Hugo Pratt

Born Ugo Eugenio Prat on 15 June 1927, Hugo Pratt became one of the most distinctive voices in European comics, celebrated above all for his long-running series Corto Maltese — a work that wove adventure, history, and poetic atmosphere into something unlike anything else in the medium. He died on 20 August 1995.

Pratt entered comics professionally in 1945, and by 1946 had joined the so-called Group of Venice alongside Fernando Carcupino, Dino Battaglia, and Damiano Damiani, an early creative circle that helped shape his ambitions. His career spanned more than four decades and over 450 credited issues, with his contributions ranging across writing, art, inking, lettering, and coloring. Beyond Corto Maltese, he built a substantial body of work through titles including Sgt. Kirk, Hora Cero Suplemento Semanal, and Skorpio, demonstrating a restless range across publishers and countries.

What set Pratt apart was his commitment to rigorous historical research, which gave his storytelling an unusual depth and authenticity. His linework — spare yet expressive — became widely influential across both European and international comics.

His legacy has been recognized with two major honors: the Grand Prix de la ville d'Angoulême, awarded at the Angoulême Festival's 15th anniversary, and posthumous induction into the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 2005.