IDW Publishing

    The Complete Rocketeer Coming from IDW

    Stephen SchleicherBy 8 Comments2 Mins Read

    rocketeer.jpg

    One of my favorite finds from the 1980’s was Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer.  Since it wasn’t published by one of the big two at the time, I had a devil of a time tracking down the individual issues.  Each comic book convention I’ve attended in the recent years, have either not had the missing issues I needed, or had the price jacked up beyond having a nice reader copy.

    Fortunately, this October (2009), IDW will release the complete collected Rocketeer series in a nice hardcover edition featuring a cover remastered from Dave Stevens original work.

    After more than a decade out of print, The Rocketeer makes a triumphant return to stores this October with a comprehensive hardcover edition featuring artwork digitally re-mastered from Stevens’ own lovingly maintained collection of originals, and all-new coloring by Laura Martin, the Eisner-Award-winning colorist handpicked by Stevens himself.

    The Rocketeer, a rollicking tribute to pulp novels and Saturday morning matinee serials, follows the high-flying adventures of stunt pilot Cliff Secord and his girlfriend Betty, after Cliff finds a mysterious jet pack and takes to the sky. The graphic novel went on to become a much-loved major motion picture directed by Joe Johnston.

    In addition to the mass-market hardcover, a very special deluxe edition is planned. Presented in a larger format, the deluxe edition will be filled with behind-the-scenes material, a treasure of additional pages featuring previously unpublished Rocketeer designs, preliminaries, and sketches by Dave Stevens, many taken from his personal sketchbooks.

    “It is an honor to work on The Rocketeer,” said IDW Special Projects editor Scott Dunbier, “I’ve been a fan of Dave Stevens and The Rocketeer since I first read it in the early 80s. It was a dream of Dave’s to see his creation return to the shelves in a complete collection. We are dedicated to making this the definitive edition, a book Dave would have been proud of.” This October The Rocketeer will fly once more.

    One deluxe hardcover for me, please!

    For those looking for a super gigantic version of the above image, I can be persuaded bribed.

    via IDW Publishing

    Share.

    Stephen Schleicher began his career writing for the Digital Media Online community of sites, including Digital Producer and Creative Mac covering all aspects of the digital content creation industry. He then moved on to consumer technology, and began the Coolness Roundup podcast. A writing fool, Stephen has freelanced for Sci-Fi Channel's Technology Blog, and Gizmodo. Still longing for the good ol' days, Stephen launched Major Spoilers in July 2006, because he is a glutton for punishment. You can follow him on Twitter @MajorSpoilers and tell him your darkest secrets...

    Related Posts

    8 Comments

    1. Salieri on

      Almost three decades later, that is still one of the best costume designs ever made. Military without being stiff, robotic without being unemotional, painted in colours that aren’t too flamboyant or too noir-ish…it’s a standard that isn’t often met.

    3. hermit on

      i loved the movie. never read the comic, but it look fun. i’m gonna wait and see if i buy it, depending on the budget.

      i think i’m gonna watch the movie tonight.

    4. Hitman Sam on

      I don’t know about youalls, but that pic makes The Rocketeer look like one of those “Love Is” kids. Y’know, those weird porcelain mini- statues of the sad kids with huge eyes…

      …

      … my Mom collects weird stuff, okay!

    5. Lifeisaglitch on

      @Salieri

      Agreed!

      @Hitman

      I read your comment, took a second glance at it and now i cant stop laughing XD

    6. The Dude on

      This made my day. I loved the Rocketeer movie as a child and I look forward to reading the comics that inspired it.

    7. Westley on

      Anyone know where one can find a large enough picture of the Rocketeer with Betty Page (bound) over his shoulder to use as a desktop background?

    8. Dan on

      Eisner winning or not, the coloring on this new version is the WORST EVER. It completely ruins Steven’s magnificent line work. The excessive modeling and digital painting is an attempt by the colorist to add dimension to the art, and it is absolutely appalling. Clearly the colorist is not Dave Stevens, so who the hell wants to see her rendering volume on Bettie’s breasts, or adding dimension to close ups of the faces? It’s as though Stevens has taken on a co-artist who is painting in his drawings. Completely ridiculous. This type of coloring belongs on manga, or the horrible contemporary superhero comic books that come out every month. It is nothing like the original comics, or the Graphitti graphic novel. If anyone had any vision, this entire collection would be printed in an oversized black and white format. Adding shitty coloring to the most amazing line work ever produced in comics is just a travesty. To add insult to injury, the book was printed in Korea on cheap glossy paper. It looks like total shit. FAIL!