Review - The Rocketeer: The Island #2
From IDW Publishing
After the strong starting issue, The Rocketeer: The Island #2 continues the adventure from IDW Publishing.
In 1937, Amelia Earhart went missing on her flight around the world. One year later, the Rocketeer is on a mission to find and rescue her!
After a rocky voyage, the Rocketeer and his crew dock on a mysterious island in the area where Amelia was last heard from. Immediately, they discover strange creatures that could just be real-life dinosaurs! Well, facing giant carnivorous monsters has to be better than staying on the ship with Betty and her cheesecake photographer, Marco... right?
John Layman (Chew, Spawn: The Scorched) and Jacob Edgar (Plastic Man: No More, The Ones) continue their thrilling new series based on a story by Dave Stevens!
After the groundwork laid in the first issue, this second instalment wastes no time picking up the pace. It drops you right into the thick of things, giving a much clearer sense that this island isn’t just mysterious—it’s actively dangerous, with multiple threats lurking beneath the surface.
Before the chaos fully kicks in, there’s a quieter but tense stretch leading up to the landing. Cliff and Betty are forced into close proximity, and you can feel the weight of everything left unsaid between them. Their history hangs in the air, making even small interactions feel loaded. That tension is only sharpened by Marco’s presence—Betty’s new boyfriend—whose confidence and interest in her create an awkward, slightly combustible dynamic with Cliff.
Once they reach the island, the tone shifts into exploration mixed with unease. The team hacking their way through dense jungle undergrowth is a great visual and sets up that classic adventure vibe, but it doesn’t take long for things to turn unsettling. The discovery of a dead dinosaur is a clever twist—it’s not the threat itself, but the implication behind it. Something strong enough to take down a creature like that is out there, and that question lingers ominously in the background.
Meanwhile, the cutaway to Betty and Marco on the beach adds a different kind of tension. Marco’s personality really comes through here, and not in a flattering way—his sleazy charm is played up effectively. There’s a slightly exaggerated, almost cartoonish edge to these scenes that fits the pulpy tone of the book, giving it a bit of humour while still reinforcing that he’s not exactly trustworthy.
From there, the issue kicks into full gear. Cliff finally gets to cut loose as the Rocketeer, taking to the skies to deal with a swarm of flying dinosaurs. The action sequences here are a highlight—fast, chaotic, and energetic, with a real sense of speed and danger. The aerial combat feels dynamic, and the added commentary helps ground the action without slowing it down.
That fight also serves as a clever distraction, pulling Cliff away just when things are about to escalate elsewhere. It’s a classic adventure storytelling move, and it leads neatly into the issue’s closing moments. The cliffhanger lands well, not just because of the immediate danger, but because it layers in more of those playful references the series has been sprinkling throughout—dinosaurs, intrepid reporters (with their iconic white dog), and even a nod to a certain pipe-smoking strongman.
Overall, this issue builds nicely on the first, balancing character tension, pulpy humour, and high-energy action. It keeps things moving while deepening the sense of mystery around the island, making it a thoroughly entertaining chapter that leaves you wanting to see what’s lurking around the next corner.
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