Editing Corto Maltese (section)

==Character==
Corto Maltese is a laconic sea captain adventuring during the early 20th century (1900–1920s). A "rogue with a heart of gold", he is tolerant and sympathetic to the underdog. Born in [[Valletta]] on July 10, 1887, he is the son of a British sailor from [[Cornwall]] and an [[Andalusia]]n–[[Romani people|Romani]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iua.upf.edu/formats/formats2/pin_a.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922234602/http://www.iua.upf.edu/formats/formats2/pin_a.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-09-22|title="The ballad of Corto Maltese" by Ivan Pintor}}</ref> witch and prostitute known as "''La Niña de Gibraltar''" ("The Girl of [[Gibraltar]]"). As a boy growing up in the Jewish quarter of [[Córdoba, Spain|Córdoba]], Maltese discovered that he had no [[Chiromancy|fate line]] on his palm and therefore carved his own with his father's razor, determining that his fate was his to choose. Although maintaining a neutral position, Corto instinctively supports the disadvantaged and oppressed.

The character embodies the author's skepticism of national, ideological and religious assertions. Corto befriends people from all walks of life, including the murderous Russian Rasputin (no relation with [[Grigori Rasputin|the historical figure]], apart from physical resemblance and some character traits), British heir Tristan Bantam, [[Candomblé Jejé|voodoo]] priestess Gold Mouth and [[Czechs|Czech]] academic Jeremiah Steiner. He also knows and meets various real-life historical figures, including [[Jack London]], [[Ernest Hemingway]], [[Hermann Hesse]], [[Butch Cassidy]], [[James Joyce]], [[Gabriele D'Annunzio]], [[Frederick Rolfe]], [[Joseph Conrad]], [[Damdin Sükhbaatar|Sükhbaatar]], [[John Reed (journalist)|John Reed]], [[white movement|White Russian]] general [[Roman von Ungern-Sternberg]], [[Enver Pasha]] of Turkey and Sergei Semenov, modelled after [[Grigory Mikhaylovich Semyonov|Grigory Semyonov]]. His acquaintances treat him with great respect, as when a telephone call to [[Joseph Stalin]] frees him from arrest when he is threatened with execution on the border of Turkey and [[Armenia]].

Corto's favourite book is ''[[Utopia (More book)|Utopia]]'' by [[Thomas More]], but he never finishes it. He also read books by [[Jack London|London]], [[Leopoldo Lugones|Lugones]], [[Robert Louis Stevenson|Stevenson]], [[Herman Melville|Melville]] and [[Joseph Conrad|Conrad]], and quotes [[Rimbaud]].

''Corto Maltese'' stories range from straight historical adventure to [[occult]] dream sequences. He is present when the [[Manfred von Richthofen|Red Baron]] is shot down, helps the [[Jivaroan peoples|Jívaro]] in South America, and flees Fascists in Venice, but also unwittingly helps [[Merlin (wizard)|Merlin]] and [[Oberon (Fairy King)|Oberon]] to defend Britain and helps Tristan Bantam to visit the [[lost continent]] of [[Mu (lost continent)|Mu]].

Chronologically, the first adventure, ''Corto Maltese: The Early Years'', happens during the [[Russo-Japanese War]]. In other albums he experiences the [[World War I|Great War]] in several locations, participates in the [[Russian Civil War]] after the [[October Revolution]], and appears during the early stages of [[Fascist]] Italy. In a separate series by Pratt, ''The Desert Scorpions'', Corto is said to be missing in action in Spain during the [[Spanish Civil War]].