Comic book artist Rachael Stott is among the legion of fans who have been swept up in the fervor of HBO’s surprising high seas hit, Our Flag Means Death, which has inspired a treasure trove of fan-made content since its March premiere.
Stott, who is currently lending her artistic prowess to Marvel’s Fantastic Four alongside writer Dan Slott, shared her Our Flags Means Death fan art on Twitter. The vibrant artwork shows Rhys Darby’s Stede Bonnet and Taika Waititi’s Blackbeard trapped in a deadly, romantically tense stand-off set against a thematically nautical backdrop. The pirates appear locked in an intimate, albeit knife-wielding, embrace.
Having brought characters from Doctor Who and Star Trek into the world of comics over the course of her career, Stott is no stranger to translating beloved live-action television characters into stunning visual art. The artist’s Our Flag Means Death piece connected both with fans of the show and her fellow comics professionals on social media.
After a Twitter commenter suggested Stott draw Stede and Blackbeard giving into the more romantic side of their dynamic, she obliged. Stott retweeted the commenter, who responded to the original art with, “Now kiss!” and shared two black-and-white sketches of the pirates locking lips.
Hoisting itself to the top streaming position at HBO Max, Waititi’s Our Flag Means Death has captured fans’ imaginations with its distinctive cast of characters, queer romances, and crew of found family. Stott’s art joins the ever-growing sea of fan-made work that has blossomed from the comedy’s newfound streaming success.
Stede Bonnet and Ed Teach, more commonly known and feared as Blackbeard, harbor a romantic tension throughout the series which both drove the plot of season one’s final stretch of episodes and sent the social media artists into a frenzy. The unresolved romance between the two pirates has been the theme of many pieces of fan art, including Stott’s. In her contribution to the ongoing fan conversation, Stott stunningly captures the tone of the men’s sometimes-soft, sometimes-guarded dynamic.
Our Flag Means Death‘s explosion of fan art, fanfiction, and cosplay could also be viewed as a salve to hold fans over as they desperately await news about the series’ second season. While the immense streaming boom the series’ received is a great sign for fans who want more of Stede, Blackbeard, and the crew of The Revenge, there still has not been an official Season 2 renewal for the series.
The entirety of Our Flag Means Death’s first season is available to stream on HBO Max.
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