∇
troperville

∇
tools

∇
toys

SubpagesAwesome
ComicBook
Film
Funny
Headscratchers
Heartwarming
Main
Trivia
YMMV

main index

Narrative

Genre

Media

Topical Tropes

Other Categories

random

Subpages:

Comic Book: The Rocketeer

The Rocketeer is a comic book series with writing and art by Dave Stevens. In a homage to the Pulp Magazines of the 1930s, a stunt pilot finds an experimental jetpack and sets up as a hero.

The series suffered from an erratic publishing schedule, with gaps between installments sometimes stretching for years. A complete collection of the entire series was published by IDW Publishing in 2009.

The 1991 film adaptation is probably more widely known.

In 2011, IDW Publishing produced a four-issue limited series, Rocketeer Adventures, with stories and art contributed by many famous comics creators including Kurt Busiek, Bruce Timm, and Mark Waid.

The comic book provides examples of:

Comic Book Fantasy Casting:
- The hero's love interest bears a striking (and entirely deliberate) resemblance to Bettie Page.
- The villain in "Cliff's New York Adventure" is modelled on Rondo Hatton.
Author Existence Failure: Dave Stevens' cancer made it difficult for him to do any more comics.
Diesel Punk: The art style contains a bit of it.
It's Not Porn, It's Art: Betty's scumbag photographer friend uses this as an excuse.
Jet Pack
Lawyer-Friendly Cameo: Several heroes from the real 1930s pulps make guest appearances, most notably the unnamed inventor of the jetpack.
Ms. Fanservice: Cliff's girlfriend sure doesn't wear a lot of clothes. Even when she isn't posing in lingerie!
Two Fisted Tales
Weaponof Choice: Cliff's weapon of choice as the Rocketeer is a Mauser C96 Broomhandle Pistol.