The Rocketeer, Dave Stevens' opus, is finally collected in one volume! The Rocketeer and The Rocketeer: Cliff's New York Adventure are being completely re-colored, as per Dave Stevens' wishes, by renowned colorist Laura Martin. The best possible reproduction and the highest production values will ensure that this is the definitive Rocketeer collection.
The Rocketeer: The Complete Adventures
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Speeding across the sky like a jet-propelled dream, Stevens's Rocketeer is one of the most enduring and endearing images of '80s comics. Set in the '30s, these tales follow Cliff Secord, an impulsive young stunt pilot who finds a mysterious jetpack that enables him to fly. And then his troubles—and the fun—begin. A charming, lively tribute to the pulp era—several characters from well-known pulp serials make clandestine appearances—Stevens's lively, gorgeous art captures every wide-eyed gasp and clenched-jaw struggle of the breakneck tale. While Stevens, who died in 2008, is a master of adventure, Cliff's girlfriend Betty, a delightful homage to pinup queen Bettie Page, often steals the show. Due to Stevens's slow output, only a handful of Rocketeer stories exist, collected for the first time following a checkered publishing trail and being out-of-print for over a decade. Those who have never seen the complete Rocketeer will be satisfied with the regular hardcover edition; an oversized deluxe edition brings together concept art, sketches, and background materials that make this the definite record of one of comics' most appealing recent characters. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
The high-flying hero of this gloriously retro comic book, which inspired a 1991 feature film, is Cliff Secord, a pleasantly lunkheaded, barnstorming aviator in 1930s Los Angeles who comes into possession of a stolen rocket pack that enables him to fly. A bullet-shaped helmet designed by Cliff’s mechanic pal, Peevy, completes the look, inspired by the 1949 King of the Rocket Men movie serial. The story lines, involving Nazi spies and the like, are slight but serviceable. What made The Rocketeer a fan favorite was Stevens’ luscious artwork, especially his rendition of Cliff’s girlfriend, Betty. Stevens’ talent for drawing cheesecake-style gorgeous women was unsurpassed, and Betty, an overt homage to pinup queen Bettie Page, was the most dazzling of them. It took Stevens, notoriously slow and meticulous, a dozen years to produce the relative handful of stories gathered in this slim volume that, unfortunately, must stand as The Rocketeer in toto, since Stevens died in 2008. In this lovingly designed, newly recolored collection, though, that legacy is very impressive in quality, however meager in quantity. --Gordon Flagg
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
In 2008 the comic book field lost one of its more stylish artists when Dave Stevens passed away after succumbing to leukemia (he was only 52). But the stuff he leaves behind, and especially the Rocketeer, will always garner big ups as a lasting standard bearer for art fans and specifically for those aspiring to make a career of it in independent comic books. The Rocketeer, a fleeting glance might tell you, resembles a superhero, but really, in tone and sensibilities, he belongs more in the company of those daredevil dudes from the cliffhanger serials back in the '30s and '40s. Not coincidentally, Cliff Secord's exploits take place circa 1938, Los Angeles.
In the early 1980s, THE ROCKETEER was a refreshing change from the mainstream capes and cowls flaunting superpowers. Cliff Secord's era evoked the Golden Age of comic books and also of Hollywood. You look at Dave Steven's illustrations - reminiscent of Will Eisner, Wally Wood, and Frank Frazetta - and how he renders the aesthetics of the 1930s period, and there's immediately this whiff of nostalgia and you can almost hear that rousing score from all those pulp movies. And nothing embodies this retro imagery more than Cliff Secord, dashing in his aviator outfit and brash and hot-headed as Errol Flynn or Clark Gable.
Cliff Secord is young and bold and desperately in love. He's a stunt pilot for the Bigelow Air Circus, but he's not making enough money to appease his sexy gal Betty, what with Betty of late spending time with and posing seductively for a scuzzy Hollywood photographer. When Cliff finds an experimental rocket pack (called the Cirrus X-3) in his airplane, he envisions a shortcut to raising money.... Read more ›
In the early 1980s, THE ROCKETEER was a refreshing change from the mainstream capes and cowls flaunting superpowers. Cliff Secord's era evoked the Golden Age of comic books and also of Hollywood. You look at Dave Steven's illustrations - reminiscent of Will Eisner, Wally Wood, and Frank Frazetta - and how he renders the aesthetics of the 1930s period, and there's immediately this whiff of nostalgia and you can almost hear that rousing score from all those pulp movies. And nothing embodies this retro imagery more than Cliff Secord, dashing in his aviator outfit and brash and hot-headed as Errol Flynn or Clark Gable.
Cliff Secord is young and bold and desperately in love. He's a stunt pilot for the Bigelow Air Circus, but he's not making enough money to appease his sexy gal Betty, what with Betty of late spending time with and posing seductively for a scuzzy Hollywood photographer. When Cliff finds an experimental rocket pack (called the Cirrus X-3) in his airplane, he envisions a shortcut to raising money.... Read more ›
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was a late arrival to the superb artistry of Dave Stevens; the wonderful, if unsuccessful Disney production of "The Rocketeer" made me curious about the mind behind it, and I was stunned, when I had a chance to read the graphic novels, by not only how successful the screen adaptation was (it should have been, with Stevens directly involved), but how much richer his original artwork was! His line work was not only crisp and clean, but whimsical, sensual (nobody ever drew Bettie Page better), and amplified and enriched his pulp fiction storyline. As a 'baby boomer' illustrator, myself, I love the retro style of the eras of Art Deco and film noir, and Stevens (who was actually younger than me), was so dead-on in recreating the era, his artwork becomes a Valentine to that Age.
Sadly, Stevens is no longer with us, gone far too young, but his legacy of art remains, to be loved and appreciated by new generations of artists and fans. "The Rocketeer: The Complete Collection" is an absolutely wonderful volume, and if you haven't purchased it, yet, what an extraordinary adventure you have ahead...I envy you!
Sadly, Stevens is no longer with us, gone far too young, but his legacy of art remains, to be loved and appreciated by new generations of artists and fans. "The Rocketeer: The Complete Collection" is an absolutely wonderful volume, and if you haven't purchased it, yet, what an extraordinary adventure you have ahead...I envy you!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The art work in this book is top rate. It's a shame that this artist didn't do more of the rocketeer series.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Cerberus
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
A great tribute to the body of comic art produced by a wonderful artist who past way too soon! This will be enjoyed by all adventure fans and art lovers of the comic book medium.
By Mike Fitz
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've always been a big fan of the pulps and the old serials. This terrific book brought them both to life in glorious color, with a terrific dash of pinups to boot. This story and art are as good as it gets, folks. Check it out.
By Nate
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Saw the movie when it came out, loved it. Just learned about the book. Art blew me away, and the story makes more sense. It's obvious that the movie was Disneyified a lot. If you haven't read this book, do so!
By Salvatore
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love cartoons. This one is my first on a ebook reader. It works very good on my kindle keyboard. Even with colorless display, this cartoon is very nice and I recommend it. I hope there will be more of this kind of comic. The handling is great. You never loose the line of the story.
By T. Willitts
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I loved this comic when I was a young teenager and it was a blast to revisit. The digital format and reading on the Kindle Fire is a blast and easy, even for my near-sightedness.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Definitely not Disney's Rocketeer
At times I loved the vibe of the comic, but Stevens' depiction of Betty just made me uncomfortable. I get it, she's Betty Page. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Matt Sedlar
3.0 out of 5 stars
Worth the money...
Three stars fora three star story, it was entertaining but I was lead to believe this covered more of the Rockefeller story.
Published 6 months ago by steve
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent!
I saw the movie years ago and have long loved the character of the Rocketeer. I knew he was based on a comic book character and despite being a comic book fan I had never gotten a... Read more
Published 13 months ago by M. Bentley
4.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Art
I find this collection to be really interesting. They story - well, it just doesn't do much for me.
The hero - I just can't find him interesting at all. Read more
The hero - I just can't find him interesting at all. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Jetpack
5.0 out of 5 stars
collector's item
I Received it in excellent condition and the collection is a true work of art. The Rocketeer is Dave's best work.
Published 18 months ago by rondori
5.0 out of 5 stars
the Rocketeer is awesome!!
The art is fantastic...all fans of the Rocketeer will love this. I wish there were more stories available. Read more
Published on March 2, 2011 by D. Johnson
3.0 out of 5 stars
Very Disappointing Story.
Let me start out by saying that Dave's artwork in this comic is SENSATIONAL! I flip through the book frequently just to take a look at his amazing brush work. Read more
Published on January 24, 2011 by M. Yakutis
4.0 out of 5 stars
A FUN AND FAST READ
This was a fun and fast read. About twenty minutes. It's set in the 1930s so be warned it can feel dated in dialogue and morals. Read more
Published on October 21, 2010 by MISTER SJEM
