Pirateria: The Wonderful Plunderful Pirate Emporium

Brown presents a book-length advertisement for an imaginary emporium of all things pirate. Whether you need rags or pantaloons, spinnakers or planks, you can be sure to find them at Pirateria. With specials like "buy one galleon, get one free!" it’s hard to imagine any self-respecting buccaneer passing this store by. Nonsense is the order of the day, with silly wordplay ("at Pirateria we put the ‘arg’ in ‘bargain’!") and amusing rhymes ("our helpful sales staff / may look like riffraff / and need a quick bath, / but despite being gruff / they know their stuff"). Disclaimers are also sprinkled throughout: customers are reminded that "pirates’ lifetimes may vary" and that "rescue [is] neither implied nor guaranteed." Brown’s distinctive acrylics, in all shades of greens and blues, play well with the characters, who are more Brooklyn hipster than Barbary buccaneer. But that’s most of the fun here -- the pokes at modern hucksterism as well as the cultural fascination with pirates (don’t forget Talk like a Pirate Day on September 19). An entertaining romp, even for landlubbers. robin l. smith