Come July 29th, Rocket Raccoon will have a special “rewind” issue celebrating his 50 years in Marvel comics.
‘ROCKY’ CELEBRATES TURNING 50!
Originally called Rocky Raccoon, Rocket gets the spotlight in this one-shot from the House of Ideas that focuses on his years since Bill Mantlo and Keith Giffen brought him to life in Marvel Preview #7 way back in 1976, and it even includes that debut story!
Here’s the description for Rocket Raccoon: Rocket Rewind #1:
Follow the heavily armed rapscallion as he blazes new trails in locations both new and familiar across the following stories: Rocket Raccoon encounters a mysterious galactic book collector before coming face-to-face with the one-and-only Rocky Raccoon (wait, what?!) in a brain-bending tale from writer J. M. DeMatteis and artist Shawn McManus.
In “BoomShakaLaka,” MacKenzie Cadenhead and Enid Balám take Rocket to a paradise planet full of good vibes and an immensely powerful artifact that’s just begging to be stolen by a cybernetically enhanced creature with a bad attitude. Know anybody like that?
Christos Gage and Todd Nauck set out to prove that size does matter in “The Fight in the Raccoon,” featuring an odd-couple team up of Hank Pym and Rocket as they fight back a massive invasion force in Sub-Atomica!
Plus, the original debut of Rocket by Bill Mantlo and Keith Giffen! With covers from Ryan Stegman, David Baldeón, and Mike Mignola.<<
Creators joining the party include J. M. DeMatteis, Christos Gage, MacKenzie Cadenhead, Shawn McManus, Todd Nauck, and Enid Balám.
“Fans of Rocket Raccoon are going to love this special featuring all-new stories that span through his bold, adventurous, and sassy career,” explained Editor Mark Pannicia, who still works at Marvel, in a news release. “I’m excited to include the first appearance of Rocky Raccoon. That’s right, old bean, in that story by legendary comic creators Bill Mantlo and Keith Giffen, Rocket went by Rocky and inexplicably had a British accent. Wild and fun stuff!”
So, just who is Rocket Raccoon? He’s considered a beloved character in the Marvel Universe who has a tragic and complex backstory involving genetic experimentation, loss, and resilience.
Rocky was originally known as Subject 89P13, and he underwent extensive genetic and cybernetic modifications by the High Evolutionary, a scientist obsessed with creating a perfect society. He was randomly chosen from a cage of baby raccoons and subjected to painful experiments that enhanced his intelligence and physical abilities, allowing him to speak and think like a human.
After he escaped from the High Evolutionary, Rocket traveled the cosmos, eventually meeting Groot, a sentient tree-like creature. Together, they became bounty hunters and later joined the Guardians of the Galaxy, where Rocket’s skills as a weapons expert and tactician proved helpful.
I SEE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN ROCKET AND WOLVERINE
Whenever I look at Rocket Raccoon’s experience both in-story and out of story, he always brings my mind back to Wolverine.
First, they were both feral in nature. Second, they were enhanced. Third, out of story, they started out as something of minor characters, then had their time on the top of the heap, but now are faded into the background some.
Will they rise up again? Time will tell, but the two always seem to have backstories and experiences that remind me of each other.
Of course, Wolverine was not an animal when he was transformed, and Rocket has always been an animal. But they seem to also have similar perspectives when it comes to humans in that they always seem to find human beings less than or beneath them.
Interestingly, Rocket started out with a British accent, and Wolverine started out and continues to be Canadian, so they are not necessarily attached to the United States.
Also, the two appear differently when they are drawn, Wolverine having been a short, smelly “Hey, bub” guy that at times appears to be taller and younger. Rocket seems to resemble humans more, depending on the illustrator.
Whenever they bump into each other, I bet these two really like each other! Either that, or their similarities will cause friction between them.
THE CELEBRATION BONANZA
I am conscious that I often cover celebrations in this column, and I don’t want it to become the “birthday bash” of the week. But Rocket started out somewhat small, and he has risen in the ranks over time. It doesn’t hurt who provided his voice in the movies, either!
Rocket is also a complex character who, due to his animal origins, might side with humans at times, and then not do that if the circumstances warranted it.
As a long-time or experienced comics fan, I’m always happy when a hero or a character lasts as many years as Rocket has. He hasn’t always been the most popular of whatever bunch he’s working with, but he has been the source of attention when some fans enjoy his antics. When I think about the vast numbers of comics characters that have NOT lasted very long, I think it’s a good thing to point out the ones who do!
NOW WHAT?
Rocket’s future is uncertain since the Guardians or the Nova Corps are also not quite the “things” they were a few years back. But I doubt we’ve seen the last of this “halfworlder raccoon mutate.”
If anything, I bet this 50-year celebration just might kick-start the next phase of his fan appreciation! Let your local comics shop know if you want to be sure to pick up this special issue!
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