NECESSARY QUEER BIOGRAPHY: While many biographies cover contemporary queer figures, Joe the Pirate brings attention to the lives of several famous queer women of yesteryear. Joe's life of playing with gender norms and high-profile affairs during a less socially acceptable time, thriving all the while, is an inspiration. DYNAMIC, FLUID ARTWORK: Augustin's Disney background is on full display here as each page comes to life with movement and vitality. Recalling masterful cartoonists like Jeff Smith and Jason Lutes, her dramatic spot blacks, densely detailed backgrounds, and expressive character acting will draw readers in from the first flip-through. COMPLEX STORYTELLING: A wealthy heiress, socialite, and casual colonizer, Joe's life is complex and layered, all brought to the page by Hubert's and Augustin's insightful storytelling talent. Not simply hagiography, the pair highlight her achievements, warts and all, leaving it all on the page to be witnessed and critiqued by the reader. THRILLING ADVENTURE: With fantastical exploits studding her jam-packed life, Joe the Pirate reads like the best examples of mid-century adventure writing, full of arresting scenes of last-minute escapes from death. LIVING HISTORY: Skillfully depicting the lifestyles of early 20th century elite, Caribbean history, and the evolution of queer life, JOE THE PIRATE is for history buffs, especially those looking for a brisk escape from plodding academic prose.