Bring on the back-ups: "A dream of flying" by Stan Saki (with a nostalgic superhero ending)

The Rocketeer was one of the more successful of the independent comics that were published in the early 1980’s. The character, created by Dave Stevens in 1982, was influenced by the pulp stories and Saturday matinee movies of the 1930s and 1940’s and featured Cliff Secord a down on his luck stunt pilot who discovers a mysterious jet pack that allows him to fly. The Rocketeer proved successful enough to spawn a movie in 1991 which received generally positive reviews but didn’t take enough at the box office to provide a sequel. Sadly Dave Stevens passed away in 2008 at the tragically young age of 52. Since his death the character has been picked up by various publishers who have created some really good comics. One of my favourites was IDW’s “Rocketeer Adventures” which featured short 5- 10 page stories by some of comics best (modern) creators including Chris Samnee, Bill Sienkiewicz , Bruce Timm, Darwyn Cooke and Art Adams. Adams provided the above pin-up from Rocketeer Adventures issue Vol 2 Issue 1 which also featured the endearing strip below by Stan Saki which has a lovely twist ending that any comic book fan would surely appreciate.

Rocketeer Adventures (vol 1 & 2) comics are worth seeking out even if like myslef your days of reading new(ish)comics are long behind you. There is bound to be at least a couple of strips that will hit that "nostalgia nerve" and many will simply make you smile.

Cover to "Rocketeer Adventures" (Vol 2) issue 1 (2011) by Dave Stevens.