"R" Is For Rocketeer!

The Rocketeer by Dave Stevens has been collected in various formats over the course of several decades since its debut from Pacific Comics. What does it mean to read The Rocketeer in its original format. It means to dig up or locate eight different comic books published by four different publishers over the course of thirteen years from 1982 until the final original Dave Stevens' installment in 1995. Let's review. 

The story begins in the Pacific Comics title Starslayer. In the debut issue of that title there is a one-page ad by a heretofore largely unknown artist and animator named Dave Stevens for upcoming back-up feature titled "The Rocketeer". It got many people interested. I was there at the time, and I can tell you that's true. As interesting as Mike Grell's Starslayer was, it was that one Rocketeer page that got us humming. In the second issue of Starslayer we got the debut installment by Stevens and on the back cover that intriguing ad art was re-purposed. In the story we are transported to California in the 1930's where we meet Cliff Secord, a rambunctious airplane pilot looking to make good to impress his girlfriend. Cliff's salty mentor Peevy was based on artist Doug Wildey, Stevens' real-life mentor. By happenstance ouir hapless hero comes into possession of a jet pack and his life is changed utterly. 

It's clear to anyone reading the series that it pays homage to those enthralling serials form the 1940's and 1950's starring  Rocketman or as he'd also come to be known -- Commando Cody. 

The third issue of Starslayer also delivers the second chapter of Rocketeer and see Cliff use the rocket pack to save people at an air show. Then we meet some thugs and others who want the jet pack, but Cliff is not so quick to give up this gift from the gods. Especially if it means he can impress his best girl. That girl was based on 1950's burlesque queen Bettie Page and the living model was Brinke Stevens, Dave's own wife. According to sources, these two chapters were supposed to be all there was. But Rocketeer had proved immensely popular, and the pressure was on to create more. The only problem was that as good as Dave Stevens was, he was also that meticulous and slow. 

Then the story shifts to a new title Pacific Presents for two issues and two more chapters. Stevens shares this venue with the great Steve Ditko. This was done because it was clear that Stevens could not produce a full book in a timely way. That said, the chapters are a bit longer and the art seems a bit brighter as the story of the stolen rocket pack and Cliff's love affair with the glorious Betty continues to unfold. We meet some characters who evoke a memory of some classic pulp heroes associated with a certain Man of Bronze to boot. It's all gloriously illustrated with pulpish wonder by Stevens who brought an uncanny luster to this era, one usually accessed only in black and white films. 

Then all of sudden the story stopped. 

The reason was the demise of Pacific Comics, the publisher which had made a valiant effort to supply creator-owned comics to the public but didn't find it profitable enough. Eventually in 1984 the story is continued and the first winding five-part saga at long last completed by The Rocketeer Special Edition, the first comic dedicated solely to Cliff's adventures. The art is even brighter still on even better paper, and it looks fabulous, especially when showcasing the luscious Betty. This comic was published by Eclipse Comics who stepped in to rescue the tale from oblivion after the fall of Pacific Comics.

And Eclipse then collects this first story in a great album. It's freshened up with new colors and Harlan Ellison adds his name to package. The story though ends on somewhat of an odd note with Betty and Cliff both headed to New York City separately. It's not as neatly tied up as us devoted readers would like. I certainly didn't think this was the end. 

Eventually in 1988, Comico steps in and publishes two issues of The Rocketeer Aventure Magazine offering up the lushest Dave Stevens artwork yet on Cliff's journey to NYC and how he meets up with an old pal and dives headlong into a mystery that delves into his past with a very bizarre carnival. A series of murders committed by a guy who looks like famous movie villain Rondo Hatton put Cliff in great danger, but he's saved by a most mysterious fellow he met at the Cobalt Club, another pulp hero it seems. All this and he wants to win back Betty's love to boot.

Then after two issues it stopped.

While we're waiting for the next Dave Stevens story, a movie happens. Disney (under its Touchstone brand) picked up the character and made a rather handsome cinematic version in 1991 which produced a decent showing in the marketplace and yielded a number of tie-in products such as a film adaptation by Russ Heath and a 3-D comic book by Neal Adams among other things such as a video game from Bandei and collector cards and suchlike. Critical attention was cool, but I've always liked this very faithful adaptation of the comic. 

But where was the comic?

It's 1995 and finally at long last the third and as it turns out the final issue of The Rocketeer Adventure Magazine is published by Dark Horse Comics. It completes the saga of Cliff Secord and his romance with Betty though still up in the air does seem to progress a bit. The story ends with all parties either in California or headed back there. It's almost as happy an ending as we could've hoped to find. 

And once The Rocketeer found its way to IDW Publishing many years later, we were treated to the classic yarn in a raft of formats and special editions. 

And that's the saga. No more Rocketeer tales would be told with the guidance or approval of Dave Stevens aside from the movie and its two adaptations. That's a long time to wait for such a story, no matter its wonderful art to unfold.  With the untimely death of Dave Stevens in 2008, it seemed unlikely there would be any more Rocketeer tales.

But there were. More on that anon. 

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