Movie fans who don’t read comic books may already have forgotten about director Joe Johnston’s 1991 film adaptation of The Rocketeer, based on the exploits of a World War II pilot who stumbles across a sci-fi jet pack that lets him soar the skies and lands him in hot water with the forces of evil. Though creator/writer/artist Dave Stevens passed away in 2008 far too young at age 52 from hairy cell leukemia, IDW Publishing has been working with the blessing of his family to produce all-new stories of the airborne avenger. The first issue of their latest miniseries, The Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror, hit store shelves this week and is already working hard to become my favorite Rocketeer tale of all time.

That may prove to be hyperbole, but the initial signs are promising. You’re looking at sign #1 in the panels sampled above. No two ways about it: any comic that features very special guest appearances by unnamed ringers for the dynamite duo of Nick and Nora Charles automatically earns my personal seal of approval.

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