7) The Rocketeer
Speaking of wartime pulpy superheroes, those characters were at the forefront of Dave Stevens’ mind when he created The Rocketeer in the 1982 – a character intended as a deliberate homage to the heroes of old Hollywood matinee serials. Much like Indiana Jones, The Rocketeer is someone who captures the old-fashioned heroics of classic pulp fiction.
In essence, a sort-of WWII-era Iron Man, Cliff Secord uses an experimental jetpack to protect Los Angeles from hoodlums, mad scientists and Nazis as The Rocketeer. While his stories are enjoyable pulpy yarns, a lot of The Rocketeer’s appeal comes from his terrific design, in particular his art-deco inspired helmet.
The character has gained wider cult status over the years thanks to Disney’s 1990 The Rocketeer movie and should get another shot at the limelight soon in the House of Mouse’s reboot of the property, which is currently in the works. Interestingly, though, it will star a young African-American woman in the lead.