Blek LU #39: Gusarsko blago / Zabranjeni grad

In Gusarsko blago, Red Jack murders to assemble a four-part treasure map. The Forbidden City concerns Buford’s prison camp, where captives are offered freedom for killing Blek.

Greed and coercion connect the stories, although each creates a different kind of suspense. The title adventure follows the tradition of pirate quests, with a map promising wealth and provoking conflict. Its divided form establishes a clear objective: the whole must be assembled gradually, and each fragment can alter the balance of power.

The second story presents a darker abuse of authority. Promised freedom becomes an instrument of blackmail, turning Blek into a target for people whose suffering he would otherwise seek to relieve. The conflict between survival and loyalty gives the premise particular weight.

Leonello Martini and Franco Frescura provide the scripts, while Carlo Cedroni draws both adventures. The collection allows readers to compare two writers within a consistent artistic presentation.

Readers of the Yugoslav editions may recognise the material from the LMS issues Gusarsko blago and Bafordov teror. Together, the stories combine a treasure quest, wartime adventure and resistance to oppression.