Corto Maltese is a sailor and adventurer who travels the world in the early 20th century, moving between distant ports, political conflicts, wars, and territories still shaped by colonial powers. Independent, ironic, and difficult to define, he repeatedly becomes involved in affairs that go far beyond his own interests: treasures, revolutions, espionage, secret societies, and struggles for influence. Throughout his journeys, Corto encounters historical figures, revolutionaries, soldiers, pirates, and outsiders, while preserving a fierce sense of freedom and a deeply personal way of navigating between commitment, chance, and destiny.