Corto Maltese #7 July 1985 (Tango page 6 strip 4) - Hugo Pratt

Rizzoli 1985

This striking original page comes from Tango – Y Todo a Media Luz, one of Hugo Pratt’s most celebrated Corto Maltese adventures, first published in July 1985 in Corto Maltese magazine #7, exactly 41 years ago this month. Set in the shadowy streets of Buenos Aires in 1923, the story sees Corto cast as a detective, navigating a world of crime, political corruption, prostitution rackets, and unexpected alliances against the backdrop of Argentina’s passionate tango culture.

The page perfectly showcases Pratt’s storytelling mastery. In the opening panels, Corto delivers a sardonic reflection on the hypocrisy of the political class, rendered with the elegant economy of line that defines Pratt’s mature style. The atmosphere then shifts abruptly as the final panel erupts in gunfire, a sudden burst of action that highlights the constant tension running through the narrative.

Rich in contrast, cinematic composition and expressive brushwork, this page captures everything that makes Tango such a beloved chapter in the Corto Maltese saga: noir intrigue, sharp social commentary, and Pratt’s extraordinary ability to evoke an entire world with just a few masterful strokes of the pen.

20"x7,25"