Trevor Hogg reviews the final issue of the four-part series which has brought The Rocketeer and The Spirit together for the first time…
Unlikely allies The Rocketeer and The Spirit depart the sunny climes of Los Angeles for the cold confines of Central City. Tracking their foe Trask and The Octopus the heroic duo find themselves inching closer to discovering the secret circumstances of Alderman Cunningham’s seemingly impossible death… and hopefully avoiding the same fate!
As a brainwashed Betty turns knife wielding executioner The Spirit desperately attempts to break the spell before his name takes on a literal connotation; the masked crime fighter is able connect with her when the words “acting career” are mentioned. The aspiring starlet cuts The Spirit free and a major fight ensues. The Octopus escapes from his mansion liar before Cliff Secord arrives with the police.
A binding experience occurs when The Spirit gives The Rocketeer his own facemask to replace his bulky metallic helmet. The examination of the equipment, a translated German diary and causal remark from a police officer cause the two new friends to realize that American President Franklin D. Roosevelt may be in danger as he addresses the nation through the medium of television. Trask has sent up a series of TV cameras to teleport Roosevelt so he can be assassinated by German troops; however, the nefarious plan goes astray when The Spirit and The Rocketeer intervene.
It is great to see the return of J. Bone who knows how to illustrate a sultry Betty. The artwork is a lot of fun especially the reflection of the eyes of The Spirit on the knife blade, and the full page of him and The Rocketeer punching a German soldier together. The revelation that President D. Roosevelt has a secret which is based on historical fact becomes a clever story point.
Two prominent figures missing are Peevy and Ellen who appears at the conclusion. This is a lost opportunity for writer Mark Waid as thematically it would have been interesting to explore an old partnership renewed between Commissioner Dolan and Peevy along with a new one established between The Spirit and The Rocketeer. It is also a shame that Ellen and Betty were not given more to do.
The idea of having crossover series is a great one as it allows for a lot of intriguing character interaction and plot developments, thereby, injecting a fresh perspective to comic book titles we have all come to enjoy. Overall Pulp Friction has been an entertaining but bumpy ride.
Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer who currently resides in Canada.
Originally published December 10, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
