Rocketeer: The Complete Adventures

The Rocketeer #1-2

by Dave Stevens

Cliff Secord, a down-on-his luck pilot, is always looking for ways to make a fast buck. Discovering a stolen rocket pack could be the one thing that will turn his fortunes around... but will it? What follows are government agents, German spies, deception, danger and adventure. This is the world of... The Rocketeer! All of Dave Stevens' original The Rocketeer comics collected in one book!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Adventure, Science Fiction, Comic Book, Historical Fiction

148 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Dave Lee Stevenswas an American illustrator and comics artist. He is most famous for creating The Rocketeer comic book and film character, and for his pin-up style "glamour art" illustrations, especially of model Bettie Page. He was the first to win Comic-Con International's Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award in 1982, and received both an Inkpot Award and the Kirby Award for Best Graphic Album in 1986.
Contents

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Using the stolen rocket-pack for the first time, racing pilot Cliff Secord has taken to the skies - in a desperate bid to save the life of a fellow flyer!" - from the opening of chapter 2, on page 19

That breathless style of narration and the accompanying first-rate illustrations (to wit: just look at that striking action hero pose adorning the cover . . . which is incredibly misleading, because his pistol-packing scenes last for a single scant page) ought to help in making The Rocketeer - possibly best remembered these days from the very good 1991 live-action film version by Disney, done in the vein of the Indiana Jones series - a sky-blazing success. However, I was disappointed by this book - it's one of those rare cases where the movie inspired by it is much better! The titular character is a dork who usually lucks into being heroic rather than, you know, actually being solid hero material. The two stories were subpar (they were supposed to be connected, but the second one confusingly heads off in another direction after an obligatory origin tale) and the so-called humor seemed forced most of the time. The sole saving grace? Said 'hero's girlfriend was drawn to resemble the real-life pin-up queen Bettie Page. However, a pretty face was not enough to save the day in this case.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Down and out pilot Cliff Secord finds a rocket pack in his plane. Will it be his ticket to the big time or a one way trip into a pine box?

I saw the movie version of The Rocketeer in the theater in the dim past and liked it quite a bit. After recently watching it on Disney+, I decided it was time to finally read the comics.

The Rocketeer: The Complete Adventures collects all the Rocketeer material written and drawn by Dave Stevens. Sadly, it's only 148 pages, comprising two long tales and various covers and pinups.

The tales in the Rocketeer are both pulpy adventure tales featuring secret agents, government stiffs, heavies, Hollywood phonies, and Cliff's knockout girlfriend Betty. There's also a guest appearance by a certain mystery man disguised as a man about town.

The stories are fun but the real star here is the art, naturally. Stevens had a slick style that reminds me somewhat of Alex Toth The art holds up very well despite being almost 40 years old at this point. I have to think the Big Two were courting Dave pretty hard at the time. Also, the guy could really draw a gorgeous dame. Betty was spectacular. Why was she with a mug like Secord anyway?

The movie version of Cliff is more likeable than the version presented here. Movie Cliff seems like a naive guy with a good heart. This Cliff is just a couple steps away from being a back robber. I think the story in the movie flows better than either tale in this collection as well. That being said, this was still a fun read and I can see why some people revere it as much as they do. Also, Jennifer Connelly was a great pick to play Betty.

The Rocketeer: The Complete Adventures is a gorgeous book. It's a damn shame Dave Stevens didn't produce more Rocketeer material during his time on Earth. Four out of five rocket packs.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I shoulda known something was up when the story opened with a dog fart joke...

What the hell was this even about?! Yes, the art is gorgeous, but there is literally no real plot. Nothing in the entire thing made any sense! I kept thinking that somehow everything would tie together at the end, but noooooo. After I finished it last night, I kept flipping through the pages to see if I missed something. Like maybe more pages would magically appear, and the light bulb would go off.
Ah-ha! I get it now!

As if the whole rocket-pack story line wasn't silly enough, about halfway through this, a circus serial killer is introduced. What the f%#@?! He's going to kill everyone from the old circus troupe, because Teena the midget (no, I'm not making her name up) tried to do a stunt and died? Really?!
And then there's the Shadow knock-off who is randomly placed in the middle of everything. Wha..? What did any of that stuff have to do with the rocket? Not that Cliff ever really did anything memorable with his stolen gear. Well, nothing that he wasn't basically forced into doing. He just sort of flew (I'm being generous here) around crashing into stuff. Why the hell did he keep strapping this thing to his back? Why not just give it back to the government?

Basically it's the story of a retarded hick who finds a jet pack and won't let it go. For no reason.
This is one of the Stupidest Stories Ever. EVER.


I can't believe they managed to make a movie out of this! I almost want to go rent it, just to see if it's as idiotic as the book.

Gah! *bangs head on desk* It's pissing me off just writing this!

1 star for the beautiful art
NO f@$*ing stars for the dumb-ass plot

[Jared Millet · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Rocketeer" is an infuriating graphic novel, because it makes you realize two things: 1) Dave Stevens is dead, and 2) he didn't produce very many comics when he was alive. As a period-piece pulp action adventure, the Rocketeer is astounding, and the artwork is breathtaking. This was truly one of the great hidden gems of the 80's independent comic scene - a little too well hidden, in my opinion. I was a comic book fiend when the movie came out in 1991, and I didn't learn until years later that it was actually based on a comic.

I see that a lot of reviewers on Goodreads complain about the lack of story. The problem is that collecting all the various Rocketeer strips into a single bound volume puts them in the wrong context - that of a unified graphic novel. These started out as 12-page backup comics that appeared in a variety of anthologies from an assortment of publishers, with an incredibly uneven and inconsistent publication schedule. In those conditions, Stevens had no way to know if the "next" chapter following any given issue would even see print, and had to assume that any given chapter was the first that an individual reader had come across. As such, he had to keep the narrative as simple as possible and throw everything he could into the art and the sense of adventure, which he did.

The Rocketeer ends abruptly, and it's obvious that Stevens had more stories to tell. Thank God and Dark Horse that the final chapter collected here finally did see print in 1995 (six years after the cliffhanger that led into it) or the Rocketeer may have truly been relegated to the dusty 25c-bins of history.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I grew up on Disney, and I think I remember seeing The Rocketeer on video as a kid, though I don't remember much about it. Still, as a lifelong fan of pretty much any media associated with the House of Mouse, I saw this at a library near me and decided to pick it up.

Boy, was I disappointed.

The artwork is gorgeous, but, that's what I've come to expect from comics, as many as I've read. While the content was clean in some areas--as strong as the language gets is "heck"--the lone female character is seen in various states of undress, including naked (albeit with critical areas obscured). There was also some blood, and one rather freaky scene involves a theme park ride that is supposed to emulate perdition. None of that seems very Disney-esque; at least, not in the style of the productions with which I grew up.

Not only that, but, too many pages of these "complete adventures" are mere filler; alternate covers, postcard artwork, etc. Such material wouldn't be as problematic if this "omnibus" had more actual content, and wasn't such a thin book.

As much as I love the House of Mouse--especially their live-action movies and shows--now, I'm debating whether or not I should see the film version of this. Maybe the reason I don't remember it that well was because we turned it off or something.

[Lost Planet Airman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhere way back when, circa 1978, I developed a fondness for the pulps. I had run out of Heinlein and Norton at my library, and came across A Princess of Mars and Doc Savage, and the hook was set.

Mid 80s, I think, long before the movie adaptation, I found The Rocketeer -- maybe even in a junk bin copy of Starslayer, where he made his debut. Having a touch more ready cash than in 1978, I bought the "original" collected adventures (The Rocketeer: All 5 Action Chapters!). Because this comic lives and breathes the "pulps", from the setting in the late 1930s, to the everyman adventure. There are even guest stars from -- yes, one that started it for me -- Doc Savage and sidekicks (although they are only vaguely introduced, possibly to keep the 'pastiche' aura and not violate copyrights!).

Little did I know, Mr. Stevens created a second series, "Cliff's Big New York Adventure". The action picks up where the first series stopped, with Cliff racing to New York to get Betty back. The set-up is a little contrived, but we get definite interaction with another pulp-era adventurer, operating as Jonas but pretty obviously The Shadow. Anyway, secrets are revealed, mysteries solved, adventures had, and hearts won. All told with the lush art of Dave Stevens.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic fun that never got enough love while Stevens was alive.

[Shazza Maddog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had seen the Disney movie many times and really enjoyed it, so when I spotted the collected graphics, I snatched it right up.

Cliff Secord is a barnstormer who can't catch a break, except he has an absolutely beautiful girlfriend, Betty, and a terrific mechanic, Peevy. When guys running from the law ditch a weird pack in Cliff's Gee Bee plane, Cliff discovers he's hit a gold mine as well as nothing but trouble. The pack is a jetpack, and Peevy's clever enough to design a helmet that allows the person wearing the pack to steer in the sky.

Cliff's first attempt to use the pack winds up with him saving a drunken pilot who picked up the Gee Bee and was about to crash it. That attracts the attention of the Russians who stole the pack in the first place, as well as the Feds, who are also trying to find the pack. In the mean time, Cliff's and Betty's relationship is on the rocks, and Betty is considering leaving Hollywood to go to Paris.

This is a fun book. The art style is beautiful, and in particular, Betty practically glows. The storyline harkens back to cliffhanger movies, with a science fiction/fantasy leaning, and even a crossover with The Shadow in the second half of the book.

Sadly, Dave Stevens, the writer/artist, passed away in 2008, so there won't be more of the Rocketeer. This collection shows how amazing his style was, and he will be missed.

[Arlie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know that I'd call my self a graphic novel aficionado, but I've certainly read a lot of them. That said, this one doesn't number among my favourites. It seems most people are enthralled with Stevens' art, and while it certainly is 'luscious' (this word comes up many times, including on the back of the book itself'), I found the representation of Betty offensive. Perhaps I'm too much of a feminist or something, but it seemed to me objectification of the female form. Apart from the nudity, there was also a bit on one of the covers showing her butt with the caption, 'The best side of Betty'. It made me angry, and also made me feel like people must enjoy this kind of thing in comics because they live in their basements and have trouble talking to women in real life. Which I'm sure isn't true. But I prefer to read adventures where women are respected, even if they choose to be scantily clad. I didn't find Secord much of an improvement on Marco (or whatever his name is). They were both just using her. Shallow characters and a shallow plot couldn't provide me with any depth of enjoyment.

[[Name Redacted] · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant homage to the old movie serials of the 1930s & 40s; the old pulp comics & radio-serials (the Shadow appears, unnamed, as a major character in the second half) of the same era; the late, great pin-up Bettie Page (after whom the character Betty is modeled); and the work of pre-madness Howard Hughes.

It's a period piece which proves faithful to its period, so if you can't stand works that don't reflect your modern views and attitudes then I would recommend steering clear. Otherwise, this is one of the highlights of 20th century comicry, a loving (but not uncritical) tribute to what came before.

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dave Steven's "The Rocketeer" is held in very high regard amongst comic book (or graphic novel if you prefer) aficionados, so this might seem like heresy to some, but the storytelling is paper thin.

The art is stunning - no doubt about it - but there isn't that much that is memorable about the actual plot, and no matter how graphically beautiful it may be, it sorely lacks a good story.

Sad but true.

[Will Henry]

I'll always and forever be a sucker for the pulp adventure comics art style, also roguish '40s aviator is my new gender goal now

[Ed · Rating 1 out of 5]

A. Because I will read almost any story-oriented graphic thing between two covers that I find in our library collection.
B. Because I saw the movie based on this character in the theater in 1991 or 1992, and while it made little impression, there's still a tenuous connection. A part of me.
C. It has pictures. Lots of colorful pictures.
D. I gave up on it because it seemed puerile and could barely capture my interest to turn the page.

[Bill Gauthier · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Dave Stevens’s THE ROCKETEER owes a lot to classic pulp adventures of the 1940s. Due to the length of time it took Stevens to do the various Rocketeer stories, it’s basically incomplete as a whole, but that’s all right. I suspect some people will have trouble with the hero being depicted less than heroic and the women being fairly one-dimensional, but the true star is Stevens’s art. The adventure is fun and the art is terrific. This is a classic now for a reason.

[Hamza · Rating 4 out of 5]

These initial Rocketeer stories are good, but both they and this entire collection are way too short! I know the story continues later under the guidance of other writers, but this is seemingly the only collection of stories from the character's creator, the late Dave Stevens. I love the ideas that began here, but I definitely need more story.

[ComicNerdSam · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a fun book, but it only ever manages to scrape greatness. I think Stevens is an amazing artist to be clear. Most of the art in this books feels like it could be published right next to any mainstream professional working today and no one would bat an eye. It looks so modern, to the point where the render-heavy digital recolor is actually a perfect fit. This book looks super good, so please understand I’m only talking about the writing when I say it's a bit disappointing.

[Elfo-oscuro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una pena que sea tan corto!! No sabía sobre como le devolvió la fama a Bertty Page! Es que vaya dibujo y que color de la colorista ganadora de Eisner Laura Martin 😍

[Alger · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite memories of elementary school was going to see the movie "The Rocketeer" with my friend Kevin Malloy. The saturday matinee serial feel to it was captivating even to a kid who grew up sixty years after that genre of entertainment was popular.

As an adult, finding out that it was based off of a comic and reading said comic was like a trip back into the mindset of that awe-struck 8 year old. The stories were just as rich, if not richer given it was the wellspring of the film, and delivered the whole package of excellence one hopes to find in graphic fictions. I have already attested that the storyline follows the zeitgeist of what the 30's serial was to the most quintessential degree, and truly that is all one needs to say in that respect. What captivates your attention though, and really draws you fully into the intrigue and brilliance of the plot is the artwork of the author, Dave Stevens. If I didn't know that these were written in the 80's I wouldn't believe it. Most of the comic art I have seen from that decade have been decent and common to a certain general style, but the artwork in this series looks more modern like that which is currently seen in comic books. That said, Stevens was far ahead of his time and visionary in the scope of his creation. Possibly the greatest praise I can give any writer, artist, or creator of any discipline, is that they are someone who has the ability to draw from the past with keen fidelity to the bygone, while at the same innovating with their gaze toward the future of their medium. Stevens was one of those visionaries and I truly lament that he is unable to receive the praise he so aptly deserves from people like myself who are just realizing his genius through the legacy of his art in the written and the drawn mediums.

[Bjoern · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been a fan of the 1991 movie of the same name and fame and so i was very interested when a german comic book publisher announced the first time ever omnibus hardcover edition of the original comic book series. Okay, it's at the upper edge of my usual comic/graphic novel budget but as the book is made up really beautiful it was well worth the price.

As to the contents... i was astonished how good much of the art was. Some pictures of Betty e.g. had almost pin up oil painting quality and many of the panels were not far behind that. Add to this that the story is truly retro-pulp worth of all the 1930s series, comics and fiction books it sees as it's predecessors and great idol the read has been quite an experience. Okay, it's not nobel prize worthy, so what? Comics should not be too text heavy or too heavyset from the storyline as they are a meld between picture stories and texts.This the Rocketeer does masterfully.

Finally the background information included in this edition was really interesting. A little bit about the author/artist, some about the said pulp stories that inspired the rocketeer and a little bit about the movie.

Okay a little bit cause for grief is also included and that does lie in the german translation... why the heck would ANYBODY want to translate the word "tower" when talking about an airport control center with the german "Turm"? It's never been widespread as equivalent and this is a 2010 edition for pity's sake! there are some other rather annoying faults in the translation, meaning that as a german which knows a little bit of english you can tell what the original meaning of a sentence was before Mr overeager translator got his hands on it, and those have always been my very special pet peeves with books... but as it's maybe six errors in 160 pages it's still on the okay side.

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stevens writes The Rocketeer as a love letter of sorts to the pulp heroes of the '30s and '40s. I won't pretend to any objectivity here: I love those characters as well. I was lucky enough to have the chance to embrace the likes of Doc Savage and the Shadow at a very young age and my affection for them has never truly waned. I would bet good money that Dave Stevens felt much the same as I do. Like George Lucas before him, whose Indiana Jones movies were a heartfelt homage to the adventure serials he grew to cherish so much as a child, Stevens uses his creation to pay tribute to the characters who helped shape his creativity. He goes so far as to give the Shadow an unnamed guest-starring role in one of the stories.
Stevens' Rocketeer is a joy to read, plain and simple. Every single panel bursts with vitality and humor. The fact that this work was a labor of love could not be clearer.
Some readers could have problems with some of the material, I suppose. The cheesecake factor with Betty is unquestionably high. However, Stevens is only continuing the artistic traditions of Alberto Vargas and Gil Elvgren and many others like them who worked in that era. Every depiction of Betty, in whatever state of dress or undress she might be found in, is obviously rendered lovingly (no accident, as she was modeled on the real-life Bettie Page, who ended up befriending Stevens).
While concerns about beauty and the objectification of it are certainly valid, I can't imagine the dim spirit a reader must have if they were to encounter this book and come away completely nonplussed. There's just too much to enjoy.

[Relstuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book with great art deco 1930s style time frame. The idea of the character of the Rocketeer was invented by the author when someone told him they had 6 pages available and needed a comic story to fill it. They told him he could do whatever he wanted. So he invented the Rocketeer. He drew the character first and then invented a story to go around him.

Interestingly, though this is the whole of the author's work with the Rocketeer there is no end to the story and there are serious plot threads left. The Nazis of the movie are at work but that is not resolved. The actual story probably takes up less than 100 of the pages in this book.

And yet, for an obscure character in the last 6 pages of a non-mainstream comic book the Rocketeer won acclaim because of the artwork and the era the author/artist in Mr. Stevens that he was able to evoke with his short stories.

Bettie Page, a 50's pin up icon was the ideal behind the Rocketeer's girlfriend. This comic originally came out in the 1980s. It helped revitalize interest in her. The author's efforts on her behalf led to her receiving compensation for her likeness being used on many popular things. Note: the comic does have some fairly racy images of her.

Apparently there is talk of Disney doing another Rocketeer movie. I approve of the idea. Can we have Christopher Nolan direct? =)

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was one of the few people who was lucky enough to see the movie when I was a kid, but for the longest time I never knew it was based on a comic. Having read it now I can say that while the film adaption is slightly superior, the comic is well worth your time.

First of all, the art by Dave Stevens is gorgeous. His affection for 1940s pin-up art is immeadiately obvious the first time you see Betty, modeled after the queen of pin-ups herself. His action sequences are quite good too and there's a ton of high-flying adventure.

The main weakness of the comic is the plot, namely there isn't much of one. You can see the parallels to the plot of the film, but there's no central villian. The second half is a bit stronger even if the plot between Betty and Cliff barely factors into it. I imagine if Dave Stevens got a chance to continue with series he would have kept improving with his plotting, but sadly he was taken from us too soon.

Still for only eight issues of Rocketeer, we've gotten a whole lot out of it. From the follow up comics written by greats like Kurt Busiek and Mark Waid, to what is still one of the best comic book adaptions by Hollywood. This is where it all begins, and while there are some rough edges to it you can see how it inspired other people to soar.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like many people, I first encountered the Rocketeer through the 1991 movie. The character seemed so pitch-perfect that I took it for granted that he dated back to the golden age of pulp, so it was surprising to find out that his first appearance was as late as 1982.

This volume collects the entirety of the all-too-brief comic series, cut short by creator Dave Stevens's death from leukemia at 52. And it's great, my only complaint it that there isn't more of it. The pace is fast, the action exciting, and the whole tone of the series is exhilarating and fun. I especially appreciated the sly references to pulp heroes like The Shadow, distinctive horror actor Rondo Hatton, and pinup queen Bettie Page. The artwork, complete with remastered color, is stunning as well.

Highly recommended to pulp adventure fans.

[Marco · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew the Rocketeer from his early-nineties movie (which I still like a lot) and the fact that Marvel sued because they once used the name for some characters in a defunct comic book about a then-licensed character they no longer hold the rights to.
This volume contains all the stories his creator, the late Dave Stevens, wrote and drew. Stevens did storyboards for Raiders of the Lost Ark and Michael Jackson's Thriller music video, so his art is impeccable (and his style a lot to my liking) and the stories herein (which amount to...two) not bad, but sadly, it felt all a bit thin.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I was skeptical about the prospect of seeing these comics with more modern coloring, but I should have had more faith in Dave's choices and the talents of Laura Martin. She did an amazing job of making the books look like I remember them, blending current technology with the classic aesthetic so that it doesn't jar old-time fans while still looking in the now. The bonus pages in this big edition are also a great gift to Dave Stevens fans. Bravo!

[Allen Stucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of the Rocketeer movie and I wasn't disappointed with the comic that inspired the movie. The story is a rollicking good time including Nazis, circus folk, Doc Savage, and the Shadow. Wow just typing that gave me a little chill. The art is fantastic and the women are gorgeous. This is a great book and I highly suggest you give it a try.

I give the story a 5 out of 5 and the art a 5 out of 5.

[Shaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read. I fell in love with the movie when I was a kid and absolutely loved the high flying adventures of Cliff. I like the action of the story...the initial story arc is my favorite of the two stories in this single volume. Stevens' women are beautiful especially Betty. Cliff is an arrogant jealous type which makes him a fun character to read about and see. I wonder if Stevens wrote more about the Rocketeer.

[Tony Calder · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a new series of The Rocketeer being published now, but if you're a fan, this is a book you have to own. The stories are ok, they certainly have a pulp feel to them, and Cliff is regularly an arse, but it's the artwork that sets the original series apart. Dave Stevens made this such a joy to read - his artwork is just gorgeous.

[to'c · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun little graphic novel and a definite homage to the pulp paperbacks of the 1940s, complete with cameos of nods to, if not the actual, characters from those pulps. You life might not be better for reading it but you'll enjoy the ride.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been a big fan of The Rocketeer. Absolutely phenomenal art!!
A brilliant collection for old school fans or new comers to discover.