Broken Frontier

Rocketo Garrison was the last of the world’s great adventurers. Through his maps, we can hear his amazing story of danger, discovery and above all adventure!

Rocketo is one of those ‘it’ books that comes along every now and then. Providence has it that it is released by one of those ‘it’ publishers that comes along every now and then. Speakeasy Comics has been making a name for itself all over the place with a series of titles that look pretty good but simply haven’t interested me yet. Rocketo changes that with its emphasis on unconventional storytelling, attention-grabbing artwork and an adventurous sense of style. The book is bound lengthways to give it that ‘wide-screen’ appearance but it is not a cinematic action comic, rather it is a science-fiction/fantasy story which enacts the wonder of myth and legend.

Rocketo Garrison is a member of the Garrison family of Mappers, those entrusted with the ability to navigate a horribly scarred world. Conventional compasses don’t work any more so it is up to the Mappers to guide the way, defending the new inhabitants of the earth from mutants and other dangers. There is only one place that Mappers have got lost in; the Hidden Sea. We see Rocketo here as a grown man but mainly in flashback, as a boy learning about the world and his important responsibilities.

Rocketo is not too far removed from a superhero story. In fact many who only read superhero comics will be familiar with a number of aspects of what is essentially an ‘origin story’. However, Espinosa evokes something older in his comic, something along the lines of early 20th Century adventure fiction. The artwork, with its simple but measured colour scheme is reminiscent of the art panels that accompanied early editions for adolescents of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and other such books.

Espinosa cleverly layers his story with more than one level of flashback, emphasising the importance of myth and legend in his story. That this comic is ostensibly set in a future Earth even further accentuates the fantastical and wondrous nature of his book.

This book is capable of transporting any willing reader into another world of adventure and excitement. It can be enjoyed for its textured and engaging artwork, its sense of wonder and discovery or simply as a cracking good origin story! Rocketo is eminently suitable for all ages.