Corto Maltese: La cour secrète des Arcanes

Corto Maltese, the legendary sailor from the pencil of Hugo Pratt, have always been a bit hard for me to get my head around. For one, it's hard to get a hold of, and for two, because it's mainly in italian and french, which aren't my strong suits.

But from what I gathered, this is just like any other Corto Maltese adventure story: historical settings, exotic locations, shady plots, intrigues, clashes of different cultures, old and new allies, 'pals' and enemies, and of course, some beautiful ladies.

It was a breath of fresh air, adventurous but melancholic and beautiful at the same time. Eye-pleasing visuals, even after two decades on, which seamlessly incorporated some 3D elements into the 2D animation, a trend that reached its peak at that time.

Oh and from the art department I happened to recognize some names that I've encountered in my exposure to BDs (french comics) such as Olivier Vatine, Virginie Augustin and Didier Cassegrain. No wonder it turned out as remarkable as it did.

Anyway, its a recommend. I rate it a solid 8/10. It really took me back to a different era, a different time in various ways.