I received an ARC though NetGalley for an honest review.

I haven't read The Rocketeer before...and don't see myself picking doing so anytime soon.

The classic 40s fancy-helmeted and rocket-packing hero appears in a comic that looks at feels exactly like a modernised version of the old comics (somewhat complimentary, but largely derogatory).

I found the script and story incredibly boring and unoriginal to the point I started skimming dialogue and was bored nearly the entire time. The art is...fine, with some interesting panels, but loses something in keeping the old school fidelity.

There was a moment I actually got excited! There was a while squadron of Nazi Rocketeers for The Rocketeer to BIFF, POW, and SOCK...only they were there one moment and gone with barely a snap, crackle, or pop.

I was going to give this a mediocre 3/5 because clearly this just isn't my cup of tea, but for the truly heinous climax in which prison inmates help save the day by punching on with Nazis, only to be thrown back in their cells and assaulted by the screws on the way back. Reflecting reality and the abusive and inhuman nature of prisons, even more so on the last, right? Nah, the assumed leader and spokesperson for the prisoners says, "We done bad things and deserve to be here, but ain't nothin' worse than a low-down Nazi". Well, offensive racial stereotype spouting propaganda we at least agree about the Nazis.

I can forgive the boring, uninspired comic, but I draw the line at this mealy-mouthed bullshit it my comics.

Get the fuck out of her with that horse shit!

Any time is a good time for Nazi punching (or shooting, etc.) and these days we need it even more. With the way the world is going right now I definitely needed this, and recommend it to anybody who wants a quick break from the political bullshit.

The Rocketeer: Breaks Free tells what happens when Cliff Secord goes to San Francisco with his girlfriend. Spoiler alert, it involves Nazis!!
The Rocketeer is a great character. He’s an everyman with an iconic look. There’s just something cool about the helmet and leather flight jacket.
The artwork was spot on. Action scenes were fluid and crisp. You could just hear majestic music in your head as Cliff flew around.
The story was good, but since I haven’t read all the Rocketeer comics, I felt that I was missing out on who a couple of characters were.
I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next thrilling installment.

a 4 issue collection of the adventures of The Rocketeer
1940s/50s san francisco, post wwII
betty is working on a new film and has all expenses paid for, cliff and peevy join as a vacation
meeting up with fellow pilot and friend Debbie Seville, cliff gets in a mysterious accident
with the added nazi presence growing in san fran more trouble soon follows in this daring life or death action packed adventure

Regardless of whether you've kept up with THE ROCKETEER in recent years, people of certain ages will have a soft spot in their hearts for the hero. And you don't need to be fully caught up or well-read in the canon to appreciate THE ROCKETEER: BREAKS FREE. This retro-styled miniseries is perfect as a stand-alone, both artistically and narratively.

IDW's continuation of the 1982 retro-flavored series doesn't ever try to reinvent the wheel, sticking firmly to the classic style and story. Cliff Secord, his girl Betty, and the engineer Peevy all take off for San Francisco in anticipation of Betty's latest movie. But as much as Cliff tries to stay out of Rocketeer mode, trouble seems to follow him. When a neighborhood rescue makes the papers, things start heating up. Soon, the gang are facing off together against the SS - all while Peevy is attempting to navigate a new romance.

When a property is offset in time by multiple degrees - such as a 2020s continuation of a 1980s comic inspired by 1930s cinema - it's easy for it to become unrooted. At best, it loses its charm; at worst, it runs the risk of becoming a parody of itself, or a twisted subversion of the intended nostalgia. But THE ROCKETEER: BREAKS FREE knows where it shines, and builds new ideas within it. And, for better or for worse, the concerns of the original comic may be more timely than ever. Perhaps we need a bit more Cliff Secord right about now.

Cliff Secord, his girlfriend Betty and Mr. Peevy are in San Fransisco for Thanksgiving with Debbie Seville and her mother Rose. Of course Cliff brought his Rocketeer gear along which comes in handy when he has a runaway cable car to stop, Nazis to fight, and a prison riot to start. At least part of those stories get in the newspaper. Will Cliff ever get a break and be lauded as the hero he is? Read and find out the details!

Thanks Netgalley and IDW Publishing for the chance to review this title.

Stephen Mooney continues his homage to the 1980s original series (definitely NOT the Disney movie version) but admittedly, it is starting to wear at the seams. Perhaps we are seeing glimmers of why the original series was so short lived. The story has become formulaic and there just isn't a lot to get into here.

Story: Cliff and Betty visit fellow pilot Debbie (see: The Great Race) in San Francisco. Betty has time between movie shoots and Cliff is still trying to hang up the helmet. Peevy is along for the ride and a chance to visit the famed newly constructed Golden Gate bridge. But everything new and shiny is a target for the Nazis and Cliff is about to run into some old 'friends.'

The formula is this: Cliff is still promising to give up the Rocketeer gig, Betty frowns and admonishes him to give it up already, Peevy appears and leaves often, Nazis appear, Cliff has action, tries to hide it from Betty but gets caught, bad guys are trounced after some uninspired one-liners from Cliff. There's no depth, no nuance, and Cliff's hayseed 'aw shucks' personality (aka dumb as a doorknob) gets old quick here. And the same issue of lack of historical research means that once again there are anachronisms; e.g., a previous book had people dressed in 1920s flapper outfits despite the setting being 1939 or so, now we have CIA agents well before the CIA was created. Sure, it sounds silly to nitpick a comic originally written in the 1980s, with a 1930s movie star modeled after a 1950s pin up girl. But it honestly just feels sloppy.

Like the two previous books, the art can be both good and very bad. Wonky eye syndrome continues but also the faces have become rather generic and Betty looks crazed most of the time. At least she isn't stuck in a pinup pose for every panel and having her behind or chest the most prominent feature each time, which is refreshing. But this still very much comes across as a Marty Stu for the original author: unthreatening hero, Better Page girlfriend, Indiana Jones antics.

I think this will be my last read in this series. There's just no spark or fun here at all. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

Masked Cliff = Rocketeer
Cliff goes on a vacation with his girlfriend and friend, soon to find himself in action again.
With wit and action, mob guys and the characters’ usual dynamics, this is good addition to the Rocketeer world.
Actionwise, very satisfactory.

Another fun Rocketeer tale written by Stephen Mooney with Staz Johnson on the art. I really like the continuing story and the character development we’ve been getting across these last few volumes. Here’s hoping we get another entry soon.

Thanks to IDW Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.

I appreciate NetGalley and IDW Publishing giving me access to this eARC. My review is based solely on my own thoughts and feelings.

My initial confusion with this story stemmed from realizing it's part of a larger series, a detail I unfortunately overlooked.

While the writing itself was competent, the historical accuracy regarding the 1938 setting was slightly lacking. For instance, the inclusion of a CIA agent, given the agency's 1947 establishment.

The artwork, however, was a highlight. The detailed illustrations and classic comic style significantly enhanced the reading experience.

The plot-heavy nature of the narrative made it difficult to connect with the characters, particularly Cliff. His wit was overshadowed by his egotism and lack of empathy. His dismissive attitude towards both the historical atrocities mentioned in the newspaper, ie "Violence against Jews in Germany and Austria", and the injured prisoner felt particularly insensitive. The story also relied heavily on predictable superhero tropes, which made it somewhat uninteresting at times.

Readers who want action combined with a 1930s New York transplant to California backdrop, along with humor and a light romance, will find this appealing.

The Rocketeer continues his adventure in this action-packed, Nazi-punching issue. I really enjoyed the artwork and the story. I wish it had been longer but alas, comics must be short by nature. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys the Rocketeer series or superhero comics in general. It's a fun, lighthearted, and exciting adventure!

A story set during WW2 about a superhero who helps save those who are danger around him.

I liked that the comics were reminiscent of the earlier comics for superhero’s and stuck to that feeling of WW2. However, I can’t help like I missed something. I think it needs to be kept in mind while reading that it is a collection of the comics into one novel and therefore skips around story to story and doesn’t have very smooth transitions. No overall plot, but rather a hero saving comic.

I am a comic book reader, but this is my first time reading The Rocketeer comic. My lack of knowledge regarding The Rocketeer's mythos did not hinder my read. The comic book editors, writer, and colorists make a great team. Staz Johnson and Marco Lesko's artwork is impressive, and Stephen Mooney maintains a 1930s American rhetoric regarding Germany, SS soldiers, and Nazi soldiers, for example, "There's gonna be hell to pay once our boys [American soldiers] catch up with those monsters [Nazi soldiers]." I appreciate that Mooney creates a narrative that is accessible for new readers as well as returning readers. Mooney clearly denotes the main characters: Cliff (Rocketeer), his girl Betty, and their friend Peevy. The supporting characters include Debbie Seville, who is a friend, a fellow pilot, and and a government operative, and her mother Rose Seville. The story can be summarized: Betty has landed a movie gig in San Francisco. She invites Cliff and Peevy to accompany her and watch her on set. The three travel to San Francisco and stay with Debbie and Rose. The narrative tension remains true to the superhero genre. Cliff promises his girl that he will remain present with her and not take on his secret identity as The Rocketeer, but, like any comic, trouble abounds. The government and the general populace need The Rocketeer. Cliff must choose between keeping his promise or saving innocents and capturing villainous Nazis. If you don't want spoilers, stop reading here.

Spoiler Alert:
I appreciate that Mooney depicts females fighting. Betty holds her own against a female SS soldier. Debbie fights Nazis and prisoners who have broken free. I appreciate the depiction of strong females. I thought about the WASPs who flew during WWII and Rosie the Riveter who symbolized females working during wartime. Another story line that I enjoyed was the budding romance between Peevy and Rose. There needs to be more inclusion of older adult romances in comics and, in general, popular culture, Peevy and Rose's interactions made me smile. I also smiled each time that Betty told Cliff to go and save people. Betty did not place a guilt trip on Cliff; she insisted that he go and fulfill his Rocketeer duties.

Thank you to #StephenMooney, #StazJohnson, #IDWPublishing, and #NetGalley for my e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A classic series now in book format.

This four-part series, written by Stephen Mooney and drawn by Staz Johnson finds Cliff, Betty and Peevy in San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge has just opened and Betty has a part in a new film. But no sooner have they arrived, than they are knee-deep in one adventure after another, with Cliff donning the suit, much to Betty's annoyance.

This series has it all - Nazi in submarines, black-ops baddies, Alcatraz, not to mention poor Cliff constantly called to stop a runaway train or save a little girl and her father from certain death. Mooney's writing is still top-notch, and Staz Johnson was simply born to draw Rocketeer. It doesn't get much better than this. This collection also includes some fantastic artwork and sketches.

Definitely one for fans and collectors.