DVD Corner

The Rocketeer And The Spirit: Pulp Friction Graphic Novel Review

“The Rocketeer and The Spirit: Pulp Friction” is a forgettable crossover.

If you’ve been reading dvdcorner.net for the past several years, it should be no secret that I am an avid “The Rocketeer” fan. Not only is “The Rocketeer” my favorite comic book character, but it’s also my favorite comic book movie. When IDW announced they were releasing new stories several years back, I was ecstatic to dig into new stories. While some tales like “Hollywood Horror” have been fantastic reads, others have left me cold. Despite having the most potential of any “The Rocketeer” comic series to date, IDW and DC’s crossover comic book event “The Rocketeer and The Spirit: Pulp Friction” is sadly the weakest mini-series to date.

“The Rocketeer and The Spirit: Pulp Friction” is a 4 issue mini-series penned by Mark Waid in which Denny Colt/The Spirit and Cliff Secord/The Rocketeer (as well as supporting characters from both universes like Betty, Police Commissioner Dolan, Peevy, and Ellen) team up to investigate the bizarre murder of a City Councilman whose dead body somehow travels from Central City to California in an impossibly quick amount of time. As the investigation unfolds, it soon becomes apparent that this plot/conspiracy is connected to TV and two baddies (won’t say who). Can The Spirit and The Rocketeer put aside their differences to stop the villains from carrying out their fiendish plan? I’m sure you can guess the answer to that.

If the thought of these two characters teaming up has you salivating at the possibilities, you are going to be extremely let down by what Mark Waid comes up with here. Between the cartoonish character interactions and the groan worthy sexual tension between the characters to the yawn worthy TV subplot and the preposterous scenes involving Cliff being scared of The Spirit, you’ll find yourself saying “This is it?” by the time the final page rolls around. While Waid certainly evokes the spirit of the two franchises and the 1941 time period, the actual story and character banter is positively underwhelming to say the least. These characters deserved an epic adventure instead of what they got.

As far as the art by Paul Smith, Loston Wallace and J Bone, it’s hit-and-miss. The first 2 issues are superbly drawn by Paul Smith and Loston Wallace while J. Bone’s more stylized issues 3 and 4 are completely out of place in connection with the other two. I have no idea why the artists were changed halfway through the series, but it’s completely distracting.

Overall Thoughts: “The Rocketeer and The Spirit: Pulp Friction” is a missed opportunity. The small scale story simply doesn’t utilize all of the characters in a satisfactory or exciting way for fans of one or both comic properties. Hopefully, the next “The Rocketeer” IDW publication “The Rocketeer: Jet Powered Adventures” (which is intriguingly a prose book instead of a graphic novel) will be bettered suited for the beloved character.

Note: This graphic novel also includes a cover gallery featuring artwork by Darwyn Cooke and Chris Samnee which is more appealing than the actual ‘Pulp Friction’ story.

June 2, 2014 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Book review | Mark Waid, The Rocketeer And The Spirit: Pulp Friction Graphic Novel Review, The Rocketeer And The Spirit: Pulp Friction Hardcover, The Rocketeer Comics, The Spirit Comics