THE ROCKETEER returns for an exciting one-shot including a story set in the world of the classic film

IDW is returning to play in the world of Dave Stevens’S The rocket launcher with a new one-shot anthology comic that is bringing together a great creative team of great talent including Adam Hughes, Jae Lee, Gabriel RodríguezAnd Phil Noto. One of the most exciting things about the new comic is that one of the stories will be set in the world of the classic 1991 film!

The one-shot special will feature three stories, and the project began during production on the documentary Dave Stevens: Attracted by perfection. The director of that film, Kelvin Maoactually found that the writers of the original film, Danny Bilson and the late Paolo DeMeo, wrote an unpublished Rocketeer comic story with Amelia Earhart. That story has now been brought to life which is great!

Mao, together with the executive producer of the film Roberto Windomapproached Hughes to illustrate the story, and the project evolved into this upcoming one-shot which was curated by Scott Dunbier. Mao said in a statement, “What an extraordinary gift born of doing Dave Stevens: Attracted by perfection! It has been a singular privilege to collaborate with some of Dave’s longtime friends on an actual Rocketeer comic.

Bilson said, “Amelia’s story was written by me and Paul as a tribute to Dave. It now serves as a tribute to both of us. We are very honored that Adam has brought her to life.”

Hughes added, “The Rocketeer, my favorite flying hero, has a plate of a girl, an unnecessarily cool outfit and some great hair. You’d hate someone like that in real life, but as a comic book character, he’s ace!”

The rocket launcher one-shot includes Amelia Earhart’s eight-page story by Bilson, De Meo, and Hughes; a 12-page story about Cliff Secord’s overnight tryst with Betty that led to “trouble with a vaguely familiar adventurer/archaeologist” written by Mao, drawn by Craig Cermak, and colored by Laura Martin; and a four-page story of the Rocketeer battling a Japanese Zero in the South Pacific, written by Windom, drawn by Jae Lee, and colored by June Chung.

Windom said, “The tale Jae and I created is meant to be a dreamy contemplation about life and love, but with great Rocketeer and Betty action, of course! Jae’s ethereal style is perfect for it.”

Lee shared, “It has been a huge honor to contribute art to this project. Dave Stevens has been an inspiration to me ever since I first saw his work. He captured the beauty of a time period that is forever golden.”

Dunbier added, “As a Dave Stevens fan The rocket launcher From day one, I’ve been thrilled to see this book come to life,” Dunbier said. Bilson & De Meo, Mao and Windom all captured the mood of Cliff, Betty, Peevy and the others. And the art… To quote a famous Rocketeer page…’WOW!'”

The rocket launcher one-shot will be available in comic stores in May and will feature covers by Hughes and Locke & Key artist Gabriel Rodríguez, along with “Full Art” variants of the retailer incentive of art by Hughes and Rodríguez, respectively.