348 - Hugo PRATT

Hugo PRATT Corto Maltese Corto Maltese in Siberia Indian ink, felt-tip pen, and gouache for 4 comic strips corresponding to pages 72 and 73 of this album, published in 1979 by Casterman. First published in the Italian monthly magazine *Linus* from January 1974 to July 1977. First edition of this album published in 1977 by Milano Libri (Corte sconta detta arcana). 61 x 47 cm. A magnificent spread, a mind-blowing nighttime scene of great intensity: a landscape of superb darkness swept by snow and an icy wind, ghostly silhouettes, and, to the great surprise of Corto Maltese—who has certainly seen it all— Rasputin, who appears out of nowhere (the clash with the crew of the Red Sun sect’s junk, which was supposed to take them to Shanghai, had separated them), who appears there as if by magic on a reindeer-drawn sleigh, acting like Santa Claus and offering gifts to his “friend”! Corto isn’t fooled; he knows full well that his “partner” is primarily interested in the counterrevolutionary army’s armored train, which contains part of the Russian imperial treasury’s gold. But this precious cargo is also coveted by a Chinese secret society, the Red Lanterns, which has enlisted Corto’s services. An exceptional story thanks to its atmosphere (you immediately know where you are, and that Duchess Marina Semenova and Baron Roman von Ungern-Sternberg aren’t far away…), its spectacular scale, and the fact that Corto and Rasputin are rarely seen together Hugo PRATT