Comic books can be many things and now that the summer event season has begun, it can be easy to miss some of the quieter books out there. IDW’s Rocketeer Adventures is one such book.
The Rocketeer isn’t part of some modern revival of the character like the Green Hornet from Dynamite, nor has it been newly repurposed into a larger universe like Doc Savage and the Spirit in DC’s First Wave. Rocketeer Adventures isn’t a 22-page story of intrigue and violence and readers don’t really learn anything they probably didn’t know about the Rocketeer before.
So, why should you read it?
Check out the list of creators working on this jam session . . .
Personally, the book had me at John Cassaday. I’ve loved his work since Planetary and he continues to amaze here. In fact, between Alex Ross’s and John Cassaday’s Green Hornet covers, I pick Cassaday’s any day. His figures are realistic rather than from that school of 90’s over-the-top muscles and veins.
His action is fast, frantic, and can only be described as “widescreen summer film” in nature. While nerds would have read Joss Whedon’s Astonishing X-men because of Whedon himself, they stayed because of Cassaday’s artwork.
Here’s a peek at his Rocketeer work.
Not to be outdone, indie comics superstar Mike Allred contributes his own sense of style to the Rocketeer. Allred’s art is a bit more cartoony than Cassaday, but it really works. His work feels surreal at times which brings out a sense of wonder in the Rocketeer. Allred’s story doesn’t seem to make much sense (it’s as if it is missing a page or two), but it’s still wonderful and worth checking out.
In yet a third shift in style, Hellboy’s Mike Mignola has a pin-up in his typical style.
This is not the pin-up from the issue, but it gives you an idea of what Mignola's take on the Rocketeer is.
Rocketeer Adventures is unlike any other book out there on the stands today. It features the most talented comic book creators out there working on a character that is rich with nostalgia. It doesn’t attempt to be modern, nor does it embrace sentimentality. It’s just a fun book that looks great and provides a fun distraction from the headaches of continuity.
Also, there is an ad imploring readers to donate to Hairy Cell Leukemia research because this disease was what killed Rocketeer creator, Dave Stevens. Be sure to check out the Hairy Cell Leukemia website for more information!
The next issue is well-worth checking out as well because it features the work off Darwyn Cooke (an artist absolutely born to draw the Rocketeer), Geof Darrow, Lowell Francis, Gene Ha, Alex Ross, Dave Stevens, Mark Waid, and Chris Weston.
