At a time when American comics had been changing into extra grim and gritty, The Rocketeer was a throwback to the medium’s pulp roots. The sequence’ retro model impressed a religious following and, in 1991, a cult basic cinematic adaptation. Since then, followers have hoped for a follow-up movie. Sadly for them, the long-awaited return of The Rocketeer has are available one other kind.
Created by author/artist Dave Stevens in 1982, the high-flying hero turned a cult determine within the impartial comics market of the Nineteen Eighties. First showing as a back-up function in Starslayer, daredevil pilot Cliff Secord went on to headline his personal sequence. The comedian was a success, although Stevens was beset by publication issues and moved the franchise by means of 5 totally different publishers earlier than his demise in 2008.
The efforts to supply a sequel to The Rocketeer film have been equally troubled. The film had initially been deliberate as the primary in a trilogy. Nonetheless, it was not as worthwhile as Walt Disney Photos had hoped. Twenty years later they reconsidered, and started creating a sequel in 2012. A succession of screenwriters, administrators, and revamp concepts adopted.
The newest effort, The Return of the Rocketeer, would have centered upon a former Tuskegee Airman who took up Cliff Secord’s jetpack. Nonetheless, the hassle stalled after director J.D. Dillard backed out of the challenge in 2022. Reportedly actor David Oyelowo and his spouse Jessica are nonetheless producing the image and he could play the lead position. Regardless of this, the journey will proceed in The Rocketeer: The Island – a brand new comedian based mostly on an unpublished define by Dave Stevens.
What will we learn about The Rocketeer: The Island?
The Rocketeer: The Island will discover Cliff Secord taking over a mission of mercy. Set in 1938, the story finds Cliff taking over a mission to search out Amelia Earhart, who disappeared the 12 months earlier than. The hunt takes him to the titular island, which is filled with mysteries and surprises.
The Rocketeer: The Island will probably be printed by IDW Publishing, who’ve held the character’s comedian ebook rights since 2008. The script is being tailored from Stevens’ define by Eisner Award-winning author John Layman. The paintings will probably be offered by artist Jacob Edgar and colorist Okay.J. Díaz.
“Taking part in in Dave Stevens’ world, a retro-world of attraction, humor and rocket-fueled journey, has been an absolute blast,” famous Layman. “As an artist Stevens was an absolute virtuoso, and I really feel like Rocketeer is an all-time basic comedian character — he’s at all times been one among my favorites.” These emotions had been echoed by Jacob Edgar, who described The Rocketeer as “an iconic character with a really excessive bar to attempt to reside as much as, artistically.”
The Rocketeer: The Island #1 arrives in comedian ebook shops in every single place on February 25, 2026.
Initially reported by Matt Morrison on SuperHeroHype.
