The Rocketeer Returns!

[rocketeer25]

Anyone know anything more about this?

"The Rocketeer" Soars Again - Comic Book Resources

Tue, July 27th, 2010 at 5:32PM (PDT)

Official Press Release


IDW Publishing, a premier publisher of graphic novels and books, is pleased to announce today an all-new, four-issue miniseries featuring Dave Stevens’ beloved character, The Rocketeer. Coming in 2011, IDW’s The Rocketeer mini-series will be written and drawn by some of today’s finest comics creators, including Mike Allred, Kurt Busiek, John Cassaday, Darwyn Cooke, Michael Golden, Gene Ha, Michael Kaluta, Garry Leach, Bruce Timm, Bill Willingham, and many more. Alex Ross will supply stunning covers on each issue.
The Rocketeer by Dave Stevens was first published in 1982, and appeared sporadically into the mid 1990s. Despite this infrequent publishing schedule, the series developed an intensely devoted fan-following that treasured each new installment. Tragically, Stevens passed away in 2008 after a lengthy battle with Leukemia. In remembrance of this brilliant artist, a substantial portion of profits earned from this new mini-series will be donated to Hairy Cell Leukemia research by the estate of Dave Stevens, the creators involved, and IDW Publishing.
“Dave Stevens was an incredibly talented artist and a wonderful person,” said IDW Special Projects Editor Scott Dunbier. “I would like to think that he would be happy with a book like this, one that pays such loving tribute to his greatest creation.”
The Rocketeer #1 (of 4) will be available in stores in 2011.

 

[Moviefreak]

That is one Bad A** painting.

 

[The Wolf]

I'd be willing to give that a shot.
I'm glad Ross' painting shows Stevens' jet pack from the comic.

Wolf

 

[Lightning]

Hey, they're using the original rocket pack design. That makes sense if they are continuing the story from the comics rather than the movie. I still like the movie pack better though.

 

[tubachris85x]

Hey, they're using the original rocket pack design. That makes sense if they are continuing the story from the comics rather than the movie. I still like the movie pack better though.

+1

The painting is outstanding, but the rocketpack of the film I feel has become more recognizable of the character than the original..and hence, throws off the painting to me. The painting depicts him just like the movie..until you see the rocket pack :/

 

[GeneralFROSTY]

+1

The painting is outstanding, but the rocketpack of the film I feel has become more recognizable of the character than the original..and hence, throws off the painting to me. The painting depicts him just like the movie..until you see the rocket pack :/

I agree.
Although I appreciate the history of the original Dave Stevens comics and the effort to continue the design, I too fell the absence of the movie pack throws the image off in a way.
I will support this new mini-series all the way!

 

[Charles Kline]

That is so cool.

I hope each edition has some continuity in the look, not 'each artist, totally different look' kind of thing.

Its cool it has the comic pack. People who have only seen the movie are going to be completely confused.

They should make it look slightly like the movie pack, as a "you only saw it from one angle (the thin side) in the comic" idea.

Excited to see more either way.

 

[Jediguy]

Yes!!!!! This is gonna be so awesome

 

[yodakiller1138]

Cool! Can't wait.

 

[jt001]

That is so cool.

People who have only seen the movie are going to be completely confused.

Pretty much like me As much as I love that painting, I love the rocket pack from the movie; mostly because it has a more pronounced industrial/Art Deco look.

 

[Hedjii72]

Interesting how many are bothered by the comic rocket pack. I didn't give it a second thought. It's a Rocketeer comic, he should have the comic pack, the way Stevens originally conceived. To rule in favor of the movie pack might be perceived as a slight on Dave Stevens.

 

[Moviefreak]

Interesting how many are bothered by the comic rocket pack. I didn't give it a second thought. It's a Rocketeer comic, he should have the comic pack, the way Stevens originally conceived. To rule in favor of the movie pack might be perceived as a slight on Dave Stevens.

I agree... and anything Alex Ross paints looks sweeeeeeeeet!! He could have put a Stay Puft Marhmallow on the back and it would look like it worked :lol

 

[agliarept]

wow that painting blew me away. i've been waiting for Alex Ross to paint the Rocketeer for YEARS NOW AND i cant believe how awesome it looks. im glad the rocketeers back, in my opinion, he is one bad ass character that anyone can like!

 

[dualedge]

Interesting how many are bothered by the comic rocket pack. I didn't give it a second thought. It's a Rocketeer comic, he should have the comic pack, the way Stevens originally conceived. To rule in favor of the movie pack might be perceived as a slight on Dave Stevens.

I suppose it might be perceived as a slight on Dave Stevens by some but I don't see it myself.

I love the comics but I have mixed feelings about this announcement which I think first came out around the time ComicCon SD was going on. There were some other guys that worked on Rocketeer stuff over the years - Neal Adams, Art Adams and that guy that did the movie adaptation pop to mind... but I still see Dave as "the" Rocketeer guy.

I'm having a bit of trouble getting excited about other people carrying on the legacy I guess. Dave just had such a unique style both visually and narratively.

I'll probably warm up to it I guess... but I've got a lot of doubts.

And as big a fan as I am of the comics and Dave Stevens - and you guys know by now I'm a pretty big fan - I also gotta say I tend to prefer the movie rocketpack.

What I'd actually prefer though would be more of a "salute" to the Rocketeer where they get lots of artists and writers to do completely different takes on the character... different looks, different stories, different time periods... whatever. I think that would be cooler than to try and carry on doing what Dave did best, y'know? At least then it'd be a memorial rather than a sequel by somebody else...

But like I said, I'll probably warm up to the idea of what they've got planned.

I do like the Alex Ross painting... but I think he used an MR helmet for reference unfortunately though. It's much too brassy looking (yeah, I know I'm a pathetic nerd) :lol

 

[Lightning]

Interesting how many are bothered by the comic rocket pack. I didn't give it a second thought. It's a Rocketeer comic, he should have the comic pack, the way Stevens originally conceived. To rule in favor of the movie pack might be perceived as a slight on Dave Stevens.

Didn't Stevens once say he was never really happy with his original rocket pack design, and liked the movie version better? Somebody back me up on this, I know I read it somewhere.

 

[dualedge]

Didn't Stevens once say he was never really happy with his original rocket pack design, and liked the movie version better? Somebody back me up on this, I know I read it somewhere.

I've never heard that myself but I dunno... it wouldn't really surprise me.

They initially tried designs for the bullet pack for the movie but the problem was that when the guys ran around with the prototype on their backs, it threw off their balance. The dual-hulled design was more stable for running around in. Kinda makes sense...

 

[Yellowjacket]

That's an awesome painting.

 

[DavidS]

if it says THE ROCKETEER im there.....
The Rocketeer, as some of you know, was a HUGE influence in my childhood and holds a special place.
I was greatly saddened by Stevens death, and sorta thought that was the end of The Rocketeer. Im glad to see i was wrong.

I really hope "they" push this and bring it back.
I mean sure, a Blockbuster movie with the latest CGI special effects would be pretty cool, but the Rocketeer might best be served in a different medium.
Imagine a CARTOON SERIES!
maybe even done CGI style, who knows....
or heck, an actual LIVE ACTION TV series would be great! The story telling doesnt require a HUGE budget to make work.

 

[rocketeer25]

I really hope "they" push this and bring it back.
I mean sure, a Blockbuster movie with the latest CGI special effects would be pretty cool, but the Rocketeer might best be served in a different medium.
Imagine a CARTOON SERIES!

It might looks something like this :love, courtesy of Sean Bishop:

 

[dualedge]

It might looks something like this :love, courtesy of Sean Bishop:

I dunno... only if it were done as a more mature show. I don't mean gratuitous violence and sex or anything like that but it WOULD be nice to see the Rocketeer take on some Nazis or something. That was one thing Dave Stevens told me (in person at DragonCon one year) - he wanted the movie to be a little bit darker than it wound up being. Disney was just determined to cut out all of the even slightly darker elements. It still wouldn't have been "dark"... it just would have been a little bit darker than it wound up being.