Corto Maltese: Ballad of the Salt Sea by Hugo Pratt

Ballad of the Salt Sea introduces Corto Maltese, the hero, some might say antihero, of Hugo Pratt’s popular graphic novel series. 

• by Hugo Pratt
• Illustrated by Hugo Pratt
• Genre: Graphic Novel, historical fiction
• Published: 1967
• Setting: 1913 South Pacific, Melanesia, Polynesia
• Awards: Fauve d’Or: best foreign realistic comic

Corto Maltese is a sea captain—more precisely, a pirate—though at the beginning of this story he is without ship or crew. His crew mutinied and set him adrift. Fortunately he is rescued by a confederate, Captain Rasputin. Corto and Rasputin do not like each other. Indeed they each threaten to one day kill the other 6 or 7 times in this story. But, they both work for the same master, a ruthless mystery man known only as the Monk. They reluctantly cooperate in various, nefarious schemes. In contrast to Rasputin, Corto is a “rogue with a heart of gold”.

 

In his debut tale, Corto is inextricably caught in Rasputin’s current intrigue, which includes ransom of cousins, Cain and Pandora, who are also found adrift in a lifeboat, the apparent only survivors of their ship. They come from wealthy families, so they are treated decently in hopes of ransom or reward. Of course Pandora, probably 17-18ish, is beautiful, but for a “graphic” novel about pirates, the story is PG-13 at worst. Which doesn’t mean she doesn't at least notice the handsome, dark and brooding Corto Maltese.

 

It's a tale of intrigue, ransom, and reluctant alliances on the eve of World War I.

 

I didn’t love this story, but I think it may have suffered in translation. It was originally written in Italian and French. The speech bubble dialogue in my English edition was very choppy and stilted. 

When reviewing a graphic novel, I suppose it is relevant to mention the artwork. I didn’t love that either, but I'm no art critic. Hugo Pratt illustrated it himself, and it certainly demonstrates skill and his own unique form. I’m sure some love the artwork. The cover is in color, but the pages are black and white.

Some years ago, I decided to read a handful of graphic novels, and researched to find some classics of the genre. The Corto Maltese series is widely considered a masterful bit of literature and artistry. I can’t argue with that, but for me it wasn’t exceptional.

Finally, is it a comic book, or graphic novel? It isn’t comic, though it is a book. It is definitely graphic, and while technically not a novel, it is a novella: approximately 25,000 words. So, I’ll bend a little and opine it is a graphic novella.

 

For my other experiences with graphic novels, click HERE

 

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V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd

V for Vendetta by Alan Moore                                                                        illustrated by David Lloyd 

V for Vendetta is a graphic novel, of a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world, set in near-future England.

As you know, this blog is mostly about classic novels. But, a while ago I decided to branch out a little and sample other genres, including the graphic novel. I did some searches for the greatest among the lot and came up with what I believe is a fair sample, and that is how this particular title ended up on my list.

To be honest, I was underwhelmed. I think it was largely due to my lack of sympathy for the anti-hero, a masked anarchist calling himself V. I wanted to cheer for him since I disliked the fascist state he was battling, that had once performed medical experimentation on him, but I just didn’t buy V’s anarchist world view.

As for the graphic novel as a genre, I’m not done yet. Thus far, it’s been a pretty good experience, though it won’t replace classic novels for me.

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The Arrival by Shaun Tan

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

I am unsure if it is more precise to call Shaun Tan the illustrator or the author – because the remarkable book has no words. Yet Shaun Tan tells an elaborate, cohesive, and poignant story.

It is the story of man leaving his home, his wife and daughter – presumably for a better life. Their current home is a bleak place with an ominous and pervasive danger. The man feels sorrow, and guilt for leaving – but they will never escape if he does not go first and forge the way. It is a desperate and courageous endeavor.

Yes, it is that explicit – without words.

I am not given to hyperbole – but I think this is a masterpiece.

You might infer from the cover, that the book is magical realism, or even fantasy, but that is not the purpose of the fantastic creature you see. I shouldn’t really speak for the author, but I am confident that is not the intent. The creature, like everything in the new land is strange and fantastic – almost magical. The buildings, the machines, the foods, the language, all strange and intimidating, but also in an indistinct way promising.

Shaun Tan captures in pictures, what it must feel like for every pilgrim who has left their native land in search of something better. 

The traveler encounters many people – some helpful, some indifferent. He also meets other immigrants who help him assimilate and share their own stories – some who escaped worse conditions than his own.

It is truly remarkable how much Tan conveys with just pictures. I highly recommend this marvelous graphic novel.

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The Sandman volume 1 by Neil Gaiman

The Sandman volume 1: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Sam Keith, Mike Dringenberg, and Malcolm Jones III 

What power would Hell have if those here imprisoned were not able to dream of Heaven? ~ Dream

The Sandman series, a monthly comic book that ran for 75 issues, January 1989 – March 1996, has been arranged in 10 Volumes. Volume 1 – Preludes and Nocturnes contains the first eight stories – all about Morpheus the Lord of Dream, or simply Dream, who is one of the seven Endless: Destiny, Death, Desire, Despair, Delirium, and Destruction.

The story begins when a foolish occultist seeking eternal life, attempts to capture Death (Dream’s sister). Equipped with some mystical artifacts and special incantations, the occultist fails to capture death, but accidentally captures Dream – a powerful demigod nonetheless. Dream is robbed of three “tools”, his pouch of sand, his helm, and a magical jewel, and is himself kept captive for 70 years.

Over the decades, these tools are dispersed to various mortals and one demon, who know not how to wield them. Of course, Dream eventually escapes and sets about to recover his tools and his dominion over the realm of dreams. Preludes and Nocturnes tells of his capture, escape, and quest to recover his tools. 

Gaiman is a versatile writher with a wide-ranging repertoire. I love what he had to say in response to a claim that he doesn’t write comic books, but rather graphic novels. He said the commenter…

meant it as a compliment, I suppose. But all of a sudden I felt like someone who'd been informed that she wasn't actually a hooker; that in fact she was a lady of the evening.

Back to Dream or the Sandman – he is also called the Lord of Story, probably because our dreams are stories. And I think, because of this, Dream often refers, quite subtly to classic stories. For instance, he consorts with three witches and then thanks the “weird sisters” – which is how the witches in Macbeth are referred to, never actually as witches. There are frequent references to Shakespeare and other stories/authors; I'm sure I missed some. My favorite: the insane and creepy villain Doctor Destiny, who has Dream’s magic jewel, refers to it as “your precious”. I could just hear Smeagol saying it.

The Sandman, is part of the DC Comics universe, so there are frequent references to other DC heroes and villains.

The final story of Preludes and Nocturnes: The Sound of Her Wings is after Dream has recovered his tools, and was feeling perhaps a bit anti-climaxed. He gets a cheery little pep talk by sister Death as to what to do next.

I’m mildly curious as to what IS next for Dream. He seems a pretty decent chap, though grim and fearful. However, I’m not curious enough to continue with this series.

I’ve wanted to explore the world of graphic novels, and there are a few more titles I’ll read, but mostly – I’ll stick with dead authors.

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WATCHMEN by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

Watchmen - written by Alan Moore, illustrated by Dave Gibbons

Who watches The Watchmen?

Wow! This is NOT my Uncle’s comic book. (inside joke there only my brothers will appreciate). Regular readers of this blog will recognize this is not my normal reading genre. I’ve wanted to read this for years, ever since I heard it won a Hugo Award, so upsetting in Sci-Fi circles that they changed the rules. A comic can no longer win. If you do something that makes em change the rules…you’ve done something extraordinary.

Furthermore, in most circles it is not considered a comic book, but rather a graphic novel. What’s the difference? Length mostly - it's like a 400 page comic book. Graphic Novelist Neil Gaiman offers this pithy distinction when responding to a claim that he does not write comic books but graphic novels, Gaiman said the commenter:

meant it as a compliment, I suppose. But all of a sudden I felt like someone who'd been informed that she wasn't actually a hooker; that in fact she was a lady of the evening.

So as the Gold Standard of the Graphic Novels I wanted to give this a read, and let me now repeat – Wow! I read it in a single day, but it will be troubling me for some days more I’m certain.

Set in an alternate history of the mid 1980s, with flashbacks as far back as the 30s. It is a world not terribly different than our own, with the 80s world on the precarious brink of nuclear holocaust and mutually assured destruction. It is also a world of superheroes, though more commonly referred to as masked adventurers or vigilantes, most in forced retirement due to public law. With one exception, the masked adventurers possess no superhuman abilities – they are simply physically, or mentally, or technologically powerful. They are also – damaged goods. You think Batman is dark and brooding – you should meet Rorschach. When ordered to cease and desist by mandate of the Keene Act, Rorschach’s response was to leave the body of a dead multiple rapist outside police headquarters with a one word note – NEVER!

Most of the others submit to the law, until one of their number, The Comedian is murdered in what seems to be a conspiracy to eliminate the erstwhile crime fighters.

It is a riveting mystery that raised the question of the ends justifying the means to an epic scale. Besides the written story that I thought was complex and fascinating, I have to say a word about the illustrations. The word “Graphic” is there for a reason. The artwork is fantastic and critical; the story would fail without the illustrations. Many panels with no words or dialogue tell an important part of the tale.

The principals:

Hollis Mason (the original Nite Owl)

Daniel Drieberg (Nite Owl II)

Adrian Veidt (Ozymandias)

Edward Blake (The Comedian)

Laurie Juspeczyk (Silk Spectre II)

Walter Kovacs (Rorschach)

Dr. Jon Osterman (Doctor Manhatten) – The one exception with superhuman abilities due to what else: a laboratory experiment gone wrong.

This is the first Graphic Novel I’ve read, and although it isn’t Shakespeare or Tolstoy, I liked it very much. I plan to give a few more Graphic Novels a read. So what do you think of Graphic Novels: serious literary genre or childish comics?

Excerpts:

…part of the art of being a hero is knowing when you don’t need to be one anymore… ~ Hollis Mason (Nite Owl)

I am watching the stars… I am trying to give a name to the force that set them in motion. ~ Dr. Jon Osterman (Doctor Manhatten)

The only other active vigilante is called Rorschach, real name unknown. He expresses his feelings toward compulsory retirement in a note left outside police headquarters along with dead multiple rapist – NEVER!

Man, when preparing for bloody war, will orate loudly and most eloquently in the name of peace.

As they dragged him away, Rorschach spoke to the other inmates. He said, “I’m not locked up in here with you. You’re locked up in here with me.”

Adrian Veidt (Ozymandias) to Doctor Manhatten – “Jon, wait, before you leave…I did the right thing, didn’t I? It all worked out in the end.

Doc Manhatten – “In the end? NOTHING ends Adrian. Nothing EVER ends.”

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