FIRST LOOK: THE ROCKETEER: INFILTRATOR #1 (IDW PUBLISHING)
It’s April of 1944 and the United States is desperate to find out about a secret Nazi weapon. So, they reach out to Cliff Secord, the Rocketeer! Alongside his girlfriend Betty, they must infiltrate a Nazi movie production and find out what and where this secret weapon is. The first issue of this series from IDW Publishing is set to arrive on July 8th, 2026, at the comic shops. Ahead of the Final Order Cutoff date of Monday June 1st, 2026, IDW Publishing gave us a copy for a SPOILER FREE first look review.
The Rocketeer: Infiltrator #1 – Based on a Story Idea By Dave Stevens – Written By Gabriel Hardman – Art By Dean Kotz - Colors By K.J. Díaz - Letters By Shawn Lee - Edited By Nicolas Niño -Published By IDW Publishing
Credit: IDW Publishing
STORY OVERVIEW:
Somewhere over the North Atlantic in April of 1944 a squadron of fighter planes is taken out by a powerful unknown weapon. Desperate to find out about this new Nazi threat, the United States government enlists Cliff Secord, the Rocketeer, and his girlfriend Betty to infiltrate the Nazi’s. Betty will pose as an actress who is willing to be a traitor to her country to star in a Nazi movie. Cliff will portray her brother and manager to keep an eye on her and keep her safe. She will keep her ears open to find out secrets, while Cliff as the Rocketeer will investigate any leads. As they get closer to answers more will be revealed, including that they are not the only spies on set.
WRITING:
This first issue of The Rocketeer: Infiltrator sets up the story, well staying true to the heart of the famous franchise. Gabriel Hardman captures the heart and soul of this classic character and franchise. The time period is portrayed perfectly, as well as the mythos of the Rocketeer. Hardman builds up a good spy story, revealing certain elements to the reader, while also holding a lot back to be revealed later. This ensures that the reader feels a great sense of intrigue going into the next issue of the series. Anticipation is built up even more with the surprise reveal on the final page of this issue. Overall, Hardman does a fantastic job with setting up the background of the story and hooking the reader to at least read the next issue.
ARTWORK:
The artwork in this first issue captures the time period impeccably and puts you right in the thick of this world. Dean Kotz captures the era with his artwork and makes it easy for the reader to be transported back to 1944. Everything from the look of the characters to the style of clothes, and the vehicles that they drive match the era perfectly. Kotz also captures the iconic look of the Rocketeer, giving the reader an instant familiarity with the character and franchise we find ourselves in. K.J. Diaz uses a lot of earth tones which gives the artwork an aged look and feel, which further puts the reader back in the era of this story. Together the art team really makes the reader believe that they have gone back in time and are looking at this story in real time.
Check Out My Review of THE ROCKETEER: THE ISLAND #3
Final Thoughts:
The Rocketeer: Infiltrator #1 does a great job of adding a new chapter to a classic story and franchise. The writing and artwork make you feel like you are back in the 1940’s. At the same time the story builds a good deal of intrigue that will make you want to read more. You should definitely give this issue a shot and see if this series is for you. Make sure to get down to your Local Comic Shop before Monday June 1st and order your copy, to make sure you don’t miss out on getting a copy when it drops on July 8th!
FINAL GRADE: 9/10
Let me know your thoughts on The Rocketeer: Infiltrator #1 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
