Corto Maltese

A 1987–1991 series from French publisher J'ai lu, this five-issue run follows the globe-trotting, cynical-yet-romantic sailor Corto Maltese through early 20th-century adventures. Created by the legendary Hugo Pratt, the series is a cornerstone of European graphic literature, blending historical fiction with a dreamlike, poetic sensibility. Its concise, self-contained stories showcase Pratt's elegant linework and deep sense of place, cementing Corto Maltese as one of comics' most enduring literary figures.