Corto Maltese: Fable of Venice and Other Adventures #1

Fable of Venice, originally titled Favola di Venezia, was authored and illustrated by the renowned Italian creator Hugo Pratt and first serialized in 1977. Set in the 1920s, the narrative follows the enigmatic sailor Corto Maltese through a surrealist, occult-infused journey across his hometown of Venice. Pratt intended for the city itself to serve as the primary character, blending historical facts with esoteric mystery and the encroaching shadow of Italian Fascism.

The English-language publication of these adventures helped cement Pratt’s status as a master of the graphic novel medium. His stark, ink-heavy black-and-white aesthetic was praised for its cinematic pacing and atmospheric depth, moving away from the conventional layouts of early twentieth-century comics. The work remains highly regarded for its sophisticated literary references and remains a cornerstone of European adventure literature.