Corto Maltese: Ballad of the Salt Sea #5
In "Ballad of the Salt Sea," Hugo Pratt crafts a tense, atmospheric chapter as Corto Maltese navigates a web of betrayal and violence on a remote island. With Pratt both writing and drawing, the story unfolds with his signature blend of gritty realism and mythic tone, as Rasputin’s ruthless actions escalate—killing a Japanese shore party, eliminating Cranio, and turning on the Monk, only to find the man he sought is a decoy. Cain stays to aid Corto while his sister flees on a Maori pirogue, setting the stage for a perilous journey ahead. The cover, also by Pratt, captures the story’s brooding intensity.
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Rasputin is left by the Monk in charge of the island and kills a Japanese shore party. He then kills Cranio and tries to kill the Monk - but the Monk's been replaced by a dummy. Cain stays to help Corto while his sister escapes on a Maori pirogue.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).