Schoolgirl by day, pirate queen by night.
Polly and the Pirates is an independent comic by Ted Naifeh consisting of 6 issues and an OGN (which is illustrated by Robbi Rodriguez) published by Oni Press. The comic follows Polly Pringle, a sheltered young girl who lives at a boarding school and has no desire to go on any adventures—unlike her friend Anastasia. One night Polly gets swept up in an adventure when she is captured by the former crew of the famous Pirate Queen Meg Malloy.
Tropes associated with this work:
- Absurdly Spacious Sewer: The Naff brothers and some pickpockets live in one.
- Abusive Parents: Apparently the Naff brothers had an abusive father. Percy Naff is worried that his brother is becoming like his father towards the child pickpockets.
- Action Girl: Polly becomes one after getting mixed up with the pirates.
- Alliterative Name: Poppy Pringle. Meg Malloy.
- Alternate History: The United States has an emperor.
- Amoral Attorney: A pair of them are in Book Two.
- Boarding School: Polly is living in one while her father is away doing diplomatic work.
- A Child Shall Lead Them: Because of course a girl with no knowledge of nautical travel, crime, or even that her mother was a pirate is the perfect candidate for a captain. Only it turns out Polly is extremely gifted at this.
- Extreme Doormat: Stasia's father is one to King Rolf, but he eventually grows a spine and stands up to him at the end of book two.
- The Fagin: When Kutner Naff isn't out on the high seas, he's bossing around a gang of boy pickpockets.
- Generation Xerox: Implied by Claudio's father, who states that Meg Malloy used to trick him often (as Polly bested Claudio). Polly also becomes a pirate just as her mother was.
- Gonk: Kutner Naff and his brother have very goblin-like appearances. As do the pair of attorneys from Book two.
- Just a Stupid Accent: King Rolf (heavy German accent) and Pamplemousse (heavy French accent).
- Little Miss Snarker: While Polly isn't as mean as Courtney Crumrin, her dialogue is full of dry wit.
- Mad Scientist's Beautiful Daughter: Ms. Vimmenvigger, that is, if you consider Mr. Shoe to be a mad scientist.
- Missing Mom: Polly has no memories of her mother, and thus far what happened to her hasn't been revealed.
- Modest Royalty: The emperor looks like a pauper. He actually is a crazy tramp guy who was crowned Emperor of America as a joke.....but then apparently he's recognized as Emperor anyways. But then in book two he's put to jail for claiming to be Emperor. But then he's released, and the queen of England recognizes him as an Emperor....its confusing. Based on the real life Emperor Norton
- Pirate Girl: Polly runs away from home to become a pirate. Her mother had also been a notorious pirate queen.
- Proper Lady: Polly is determined to be one at all costs. She believes her mother was this as well.
- Spirit Advisor: Possibly in book two, where Poly is visited by apparitions of her mother Meg, several times.
- Strong Family Resemblance: Polly looks uncannily like Meg Malloy, to the point that everybody believes Meg is her mother before Polly is willing to accept it.
- Tell Me About My Father: Polly of course wants to know all about her mother, and her father has been spinning stories for her for years... just not true ones.
- The Social Darwinist: King Rolf, type 4. He even makes a small speech about how the strong always rule.
- Would Hit a Girl: King Rolf. Miss Vimmenvigger, Polly and Stasia are all threatened to be crushed into jelly by him.
