First appearing as a backup feature in Starslayer #2, published by Pacific Comics in 1982, The Rocketeer is a now-cult comic book created by Dave Stevens (1955-2008) who was heavily inspired by the aesthetic of pulp magazines, early Hollywood serials, and vintage aviation.
Set in 1930s Los Angeles, the story of The Rocketeer follows Cliff Secord, a young and cocky stunt pilot trying to make a name for himself. Cliff’s life takes an unexpected turn when he discovers a mysterious rocket pack hidden in his hangar. This experimental device allows him to fly, making him a target at the same time as it was originally stolen by gangsters during a botched robbery and ends up in Cliff’s possession. They want it back, as does its creator, Howard Hughes. Soon, Cliff’s girlfriend, an aspiring actress and model named Betty, becomes entangled in Cliff’s adventures when villains attempt to use her to get to him. To make matters worse, the Nazis view the rocket pack as a potential weapon that could give them a significant advantage in their plans for world domination and want to get it for themselves.
A skilled storyteller and an exceptionally gifted artist, Stevens injected everything he liked in the comics. From his love of the iconic pin-up model Bettie Page to retro-futurism and aviation culture, the aesthetic of pulp magazines and early serials, and the glamour of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
The Rocketeer faced publication challenges, starting with Pacific Comics folding in 1984 and then a lawsuit brought by Marvel Comics. The comics went to Eclipse Comics, then Comico, and then Dark Horse Comics. Those moves made Dave Stevens lose interest in the series. Of course, there was the movie adaptation in 1991, but even if it became a cult movie (following the comics route), it was not a success when it came out.
During all those years, Dave Stevens didn’t produce a lot of Rocketeer comics. Between collecting the research material and being a well-known perfectionist, the cartoonist became notorious for being slow to complete an issue. As a result, Stevens worked primarily as an illustrator. In the comic book world, he did a number of covers, and some of them became quite famous too.
Stevens died in 2008 from hairy cell leukemia but had time to work with IDW Publishing to produce a collected edition of all of his Rocketeer comics.
In 2011, IDW started to put out new Rocketeer comics, starting with an anthology limited series titled The Rocketeer Adventures with stories by John Cassaday, Mike Allred, Kurt Busiek, Michael Kaluta, Lowell Francis, Gene Ha, Darwyn Cooke, Joe R. Lansdale, Bruce Timm, John Arcudi, Dave Gibbons, and more. The following year, a second 4-issue series was produced with work from Kyle Baker, Chris Sprouse, Bill Sienkiewicz, Sandy Plunkett, Stan Sakai, John K. Snyder III, John Byrne, and David Lapham.
IDW didn’t stop there and started publishing more Rocketeer miniseries and even a crossover with The Spirit and a prose anthology « The Rocketeer: Jet-Pack Adventures » collecting short stories.
The Rocketeer Reading Order
The Complete Rocketeer comics by Dave Stevens
Maybe hard to find at some point, the complete work of Dave Stevens on The Rocketeer was recently reprinted in a Deluxe Hardcover Edition. It’s the best way to read those original Rocketeer comics.
- The Rocketeer: The Complete Adventures Deluxe Edition
Collects material from Starslayer #2-3, Pacific Comics Presents #1-2, Rocketeer Special Edition #1 and The Rocketeer Adventure Magazine #1-3.
Beyond Dave Stevens: The IDW Rocketeer Miniseries
The anthology The Rocketeer Adventures, the first Rocketeer comics not done by Dave Steven, has also been reprinted in one big hardcover. This oversized deluxe edition collects all 24 stories by some of the most celebrated creators in comics.
- The Rocketeer: High Flying Adventures
Collects Rocketeer Adventures #1-4 and Rocketeer Adventures 2 #1-4.
The next Rocketeer miniseries are listed in publication order:
- The Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom by Waid and Chris Samnee
Collects The Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom #1-4. - The Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror by Roger Langridge and J. Bone.
Collects The Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror #1-4. - The Rocketeer/The Spirit: Pulp Friction! by Mark Waid, Paul Smith, J. Bone.
Collects The Rocketeer & the Spirit: Pulp Friction #1-4. - The Rocketeer: At War! by Marc Guggenheim and Dave Bullock.
Collects The Rocketeer: At War #1-4.
For the 40th anniversary of The Rocketeer, IDW relaunched the comics with Irish writer/artist Stephen Mooney at the helm. Those comics are almost an ongoing series at that point. Better read them in order.
- The Rocketeer: The Great Race by Stephen Mooney.
Collects The Rocketeer: The Great Race #1-4. - The Rocketeer: In the Den of Thieves
Collects The Rocketeer: In the Den of Thieves #1-4. - The Rocketeer: Breaks Free by Stephen Mooney and Staz Johnson.
Collects The Rocketeer: Breaks Free #1-4.
The Rocketeer Comics in Chronological Reading Order
What follows is a chronological reading order for the Rocketeer miniseries. It doesn’t include the short stories from the Rocketeer Adventures anthology.
- Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer (set in 1938)
- The Rocketeer: The Great Race (set in 1938)
- The Rocketeer: In the Den of Thieves (set in 1938)
- The Rocketeer: Breaks Free (set in 1938)
- The Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror (set in 1939)
- The Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom (set in 1940)
- The Rocketeer/The Spirit: Pulp Friction! (set in 1941)
- The Rocketeer: At War! (set in 1942)