Today’s Comic> Rocketeer Adventures #2

"Is that Betty sunbathing?"

Rocketeer Adventures #2

IDW Publishing (June 2011)

Along with pin-up art by Geof Darrow, this is still an anthology title with three stories of Rocketeer adventures.

The first story, “It Ain’t The Fall That Kills Ya…” is written by Mark Waid with Chris Weston on art. Cliff is thinking about going public as the Rocketeer, still thinking that the fame and money will help him keep Betty. (Seriously, there are times I question this relationship.) His latest rival has his own plans, dressing up as comic superhero Aeroman. But Cliff isn’t the only one with a beef with the actor. It’s probably the best story in the issue.

“Betty Saves The Day” is a good idea by writer and artist Darwyn Cooke (who also takes on lettering instead of Chris Mowry, who lettered the rest of the book). Told in the form of an old movie serial (remember that the Rocketeer is based on Commando Cody and his fellow rocketmen of movie serial fame), Betty is forced to strap on the rocket pack to save herself and an injured Cliff. Individually, these concepts (Betty having to use the pack to save Cliff and the movie serial format) work, but together they kind of get in the way of each other and take something out of both ideas.

The final story, “TKO” might have been more interesting as a full-length story. It has the Rocketeer going after a guy with helicopter pack prototype. While writer Lowell Francis had a good idea to frame the fight with a boxing radio broadcast, I wish he and artist Gene Ha had been given a chance to develop the story as a full-issue adventure.

Overall, all three stories are worth reading and if you’re a fan of the Rocketeer or the old rocketmen I recommend this book.

Tomorrow’s Comic> Sonic Universe #29

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• Today’s Comic> Rocketeer Adventures #1 (bwmedia.wordpress.com)
• Saturday Night Serial: King of the Rocketmen Ch. 1 (bwmedia.wordpress.com)
• Today’s Comic> The Rocketter #1 (bwmedia.wordpress.com)