BLACKBEARD

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Human (Post-World War II Era)

Occupation: Pirate

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: His crew (Barney, Mike, Porky)

Enemies: Betty Dean, Namora (Aquaria Nautica Neptunia), Sub-Mariner (Namor McKenzie), U.S. Navy

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile in the Atlantic Ocean

First Appearance: Marvel Mystery Comics I#85 (February, 1948)

Powers/Abilities: Blackbeard was an experienced sailor and deep sea diver.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'3")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 150 lbs.)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black

History:
(Marvel Mystery Comics I#85/2) - Blackbeard commanded the crew of his ship to drive the ocean liner S.S. Hardy so that it struck a rock shelf on San Gabriel, an island south of Florida. Blackbeard ordered his men to ensure no one aboard the liner survived as they began to plunder the sunken ship. Blackbeard's crew donned diving suits to infiltrate the ship and make off with valuables, including a large chest of pearls. Unknown to them, one of the ship's passengers was Betty Dean and Betty's friends Namor the Sub-Mariner and Namora ensured Betty survived.

    To trick the pirates, the heroes brought Betty back to the scene of the sinking and she pretended to be in distress. Struck by her beauty, the pirates brought Betty aboard their ship and Blackbeard gave her the engineer's cabin. Hours later, most of the    crew fell asleep and Betty took the chest of pearls and hid it under Blackbeard's bunk.

    Early in the morning, Blackbeard summoned Betty to meet with him. Betty pretended she was very attracted to Blackbeard and insinuated she knew what business he was in. Betty claimed the Cullihan Diamond was aboard the S.S. Hardy and offered to guide Blackbeard to it if he would split it with her 50-50. Aware the Cullihan Diamond was worth almost $1 million, Blackbeard hastily agreed to her deal. Betty told him the supposed location of the diamond and, as he didn't want to share it with the rest of his crew, Blackbeard forced one of his men to give him his diving suit and he went into the wreck to find the diamond.

    While Blackbeard searched in vain, Betty guided his crew to check his cabin, where they found the pearls hidden under his bunk. Thinking Blackbeard was trying to cut them out of their profits, the crew angrily cut his airhose and life-line. While they were doing this, Betty dived overboard and Namora brought her safely to shore. The Sub-Mariner swam into the wreck and found Blackbeard, who had closed his emergency valves when his crew cut off his air but he was almost out of air in his helmet. The Sub-Mariner freed Blackbeard from the wreck and brought him to the surface, where Betty and Namora kept watch over him.

    The Sub-Mariner subsequently summoned the U.S. Navy and led them in the capture of Blackbeard's crew and retrieval of the stolen pearls. Finally, the Sub-Mariner swam Blackbeard to the Navy vessel and identified him as the mastermind of the operation and guilty of over a hundred deaths. Namor opined that hanging was "too good for him" but he would let the U.S. courts determine his fate.

Comments: Created by Bill Everett.

    This profile was completed 06/18/2025 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Blackbeard should not be confused with:

images: (without ads)
Marvel Mystery Comics I#85/2, page 4, panel 3 (main)
Marvel Mystery Comics I#85/2, page 12, panel 4 (face)

Appearances:
Marvel Mystery Comics I#85/2 (February, 1948) - Bill Everett (writer, artist), Stan Lee (editor)

First posted: 09/05/2026
Last updated: 06/18/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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