'Blair Witch' creators tackle Blackbeard

Eduardo Sanchez and Gregg Hale, who collaborated on The Blair Witch Project, are working on a graphic biography of the infamous pirate Blackbeard.

The pair, who were co-director and producer respectively on the 1999 film, have created Blackbeard: Legend of the Pyrate King for Dynamite Entertainment.

The seven-issue series will be written by Robert Napton and Jamie Nash, with art from Mario Guevara and covers by John Cassaday.

"Blackbeard was a villain in a world of tyranny," Nash told Comic Book Resources. "During a time of slavery and oppression, Blackbeard employed democracy on his ships, had Africans serve as crewman and even as his quatermasters and right-hand men. Even merchant crews were harshly treated by their captains – often beaten and killed for insubordination – and often forced into service or 'pressed' as it was called.

"It was so bad, the merchant crews' weapons were kept locked away lest they use them against their merciless captains. I think within the context Blackbeard waged his reign of pirating... it's a grayer shade than might be expected."

Blackbeard: Legend of the Pyrate King will debut in October.