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geekwayne's review against another edition
4.0
The Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror is a pure treat. Roger Langridge has created a nice homage to the era of the 1930s (including a great introduction). The book feels more in tune with The Rocketeer movie than the comics, but it's still a nice nod to the creation of Dave Stevens.
There is still plenty of Rocketeer action and all the usual characters, but it all plays out against a wonderful background of Hollywood characters that are familiar and fun to try to guess. There is also an interesting subplot with a couple of goons trying to take away the rocket pack. The narrator shows up in the beginning, then disappears for a couple issues, but the reveal is a wonderful touch.
J Bone's art fits nicely. It's a cartoony style with caricatures of Hollywood stars of the era, and it works so very well. Betty looks a little like Betty Page, the Rocketeer is gangly, and the villain looks like a mad scientist from old horror films. The covers by Walter Simonson are worthy of framing. Included are alternate covers. A nice tribute to serials and pulp fiction.
There is still plenty of Rocketeer action and all the usual characters, but it all plays out against a wonderful background of Hollywood characters that are familiar and fun to try to guess. There is also an interesting subplot with a couple of goons trying to take away the rocket pack. The narrator shows up in the beginning, then disappears for a couple issues, but the reveal is a wonderful touch.
J Bone's art fits nicely. It's a cartoony style with caricatures of Hollywood stars of the era, and it works so very well. Betty looks a little like Betty Page, the Rocketeer is gangly, and the villain looks like a mad scientist from old horror films. The covers by Walter Simonson are worthy of framing. Included are alternate covers. A nice tribute to serials and pulp fiction.
rdyourbookcase's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunately, “Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror” completely lost me. It wasn’t enough like the movie, I think, and just a little too out there. I liked the art and appreciated the effort, but it just wasn’t for me.
eoghann's review against another edition
5.0
I went into this one biased towards liking it. First off it's Roger Langridge and he has written some phenomenal comics over the last few years and shown a particular knack for hitting the right tone on other people's properties as well.
On top of that it's the Rocketeer. Before the movie (which I rather like) there was a comic book written and drawn by Dave Stevens. He created the Rocketeer as a homage to the black and white cliffhanger serials of the 30s and 40s. The Rocketeer character itself is clearly influenced by serials like _King of the Rocketmen_ which Cliff Secord's girlfriend seems to look remarkably like one Betty Page. Now I happen to love movies from the 30s and 40s and happily watch cliffhanger serials including King of the Rocketmen so obviously I love this character.
Recently IDW has started to publish Rocketeer material again, with other writers and artists as Dave Stevens sadly died a few years ago. _Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror_ is the latest of those and it is wonderful.
The tone of the book is light and incredibly fast paced. There are loads of Hollywood references from the time period and the thing has the feel of one of those movie serials. Which is exactly what you want. This isn't modernized, its exactly what you should get from that period. Betty is independent minded but invariably ends up getting herself in trouble. Sometimes she gets herself out again, sometimes she needs Cliff's help. And she has habit of ending up in skimpy attire in the process.
Art wise J Bone wisely makes no effort to mimic Dave Stevens style but instead goes for a minimalist cartoony approach instead which while very different does seem to mess nicely into the 40's era material. It's very energetic and matches the script well in that regard.
All round this is just a lovely package and well worth reading.
On top of that it's the Rocketeer. Before the movie (which I rather like) there was a comic book written and drawn by Dave Stevens. He created the Rocketeer as a homage to the black and white cliffhanger serials of the 30s and 40s. The Rocketeer character itself is clearly influenced by serials like _King of the Rocketmen_ which Cliff Secord's girlfriend seems to look remarkably like one Betty Page. Now I happen to love movies from the 30s and 40s and happily watch cliffhanger serials including King of the Rocketmen so obviously I love this character.
Recently IDW has started to publish Rocketeer material again, with other writers and artists as Dave Stevens sadly died a few years ago. _Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror_ is the latest of those and it is wonderful.
The tone of the book is light and incredibly fast paced. There are loads of Hollywood references from the time period and the thing has the feel of one of those movie serials. Which is exactly what you want. This isn't modernized, its exactly what you should get from that period. Betty is independent minded but invariably ends up getting herself in trouble. Sometimes she gets herself out again, sometimes she needs Cliff's help. And she has habit of ending up in skimpy attire in the process.
Art wise J Bone wisely makes no effort to mimic Dave Stevens style but instead goes for a minimalist cartoony approach instead which while very different does seem to mess nicely into the 40's era material. It's very energetic and matches the script well in that regard.
All round this is just a lovely package and well worth reading.
scostner's review against another edition
4.0
The Rocka-who? For those who've seen the movie or read the previous adventures, Cliff Secord is back for more action. This time he's up against an evil mastermind that is using mental powers and a mechanical monster to make money off the Hollywood elite. What more can you want from a comic book hero? You have the ruggedly handsome Cliff, the incredible jetpack, Cliff's beautiful girlfriend Betty and his friend Peevy, the villain Otto Rune, the science genius August Lowcroft, intrepid girl reporter Dahlia Danvers ... all the staples of a 1930's comic strip. The period flavor is solid throughout the book with clothing and songs of the era, famous names like Howard Hughes, and even detective work by Nick and Nora Charles and their dog Asta.
If you enjoy comic book heroes, or are already a Rocketeer fan, you will enjoy this trip to the past.
If you enjoy comic book heroes, or are already a Rocketeer fan, you will enjoy this trip to the past.
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