pencil: Milo Manara

story: Hugo Pratt

This comic was among the first I ever bought from Manara and the one that made me fall in love with his style!
Pratt proposes it as a story inspired by characters who really existed.
The period is that of the Salem witch trials and is connected to the novel "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864).
The story begins with the attack of a young woman by two young Indians.
The girl's name is Sheva and she is the granddaughter of the Black Shepherd.
The Indians rape her, but she is then saved by Abner Lewis, Abigail's second son, who bears the mark of infamy on her face, the letter "L" like Lilith.
Abner kills the two Indians, causing their tribe to attack.
Sheva is treated by Abigail and her daughter Philiss, but then they are attacked by Indians and are forced to take refuge in New Canaan, the nearest white village.
Abigail reveals to her children their connection to the Black family.
Abigail was bought at 14 by old Reverend Black, who immediately began abusing her.
Abigail had an affair with a passing French hunter and became pregnant with Elijah, her eldest child.
Abner is the son of Reverend Black, who kicked her out after discovering she was pregnant.
The girl found work in Salem, where she was involved in the witch trials and branded.
After the Reverend's death, Abigail moved back in with his son Pellegrino, who is the father of Philiss.
Jeremiah, the youngest, is instead a foundling whom she raised as her own.
New Canaan is attacked by Indians and it's a massacre.
Philips dies trying to help the village chief.
Elijah buries her with the Indian chief's son, whom he grew up with.
Abner and Sheva escape together.
Abigail and Jeremiah go to live with the village chief.
Despite the massacre, the Indians in this tale are not the villains, but are being swept along by the events.
All evil revolves around the Black family and their perversion.
A Manara/Pratt masterpiece!