Corto Maltese (DC)

Corto Maltese is an island that features in DC.

History

Origin

Corto Maltese functioned as a tropical island nation that served as a remote base of operations for high-stakes criminal activities and the storage of illicit cargo. In its earliest actions within this territory, the nation’s infrastructure, specifically its secluded airstrips and rural estates, was utilized by international smugglers to facilitate the transport of stolen chemical components. These activities involved the deployment of armed private security forces who patrolled the island’s interior to protect illegal shipments from outside interference. The local environment was leveraged for its isolation, allowing for the construction of clandestine labs where hazardous substances were processed and refined far from the jurisdiction of foreign law enforcement. These operations were characterized by a high degree of secrecy and the use of light aircraft to move goods between the island and the American mainland. The actions on the island also included the violent enforcement of territory by criminal syndicates, who utilized the rugged terrain to ambush intruders and secure their logistical hubs. The government's presence in these remote sectors was minimal, allowing these private interests to operate with relative impunity while maintaining a fortified presence in the nation’s coastal regions. These initial activities established the island as a significant node in a global network of chemical trafficking, defined by its utility as a lawless sanctuary for the manufacture and distribution of lethal contraband. (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight v1 #31)

Post-Flashpoint

Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different series of events. For years, it was entrenched in a civil war that had resulted in the wealth and treasures of the country either hidden or stolen. After the war, many of the items were recovered and a museum was built to house them. (The Flash v5 #15)

Captain Cold had the blueprints for a new museum under construction in Corto Maltese that would house various precious jewels and treasures after a civil war years ago. (The Flash v5 #14)

At some point, the police in Corto Matlese fell under the control of a corrupt man named Cauldron who brought weapons illegally into the country. He came into conflict with a new super-powered vigilante named Fuerza leading to a battle between her and the police. (The Flash v5 #60)

Overview

In appearance, Corto Maltese was a sovereign island nation situated in the Caribbean that functioned as a tropical, isolated territory defined by its dense natural vegetation and rugged coastal geography. The habitat consisted of thick, humid jungles and palm-filled groves that provided natural cover for secluded inland sites, while the general landscape featured a blend of rural undeveloped land and private, fortified estates. Development of the nation showed a reliance on rustic infrastructure, including dirt-track roads, remote dirt airstrips, and clandestine manufacturing facilities designed to operate away from the view of the general public or international authorities. The landscape was dotted with stone structures and colonial-style villas that had been repurposed into high-security hubs for private interests, featuring reinforced gates and modern communication equipment. Notable features of the country included its extreme geographical seclusion and its utility as a primary transit point for illicit cargo, with the environment being shaped by the needs of maritime and aerial smuggling operations. The environment was defined by a quiet, seemingly tranquil exterior that masked a sophisticated network of illegal industrial activity, where the natural terrain served as a strategic barrier to foreign surveillance and law enforcement intervention. (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight v1 #31) It was a small country that was far away from settlements such as Central City. (The Flash v5 #15)

A central feature within the country was the museum which was one of the most secured in the world due to past thefts and violent historical events. Within the building, the most prized feature was a golden statue of the Roman god Mercury that was decorated with the most prized jewels. (The Flash v5 #15)

It was noted that it was not safe outside the resort areas. The jungles were full of galinperos namely criminals and bandits. (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight v1 #31)

The culture and civilisation of Corto Maltese were defined by a state of relaxed maritime isolation and a society functioning on the periphery of global political oversight. The population resided in an environment where traditional Caribbean island customs were maintained in rural communities, while the nation's political and social life was increasingly influenced by the presence of wealthy, foreign-backed interests. The government operated as a sovereign administrative body that maintained a permissive or hands-off approach to the regulation of its remote territories, allowing private estates and industrial zones to function with a high degree of autonomy. This administrative structure prioritised the preservation of the island's status as a quiet, neutral territory, utilizing a formal but limited bureaucracy to manage its primary coastal ports and internal commerce. The military and security forces were largely localized and low-profile, consisting of standard police units and armed private guards who were tasked with the protection of specific properties and the monitoring of the island's various airfields. They possessed the logistical capability to manage small-scale security details and patrol the island's rugged interior, though their presence was often secondary to the private security networks employed by the nation’s landholders. The civilization operated on a foundation of geographical seclusion, where the daily life of the citizenry was largely disconnected from the high-stakes illegal industrial activities occurring in the island's hidden research and transit facilities. This social and political structure was characterised by a quiet, agrarian facade that facilitated its role as a strategic hub for clandestine international logistics and the manufacturing of specialized chemical assets. (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight v1 #31)

Inhabitants

• Cauldron : an older white haired male who operated as the head of the corrupt police and smuggled in illegal weapons into the country with him terrorising the people leading to him battling the vigilante Fuerza. (The Flash v5 #60)
• Alexa Antigone : a young black dark haired teenager who was a student that wanted to bring change to her country when she became a recipient of the Strength Force giving her super-strength leading to her becoming a masked vigilante called Fuerza that fought against the corrupt police in an attempt to bring freedom to he people. (The Flash v5 #60)

Notes

• Corto Maltese was created by Frank Miller where he made his first appearance in Batman: Dark Knight Returns v1 #3 (May 1986).

Alternate Versions

• In Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Vol 1 #2 (1986), Corto Maltese appeared in the Batman: The Dark Knight Returns reality that was designated as Earth-31 in the Multiverse. Corto Maltese is portrayed as a turbulent, impoverished island nation in Central America rife with violent insurgencies, civil unrest, and foreign intervention. The country is depicted as a proxy battleground during the Cold War, dominated by guerrilla factions fighting against a corrupt government backed by U.S. military forces. Its population suffers greatly from the ongoing conflict, living in fear of both rebel violence and military repression. The political situation in Corto Maltese was unstable and brutal, with the government relying on harsh counterinsurgency tactics, including paramilitary death squads and widespread human rights abuses. This unstable climate draws the attention of the U.S. government, which covertly supports the regime to prevent the spread of communism and maintain geopolitical influence in the region. American involvement includes training, supplying, and backing local forces in their efforts to crush the insurgency, further exacerbating the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire. Corto Maltese’s landscape is portrayed as war-torn jungles and devastated rural villages, emphasizing the harshness of the guerrilla war. Batman’s direct connection to Corto Maltese comes during the events following his return from retirement. Batman undertakes a mission to the island to confront the Mutants, a violent gang wreaking havoc in Gotham, and to engage with mercenaries and black-ops forces rumored to be operating there. The island’s chaotic environment becomes a testing ground for Batman’s renewed vigilante methods, highlighting his willingness to operate beyond Gotham’s borders to confront threats tied to global instability. His involvement also underscores the theme of America’s troubled interventions abroad and the unintended consequences of such conflicts.

In other media

Television

• In Arrow, Corto Maltese was first mentioned in the live-action television series episode "Lone Gunmen" Oliver Queen mentioned that the mercenary Deadshot operated at Corta Maltese. In "Corto Maltese", Thea Queen left Starling City with Malcolm Merlyn where they stayed in Corto Maltese where she was trained by him. A.R.G.U.S. agent Mark Shaw was dispatched to the island for a mission but did not report back with Lyla asking John Diggle to go with Oliver Queen there to check on Shaw. The country is optimal for growing Vitura, a hypnotic plant which makes the victim highly susceptible to suggestion while retaining no memory of the influence. The island itself was seen on a map, when Felicity Smoak was tracking a plane from A.R.G.U.S. that landed at a private airstrip, somewhere in Starling City. Malcolm Merlyn began operating in Corto Maltese out of a fortress, but was interrupted by the Hidden, seeking revenge on him. Helix member Alena met with organizations leader Cayden James after he was freed from A.R.G.U.S. with her being horrified at her leader after he had plans to kill millions. This led to her escaping and seeking out Felicity Smoak to get her aid to stop Cayden James.
• In Supergirl, Corto Maltese was first mentioned in the live-action television series in the episode "The Adventures of Supergirl" where John Corben was stated to had been involved in the genocide there. At some point, Mxyzptlk hid an amulet in a cave in Corto Maltese. The cave was later used as a base by a guerilla warlord. In mid-2020, Supergirl went to Corto Maltese in search of the amulet to use against Nyxlygsptlnz. The International Harbinger published an article about how she was sighted there. At some point, Corto Maltese build an island in the Kaznian Sea without permission and started drilling for oil. In late 2021, the two nations held a peace summit in The Hague, Netherlands. They suddenly became hostile toward one another due to Nyxlygsptlnz's use of the Courage Totem. Martian Manhunter and Supergirl tried to avoid the war between the nations, but they failed. Eventually, things got out of hand and the two nations started a nuclear war, and the Superfriends teamed up and managed to stop all the missiles, preventing the war. Later, Corto Maltese and Kaznia agreed to a truce, so Prime Minister Perez and President Zakharov went to the United States, settling in National City, California to negotiate the official treaty. CatCo reporter Kara Danvers was supposed to interview them, but she was late and the politicians left. Andrea Rojas was able to salvage her faux pas and convince Perez and Zakharov to extend their trip another day at the Civic Center, but Kara left CatCo and told Andrea that William Dey should do the interview.

Films

• In Batman, Corto Maltese appeared in the setting of the 1989 live-action film. Photojournalist Vicki Vale was shown to had travelled to Corto Maltese to take photographs of its revolution's aftermath. This led to her photos being selected for Time magazine and earning her much noted recognition that included some gruesome pictures made during the rebel uprising. The Joker would comment liking the photographs after sifting through a magazine showing a desert war zone filled with dead bodies.
• In The Suicide Squad, Corto Maltese appeared in the setting of the live-action film. It was said to had been a safe haven for Nazi's in the past who built the Jormungand facility. Eventually, the people came to rise up and kill the Nazi's. The American government was noted to had moved their Project: Starfish experiment to the island where the alien Starro was contained in Jormungand. Later on, the Corto Maltese government was overthrown by an anti-American regime leading to Amanda Waller sending Task Force X into the country to eliminate it and all data on the project to prevent a scandal from being uncovered. Task Force X and their allies soon faced the threat of Starro, who went on a brief rampage before being killed. Afterwards, Sol was able to take control of the government and topple the tyrannical regime, liberating the country and allowing free elections.

Appearances

• Batman: The Dark Knight v1: (1986)
• Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight v1: (1992)
• The Flash v5:

External Links

• DC Database Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

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