Swords of the Swashbucklers #6 (1986) pages 4-5: The story thus far

In the 1980s, it was still true that every comic book was somebody's first, so every issue spent space recapping concepts from previous issues. The first three pages of this issue deal with the action plot (good pirates chased by Imperial warships) of this series.

These next two pages remind us of the personalities on the pirate ship, and their interrelations. Black Bess hates Captain Raader but also hates having been recently betrayed by the Empress. Domino's parents are not thrilled to see their teen girl thrust into danger, even if she has acquired super-powers. Dodge is learning what it's like to have a family. These details make us care about the characters, so that it matters whether they get caught or killed.