Kong Takes On Dinos in The Rocketeer: The Island First Look (Exclusive)

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If you grew up in the ’90s, you probably remember and love the movie The Rocketeer. Released by Disney in 1991, it wasn’t a massive blockbuster, but it quickly became a fan favorite. What many don’t know is that the film was based on a comic book superhero of the same name, created by Dave Stevens, who had been telling his adventures in comics for years. This year, IDW brought The Rocketeer back to comics with The Rocketeer: The Island, a new story based on an unpublished outline by Stevens. The series is already proving popular – sales jumped significantly between issues #3 and #4! We’re excited to share an exclusive preview of Kong in issue #3, and a first look at the action-packed issue #4!

Written by John Layman, with art by Jacob Edgar and colors by K.J. Diaz, The Rocketeer: The Island takes place in 1938. It follows Cliff Secord, also known as The Rocketeer, as he attempts to find Amelia Earhart, who vanished in 1937 while trying to circumnavigate the globe. His rescue mission quickly becomes much more complicated when he lands on a strange island brimming with unexpected discoveries – including, surprisingly, Kong! And if that wasn’t enough, issue #4 features a battle between Kong and a dinosaur.

The Rocketeer: The Island #3 Sees The Hero Fight His Most Terrifying Enemy Yet (And #4 Is Even Wilder)

The Rocketeer is facing his biggest challenge yet! As you can see in the image, Kong is a massive threat, and time is running out. In Issue #3, Betty has been kidnapped and is going to be sacrificed, and another crew member is also missing. The Rocketeer must rush across the island to rescue them, but he encounters dinosaurs along the way. He’ll get some unexpected help, but it might not be enough – because Kong is on the move! This issue pits The Rocketeer against his most frightening opponent ever.

If you were surprised to see Kong show up, issue #4 is about to get even wilder! IDW says Kong has taken Betty, but now he has to defend her from an even more terrifying creature: a massive T. rex called King Bloodscale! The Rocketeer is doing his best to keep pace, but the question is, will a new ruler take over the island? Or will Betty manage to defeat the beast? John Layman and Jacob Edgar promise a final battle you won’t expect!

I’m really excited about The Rocketeer: The Island! From what I’ve seen, it’s clear that writer Peter Layman is pouring his heart and soul into this series. He’s talked about how much fun he’s having with it, and he’s even said it’s become one of his favorite projects – and you can feel that passion in every detail!

Layman shared his excitement about the ‘Rocketeer’ project, saying he’s thoroughly enjoyed working on it over the past few months. He described David Stevens’ world as charming, funny, and full of exciting, retro adventure, and praised Stevens as a masterful artist. Layman considers ‘Rocketeer’ a timeless comic character and a personal favorite. He’s grateful to IDW, a publisher he’s worked with on beloved projects, for giving him the chance to both honor a comic book hero he admires and revisit a world he’s loved for years – and get paid for it! He also highlighted the incredible artwork and colors by Jacob Edgar and K.J. Diaz, calling them a perfect fit for the book.

The third issue of The Rocketeer: The Island will be available on May 27th. Issue #4 follows on June 24th, and retailers need to place their orders by May 18th.

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2026-05-15 17:11