The Rocketeer: The Island #3, written and lettered by John Layman with art by Jacob Edgar and colors by K. J. Díaz, continues the latest Cliff Secord (aka The Rocketeer) miniseries, which finds the titular hero and his team on Skull Island – the legendary home of King Kong. The miniseries has been fantastic so far, not only delivering the thrills of a classic Indiana Jones film while also bringing in supporting characters like Popeye (yes, the Spinach-chomping sailor), Tintin and his faithful dog Snowy.
The year is 1938 and they’re all on a mission to find and rescue Amelia Earhart, who’s lost somewhere in the South Pacific. As luck would have it, she crashed on Skull Island, and the natives are looking for some fresh sacrifices to serve up to big Kahuna Kong. Even worse, there’s a new apex predator on the island that’s even tougher than Kong. What could it be?
When I picked up the first issue of this miniseries, I didn’t know we’d be getting Popeye, Tintin, King Kong, and a whole menagerie of dinosaurs, but I’m all for it. I love these stories where classic characters cross over, and I’m crossing my fingers at some point that Popeye pops open a can of spinach and pile-drives Kong with those sledgehammer-like forearms. A guy can dream, can’t he?
New character Alexandra Payne is along for the ride also, a female archaeologist and adventurer who’s everything Betty isn’t (courageous, selfless and super intelligent). I thought she may have been an existing character too but after doing some research it looks like she’s a brand new creation. She’s a great addition to the cast because she fills in the gaps left by the others. Though Cliff’s a great hero, he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer, so Alexandra works well as his intellectual sidekick. I also love that she drives Betty mad with jealousy. Betty, I love ya, but you’ve got to grow up sometime or Cliff and Alexandra are going to leave you in the dust!
Kong makes his entrance this issue and artist Jacob Edgar does a great job portraying Kong in all his titanic glory. A semi-splash page where he appears to Betty, Alexandra and a village makes them all look like ants in comparison to him. The story hits some of the same beats of the original 1933 King Kong film but has the additional plot of Cliff, Tintin, Snowy and Cliff’s mechanic Goose dodging dinosaurs and exploring the jungle in their search for Betty and Alexandra.
Though Tintin and Snowy don’t have a lot to do this issue, you can see how they were the inspiration for Jonny Quest and Bandit and this miniseries feels very much like a movie-length Jonny Quest episode. The art captures the tropical feel and all the denizens of Skull Island perfectly and colorist K. J. Díaz gives the book an extra vibrant look. I especially loved how the massive fierce pterodactyls were drawn, a constant scourge for Cliff and his rocket pack.
If you’re a fan of classic two-fisted style adventure, dinosaurs, or just love good old Popeye the Sailor Man, grab this miniseries and I guarantee you’ll enjoy the ride!
