Customer Reviews

Rocketo Volume 1: The Journey To The Hidden Sea

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I've been following the Rocketo series since it first came out from Speakeasy comics. I would wait and wait for the next issue to come out; something I don't do with comic books. Why? Because Rocketo is originality at its finest.

Frank Espinosa is destined to become one of the greats in comic history. A veteran in the animation field, Frank took a shot at comics with Rocketo, and what a shot it was! The artwork is something you never see in traditional comic books; it has its own feel to it. The story is epic, but I know many other reviewers already commented on that, so I won't repeat them.

The trade, in particular, is laid out sideways, capturing the original way the books were produced. If there is one graphic novel, one comic book that I would recommend someone to show them what a comic book is capable of, it's definitely Rocketo!

Very few comic titles capture my attention from the stands, "ROCKETO: Journey to the Hidden Sea" by Frank Espinosa warrants it. And I'm glad Image Comics picked up the title and includes within this collected volume two unprinted issues to this tale as it was a monthly from another publisher.
With its storybook-like panelling and two tone artwork, reminiscent in its design of golden age sci-fi pulp cliffhanger serials and the two fisted action therein, it tells the adventure of Rocketo Garrison, last known "mapper" of an Earth broken by cataclysm and reformed in his time as a war weary New World filled with get rich schemers, mad men gangsters, power hungry governments all chasing after the new super science of this age. This is a fun title to read for all ages.
This volume concludes with a section of colorful concept sketches of characters and images of future tales to ROCKETO.

Frank Espinosa's ROCKETO is more than just a collection of bold ink lines and amazing colors; it's also a story that has the depth and detail of a classic literary fantasy, with some of the feel of a 1940s superhero comic. Set in a distant future, it follows the exploits of Rocketo Garrison, who (with his intelligent canine sidekick Spiro) is out to remap a shattered Earth. Espinosa's art feels like it could practically run off the page, with more visual excitement than a dozen typical graphic novels (and the unique oblong presentation of the book is a delight as well). This one has the makings of a future classic.

love the characters, beautiful art and funny story lines.

It's rare to find such a great, intuitive story teller. The art is fantastic, some of the very most inspired I've seen in comics. Bravo!

It's art is simple yet complex, with painted panels whose colors and shading will make one want to closely examine each "panel," panel being in quotation marks because they are not always easily defined, making the characters and environments come to life as you read them. The story is nothing short of a well crafted epic that has roots in the myths of our beginnings and the pulps of our past. Highly recommended as a welcome change of scenery for the seasoned comic fan.