The DC Comics feature Sea Dogs imagines Patriot forces attempting to change the course of the American Revolution by secretly embedding werewolves aboard a British warship. The comic, written by Joe Hill and illustrated by Dan McDaid, with colors by John Kalisz, is serialized in the last pages of every title published by DC’s horror imprint, Hill House Comics; curated by Hill, the imprint includes Basketful of Heads and The Dollhouse Family, with The Low, Low Woods, Daphne Byrne, and Plunge scheduled to debut in coming months. In addition to its horror premise, Sea Dogs makes use of its bleak historic setting to enrich the comic’s intensity.

The comic opens in May 1780 in the basement of what is identified as a “secret rebel stronghold” in Upstate New York; readers see the feet of three unidentified people standing next to bloody, eviscerated animals as a distinguished-looking gentleman descends stairs to meet them. Significantly, this man is identified by one of the mysterious trio as “Mr. Bolton,” although the man clarifies: “I am for the moment. I expect I shall have to be someone else by dinnertime.”

The use of “Mr. Bolton” as an alias, as well as the character’s admission of his clandestine work in the war, suggests that Bolton is the actual historic figure Benjamin Tallmadge, leader of the Culper Ring, a New York-based spy network for the Continental Army; as a spy, Tallmadge was referred to by the alias “John Bolton.”

Portrait of Benjamin Tallmadge and his son William by Ralph Earl, 1790; source: Wikipedia.

Bolton outlines the stakes of the mission he has in mind for the trio, noting America’s naval setbacks in the past year:

“The Royal Navy has ravaged our coast these last twelve months. They sank a hundred vessels in Chesapeake Bay. A hundred more on the the Penobscot. And then Charleston. My God, they used us harder in Charleston than one of the little boys their sailors pass ‘round when they’re bored.”

Bolton summarizes his argument: “Not to put too fine a point on it: this Revolution is fucked.”

Given the historic setting, Bolton’s pessimism is justified, and reflects actual Patriot anxiety regarding the war’s outcome during this period. A few years prior, the Patriot victory against British forces at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 had changed the course of the war; Patriot morale soared as British resolve weakened. Furthermore, France was inspired to declare war against Britain, providing supplies and military forces to assist the Patriots. But by 1780, two military disasters referenced by Bolton — Penobscot and Charleston — had a significant impact on Patriot morale and maritime military capabilities.