How did you first discover The Rocketeer?
Were you a fan of the comic book before the film, or did the film make you a fan? Did you see it in theaters, or did you discover the film years later on DVD?
I used to buy a magazine called Comics Scene Monthly, and the last page of an issue in 1990 had a picture of The Rocketeer standing on the zeppelin in his iconic pose and talked a bit about the comic book by Dave Stevens being made into a film by Disney. Honestly, I read it and thought no more about it other than, gee whiz, that helmet looks ridiculous! I didn't think much more about it until I caught my first images on the film on a small blurb on Entertainment Tonight in 1991, where it showed some scenes of Timothy Dalton as the villain, some footage at the South Seas Club, and a shot of the Rocketeer flying through the skylight at the club, as well as him taking off from the back of the Bulldog Cafe. I thought it looked really cool and started following the movie news and began looking forward to seeing the film. As the movie drew closer, I found an article on The Rocketeer in Entertainment Weekly, showing a big full page picture of the Rocketeer's first time blasting off at the air race from the first issue of the comic book. I cut it out and still have it. They also rated the film's really awesome art deco poster with an A+. I began seeking out the comic books, and eventually managed to get all five of the original issues of the first story arc. I tracked down a fifth printing of the Graphic Novel that collected all five issues into one nice package.
I also got the first two Rocketeer Adventure Magazines which told the story of Cliff's New York adventure. I had fallen in love with this material! As fans know, issue number three of the New York Adventure didn't see release until 1995, four years after the film. I was ecstatic to get it and to see how it all finally ended. I have always been amused that Lothar was such a prominent presence in the film when he had only one issue that barely started his story. most of his action is to be seen in the last issue from 1995.
Anyhow, I saw the film as soon as I could at theaters, and I think I saw it three times, possibly four at theaters, the last being at the dollar theater where I wanted to enjoy it on the big screen one last time. It was so much fun. Being a fan of James Horner back in those days, I ran out to get the score as soon as it was released (this was one of his last really cool scores, in my opinion). My best friend saw it with me and he liked it a lot too. Not long ago, we both watched the film again together and he still enjoyed it, though I am the bigger fan. He's a casual fan. I was disappointed that the film didn't fare better at the box office. I knew we would not see a sequel, but I was also glad to see a film made that stayed pretty true to the spirit of the comic book.
Well, feel free to share your Rocketeer stories in this thread. think back to how you first encountered the comic book or the film and tell me and everyone else who reads this thread you memories and why it hooked you!
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Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?