At the end of 1918 while civil war is raging on in Russia, antagonism is slowly spreading to the East, between the Oral mountains and Shanghai. Stuck between a desire to save what's left of the great Imperial Russia, and starting from a clean slate, old generals, secret organizations, and mercenaries attracted by gold, struggle to take advantage of the events. As Corto Maltese returns to Shanghai, he barely gets time to cross paths with his old friend/nemesis Rasputin, and escape a murder attempt before being contacted by members of a Chinese secret organization called "The Red Lanterns". In the heart of violent Manchurian horizons, Corto and Rasputin launch themselves into a fabulous treasure hunt, following the tracks of the mysterious armor-plated train of Kolchak. A steel monster spiked with canons and machine guns, this trains protects the counter-revolutionaries gold...

Corto Maltese: The Secret Court of the Arcane

Empire of China. 12th century.  The King Demons terrorize the land. To defeat these monsters, one needs the courage of a hundred tigers, the strength of a thousand buffalo, the cunning of as many snakes... and have the luck of the devil.  All young Prince Duan has are fanciful illusions and stoutness.  All Zhang-the-Perfect has is his monk's staff and a bunch of incomprehensible proverbs.  All the little beggar Pei Pei has is the gift of the gab and a large appetite.  But, most of all, Prince Duan, the old monk and the little beggar girl didn't know that it is impossible to defeat the King Demons.  So they did it!