite being a sailor, he is recognized by the absence of a traditional anchor tattoo, due to the cutting of his palm, Corto created a line to represent his destiny instead of relying on luck alone.

A master of languages and self-taught, Corto travels the world, encountering pirates, revolutionaries, and mystics. He is often portrayed as a modern-day Odysseus, driven by a thirst for knowledge and a desire to experience life to the fullest, while maintaining a strong moral compass and a deep empathy for those he encounters.