Advance Review: Timing Is Everything In `The Rocketeer – The Great Race’ TPB

As with comedy, one of the secrets to storytelling is timing. When to reveal certain plot points. When is the right time to tell a particular tale. At what point should the hero come bursting in to save the day.

The Rocketeer: The Great Race gets some of these point right. It was timed to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the World War II-era hero, which makes perfect sense. It runs into trouble, though, when it comes to the titular hero’s timing.

The Rocketeer’s alter ego, Cliff Secord, is having second thoughts about strapping on his jetpack again. His girl Betty – a 1940s bombshell with her stunning looks and fierce attitude – wants Cliff to move on as well. But when a Howard Hughes-type offers Cliff $10,000 and a trip to France if he can win a race with an experimental jet engine, the Rocketeer gets back into action. Who can resist showing those Nazi goons who is faster?

Written and drawn by Stephen Mooney, the story starts strong. But instead of giving us what we want – our hero punching bad guys in the face – we see way too much of Secord making some really questionable and out-of-character decisions. Aside from a few brief scenes, we don’t see the Rocketeer himself until the end. At that point, though, it’s too late to save the story.

That said, Mooney does a great job in writing strong female characters. It’s a refreshing change from much of what’s on comic shelves today. And his drawings – ably enhanced by colorist Len O’Grady – are largely top notch. His various plane designs are works of art. If only we could see more of his depictions of the title character.

Despite the Secord’s questioning whether to return as the Rocketeer, it’s clear that he’ll be back. And when he returns, we’ll hopefully see more of the hero and less of the pilot.

The Rocketeer – The Great Race will be available for purchase tomorrow.