The Rocketeer is back, as Disney launches a revival of the underrated 1990s cult classic franchise. The Rocketeer: The Island is the new comic book adventure starring the hero. It features a story adapted from a plot outline by the late creator of the character, Dave Stevens, in a fitting continuation of his creative legacy.
The Wrap offered a first look at The Rocketeer: The Island #1, written by John Layman, with art by Jacob Edgar.
The Rocketeer debuted in 1982, and is most memorable for the early ‘90s Disney film adaptation. Now, the next chapter in the hero’s story, The Island, is officially ready to get underway.
The Rocketeer Returns In A Brand-New Comic Adventure Honoring The Classic Franchise’s Legacy
The Rocketeer: The Island #1, Written By John Layman; Art By Jacob Edgar; Available In 2026 From IDW Publishing
The wordless preview for The Rocketeer: The Island #1 features the 1930s-era hero, or rather his human alter ego, Cliff Secord, doing stunt pilotry above a crowded airfield. Secord’s show is interrupted by a second plane, which proves to be piloted by a woman, who The Wrap identifies as Amelia Earhart.
Earhart famously disappeared in 1937, trying to solo circumnavigate the world. It seems The Rocketeer: The Island will offer its own take on the nearly century-old mystery of the aviator’s final flight, while reinvigorating the dormant comic franchise for a new era. Author John Layman has been given the honor of carrying the torch with the new series.
It’s not a task he approaches lightly. As Layman explained:
Playing in Dave Stevens’ world, a retro-world of charm, humor and rocket-fueled adventure, has been an absolute blast. As an artist Stevens was an absolute virtuoso, and I feel like Rocketeer is an all-time classic comic character— he’s always been one of my favorites. IDW, a publisher I’ve already done work for on some of my very favorite comic projects, has given me another fantastic opportunity to get paid while having fun, while allowing me to honor a vision of a comic book hero of mine, and play in a world I’ve loved for decades.
Stevens passed away in 2008 at just 52 years old. The Rocketeer franchise had largely been dormant for awhile at the time; in the years following his death, IDW Publishing has sporadically released new Rocketeer content, but it once more lapsed into obscurity around 2013. Now, The Island is reviving the iconic character.
The Success Of “The Rocketeer: The Island” Could Kickstart The Development Of A Film Reboot
The Comic Is Aimed At Nostalgic ’90s Kids
The Rocketeer was adapted for the big screen by Disney in 1991, but like the comic book source material, the franchise never fully got off the ground. Plans for a sequel fell through after the commercial failure of the film upon its release. Though it has become a cult classic, Disney has never seriously invested in a Rocketeer film reboot.
An animated Rocketeer kids show was released in 2019, but The Island is the latest entry in the franchise that will appeal to the older audience nostalgic for the film. The Rocketeer is back in its original medium, for a new era, and the success of the comic could be what Disney needs to get the ball rolling on another feature film.
The Rocketeer: The Island #1 will be available in February 2026 from IDW Publishing.
- Release Date
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June 21, 1991
- Runtime
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108 minutes
- Director
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Joe Johnston
- Writers
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Danny Bilson, Paul De Meo, William Dear, Dave Stevens
- Producers
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Charles Gordon, Lawrence Gordon
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Billy Campbell
Cliff Secord
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Jennifer Connelly
Jenny Blake