Soaring Into Comic Shop This Summer: IDW Announces ‘The Rocketeer: Infiltrator!’

by Olly MacNamee

IDW has announced its next series of Dave Stevens‘ The Rocketeer with The Rocketeer: Infiltrator! from writer Gabriel Hardman and artist Dean Kotz:

“During the height of World War II, Allied planes mysteriously explode midair and rumors spread of a Nazi superweapon. Cliff Secord, aka The Rocketeer, and actress Betty Paige will go undercover in an exciting espionage tale that will leave fans of Dave Stevens’ beloved franchise captivated.”

Speaking of Stevens’ legacy and this new series, writer Hardman said:

“I’m thrilled to have this chance to contribute to the legacy of Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer. I was first exposed to both the character and Stevens’ almost impossibly lush artwork when I picked up The Rocketeer Adventure Magazine from Comico at a comic shop as a teenager. It played directly into my love of pulpy storytelling of the 1930s and 1940s so having the chance to tell a tale in that world feels like a perfect fit for me. We’re adding a dose of wartime espionage into the mix as Cliff and Betty bring their unique skills to a mission to uncover a Nazi superweapon while using Betty’s acting career as a cover. Though they may lack experience in the spy game, they’ll have help from a dashing MI6 agent who unluckily for Cliff takes an amorous interest in Betty. I couldn’t be more excited about collaborating with artist Dean Kotz on this series. I’ve admired his work for years and this project is both a perfect fit for his style and an ideal story for us to collaborate.”

Artist, Kotz added:

“I’m so stoked to be working with Gabriel on The Rocketeer: Infiltrator! Gabriel is a master of pulp storytelling, and he’s cooked up an awesome spy thriller premise with so many fun things to draw. When Cliff’s not wearing his rocket zipping around WWII bombers and fighter planes, we get to see him out of his element in the shadowy world of international espionage. Meanwhile, Betty’s undercover on a glamorous movie set being romanced by a secret agent. This book hits all the perfect pulp notes”

And, last but not least, Editor Nicolas Niño stated:

“It’s a great year for The Rocketeer! The Island saw him travel to a fantastical island in search of Amelia Earhart, based on a story by Rocketeer creator Dave Stevens. It infused everything about the character that fans fell in love with, while opening the door for a new generation,. With Infiltrator!, Gabriel Hardman and Dean Kotz are telling a story that indulges the type of Rocketeer story a lot of readers love: one where he’s out of his element. For a guy with a highly-combustible rocket strapped to his back, going incognito is a nightmare we’ll love to pick up and read.”