Italian Comic Illustration Style - The Ballad of the Salt Sea: Corto Maltese (Hugo Pratt)

Trained on nineteen Corto Maltese illustrations by Hugo Pratt, most of them done in watercolour.

Known problems:

• There are just too many images of Corto Maltese in the dataset, so all men look like him. To make things worse, the men will be wearing his darned sailer cap by default. To get rid of the cap, try to describe the man's hairstyle, or give him a different kind of hat. If that still does not work, lower the weight to 0.8.

• Women often have their eyes close. That's not a bug, that's just how Hugo Pratt likes to draw them, usually with a haughty expression on their face.

• The LoRA is not flexible as I would like, hence this is version 0.8. I'll be tweaking the training set and the captions for a better version. If the prompt is not followed or there is distortion, try to use a weight of 0.8 instead of 1.

ChatGPT, Please tell me about Hugo Pratt and Corto Maltese:

Hugo Pratt (1927–1995)

Hugo Pratt was an Italian comic book artist and writer, best known for creating Corto Maltese, one of the most celebrated European comic series of all time. His work is characterized by a cinematic storytelling style, expressive ink work, and deep literary and historical references.

Early Life & Influences

• Born in Rimini, Italy, but spent part of his youth in Ethiopia (then an Italian colony), which influenced his later works.

• Inspired by adventure novels (Stevenson, Conrad, Melville), historical events, and classic American comics like Milton Caniff’s Terry and the Pirates.

• His travels around the world (South America, Africa, the U.S.) enriched his narratives, giving them an authentic global feel.

Art & Storytelling Style

• Used a minimalist yet expressive black-and-white ink technique, often with strong shadows and bold lines.

• Blended real history with fiction, making his stories feel immersive and believable.

• His characters were complex, morally ambiguous, and deeply philosophical, setting his work apart from typical adventure comics.

Corto Maltese: The Timeless Adventurer

Created in 1967, Corto Maltese is an enigmatic sea captain and rogue adventurer who navigates the world’s most exotic and dangerous places, from the South Pacific to the Russian Civil War.

Character Traits:

• A romantic anti-hero: cynical yet idealistic, always seeking freedom and adventure.

• Rejects authority and sides with the underdog, yet remains detached from politics and ideologies.

• A skilled sailor, fighter, and thinker, often quoting literature and poetry.

Famous Stories & Settings:

• "Ballad of the Salt Sea" (1967) – The first Corto Maltese story, set in the South Pacific during WWI, introduces him as a pirate and adventurer.

• "The Celts" (1971) – Takes him to Ireland and the UK during the early 20th-century struggles.

• "Corto Maltese in Siberia" (1975) – A thrilling adventure involving White Russian exiles and secret treasures.

• "Tango" (1985) – Explores the dark streets of Buenos Aires, filled with mystery and intrigue.

Themes & Influence

• Freedom vs. Destiny: Corto is a drifter who constantly questions fate.

• History & Myth: Merges real-world events (WWI, colonial struggles, revolution) with mystical elements.

• Philosophy & Literature: Filled with references to classic literature, poetry, and esoteric knowledge.

Legacy & Impact

• Corto Maltese became a cultural icon in European comics, influencing artists like Moebius and filmmakers like Hayao Miyazaki.

• Pratt’s storytelling pioneered "adult" graphic novels, elevating comics to literary and artistic heights.

• Today, Corto Maltese is still reprinted, adapted into animations, and revived in new comic series.

Final Thoughts

Hugo Pratt’s Corto Maltese is more than a comic—it’s a philosophical journey through history, adventure, and human nature. If you enjoy epic tales of travel, intrigue, and poetic storytelling, it’s a must-read! 🚢🌍