Rocketeer

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This article is about the comic book. For the film, see The Rocketeer (film). For other uses, see Rocketeer (disambiguation).
The Rocketeer
Rocketeer (Alex Ross's art).png
Cover of Rocketeer Adventures 1 (May 2011 IDW), art by Alex Ross
Publication information
PublisherPacific Comics
Eclipse Comics
Comico Comics
Dark Horse Comics
IDW Publishing
First appearanceStarslayer #2 (April 1982)
Created byDave Stevens[1]
In-story information
Alter egoCliff Secord
PartnershipsPeevy
Notable aliasesThe Flying Man, The Rocket Man
AbilitiesAbove-average hand to hand combatant
Excellent athlete
Highly skilled pilot and marksman
Flight via jetpack

The Rocketeer is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books originally published by Pacific Comics. Created by writer/artist Dave Stevens, the character first appeared in 1982 and is a homage to the Saturday matinee serial heroes from the 1930s through the 1950s.[2]

The Rocketeer's secret identity is Cliff Secord, a stunt pilot who discovers a mysterious jetpack that allows him to fly. His adventures are set in Los Angeles and New York in 1938, and Stevens gave them a retro, nostalgic feel influenced by the King of the Rocket Men and Commando Cody movie serials (both from Republic Pictures), and pinup diva Bettie Page.[3]

The character was adapted into the 1991 Walt Disney Pictures film The Rocketeer by director Joe Johnston.

Premise[]

In 1938 Los Angeles, Cliff Secord, a local racing pilot and barnstormer, discovers a rocket pack hidden by two gangsters fleeing the police. When he decides to take it for a spin, his life is turned upside down - in more ways than one!

Publication history[]

The Rocketeer's first adventure appeared in 1982 as a backup feature in issues #2 and #3 of Mike Grell's Starslayer series from Pacific Comics. Two more installments appeared in Pacific's showcase comic Pacific Presents #1 and 2. The fourth chapter ended in a cliffhanger that was later concluded in a special Rocketeer issue released by Eclipse Comics.[4]

On February 28, 2009, IDW Publishing announced a hardcover collecting the entire series for the first time, intended to be published in October 2009. Dave Stevens' The Rocketeer: The Complete Adventures contained new coloring by Laura Martin, who had been chosen by Dave Stevens prior to his death.[5]

In September, 2014, IDW issued The Rocketeer: Jet-Pack Adventures, a prose anthology of ten short stories written by authors including Yvonne Navarro, Don Webb, Gregory Frost, Nancy Holder, Nancy A. Collins. Set between 1939 and 1946, the stories feature appearances by such historical figures as Howard Hughes, Hedy Lamarr, Tarzan's Johnny Weissmuller, and writer Zane Grey.[6]

Background[]

Allusions[]

Besides pulp characters, actors of the 1940s and 1950s have also visually inspired two characters: Lothar, the villain in "Cliff's New York Adventure", is based on the likeness of acromegalic horror movie star Rondo Hatton;[7] and Cliff Secord's girlfriend Betty is modeled after "Queen of Pinups" Bettie Page.[3]

A "Rocket Man" character, with a near-identical rocket backpack and similar uniform, appeared in four Republic Pictures movie serials from 1949 through 1953. The fourth serial, originally conceived as a syndicated Republic TV series, was first released under contractual obligation to movie houses as a regular multi-chapter theatrical serial; two years later, it was re-cut with new footage and additional music added and finally syndicated on NBC television stations as twelve 25-minute episodes. The four Republic Rocket Man serials were: King of the Rocket Men (1949), Radar Men from the Moon (1952), Zombies of the Stratosphere (1952), and Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe (serial 1953, TV series 1955)[8]

In other media[]

Film[]

Television[]

Video games[]

  • The first officially licensed Rocketeer game was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in May 1991. It is a side-scrolling action game published and developed by Bandai, and followed the plot of the movie.[15]

Homages[]

Comic homages[]

Reception[]

IGN listed the Rocketeer as the 76th Greatest Comic Book Character, stating that the Rocketeer taps into that popular desire to fly. IGN also stated the Rocketeer saga remains a compelling one.[18]

References[]

  1. ^ Nelson, Valerie J (March 13, 2008). "Illustrator created 'Rocketeer' comic." The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  2. ^ Gustines, George Gene. "Dave Stevens, 52, Artist Who Created the Rocketeer, Dies." The New York Times. March 30, 2008. Retrieved: October 21, 2010.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Dave Stevens." twomorrows.com. Retrieved: October 21, 2010.
  4. ^ "Dave Stevens: 1955–2008." The Comics Reporter. Retrieved: September 24, 2012.
  5. ^ "IDW Resurrects The Rocketeer." Archived 2010-11-23 at the Wayback Machine IGN. Retrieved: October 31, 2010.
  6. ^ Conner, Jeff; Waltz, Tom (September 2014). The Rocketeer: Jet-Pack Adventures. San Diego, California: IDW. p. 410. ISBN 9781613779071.
  7. ^ "Dr Hermes Retro-Scans: "The Rocketeer" Archived 2011-08-15 at the Wayback Machine livejournal.com. Retrieved: March 12, 2011.
  8. ^ Kelle, Alexandra. "Movie Serials." allmovie.com, 2010. Retrieved: September 10, 2010.
  9. ^ Maltin 2000, p. 302.
  10. ^ Brodesser-Akner, Claude (August 21, 2012). "Exclusive: Disney's The Rocketeer Being Reloaded". Vulture. Vox Media.
  11. ^ "Disney's The Rocketeer Cartoon Adds Two New Cast Members". Comic Book. 2019-07-27. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  12. ^ "Disney Junior's "The Rocketeer" Premieres Friday, Nov. 8, on Disney Channel, Disney Junior and DisneyNOW". The Futon Critic. October 10, 2019.
  13. ^ Trumbore, Dave (February 27, 2018). "'The Rocketeer' Set to Return … As an Animated Disney Junior Series?". Collider. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  14. ^ Breznican, Anthony (August 12, 2021). "Marvel's What If…? Creators Reveal Abandoned Story Lines". Vanity Fair. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  15. ^ GameFAQs: The Rocketeer (NES)
  16. ^ Penny Arcade! – Our Old Tricks
  17. ^ Best Shots Extra: Cap: The Chosen #1, Iron Man: Enter The Mandarin #1, Ms. Marvel #19 - Newsarama Archived 2007-09-11 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ "The Rocketeer is number 76". IGN. Retrieved May 11, 2011.

Bibliography[]

  • Bilson, Danny, Paul De Meo and William Dear. The Rocketeer: Screenplay: S.l. : s.n., dated June 13, 1990.
  • Cotta Vaz, Mark and Patricia Rose Duigna. Industrial Light & Magic: Into the Digital Realm. Hong Kong: Del Rey Books, 1996. ISBN 0-345-38152-1.
  • David, Peter. The Rocketeer Novelization of the Film. New York: Bantam Books, 1991 ISBN 0-553-29322-2

External links[]

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