Comico edition
Begun with an ode to the classic pulp adventure serials and comics, The Rocketeer coursed from small publishing to a memorable film. Rocketeer's creator, Dave Stevens, was a commercial illustrator in California throughout the 1970s who bought comic books at Pacific Comics bookstore. When Pacific Comics became a publisher, Stevens was asked for a story to fill in some pages for Mike Grell's Starslayer. Stevens quickly assembled one of his throw-away ideas and The Rocketeer was published in 1982.
The concepted hero was inspired from the old serials of "Rocketman". Dave Stevens conjured up Cliff Secord, a young stunt pilot who worked at the outskirts of Los Angeles. Inside one of the airfield's hangars Cliff discovers a prototype jet pack recently hidden by Nazi spies nearly overtaken by the authorities for their theft. Cliff, a head in the clouds dreamer, immediately siezes an opportune chance and dons the jet pack. Soon he becomes dubbed as the Rocketeer while he fends off the Nazi spies' attempts to reclaim the jet pack. The jet pack was the brainchild of Clark "Doc" Savage Jr., who allows Cliff to continue as the Rocketeer. Cliff is accompanied, by circumstance or direct involvement, in his serial adventures with his girlfreind Betty and airfield mechanic A. "Peevy" Peabody. Stevens stayed faithful to his ode on classic pop culture, as the character of Betty was based after famed 1950s pin-up model Bettie Page.
The Rocketeer was a hit with readers, and another story was published as the secondary story once again at the back of the next Starslayer. Later, Rocketeer gained primary pages inside Pacific Presents. The Rocketeer was then picked up by Eclipse Comics. Stevens' previous serial stories were collected and brand new story arcs titled The Rocketeer Presents were published. Some years lapsed before Comico took up the The Rocketeer's titular banner from 1988 to 1989, which published continuations from Steven's last cliffhangers. The Rocketeer was published again with Dark Horse complete with new comics.
Despite intermittent releases the fandom remained and the premise garnered a film. Walt Disney Pictures produced a movie version, which was released in 1991. Cliff Secord was played by Bill Campbell ("Once and Again", "The 4400"), while co-stars Alan Arkin ("Glengarry Glen Ross", "Little Miss Sunshine") and Jennifer Connelly ("Requiem for a Dream", "Blood Diamond") prospectively portrayed A. "Peevy" Peabody and Jenny Blake. For the movie, Betty's character was renamed. Further notable appearances were made by Timothy Dalton ("License to Kill", "Hot Fuzz"), Paul Sorvino ("William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet", "The Cooler") and "Lost" recognized Terry O'Quinn who played,within the movie's storyline, the jet pack's creator Howard Hughes.
Creator Dave Stevens passed away from leukemia on March 11, 2008. His best-known work was
The Rocketeer, of which to date has more than a few dedicated websites. The movie was released at the time of larger produced and marketed films but retains the fond respect of movie fans as well as a minor cult fan base.
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