The Pirates! in an Adventure with Communists by Gideon DeFoe

Oh, that rascally Pirate Captain. He's back with his whole pirate crew, this time caught in a web of intrigue involving a battle of 19th century philosophers. In an effort to fulfill his endorsement deal with a beard pomade company, the captain travels to London, where by virtue of his luxuriant beard he is mistaken for philosopher Karl Marx, who is currently causing quite the uproar in society. Upon finally meeting his doppelganger, the Pirate Captain is angered. Marx is far hairier. The Captain describes him as having a beard that "looked like he had sellotaped a bunch of cats to his face and then frightened them".

It turns out that Marx is being framed by a mysterious rogue philosopher bent on conquering the world. Or at least impressing girls. The Pirate Crew, having newly discovered the ability to compare people to font types and always eager for an adventure involving disguises, embarks on a mad chase across Europe, culminating in a battle onstage with a Wagner Opera, a Volcano, and some angry bears.

DeFoe is back in rare form with this book, a diverting and hilarious read. May the Pirate Captain sail forever! Arr.