Corto Maltese #6

In the scorched desert of Yemen, under the fading shadow of the Ottoman Empire, Corto Maltese crosses paths with Cush, a fierce Danakil warrior whose loyalty and code clash with Corto’s own. As their uneasy bond forms amid shifting sands and ancient tensions, the weight of honor and survival tests the limits of trust.

In "The Coup de Grace," Jo, a young British officer stationed in a remote fort in British Somaliland, finds himself at odds with the rigid prejudices of his commanding officer, whose stubborn racism ignites a dangerous confrontation with the Dervish army led by the enigmatic Sayyid Mohammed. As tensions escalate between the outpost and the growing resistance, Jo must navigate a volatile mix of duty, ideology, and the harsh realities of colonial conflict.

In the heart of Ethiopia, Corto Maltese and his guide Cush encounter the enigmatic shaman Shamael, whose eerie communion with spirits unsettles even the most hardened traveler. As they venture deeper into the land, their path crosses a simmering tribal conflict, drawing them into a clash where ancient grudges and unseen forces blur the line between man and myth.

In "The Leopard-Men of the Rufiji," Corto Maltese navigates the fevered haze of war-torn German East Africa, where the line between myth and justice blurs. Amidst the dense wilderness and shifting loyalties, he encounters a world where African traditions enforce order in ways that defy colonial rule.