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Rocket Raccoon (1985) #1-4
Rocket Raccoon: Guardian of the Keystone Quadrant
It's Rocket Raccoon, the deadliest weapons expert in the galaxy! Before he lent his expertise to the war effort during Annihilation, before he saved the universe as one of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Rocket Raccoon was the Guardian of the Keystone Quadrant! Experience his original adventures with the Incredible Hulk and his anthropomorphic allies and enemies on his home planet of Halfworld!
141 pages, Hardcover
First published August 17, 2011
5 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Bill Mantlo
1,392 books44 followersWilliam Timothy Mantlo is an American comic book writer, primarily at Marvel Comics.
(source: Wikipedia)
(source: Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 14, 2011
Wow, that was a product of its time.
I basically picked this up for a couple of reasons. The more minor one was because a space-faring anthropomorphic raccoon with rocket skates amuses me. The more major one was because this was some of the earliest art by Mike Mignola.
If you squint, you can kind of tell, but he's come a long way. It's interesting to see the massive transition, and to spot the little moments of "Yeah, that's Mignola all right." In what's left.
Is the book actually any good? It's all right. It depends on what your threshold for some things is. If you're likely to enjoy a goofy, surreal, episodic story about anthropomorphic animals fighting robotic clowns over the fate of a planet that's actually a giant insane asylum, then sure, give it a look.
I basically picked this up for a couple of reasons. The more minor one was because a space-faring anthropomorphic raccoon with rocket skates amuses me. The more major one was because this was some of the earliest art by Mike Mignola.
If you squint, you can kind of tell, but he's come a long way. It's interesting to see the massive transition, and to spot the little moments of "Yeah, that's Mignola all right." In what's left.
Is the book actually any good? It's all right. It depends on what your threshold for some things is. If you're likely to enjoy a goofy, surreal, episodic story about anthropomorphic animals fighting robotic clowns over the fate of a planet that's actually a giant insane asylum, then sure, give it a look.
April 10, 2014
Era ora che questa mini fosse raccolta in volume. Bill Mantlo aveva creato una buona trama partendo da un'idea niente male, e Mignola l'aveva disegnata con il suo stile, non ancora pienamente maturo ma molto godibile. Una storia quasi totalmente avulsa dall'Universo Marvel, gidibile in se stessa, con un ragionamento decisamente interessante sulla follia.
July 18, 2023
Contained herein are the earliest stories featuring Rocket Raccoon.
Marvel Preview #7 - Featured last in this volume is the first appearance of Rocket. He’s quite different from how we know him today and this tale has very little to do with any other continuity of the character. Unfortunately, it’s also part of a larger tale that, I believe, has never been completed.
Incredible Hulk #271 - We’re still a far cry from the Rocket we all know and love, but his appearance here is one that at least gives us the foundation upon which our Raccoon will grow.
Rocket Raccoon #1-4 - This mini-series feature art by Mike Mignola, yes the guy who brought us Hellboy (see Hellboy, Volume 1: Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil to start with) is responsible for this truly memorable introduction to our beloved Raccoon. This still isn’t the Rocket you’ll see in the Guardians of the Galaxy films or in more recent issues of comics, but it’s one that begins to be recognizable.
This is an odd assortment of tales, but it’s a nice treasury of the character’s earliest appearances and the beginning of his evolution into the Rocket Raccoon we know and love today.
Marvel Preview #7 - Featured last in this volume is the first appearance of Rocket. He’s quite different from how we know him today and this tale has very little to do with any other continuity of the character. Unfortunately, it’s also part of a larger tale that, I believe, has never been completed.
Incredible Hulk #271 - We’re still a far cry from the Rocket we all know and love, but his appearance here is one that at least gives us the foundation upon which our Raccoon will grow.
Rocket Raccoon #1-4 - This mini-series feature art by Mike Mignola, yes the guy who brought us Hellboy (see Hellboy, Volume 1: Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil to start with) is responsible for this truly memorable introduction to our beloved Raccoon. This still isn’t the Rocket you’ll see in the Guardians of the Galaxy films or in more recent issues of comics, but it’s one that begins to be recognizable.
This is an odd assortment of tales, but it’s a nice treasury of the character’s earliest appearances and the beginning of his evolution into the Rocket Raccoon we know and love today.
February 3, 2023
The early days of Rocket Racoon are different to how we know him now.
This Rocket has a pal named Wal Rus and you guessed it, he’s a Walrus so that little bit of information will sum up of you are going to enjoy this book or not.
It’s absolutely bonkers and considering it’s a story that is now nearly 40 years old, it holds up pretty well.
There’s some debate to be had on if humans named “Looneys” that belong in a mental asylum but got left on this planet is something you could get away with.
The villains are robotic Clowns and other various animal creatures. The plot is as bonkers as you’d expect, yet somehow charming in a Saturday morning cartoon kind of way.
The very early Mike Mignola art is gorgeous, and Bill Mantlo’s story is delightfully goofy. Enjoyment will vary, but for me it’s a solid
July 30, 2018
3.5/5
First and foremost, PLEASE don't pick this book up if you are sensitive about flippant and outdated plots and jokes about mental health. It's the plot of the entire book and very much a product of the mid-80s.
That said, this was an incredibly weird ride. It was fun, bizarre, sometimes cute? but not often. Rocket is a fun character. I think the pacing was really good and moved quickly enough. The first issue with the Hulk is not part of the main story. It's Rocket's first appearance, but was by far my least favorite. I needed to see the Hulk referred to as "spinach-skin" approximately 0 times in my life and now I have seen it at least twice.
First and foremost, PLEASE don't pick this book up if you are sensitive about flippant and outdated plots and jokes about mental health. It's the plot of the entire book and very much a product of the mid-80s.
That said, this was an incredibly weird ride. It was fun, bizarre, sometimes cute? but not often. Rocket is a fun character. I think the pacing was really good and moved quickly enough. The first issue with the Hulk is not part of the main story. It's Rocket's first appearance, but was by far my least favorite. I needed to see the Hulk referred to as "spinach-skin" approximately 0 times in my life and now I have seen it at least twice.
January 27, 2017
As per with this collection we have the first glimpse of Rocket as Rocky Raccoon a rather upper-class English sounding creature as he pops up in a black and white Marvel Preview called The Sword and The Star! To be honest, apart from Rocky it wasn't really amazing. And he was drawn as a one off, barely a cameo.
Luckily fans liked him and he popped up again in the pages of Hulk with a small band of furry and animal friends, Rocket and Wall-Rus help Hulk who has found himself on a bizarre planet and so when Rocket's girl is kidnapped Hulk agrees to help but is sent back before anyone knows it.
Finally we have Rocket's first solo mini series set on Halfworld this is totally bonkers for Marvel as it carries on from the Hulk issue, two toy makers both bad go to war. The world itself is divided the robots and industrial side and the "Loonies" humans and talking animals the other.
Reason Halfworld was a worldly institute for the insane and incurable humans. When funding was cut the shrinks had to return to Earth and left the robot carers in charge with animals to help the "loonies", along the way something happened and the robots disliked the idea of caring for the humans and played around with animal genetics and dividing the world.
Now the robots want off but they do build toys to entertain the "Loonies" and weapons so the anthromorthic animals can protect the "Loonies" and keep them entertained.
There are robotic killer clowns who seem to always rhyme their talk. Some semi-robotic bat like creatures and the two warring and eventual allied toy makers, an evil mole an evil lizard, eventually working together to destroy Rocket Raccoon.
A fun read with lots to amuse and definitely worthy of a read if you want something a bit different.
Luckily fans liked him and he popped up again in the pages of Hulk with a small band of furry and animal friends, Rocket and Wall-Rus help Hulk who has found himself on a bizarre planet and so when Rocket's girl is kidnapped Hulk agrees to help but is sent back before anyone knows it.
Finally we have Rocket's first solo mini series set on Halfworld this is totally bonkers for Marvel as it carries on from the Hulk issue, two toy makers both bad go to war. The world itself is divided the robots and industrial side and the "Loonies" humans and talking animals the other.
Reason Halfworld was a worldly institute for the insane and incurable humans. When funding was cut the shrinks had to return to Earth and left the robot carers in charge with animals to help the "loonies", along the way something happened and the robots disliked the idea of caring for the humans and played around with animal genetics and dividing the world.
Now the robots want off but they do build toys to entertain the "Loonies" and weapons so the anthromorthic animals can protect the "Loonies" and keep them entertained.
There are robotic killer clowns who seem to always rhyme their talk. Some semi-robotic bat like creatures and the two warring and eventual allied toy makers, an evil mole an evil lizard, eventually working together to destroy Rocket Raccoon.
A fun read with lots to amuse and definitely worthy of a read if you want something a bit different.
November 2, 2013
Rocket Raccoon has always been my favorite under-utilized Marvel character. He had a four issue mini-seires in the 80s and that was about it. I'm so glad he's had a chance for a revival through the new Guardians of the Galaxy series and upcoming movie.
This hardcover collection includes his very first appearance from The Incredible Hulk #271, the aforementioned four issue series, and his appearance in a Marvel Premiere back-up story that I'd never read before (and, as it turns out, ties heavily into the origins of Marvel's Microverse). Also, I now know why Marvel vs. Capcom cast him as British. His dialogue in the Sword in the Star storyline is very Brit. ("old bean," "I say!"), but that's the only place this ever happened.
What I like about Rocket is that the storylines are completely mental. He lives in a world inhabited by robots, other anthropomorphic animals such as himself, and human lunatics. His job is to protect the lunatics, known as "Loonies" and keep them entertained. Meanwhile, he's got to deal with a mad mole named Judson Jakes who wants to control the toy market to the Loonies and is constantly trying to destroy Rocket and friends with his deadly Killer Clowns and hired mercenary Blackjack O'Hare and his Black Bunny Brigade.
The whole thing is completely mental, but absolutely brilliant.
Also, the mini-series features some great early pencil work from Mike Mignola. Always interesting to see an artist's work before his signature style comes through.
If you want to know a little more about Rocket Raccoon before the GotG movie comes out, this is a great introductory collection for you.
This hardcover collection includes his very first appearance from The Incredible Hulk #271, the aforementioned four issue series, and his appearance in a Marvel Premiere back-up story that I'd never read before (and, as it turns out, ties heavily into the origins of Marvel's Microverse). Also, I now know why Marvel vs. Capcom cast him as British. His dialogue in the Sword in the Star storyline is very Brit. ("old bean," "I say!"), but that's the only place this ever happened.
What I like about Rocket is that the storylines are completely mental. He lives in a world inhabited by robots, other anthropomorphic animals such as himself, and human lunatics. His job is to protect the lunatics, known as "Loonies" and keep them entertained. Meanwhile, he's got to deal with a mad mole named Judson Jakes who wants to control the toy market to the Loonies and is constantly trying to destroy Rocket and friends with his deadly Killer Clowns and hired mercenary Blackjack O'Hare and his Black Bunny Brigade.
The whole thing is completely mental, but absolutely brilliant.
Also, the mini-series features some great early pencil work from Mike Mignola. Always interesting to see an artist's work before his signature style comes through.
If you want to know a little more about Rocket Raccoon before the GotG movie comes out, this is a great introductory collection for you.
August 2, 2014
Desquiciada es el término que le hace más justicia a esta historia de Rocket Raccoon. Es un mundo donde los humanos están locos de remate y animales y robots tienen la misión de cuidarlos. Producto de esta "insanidad" se desata una guerra interna en la cual nuestro querido mapache (que es apenas un borrador del actual) se ve envuelto.
Dentro de todo la historia es buena aunque la forma cómo se ejecuta es mas correspondiente a la época en que fue escrita y quizás por eso cueste un poco mas digerirla.
Dentro de todo la historia es buena aunque la forma cómo se ejecuta es mas correspondiente a la época en que fue escrita y quizás por eso cueste un poco mas digerirla.
May 11, 2025
One of the best things about reading the Marvel U.K. Transformers comics was the weird back up strips they added to it, usually short run series which could be a bit baffling compared to the usual robot skirmish action. Rocket Raccoon was the first experience I had of these, with the final issue of the mini-series here being the story in my first few issues - none of it made much sense but I very much liked how much it just happily embraced weirdness and was unlike much else I’d read in comics to this point. Almost forty years later, it’s still very weird - and oddly tries to cram in way too many Beatles’ references - but there is something joyous about that weirdness, as if Mantlo is just enjoying seeing how far he can push this story before it breaks. It also helps that for the mini series Mignola is well on his way to becoming the master of the form he’d become by the nineties, because the art is wonderful. The odds and sods, including Rocket’s first appearance talking in a somewhat jarring British accent and his second uncomfortably trying to team up with Hulk, are curious rather than actively good but it’s a lovely volume to have, and a reminder that the character is a lot more than merely a wisecracking sidekick in Guardians of the Galaxy
September 21, 2021
This books main attraction is the early artwork by Mike Mignola. The stories themselves have not aged all too well. The Hulk story that opens this collection is pretty standard; Mantlo wrote his Hulk (and other titles) almost as a Team-Up book, where the Hulk stumbles into (and out of) the guest-stars' story, in this case Rocket Raccoon's. (Whose characterization is still a ways from the gun-toting near-psycho of today.)
Rocket's story continues in his eponymous 4-part miniseries, which is a very cartoony romp with anthropomorphic animals, killer clowns, and Keystone Cops, revolving around an abandoned insane asylum. All of which has undergone convoluted retconning by now. Still, some fun was had...
The collection ends with Rocky's first appearance (in black and white) as a side-character in Mantlo's mostly (and sadly) forgotten Prince Wayfinder/Sword in the Star serial, which he returned to again and again, and tried to develop throughout different books over the years (including his Micronauts run).
Rocket's story continues in his eponymous 4-part miniseries, which is a very cartoony romp with anthropomorphic animals, killer clowns, and Keystone Cops, revolving around an abandoned insane asylum. All of which has undergone convoluted retconning by now. Still, some fun was had...
The collection ends with Rocky's first appearance (in black and white) as a side-character in Mantlo's mostly (and sadly) forgotten Prince Wayfinder/Sword in the Star serial, which he returned to again and again, and tried to develop throughout different books over the years (including his Micronauts run).
January 4, 2026
Rocket Raccoon first appeared in a melodramatic romp from Marvel Preview #4. A British caricature based on a Beatles song, he added effective comic relief to the melodrama of the main character's woes. Rocket evolved into a fuller character alongside a displaced Hulk in The Incredible Hulk #271, a light, self-contained space adventure, before starring in what makes up the bulk of this collection, a silly but fun miniseries by Bill Mantlo and Mike Mignola.
Mignola's lively art is a highlight of the absurd world-building tale, which features anthropomorphic animals with futuristic weapons, mental patients, killer clowns, and aloof androids. Mantlo can get too wordy at times, but his vocabulary is fantastically whimsical, and he successfully instills his many characters with distinct personalities from the start. The ambition alone in this story demands respect, and it is truly action-packed from start to finish as it fleshes out one of Marvel's future Guardians of the Galaxy.
Mignola's lively art is a highlight of the absurd world-building tale, which features anthropomorphic animals with futuristic weapons, mental patients, killer clowns, and aloof androids. Mantlo can get too wordy at times, but his vocabulary is fantastically whimsical, and he successfully instills his many characters with distinct personalities from the start. The ambition alone in this story demands respect, and it is truly action-packed from start to finish as it fleshes out one of Marvel's future Guardians of the Galaxy.
October 20, 2021
Wow, this was better (and funnier) that i've expected!
Thr first story on this book, it's just ok. It's the first Rocket apperance on the Marvel Universe. But, after, we got his first miniseries, and it's just tons of fun!
We learn about the Keystone Quadrant, the Halfworld planet, and the creatures in it. Rocket is the guardian of some crazy humans they call "loonies", and, out of nowhere is in the middle of a "toy war" for the controle of toy manufactory on the planet.
We see some critics for the human race, the importance of some pets, and Mantlo just create a beautiful universe in it.
And the art, it's stunning! It's Mignola's early days, so we don't see the Hellboy master that we are used to, but a very good mainstrain pen, and it's beautiful.
If you're looking for something different on the super hero genre, this is, for sure, a very good shot for you.
Thr first story on this book, it's just ok. It's the first Rocket apperance on the Marvel Universe. But, after, we got his first miniseries, and it's just tons of fun!
We learn about the Keystone Quadrant, the Halfworld planet, and the creatures in it. Rocket is the guardian of some crazy humans they call "loonies", and, out of nowhere is in the middle of a "toy war" for the controle of toy manufactory on the planet.
We see some critics for the human race, the importance of some pets, and Mantlo just create a beautiful universe in it.
And the art, it's stunning! It's Mignola's early days, so we don't see the Hellboy master that we are used to, but a very good mainstrain pen, and it's beautiful.
If you're looking for something different on the super hero genre, this is, for sure, a very good shot for you.
June 6, 2022
Realmente, una aventura descabellada este tomo
Si bien toma la primera primerisima aparición de Rocket (segundo tomo que trae material de Marvel Preview y que buena se ve esa revista) que es más bien testimonial, el grueso del recopilatorio toma el trabajo de Mantlo detrás del personaje, ya sea como invitado en la serie regular de Hulk, dandonos un vistazo a este MedioMundo, o como protagonista de su propia y delirante mini-serie
Animales con consciencia humana, robots, juguetes, locos, robots, sencillamente una gran locura, que nos entrega una aventura sencilla, pero entretenida... lejos de ser algo innovador y vuela mentes, pero muy muy entretenido
Si bien toma la primera primerisima aparición de Rocket (segundo tomo que trae material de Marvel Preview y que buena se ve esa revista) que es más bien testimonial, el grueso del recopilatorio toma el trabajo de Mantlo detrás del personaje, ya sea como invitado en la serie regular de Hulk, dandonos un vistazo a este MedioMundo, o como protagonista de su propia y delirante mini-serie
Animales con consciencia humana, robots, juguetes, locos, robots, sencillamente una gran locura, que nos entrega una aventura sencilla, pero entretenida... lejos de ser algo innovador y vuela mentes, pero muy muy entretenido
May 9, 2025
I had a lot of fun with this one. It's fucking weird. Mostly in a good way, but parts of it don't hold up.
It has some crazy portrayals of the mentally handicapped and Lylla is the definition of a damsel in distress, it seems every character wants to marry her. If you can look past those things, you'll probably enjoy it.
It was neat getting to see Mignola's early artwork, which has changed immensely over the course of a few years. That was my main reason for picking it up, that and being curious about Rocket's origins. I am now all the wiser.
It has some crazy portrayals of the mentally handicapped and Lylla is the definition of a damsel in distress, it seems every character wants to marry her. If you can look past those things, you'll probably enjoy it.
It was neat getting to see Mignola's early artwork, which has changed immensely over the course of a few years. That was my main reason for picking it up, that and being curious about Rocket's origins. I am now all the wiser.
May 6, 2017
Picked this collected edition up for cheap a few years ago. Decided to give it a read before seeing Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2.
You have to be in the right frame of mind, or out of mind, to get into the story as it is literally insane, but ultimately really fun.
You have to be in the right frame of mind, or out of mind, to get into the story as it is literally insane, but ultimately really fun.
May 10, 2018
Pro mě stejně jako Star Lord velmi příjemné překvapení. Totální mind fuck, který by u nás nikdy nevyšel a za to patří NHM veliký dík.
January 1, 2020
Back when he was a straight-up good-guy action hero with a girlfriend, rather than the modern-day wisecracking anti-heroic gun-nut maniac. I'll be honest, I prefer this version.
January 17, 2021
I... What? What did I just read?
This did make me laugh though.🤣
This did make me laugh though.🤣
January 21, 2024
Fun in a kind of cheesy way, and I liked seeing the translation of the characters into later works and where they came from. Goofy ass premise, great art.
April 29, 2024
No me encantó pero no dejo de ser fan declarado de Rocket Raccoon.
July 15, 2022
Early Mike Mignola is gorgeous. Mantlo’s story is delightfully goofy. I adored this when I was 15 and still do.
August 17, 2014
Rocket Raccoon mis en scène par l'immense Mike Mignolia, il faudrait être fou pour ne pas tenter la lecture ! Et au final, c'est un vrai plaisir qui nous ramène 30 ans en arrière avec un dessin qui n'a pas encore la patte si caractéristique du dessinateur et un scénario qui se révèle hautement original pour l'époque ! Allez-y, c'est de la bonne !
July 19, 2014
This is the story of the beginning / origins of Rocket Raccoon.
The story works and is cohesive, giving a good history of RR.
So much that goes on is near nonsensical. Rather on the level of a B-movie. but, entertaining, mostly to give history for a character.
The story works and is cohesive, giving a good history of RR.
So much that goes on is near nonsensical. Rather on the level of a B-movie. but, entertaining, mostly to give history for a character.
September 7, 2014
Page after page of alliteration, rhyming, groan-worthy one liners, and so much play on so many words...I liked it. I love how they didn't take this seriously at all, yet it's somewhat enjoyable. Call me a Loony.
July 14, 2013
Definitely dated, but still entertaining.
April 3, 2016
I would've loved this when I was 10
February 28, 2021
Los héroes más poderosos de Marvel, tomo 45. Traduce las primeras aventuras del personaje y su primera miniserie.
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