IDW Publishing; $9.99

One of the most recognized features about Treasury Edition size reprints is that readers get to see the art significantly larger than it appears in regular comic books (this is certainly true of current comics, but it also is true of the Golden Age and Silver Age titles, which were larger than their modern counterparts). In most cases, this is the largest size at which the art will ever be seen.

In the case of The Rocketeer Jetpack Treasury Edition, seeing Dave Stevens’ art larger than usual is a reason for joy among readers, collectors, and even other artists.

Steeped in art deco, vintage aviation, adventure pulps, and classic comic strips, The Rocketeer is the tale of pilot Cliff Secord, and his friends, and his beautiful girlfriend, Betty. It’s set in the rip-roaring 1930s, with aerial circuses, tough guys, heroes, Nazi villains on the cusp of America’s entry into World War II.

The Rocketeer first appeared on an ad on the back of Pacific Comics’ Starslayer #1. The feature itself ran in Starslayer #2-3, and Pacific Presents #1-2 before Pacific went under. The Rocketeer Special Edition #1, which had been intended to be Pacific Presents #5, was published by Eclipse, as was an album-format collected edition of those installments.

This Treasury Edition is the complete first story, but it does not include the next chapter, which originally appeared in The Rocketeer Adventure Magazine #1-2 published by Comico, and #3, the final issue, published by Dark Horse Comics, subtitled “Cliff’s New York Adventure.”

This edition is simply a superb way to enjoy the story. It is a thing of beauty, something to be savored.

– J.C. Vaughn