Trevor Hogg reviews the first issue of Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror…
Missing scientists! Plucky girl reporters! Betty and Cliff on the rocks! The mysterious Church of Cosmicism! And who is the sinister Otto Rune? Pulp thrills the way you like them as the Rocketeer comes up against a brand-new adversary.
The 4-part Rocketeer miniseries written by Roger Langridge and featuring the artwork of J. Bone gets off to a flying start introducing all the characters involved including the narrator who collides into the running Cliff Secord on a street corner. Secord is typically late for a date with his actress bombshell girlfriend Betty who has so many curves she would be the envy of a major league baseball pitcher; in the rush to get away he drops his wallet allowing for the two men connect at a later date. Betty is getting ready for the rendezvous while conversing with her roommate Dahlia a reporter who discovers an article in newspaper which causes her to quickly leave. Betty notices two articles circled in red ink. One deals with a missing scientist August Lowcroft and the other the arrival of the bald-headed spiritual leader Reverend Otto Rune who resembles Gotham City villain Mr. Freeze.
Complicating matters for Cliff Secord is that the owner of rocket backpack wants the device back and has sent a couple of henchman to reclaim the item. Using the distraction of a ringing telephone Secord is able to escape; however, in the process he misses a call from Betty who seeks his help after having her mysterious phone conversation with Dahlia abruptly cutoff. The actress decides to take matters into her own hands and investigate what has happened to her friend. It turns out that the reporter has been abducted by the Reverend Otto Rune who turns to be housing and blackmailing August Lowcroft. In the basement of the mansion is a creature that belongs in a B-movie with Betty which is part of a diabolical plan by Rune to takeover Hollywood.
Each scene in Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror #1 propels the plot forward and the stylized artwork echoes the look of the Dick Tracy comic strips which suits the tone of the story. There is a feeling that everything is interconnected and it will be interested to see whether Roger Langridge can bring all the elements together to create a satisfying conclusion.
Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer currently resides in Canada.
Originally published February 26, 2013. Updated April 14, 2018.
