The Rocketeer collection from IDW Publishing gathers Dave Stevens’ original stories and later adventures in one affordable paperback. “The Rocketeer: Thrills, Spills, and Chills,” part of the IDW Classic Collections line, was published April 28, 2026, according to Penguin Random House.
The 368-page book costs $13.99 and follows Cliff Secord, a struggling pilot who discovers a stolen rocket pack. The character’s comics later inspired the 1991 Disney film “The Rocketeer.”
The Rocketeer collection at a glance
Here are the key details, per Penguin Random House: the price is $13.99, the format is a 6-inch by 9-inch paperback, the page count is 368, and the ISBN is 9798887244433. The book is also listed by major retailers.
IDW describes the contents as “Dave Stevens’ original masterpiece, featuring high-flying Indiana Jones-style adventures that mix pulp action, mystery, and danger.” The book also reprints 24 short stories from Rocketeer Adventures.
What is inside The Rocketeer collection
The Rocketeer Adventures stories continue the saga of Cliff, his girlfriend Betty and mechanic Peevy as they face gangsters, Nazi spies, fake superheroes and more, according to IDW’s synopsis, as reported by CBR. Those stories include work by creators such as Kurt Busiek, Dave Gibbons and Stan Sakai.
Penguin Random House also credits John Cassaday, Darwyn Cooke, Roger Langridge and Michael Allred among the book’s creators, giving the collection a deep bench of comics talent.
Why The Rocketeer still has fans
Disney’s 1991 film starred Billy Campbell as Cliff Secord, with Jennifer Connelly and Timothy Dalton in key roles and Joe Johnston directing. It was a throwback to the serial adventures of the 1930s, with Art Deco style, Nazi spies and a hero who stumbles onto a jetpack.
The movie did not become a box office hit, but it developed a loyal following, and the comics that inspired it have stayed in print through several publishers. A budget-friendly paperback is an easy way for new readers to see where the story began and how other creators have expanded it.
For readers who already own the older volumes, the main draw of The Rocketeer collection is convenience. It puts Stevens’ original work and the Rocketeer Adventures stories in a single, pocket-friendly book that costs less than many single hardcovers. Fans of the film who have never read the comics can use it as a starting point.
Where The Rocketeer collection fits in IDW’s new line
IDW launched its Classic Collections as 6-by-9-inch paperbacks priced at $13.99, a point between DC’s $9.99 Compact Comics and Marvel’s $14.99 Premier Collections, per Comic Book Club Live.
The Rocketeer is the third title in the line, following “Godzilla: Rulers of Earth” in February and the first volume of “Locke & Key” in March. “D4VE” followed in May.
For more on the character’s recent comeback, read our story on the new Rocketeer comic that unites Amelia Earhart. Other comics coverage includes Captain Picard’s fate in a new comic and the Percy Jackson Blood of Olympus graphic novel.
What’s next
The Rocketeer collection is best suited to readers who want a single volume that covers both Dave Stevens’ original vision and the tribute stories that followed. Collectors of the 1991 film’s memorabilia may also appreciate a lightweight edition they can carry without worrying about wear.
The Rocketeer collection is already on sale through retailers, and it is listed by bookstores including Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble and Penguin Random House. At $13.99 for 368 pages, the book works out to roughly four cents a page, which is a low entry price for a mix of a creator-driven classic and a large anthology of newer stories.
Reporting from CBR, Penguin Random House and Comic Book Club Live contributed to this story.
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