Skip to product information
1 of 1

Fantagraphics

COMPLETE CORTO MALTESE HC VOL 01 THE BALLAD OF THE SALT SEA (MR) Hugo Pratt - FOC PREORDER

COMPLETE CORTO MALTESE HC VOL 01 THE BALLAD OF THE SALT SEA (MR) Hugo Pratt - FOC PREORDER

Regular price $49.99 USD
Regular price Sale price $49.99 USD
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Quantity
Preorder shipping — your order ships together

Estimated release: December 2, 2026. Orders containing preorder items ship after the final item in the order is released and received. The shipping charge at checkout covers one combined package, not separate release-date shipments. Place separate orders for items you want shipped sooner. Publisher release dates may change.

FOC PREORDER

COMPLETE CORTO MALTESE HC VOL 01 THE BALLAD OF THE SALT SEA (MR)

Solicitation:
In Fall 2026, Fantagraphics launches The Complete Corto Maltese with Volume 1: The Ballad of the Salt Sea, Corto's premiere adventure and the story that introduces him to the world. Pratt plunges us right into the action with Corto bound to a makeshift raft adrift in the Pacific Ocean in 1913. In short order, he is rescued by the Russian privateer Rasputin (yes, that Rasputin), and things only get more complicated and more treacherous from there. In addition, this volume also presents Pratt's tale of Corto's youth, when, in 1904 at the age of 16 in Manchuria, he is asked by his friend, Jack London (yes, that Jack London) to help rescue a young Russian deserter named Rasputin in the midst of the Russo-Japanese War. A modern Ulysses whose wanderings in the early decades of the 20th century take him to the most fascinating places on Earth, Hugo Pratt's Corto Maltese is a hard-luck, hard-driving iconoclastic anti-hero who values freedom and independence more than wealth and status. Treasure hunter, storm-tossed sailor, and itinerant adventurer, the irascible and indefatigable Corto Maltese has earned his status as one of the most popular characters in European comics.

Preorder Information

  • Cutoff: Lunar FOC closes 09/07/2026.
  • Payment and cancellations: Payment is required upfront. Orders cannot be cancelled after FOC because quantities are locked with the distributor.
  • Condition: Books are expected to arrive new and unread. Minor manufacturing or distributor shelf wear can occur; contact us promptly with photos if your copy arrives materially damaged.
  • Release date: Release dates are estimates and may change. Your order will ship after the item arrives from the distributor.
  • Fulfillment: Books are inspected and packed securely before fulfillment. If an item is damaged, shorted, or unavailable, we will try to replace it first. If no replacement is available, that item will be refunded.

Item Details

  • Publisher: Fantagraphics
  • Cover price: $49.99
  • FOC date: 2026-09-07
  • Release date: 2026-12-02
  • Writer: Hugo Pratt
  • Artist: Hugo Pratt
  • Cover / variant: Hugo Pratt
  • UPC / ISBN: 9798875002762

Final cover art, creators, and release details are subject to publisher updates.

Returns and Refunds:
See our Returns and Refunds page for full policy details.

Materials

Shipping, Returns & Refunds

Shipping
Please review our Shipping Policy for processing times, preorder handling, combined orders, transit damage, and carrier insurance details.

Returns & Refunds
Please review our Returns & Refunds Policy for complete details.

Dimensions

Care Instructions

View full details

Know before you order

Your Bandicoot preorder guide

A quick, plain-language guide to payment, timing, condition, and what happens if plans change.

Order cutoff
Sep 07, 2026
Estimated release
Dec 02, 2026

What is a preorder?

It reserves an item before its official release and before it is physically in our hands. Ordering early gives you the best chance of securing a copy when demand is high.

When do I pay?

Payment is collected at checkout. We use paid orders to reserve inventory and set our quantity with the publisher, distributor, or supplier.

What does FOC mean?

Final Order Cutoff is the deadline for comic shops to lock their quantities with the distributor. Once that cutoff passes, your copy has been ordered specifically for you and the order becomes final.

Are release dates guaranteed?

No. Dates come from publishers and suppliers and can move without notice. Your order stays active, and we will fulfill it after the item arrives.

When will my preorder ship?

We inspect and pack preorders after the distributor shipment reaches us. Tracking is provided through the checkout platform when it is available.

What if my order includes other items?

Preorder timing can delay a package that also contains in-stock items. Place separate orders when you need available items to ship sooner.

How are comics prepared?

New comics are inspected before fulfillment. Standard-size issues are bagged, boarded, and packed with protective materials appropriate for the order.

What grade is guaranteed?

Preorder comics are guaranteed to be 9.0 or better unless the listing says otherwise. We carefully inspect each copy, but we cannot guarantee a specific higher grade such as a 9.8 because minor printing and bindery variations can occur on brand-new books.

Will the final item match the preview image?

Publishers and manufacturers sometimes provide early artwork or prototype images. Final trade dress, packaging, colors, accessories, or other details may change before release.

Can I cancel or change my preorder?

Contact us as soon as possible. Comic preorders cannot be cancelled after FOC, and other preorders cannot be cancelled after quantities are locked with the supplier.

What if the item is damaged, shorted, or unavailable?

We will look for a replacement first. If we cannot secure one, we will refund the affected item to the original payment method.

What if the publisher cancels the item?

If the publisher or supplier cancels an item and no replacement is offered, we will refund that item.