THE ROCKETEER: Dave Stevens is a Boss
This week, IDW Publishing launched a new comic called Rocketeer Adventures based on Dave Stevens’ iconic, jet-powered hero. It features stories by John Cassaday and Mike Allred, that are wonderful enough to have re-kindled my love for the character.
I’ve spent the entire week with my head in all of the old Rocketeer stories, and I have drawn a conclusion about Stevens’ work: he’s one of the best there ever was. It’s no wonder they turned the adventures of Cliff Secord into a film, and a damned good one at that. Dave’s panels jump off of the page with a type of kinetic energy that is unmatched in the medium. He’s able to get so much story across in just half of a page (he had to move quickly, as the first chapters were merely second fiddle tales in larger books).
The Rocketeer is a throwback to a simpler time. The popular (and revolutionary) trend in 80’s comics was the anti-hero. Creators were turning iconic characters into more complicated and darker versions of themselves, and those books are now considered masterpieces. Steven’s art-deco designs and 1930’s setting could have been viewed as back-peddling in a time of violent progress in comics, but The Rocketeer was an instant sensation. It’s easy to see why. He created a heroic character that flies with a rocket-pack, punches gangsters in the face, battles vengeful carnies, and gets the girl. Perfect.
Like many, my first exposure to THE ROCKETEER was the 1991 Joe Johnston film, starring Bill Campbell (second cousin to Bruce) and Jennifer Connelly (whom I had just gotten over in LABYRINTH, but fell head over heels again in this). My 10 year old brain exploded when I first saw this flying dude on the big screen. My brothers and I wore out multiple copies of that VHS tape, and I still watch it whenever it pops on cable. Even though the film is Disney-fied, the core of Stevens’ character and, most importantly, his designs are intact.
If you were ever a fan of this character, I’d highly recommend picking up both the new comic, and the beautiful hardcover re-issue of all 8 chapters IDW has put out. The color corrected pages really pop, and before anyone gives me shit about praising re-coloring, I have the old paperbacks, those early, pixelated printing days don’t do the art as much justice. Think of it as a new, hi resolution transfer.
Look into Dave Stevens if you aren’t already hip to this late, great artist. Not only did he create this amazing character, he also did the story boards for Michael Jackson’s THRILLER and RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, AND he drew babes exceedingly well.
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