If you asked me to list my top ten comic book movies, The Rocketeer would probably find a nice spot somewhere in the middle. It’s got a great hook (the hero is a pilot who finds an experimental jet pack and uses it to fight Nazis, what else do you need?) and it’s a proper slice of pulp. But despite this, I never had the chance to check out any actual Rocketeer comics…that is, until The Rocketeer Breaks Free #1.
In The Rocketeer Breaks Free, Cliff Secord – the Rocketeer himself – is heading to San Francisco to take a much-needed vacation with his girlfriend Betty, who’s shooting a movie in the area, and his trusty mechanic Peevey. The trio is staying with one of Cliff’s fellow pilots Debbie Seville, but it isn’t long before Cliff finds himself donning his Rocketeer gear to help the innocent.
The creative team of Stephen Mooney and Staz Johnson immediately grab the reader’s attention with the opening pages, which find the Rocketeer locked in battle with the mob. Not only does Johnson make sure the Rocketeer is instantly recognizable thanks to his trademark helmet and jetpack, but he also keeps the setting period appropriate. Gangsters have pinstriped suits, fedoras and carry tommy guns; there’s an actual trolley in downtown San Francisco that Cliff ends up saving. It’s that attention to detail that shines through in the art, as well as the color art from Len O’Grady and Marco Lesko.
Mooney also has a handle on the character dynamics, especially between Cliff, Betty and Peevey. That mafia fight? It takes place right as the trio is about to begin their vacation – Cliff literally does a superhero quick-change in the bushes so that Betty doesn’t catch him. Cliff also has a habit of putting his mouth into his foot, but in Mooney’s hands this comes off as less “being an asshole” and more “salt of the Earth” which is a tricky balance to achieve.
The only issue with The Rocketeer Breaks Free #1 is that it feels mostly like setup. It isn’t until the very last page that the main threat is revealed, and while I’m not saying every comic should be a wall-to-wall fist fight, there’s also the economics of storytelling to consider. You have to make sure that each issue pushes the story forward, instead of dragging it to a halt. Still, The Rocketeer Breaks Free #1 is a solid debut for the high-flying pulp hero’s latest adventure.
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