Raspoutine

Created by Hugo Pratt, Raspoutine is a mysterious, enigmatic figure who moves through the world of Corto Maltese as a recurring companion and foil to that legendary sailor-adventurer, inhabiting the same morally complex, exotic milieu of early 20th-century wanderers.

Born from the singular imagination of Hugo Pratt and first glimpsed in Pif Gadget #82 in 1970, Raspoutine is one of European comics' most intriguing recurring presences — a Silver Age creation who has kept remarkable company across nearly five decades of publication. A Casterman fixture, he shares his adventures most often in the storied Corto Maltese world alongside that legendary wanderer himself, as well as vivid figures like Caïn Groovesnore, Pandora Groovesnore, and Bouche Dorée — a cast that speaks to the rich, globe-trotting atmosphere Pratt conjured so masterfully. The fact that Raspoutine's appearances stretch from 1970 all the way to 2019 is testament to just how deeply he is woven into one of Franco-Belgian comics' most beloved universes. If you're discovering the grand tradition of European bande dessinée, following Raspoutine through these pages is a wonderfully rewarding place to start.