Rocket Raccoon is a 1985 comic book limited series from Marvel Comics. It's written by Bill Mantlo with art by Mike Mignola, with inks by Al Gordon. Color art is by Christie Scheele.
The titular Rocket Raccoon was created by Bill Mantlo and Keith Giffen, first appearing in Marvel Preview #7 (dated Summer 1976) as a supporting character for Prince Wayfinder in The Sword in the Star story. He reappeared in The Incredible Hulk #271, with Hulk teleporting to Rocket's homeworld, which leads into the limited series.
Rocket Raccoon comes from Halfworld, a planet in the Keystone Quadrant, inhabited by Funny Animals and Human Aliens called the "Loonies", descendants of the first humanoids on the Quadrant. To keep the Loonies safe, the former were genetically modified to guard and save them, getting their own consciousness and becoming a World of Funny Animals. Rocket is The Hero of the Keystone Quadrant, its guardian and savior, who has to struggle against the plans of Judson Jakes and Lord Dyvyne, who want to rule the Quadrant by themselves. Rocket also has various allies, such as his sidekick and partner Wal Rus, a walrus, and his girlfriend Lylla, an otter who's also the Damsel in Distress of the series, as well having his own Cool Spaceship, the "Rakk 'n' Ruin".
After the mini-series, Rocket all but disappeared save for a few guest appearances in the pages of She-Hulk and Quasar in The '90s. It wasn't until the 2007 event Annihilation: Conquest in which he appeared again as a support character for Star-Lord with his backstory and personality changed completely, now being an Anti-Hero instead of a straight hero, as a kind of rebooted character.
Rocket Raccoon (1985) provides examples of:
- Alliterative Name: Not just Rocket, also various of his allies and enemies used this like Judson Jakes, the Keystone Kops, the Black Bunny Brigade, and so on.
- Animal Superhero: He's a Raccoon, created to watch over an insane asylum because it was believed that the inmates would react more positively to adorable animal guards and caretakers than aliens.
- Barefoot Cartoon Animal: Rocket usually goes barefoot, subverted with his rocket shoes he used to transport on the ground as well fly in space.
- Big Bad Duumvirate: Judson Jakes and Lord Dyvyne team up to kill Rocket.
- Big Guy, Little Guy: Rocket is the little guy to Wal Rus's big guy.
- The Captain: Rocket is considered this for the Keystone Quadrant.
- Cool Spaceship: Rocket's "Rakk 'n' Ruin".
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: Both Judson Jakes and Lord Dyvyne are the toys providers of the Loonies, making big corporations that are in continuous rivalry.
- Damsel in Distress: Lylla, usually kidnapped by Judson Jakes or Lord Dyvyne.
- Did Not Get the Girl: In the end, Rocket goes single and Lylla stays with Blackjack O'Hare.
- The Dragon:
- Blackjack O'Hare, even when he has his own plans.
- Uncle Pyko is also this for Judson Jakes, the second-in-command.
- Early-Bird Cameo: Since it's considered as non-canon, his first appearance in Marvel Premiere is known as this, with Rocket placed in Witch-World instead Halfworld.
- Enemy Mine: He's worked alongside Blackjack O'Hare almost as often as the two have opposed each other.
- Evil vs. Evil: Judson Jakes vs. Lord Dyvyne for the toys supremacy in the 1985 mini-series.
- Funny Animal: All of the characters of the Keystone Quadrant.
- Guns Akimbo: Rocket has plenty of guns to use, but not so exaggeratedly as the rebooted version.
- The Hero: Not just of his own titles, also is considered as this for Halfworld as his guardian.
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Wal Rus.
- Hidden Weapons: A mixture of Artificial Limbs, Swiss-Army Appendage and Arm Cannon, Wal Rus' normal tusks can be changed into powerful cannons as well into tools to fix machines.
- Human Aliens: The Loonies, descendants of the first humanoids that landed on the Halfworld.
- I Have Many Names: He's called Rocket Raccoon, but also is called just as Rocket. Rocky for his friends.
- Interspecies Adoption: Sort of. Wal Rus (a walrus) is the uncle of Lylla (an otter).
- Interspecies Friendship: Rocket with Wal Rus, a raccoon and a walrus. Also with the Loonies.
- Interspecies Romance: Rocket with Lylla, a raccoon and an otter.
- Killer Rabbit: Blackjack O'Hare and his mercenary band, the "Black Bunny Brigade", all black (and evil) rabbits like him.
- The Lancer: Wal Rus, Rocket's sidekick and friend.
- Love Interest: Lylla is this for Rocket.
- Love Triangle: An unwanted one with Blackjack O'Hare.
- MacGuffin: Half the cast are searching for the knowledge contained in the book known as Gideon's Bible.
- Mad Scientist: Uncle Pyko.
- Married Animals: The series shows Rocket romantically involved with Lylla, usually treated as husband and wife living together on Halfworld, in which Lylla is also a Damsel in Distress being rescued by Rocket.
- Monster Clown: Judson Jakes' Mecha-Mooks are disguised as killer clowns.
- Named After Somebody Famous:
- In a way - his name comes from The Beatles song "Rocky Raccoon". Add Rocky as his nickname and this intro
◊... - Same for Wal Rus, probably inspired by the song "I Am the Walrus".
- In a way - his name comes from The Beatles song "Rocky Raccoon". Add Rocky as his nickname and this intro
- Odd Friendship: With Hulk... and the Loonies in general.
- Playful Otter: Lylla.
- Police Are Useless: The Keystone Kops, cop commanded by Loonies who don't do anything but play as they were real cops. But sometimes they serve as Rocket's allies as informants.
- Privilege Makes You Evil: Judson Jakes and Lord Dyvyne, of course.
- Red Baron: Rocket is known as the "Guardian of the Keystone Quadrant", name also used for his Compilation Re-release in 2011.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: In his earliest appearances he was Blue to Hulk and Blackjack's Red.
- Smoking Is Cool: Rocket is seen smoking when he's calm, first seen in his first appearance as well in his mini-series.
- Snakes Are Sinister: Lord Dyvyne, who's also one of the Big Bads of Rocket's stories.
- Those Two Guys: Rocket and Wal Rus.
- Warm-Hearted Walrus: Wal Rus, with some traits of Wily Walrus.
- World of Funny Animals: Justified In-Universe. Rocket as well all the animals on Halfworld were genetically modified so they can help the Loonies. Of course, there're several of them that have their own plans instead.
