A collection of short stories, Rocketeer Adventures 2 #4 is a decent stand alone issue, offering various adventures of the Rocketeer.

As such, there isn’t anything in the way of a story arc. Each story, of which there are 3, offers something slightly different. They might not suit everyone’s tastes, but they exemplify different aspects of the Rocketeer‘s long run.

The first story, War Hero, offers more insight into the character. A good introduction for any new reader, it establishes who the Rocketeer is and his position in the world war 2 setting the title is based around.

Moving on, the second story is Cliff Secord, Warlord of Blargon, This is perhaps the one section that stands out the most. More than just the colourful alien landscapes, the humour found within the plot is fantastic. The alien translations, mixed with the Rocketeer’s incorrect understandings, make for a humorous tale from start to finish.

The third story and final story, Fair Game, is more like the first. A traditional Rocketeer plot, it involves the hero saving the day with his jet-pack against another plane. It is eerily similar to the first story in this aspect, but its different enough in its depiction of everything else, showing the Rocketeer much more in his element.

As for the artwork, it does very between the stories. The overall design, however, is good; the Rocketeer always utilised the World War 2 setting to the maximum, with the Rocketeer himself offering just the slightest suggestion of vague steampunk. Its a unique look, and one that has made the Rocketeer so successful.

In short, whether you’re familiar with the character or not, Rocketeer Adventures 2 #4 makes for some excellent light reading.

3.5/5