Redefining the Golden Age of Piracy

To think the Golden Age of Piracy spanned a brief 70 years between 1660-1730 is a reverberating echo, echoing our collective memory often marred by swashbuckling stereotypes. Forget the villainous rogues of Peter Pan, Treasure Island, and Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean; real pirates were a diverse bunch. Half the crews on the ships of William Lewis and Oliver LaBouche were Black, as were sixty of Blackbeard’s one hundred man crew. Challenging our pirate preconceptions, the comic team responsible for 2021’s ‘Prophet Against Slavery: Benjamin Lay’ have unleashed a new creation.

When Pirates Fly Under the Banner of King Death

‘Under the Banner of King Death: Pirates of the Atlantic’ takes its cue from Marcus Rediker’s history, ‘Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age’ (Beacon Press, 2004). David Lester’s illustrations dance upon a storyline drawn from Rediker’s work, and Paul Buhle contributes an enlightening postscript. This narrative spotlights the trials and tribulations of the common people, branding pirates as rebels against establishment rather than merely miscreants.

Riding on Fictional Accounts

Rediker’s introduction frames the comic as an adaptation of ‘Villains of All Nations’. That said, one might argue it’s more of a historical fiction, flavored by Rediker’s original tome than an adaptation itself. Our triad of lead characters—Dutch sailor Ruben Dekker, escaped slave John Gwin, and Mary “Mark” Reed—are purely fictional, each with their unique eccentricities and struggles.

Lester’s intriguingly raw and scratchy art style animates the experiences of these characters, lending authenticity to the fabricated narrative. Despite minor drawbacks in representing action sequences, his astute use of sequential presentation in key sections amplifies the overall allure of the comic.

Understanding Pirates–the Egalitarian, Proto-socialists

The comic intriguingly dispels common beliefs about what might have lured sailors to turn pirate, emphasizing the liberating prospects piracy offered to oppressed groups like slaves and displaced Native Americans. For instance, pirates were known to practice a form of proto-socialism, breeding in-house democracy by collectively dividing their earnings and even electing consuls to resolve disputes—an environment far removed from the harsh realities dealt out to regular merchant sailors.

Fact, Fiction, and Pirate Terminology: Interwoven Aesthetics

While the comic spins a mainly fictional tale, the book also includes a timeline of significant events from the Golden Age of Piracy and a delightfully amusing glossary of pirate slang. This interweaving of truth, fiction, and humor effectively challenges our understanding of pirates while keeping readers entertained.

The Echoing Influence of Popular Pirate Images

Adding depth to the work, Paul Buhle provides an enlightening retrospect on how the image of pirates has morphed over centuries through readers’ perspectives. The comic ends on a sobering note reminiscent of its beginning, with yet another pirate meeting his demise by public hanging. The stark warning of the brutal end that awaits a pirate’s merry life is stinging. Yet, the comic gently nudges readers to take the figurative leap and fight for a better world.

The Redefining Lens of King Death

The comic, which has received praise from various quarters, including the Marxist Socialist Worker and the anarchist Fifth Estate, transcends political borders. It’s a recalibration of common pirate misconceptions, challenging societal norms while providing vivid, entertaining visuals. As a supplement to Rediker’s original work, it is, without a doubt, a memorable collision of fact, fiction, and historical authenticity.