The Rocketeer is back for a new adventure based on an outline by The Rocketeer creator Dave Stevens that was never published. Set in 1938, The Rocketeer: The Island follows Cliff Secord/the Rocketeer as he attempts to rescue Amelia Earhart and finds himself on a strange island full of mysteries.

Published by IDW, the book is by writer John Layman (Titans), artist Jacob Edgar (Plastic Man No More!), and colorist K.J. Diaz (Amazing Spider-Man). The first issue debuts in February 2026.

“This Rocketeer project has been coming together for the past few months, and I can’t say enough about how much joy I’m getting every time a new page comes in,” Layman said. “Playing in Dave Stevens’ world, a retro world of charm, humor and rocket-fueled adventure, has been an absolute blast. As an artist Stevens was an absolute virtuoso, and I feel like Rocketeer is an all-time classic comic character – he’s always been one of my favorites. IDW, a publisher I’ve already done work for on some of my very favorite comic projects, has given me another fantastic opportunity to get paid while having fun, while allowing me to honor a vision of a comic book hero of mine, and play in a world I’ve loved for decades. Plus, the art and colors by Jacob Edgar and K.J. Díaz are just phenomenal and perfect for the book.”

“It’s a huge honor to be working on The Rocketeer, an iconic character with a very high bar to try and live up to, artistically,” Edgar said. “From Dave Stevens himself, to Chris Samnee, Darwyn Cooke, Staz Johnson… It feels like Cliff Secord always gets the greats. I love the tone that John is bringing to our story, and I’m always jazzed to be working with K.J. Díaz for color. This is a book I would not have guessed I’d ever get to do, but I’m having a blast making it, and I hope that energy comes through in the pages.”

The Rocketeer: The Island #1 features cover A by Edgar and Diaz, cover B by Dave Stevens, cover C by Sean Murphy and Simon Gough, a 1:25 variant by Elizabeth Beals, and a 1:50 variant by Nick Bradshaw. It will be in comic shops on February 25.