The Rocketeer: Breaks Free is a 112 page graphic novel that collects all 4 issues of the mini-series in a single volume. The art is by Stanz Johnson, the words by Stephen Mooney.

Breaks Free has everything you could want in a Rocketeer adventure. It takes its 1930-ish action-adventure antics and blends them with romantic comedy elements to perfection. This time around, the action takes place against the backdrop of San Francisco. A group of vengeful Nazi flyers are determined to cause trouble for the Golden City, but as fate would have it, Cliff, and his friends have recently relocated there, following the events of The Rocketeer: In the Den of Thieves.

The Rocketeer, as presented in Breaking Free, isn’t a man on a mission or a jaded hero. No. That’s not his style. Under the mask, Cliff’s just a regular guy, trying to get by, maybe have a little fun, and if his luck holds, be a hero. The Rocketeer is a character cloaked in earnest heroism. His stories never take themselves too seriously, and the energy, the “vibe” if you will, is lite throughout. For that reason, I have always found them a joy to experience. Reading the comics, when they’re done right, as they are here, is like revisiting a place from my childhood. A place of golden memories and treasured ephemera, and finding it unchanged. I wasn’t disappointed.

Stanz Johnson’s art is phenomenal throughout. His fluid lines and confident stylist flourishes lend themselves to the many aerial scenes, but his work really stands out when he focuses on individual characters. His ability to capture the nuances of emotion on each face is something else. In fact, in some panels, his facial work is on par with Dave Stevens’ original Rocketeer. This isn’t lite praise. The Rocketeer’s creator was famously an obsessive perfectionist, redrawing panels repeatedly until they were perfect. So be it, obsession or something else, Johnson must have tapped into some of that Stevens magic while working on this title, because it shows. Stephen Mooney’s writing is excellent too, but it’s no wonder. He’s already proven himself a master of this genre. To see this, you only have to look at his work on Half Past Danger (also published by IDW). Some pages of this earlier work almost read like a template for what we get more of here. Bigger-than-life heroic visuals transition naturally to slower, more human dialog, grounding the characters in a reality that feels lived in. The first scene that springs to mind is at the beginning of the book, where everyone is catching up around a table.

However, a scene near the middle of the book demonstrates this better. A battle rages in the skies above the Golden Gate Bridge, and the scene abruptly changes from panel to panel, from the Rocketeer soaring overhead to Betty and Peevy dealing with a situation below. The action is tense, and the stakes are high, but we’re allowed the opportunity to witness the real cost if the Rocketeer fails, the individual human cost.

The Rocketeer: Breaks Free is a well-drawn, well-written work from a star team — a must-read.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Liked it, fun while I was reading it
While not may favorite of the Rocketeer graphic novels, this one is pretty fun, packed with nostalgia and adventure.

The pacing was a little uneven but the artwork and general story made for an enjoyable romp.

Thank you to IDW Publishing, NetGalley, and author Stephen Mooney, for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review. The Rocketeer: Breaks Free is out April 29, 2025.

Blast off into retro-futuristic fun with *The Rocketeer: Breaks Free*! This comic is a high-flying love letter to pulp adventure, with all the charm of a Saturday matinee. Cliff Secord is back, jetpack and all, navigating aerial dogfights, Nazi spies, and his ever-complicated romance with the dazzling Betty. The art pops like a vintage poster—sleek, expressive, and bursting with kinetic energy. Whether he's dodging bullets or saving the day with last-minute heroics, Cliff brings a grounded, reluctant-hero vibe that keeps the story emotionally anchored. Writer and artist clearly have a deep affection for the character, and it shows on every page. It’s a breezy, exhilarating ride that captures the spirit of Dave Stevens' original while soaring into fresh territory. If you love golden-age adventure, daring rescues, and jet-powered derring-do, *The Rocketeer: Breaks Free* will absolutely rocket you into a nostalgic, grin-inducing thrill ride.

Received as an ARC from Netgalley:

A fun pulpy tale that is a satisfying continuation of The Rocketeer story. I haven't read the prior volume, however with someone going in only with knowledge of the movie, it was easy to follow. I will definitely be seeking out the prior comic as this one was super fun.

Packed full of charming nostalgia, with beautiful art, I just wish there'd been a bit more substance. Still, great to see these characters again, fans of the movie won't be disappointed by where Mooney's taken them.

Classic Rocketeer story with all the expected elements: action & romance. I enjoyed the storyline and the artwork. All very well done.

I also liked the tie-ins from other Rocketeer stories. I will continue to read any Rocketeer comics/graphic novels.

In "The Rocketeer: Breaks Free" Cliff Secord and the gang are back to save San Francisco from covert infiltration and savage attacks in another jet powered, action oriented Nazi bashing romp. This is a fun read and most hardcore fans will find something here. However, the book does not reach the velocity of many earlier Rocketeer books due to a paper thin plot, underutilization of some female characters, the over use of an espionage related plot device that has been seen in multiple volumes and some really glaring anachronisms.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, IDW Publishing, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Perfect for rocketeer fans and fans of action comic books. The plot often speeds up and immediately slows down at a unsettling pace but the 1930s San Francisco overshadows character development, leaving them feeling like hollow shells.

I was a fan of the Rocketeer movie and liked the previous Rocketeer graphic novel I've read. And I enjoyed reading The Rocketeer: Breaks Free. The best part was him beating up Nazis. It's something everyone can enjoy. There is a lot of action and the art is great. It has an interesting story and characters. If you like hero comics, you will enjoy this one.

I received an ARC though NetGalley for an honest review.

I haven't read The Rocketeer before...and don't see myself picking doing so anytime soon.

The classic 40s fancy-helmeted and rocket-packing hero appears in a comic that looks at feels exactly like a modernised version of the old comics (somewhat complimentary, but largely derogatory).

I found the script and story incredibly boring and unoriginal to the point I started skimming dialogue and was bored nearly the entire time. The art is...fine, with some interesting panels, but loses something in keeping the old school fidelity.

There was a moment I actually got excited! There was a while squadron of Nazi Rocketeers for The Rocketeer to BIFF, POW, and SOCK...only they were there one moment and gone with barely a snap, crackle, or pop.

I was going to give this a mediocre 3/5 because clearly this just isn't my cup of tea, but for the truly heinous climax in which prison inmates help save the day by punching on with Nazis, only to be thrown back in their cells and assaulted by the screws on the way back. Reflecting reality and the abusive and inhuman nature of prisons, even more so on the last, right? Nah, the assumed leader and spokesperson for the prisoners says, "We done bad things and deserve to be here, but ain't nothin' worse than a low-down Nazi". Well, offensive racial stereotype spouting propaganda we at least agree about the Nazis.

I can forgive the boring, uninspired comic, but I draw the line at this mealy-mouthed bullshit it my comics.

Get the fuck out of her with that horse shit!

Any time is a good time for Nazi punching (or shooting, etc.) and these days we need it even more. With the way the world is going right now I definitely needed this, and recommend it to anybody who wants a quick break from the political bullshit.

The Rocketeer: Breaks Free tells what happens when Cliff Secord goes to San Francisco with his girlfriend. Spoiler alert, it involves Nazis!!
The Rocketeer is a great character. He’s an everyman with an iconic look. There’s just something cool about the helmet and leather flight jacket.
The artwork was spot on. Action scenes were fluid and crisp. You could just hear majestic music in your head as Cliff flew around.
The story was good, but since I haven’t read all the Rocketeer comics, I felt that I was missing out on who a couple of characters were.
I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next thrilling installment.

a 4 issue collection of the adventures of The Rocketeer
1940s/50s san francisco, post wwII
betty is working on a new film and has all expenses paid for, cliff and peevy join as a vacation
meeting up with fellow pilot and friend Debbie Seville, cliff gets in a mysterious accident
with the added nazi presence growing in san fran more trouble soon follows in this daring life or death action packed adventure

Regardless of whether you've kept up with THE ROCKETEER in recent years, people of certain ages will have a soft spot in their hearts for the hero. And you don't need to be fully caught up or well-read in the canon to appreciate THE ROCKETEER: BREAKS FREE. This retro-styled miniseries is perfect as a stand-alone, both artistically and narratively.

IDW's continuation of the 1982 retro-flavored series doesn't ever try to reinvent the wheel, sticking firmly to the classic style and story. Cliff Secord, his girl Betty, and the engineer Peevy all take off for San Francisco in anticipation of Betty's latest movie. But as much as Cliff tries to stay out of Rocketeer mode, trouble seems to follow him. When a neighborhood rescue makes the papers, things start heating up. Soon, the gang are facing off together against the SS - all while Peevy is attempting to navigate a new romance.

When a property is offset in time by multiple degrees - such as a 2020s continuation of a 1980s comic inspired by 1930s cinema - it's easy for it to become unrooted. At best, it loses its charm; at worst, it runs the risk of becoming a parody of itself, or a twisted subversion of the intended nostalgia. But THE ROCKETEER: BREAKS FREE knows where it shines, and builds new ideas within it. And, for better or for worse, the concerns of the original comic may be more timely than ever. Perhaps we need a bit more Cliff Secord right about now.

Cliff Secord, his girlfriend Betty and Mr. Peevy are in San Fransisco for Thanksgiving with Debbie Seville and her mother Rose. Of course Cliff brought his Rocketeer gear along which comes in handy when he has a runaway cable car to stop, Nazis to fight, and a prison riot to start. At least part of those stories get in the newspaper. Will Cliff ever get a break and be lauded as the hero he is? Read and find out the details!

Thanks Netgalley and IDW Publishing for the chance to review this title.

Stephen Mooney continues his homage to the 1980s original series (definitely NOT the Disney movie version) but admittedly, it is starting to wear at the seams. Perhaps we are seeing glimmers of why the original series was so short lived. The story has become formulaic and there just isn't a lot to get into here.

Story: Cliff and Betty visit fellow pilot Debbie (see: The Great Race) in San Francisco. Betty has time between movie shoots and Cliff is still trying to hang up the helmet. Peevy is along for the ride and a chance to visit the famed newly constructed Golden Gate bridge. But everything new and shiny is a target for the Nazis and Cliff is about to run into some old 'friends.'

The formula is this: Cliff is still promising to give up the Rocketeer gig, Betty frowns and admonishes him to give it up already, Peevy appears and leaves often, Nazis appear, Cliff has action, tries to hide it from Betty but gets caught, bad guys are trounced after some uninspired one-liners from Cliff. There's no depth, no nuance, and Cliff's hayseed 'aw shucks' personality (aka dumb as a doorknob) gets old quick here. And the same issue of lack of historical research means that once again there are anachronisms; e.g., a previous book had people dressed in 1920s flapper outfits despite the setting being 1939 or so, now we have CIA agents well before the CIA was created. Sure, it sounds silly to nitpick a comic originally written in the 1980s, with a 1930s movie star modeled after a 1950s pin up girl. But it honestly just feels sloppy.

Like the two previous books, the art can be both good and very bad. Wonky eye syndrome continues but also the faces have become rather generic and Betty looks crazed most of the time. At least she isn't stuck in a pinup pose for every panel and having her behind or chest the most prominent feature each time, which is refreshing. But this still very much comes across as a Marty Stu for the original author: unthreatening hero, Better Page girlfriend, Indiana Jones antics.

I think this will be my last read in this series. There's just no spark or fun here at all. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

Masked Cliff = Rocketeer
Cliff goes on a vacation with his girlfriend and friend, soon to find himself in action again.
With wit and action, mob guys and the characters’ usual dynamics, this is good addition to the Rocketeer world.
Actionwise, very satisfactory.

Another fun Rocketeer tale written by Stephen Mooney with Staz Johnson on the art. I really like the continuing story and the character development we’ve been getting across these last few volumes. Here’s hoping we get another entry soon.

Thanks to IDW Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.

I appreciate NetGalley and IDW Publishing giving me access to this eARC. My review is based solely on my own thoughts and feelings.

My initial confusion with this story stemmed from realizing it's part of a larger series, a detail I unfortunately overlooked.

While the writing itself was competent, the historical accuracy regarding the 1938 setting was slightly lacking. For instance, the inclusion of a CIA agent, given the agency's 1947 establishment.

The artwork, however, was a highlight. The detailed illustrations and classic comic style significantly enhanced the reading experience.

The plot-heavy nature of the narrative made it difficult to connect with the characters, particularly Cliff. His wit was overshadowed by his egotism and lack of empathy. His dismissive attitude towards both the historical atrocities mentioned in the newspaper, ie "Violence against Jews in Germany and Austria", and the injured prisoner felt particularly insensitive. The story also relied heavily on predictable superhero tropes, which made it somewhat uninteresting at times.

Readers who want action combined with a 1930s New York transplant to California backdrop, along with humor and a light romance, will find this appealing.

The Rocketeer continues his adventure in this action-packed, Nazi-punching issue. I really enjoyed the artwork and the story. I wish it had been longer but alas, comics must be short by nature. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys the Rocketeer series or superhero comics in general. It's a fun, lighthearted, and exciting adventure!