The Rocketeer: The Complete Deluxe Edition

I'm probably in the minority here, but if it hadn't been for the 1991 Disney movie, I would never have heard of "The Rocketeer." The movie caught my eye because of my childhood fascination with television's black-and-white Saturday morning hero Commando Cody, who battled bad guys wearing a leather jacket, a bullet-shaped helmet and a rocket pack strapped to his back. Commando Cody's lineage went back to three old Republic serials: "[[ASIN:B0009ZBVBI King of the Rocket Men]]" (1949), "[[ASIN:B000WOYSBQ Radar Men From The Moon]]" (1952) and "[[ASIN:B002F3BPWW Zombies of the Stratosphere]]" (1952). But there was another side to "The Rocketeer" that I did not learn about until recently. I had not realized that the character created by the late Dave Stevens was featured sporadically in a little-known series of comic books from 1982 through 1995. "The Rocketeer: The Complete Deluxe Edition" collects all of Mr. Stevens' superb work, plus hundreds of sketches, notes and preliminary layouts, into a single heavy, oversized, visually stunning volume.

Simply put, this is a remarkable treasure. Housed in a sturdy, eye-catching slipcase and with a handy ribbon place-marker, the book itself is exceptionally well made and of extremely high quality. The covers are solid and strong, the binding is tight, the pages are thick and glossy, and the colors and production values of the artwork printed on them are the best I have ever seen in any book--period. The page size allows the artwork to be printed quite large, which, with the minimal margins, shows off the incredible details and intricacies of Mr. Stevens' work to best advantage. This is truly a volume to enjoy and to savor over many readings. The craftsmanship of the drawings, the meticulous line work, the amazing coloring--all create a visual feast for the eye that gets better every time you look at it. This is a book that is sure to get better over time.

Roughly half of the pages in the Deluxe Edition consist of photographs, pencil sketches, yellow-legal-pad pages of Mr. Stevens' notes, storyboards, uncolored final drawings, conceptual layouts and so on. These "extras" provide a fascinating glimpse into the creative process that Mr. Stevens went through to develop his stories and characters. While they may not be of interest to casual readers who just want to read the finished stories, and who may thus choose to purchase "[[ASIN:1600105386 The Rocketeer: The Complete Collection]]," I found them to be a good "value-added" feature well worth the additional cost.

If you have the slightest interest at all in "The Rocketeer," I most highly recommend this book without hesitation. You'll not only be satisfied with it; you'll be overwhelmed.

For just a moment forget that there was a Rocketeer film.
This story is what that film was based on but that flawed, though herculean effort, pales when compared to the real thing. It's hard to translate perfection like this to the big screen. I may be impossible and it's definitely improbable.
I read the comic which was actually a back-up feature For Mike Grell's Starslayer (?) series from Pacific comics back in '82. Flipping through the book I gravitated to Dave Steven's effort naturally. Here was a comic story featuring adventure, vintage aircraft, an old curmudgeon, inventor, Peevy (modeled after the great comic artist, Doug Wildey) and his protege', the naive, but fast to learn, daring young pilot, Cliff Secord (who looks a bit like Dave Stevens himself).
Perhaps it was the newfound appreciation for this time period after "Raiders of the Lost Ark" featuring Harrison Ford as professor and archaeologist, Indiana Jones. But it was a hit. Everyone I initially showed it to shrugged their shoulders but I was hanging with the wrong crowd. Everywhere else this story was a hit. It wasn't a big hit, but it was a certified hit.
By the time the trade edition of the first story was collected in the mid-eighties people were in love. The reasons are simple; the first thing that grabs the reader is an artist who can not only draw but he can draw better than most of the comic artists alive. The adventure is fast paced with good action and set in a period of America coming of age in the world around her. Between thrilling air races, espionage and the past coming back to find him Cliff Secord is a very sympathetic character between trying to do what's right and trying to keep an even keel.
No spoilers, but in many ways this is a classic tale and Dave Stevens gives it a new feel and a great protagonist who constantly grows and changes to better fit his situations. Growing into full manhood is tough enough (especially when you think you're already there) without a rocket lashed to your back to make things even more interesting.

Then there's the fact that this story renewed older Americans' love affair with the now late Betty Page, while introducing us younger guys to her charms. Dave was classy and fun in his effort to bring this fifties pin-up gal to our attention. She was perfectly suited to this tale. It was easy to insert her into it as the character of Cliff Secord's love interest. Dave's efforts, whether on purpose or by coincidence revived a healthy interest in the then retired and reclusive Betty Page.

The Deluxe package is a testament to the love for the man, his story and his stunning art. Dave Stevens was not heavy on stylization. He approached the art like an illustrator. It's not the details, it's the love of drawing, and done skillfully that makes his work stand out. He's the natural heir to artists like George Evans, Reed Crandall and Al Williamson with a little Frank Frazetta for spice.
Back-up features include layouts of the pages, design work, thumbnail drawings of sequences and a lot of rare art from character sketches to fully produced promotional art. These are almost fully half of the volume. These pages show the process of creating a fine sequential story with all the bells and whistles.
The slipcase is stylish and protects the book, and it does so beautifully.
Reading it when it arrived was like visiting an old friend, long gone. The story is completely re-colored by the late Dave Steven's choice of colorist, Laura Martin. She did an exemplary job. The lettering was provided by the gifted Carrie Spiegle.
From editor Scott Dunbier to Thomas Jane's eloquent and touching introduction and all the great artists who helped Dave put these stories out, this really is as good as it could be.
By all means, if the price of this volume is prohibitive, do yourself a favor and get the trade hardcover edition. At less than half the price it's still one of the best books put out this year and a quality book to boot. This is a fun, solid read, and one of the best drawn comics to ever see print. Such a rare balance of beautiful art and eloquent storytelling is rare.

Publisher IDW deserves serious recognition for this volume.

Deluxe Slipcase Edition: This is a beautifully and lovingly crafted collection of Dave Stevens' Rocketeer!. I bought the first run towards the end of my comic collecting days in the mid-80s and loved his art. I was delighted to find in this book the New York Adventure which I hadn't known existed; seeing it finish off the original story. The glossy paper quality and coloring in this edition are outstanding too compared to the original work and subsequent collected TPBs. While some may complain about the perceived thread-bare plot, I think it's a rather quaint product that succeeds in mirroring its time of the serials in the late 30s. The art is the star though, especially Betty of course. Lots of preliminary sketches and storyboard layouts and notes from the author. Highly recommended. (j4.)

Like a lot of people, I was introduced to The Rocketeer by way of the Disney film in the 1990s. I thought the movie was great, and only later learned that it had been a comic book and that Dave Stevens had drawn and written it. I found the back issues later on, and was floored by them. I became a Dave Stevens fan on the spot. However, there was never a great collector's edition of The Rocketeer comics to buy - even the "Cliff's New York Adventure" album was long out of print by the time I started looking for it.

Then - oh, happy day! - came this little marvel.

The Rocketeer: The Complete Deluxe Edition contains all of the Rocketeer segments, originally published by Eclipse, Pacific and Dark Horse comics throughout the 1980s and 1990s, printed larger than comic book format and on lovely, glossy paper. In addition to all this, the coloring has been completely redone (read: digital color) and really displays Stevens' artwork to its best effect. This hardcover edition also comes in a handsome, sturdy slipcase.

The Good: Really, what's not to like? We get all of the Rocketeer comics in one handy volume (no more flipping through your comic boxes) printed with exceptional quality. On top of that, there are loads and loads of preliminary materials, including sketches, words from Stevens' assistants (including greats like Art Adams and Michael Kaluta), all of the covers, a couple of great fold-out pieces of artwork, etc. It's, quite literally, a Rocketeer bonanza.

The Bad: In a weird way, this gala treatment of the series highlights, unfortunately, how few issues there really were. The Rocketeer was published only sporadically during the 1980s and 1990s, and by the time you finish the series, it's only just gotten started. It's just a shame that there isn't more of it to treasure. Those further interested in the late, great Dave Stevens' work would do well to look at [[ASIN:1599290103 Brush with Passion: The Art and Life of Dave Stevens]], a great auto/biography written by Stevens and friends in the last years of his life, and packed with his best artwork.

Highly recommended for the comic book fan, the fan of great illustration, and the fan of a great, fun adventure story. Enjoy!

The other reviews here tell the tale that makes this story so compelling. I just have to weigh in that I just received the Hardback, slipcase edition and it's truly a beautiful edition! The pages are of the highest quality and the color and ink are superb!

Truly a wonderful find for any Rocketeer fan!

I first learned that the Rocketeer movie was in the works circa 1989 from a vintage airplane restoration shop in Trenton, NJ. They had recently been visited by Dave Stevens who wanted to use their just finished restoration of a 1931 Pitcairn PCA-2 autogiro in the movie. That was ultimately considered too risky and they used studio mockups and computer graphics for the big rescue scene off the Zeppelin by the autogiro at the climax of the film. But I became obsessed by the prerelease press reports in the aviation magazines and when it opened in the neighborhood theaters in the summer of 1991, our entire family sat throught it SEVEN times in two different theaters in the Philly area. I bought the first laser disc video ($100) when it came out, and then the VHS and now the DVD. I bought all the Rocketeer magazines and comics as they appeared. We cleaned out all the Rocketeer promotions in the local Pizza Huts and hung them in our home shop hangar. This Deluxe Edition covering all the sketches and finished art for the Rocketeer publications by Dave Stevens is a priceless treasure in our house and is forever cherished as no other book in our library. It is worth far more than the selling price. It will knock your sox off!!

While I was vaguely aware that the Rocketeer was originally a comic, my main acquaintance was through the 1991 film (which is actually pretty good). I spied the Complete Adventures at a comic book store in Boulder but held off for reasons I can't recall. I'm glad I did because not too long after I noticed the Deluxe Edition on Amazon. No doubt IDW publishers wanted to do for Dave Stevens' classic work what DC does in their Absolute editions (I own quite a few of those). I had glimpsed the art work in the smaller version and decided to take a chance on the Deluxe Edition. And if a comics creator and subject deserved the deluxe treatment, Dave Stevens is definitely the one.

I'm glad I did. It goes without saying that The Rocketeer Deluxe Edition is a fine tribute to both creator and artist extraordinaire Dave Stevens as well as his creation. This edition is bursting with roughs and an outline of the work that Stevens had in mind. This should be a must own for the serious comic art enthusiast. Then there's the oversized glory of the Rocketeer stories themselves. With the oversized format, one can appreciate the high level of craft Stevens brought to his work. It wouldn't surprise me if he labored intensely over even the most trivial of details because it shows in his fabulous art.

If you loved the Rocketeer, then this is a must have. 5 stars!

While I was vaguely aware that the Rocketeer was originally a comic, my main acquaintance was through the 1991 film (which is actually pretty good). I spied the Complete Adventures at a comic book store in Boulder but held off for reasons I can't recall. I'm glad I did because not too long after I noticed the Deluxe Edition on Amazon. No doubt IDW publishers wanted to do for Dave Stevens' classic work what DC does in their Absolute editions (I own quite a few of those). I had glimpsed the art work in the smaller version and decided to take a chance on the Deluxe Edition. And if a comics creator and subject deserved the deluxe treatment, Dave Stevens is definitely the one.

I'm glad I did. It goes without saying that The Rocketeer Deluxe Edition is a fine tribute to both creator and artist extraordinaire Dave Stevens as well as his creation. This edition is bursting with roughs and an outline of the work that Stevens had in mind. This should be a must own for the serious comic art enthusiast. Then there's the oversized glory of the Rocketeer stories themselves. With the oversized format, one can appreciate the high level of craft Stevens brought to his work. It wouldn't surprise me if he labored intensely over even the most trivial of details because it shows in his fabulous art.

If you loved the Rocketeer, then this is a must have. 5 stars!

Been collecting 30 years, this book just is just WOW, one of th ebest coloring jobs ever done, great source material, the collectors edtion is LARGER FORMAT. I own the hardcover from the 90's But this is the way it should be.......thank you for a great job

This book is gorgeous. I was exposed to the Rocketeer from the movie, and this has been a great jump into the comic. The artwork is beautiful and the book is sturdy and solid. If you're a fan you'll dig it.