THE ROCKETFELLERS #2, by Image Comics on 12/18/24, sends the Family from the Future out to prepare for their first 21st Century Christmas, with heartwarming and hilariously disastrous results.
Credits:
- Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
- Artist: Francis Manapul
- Colorist: Francis Manapul
- Letterer: Rob Leigh
- Cover Artist: Francis Manapul (cover A)
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: December 18, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 36
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of THE ROCKETFELLERS #2:
Recap:
When we left the family from the future in The Rocketfellers #1, the Rocketfellers were forced to flee a dangerous mercenary determined to capture Roland Rocketfeller after information that could decide the fate of the world fell into his hands. Roland knew there was nowhere on Earth his family could hide, so he enrolled his family in the Time Zone Protection Program to escape through the timestream where nobody would find them. When did they wind up? The year 2024. The issue ended with a most bizarre neighborhood barbecue.
Plot Analysis:
In The Rocketfellers #2, we begin with the cyborg hunter searching the grounds near where the Rocketfellers disappeared in the 25th Century. The hunter sends out temporal drones that scour centuries of time to find the family, showing glimpses of other Ghost Machine characters such as Redcoat, Rook, and Junkyard Joe. The search fails but continues.
In 2024, the Rocketfellers set out to buy a live Christmas tree for their first holiday in the 21st Century on Christmas Eve. When they get to the tree lot, their shopping trip doesn’t go as planned when the last-minute choices look less than ideal, and the youngest Rocketfeller, Rae, gets upset when the lot attendant attempts to cut down the least bad choice because tree-cutting is illegal in the 25th Century.
Later, Roland uses a small piece of branch from the tree, which they opted not to buy, and uses advanced technology to grow a new tree. The Rocketfellers are in for a glorious Christmas Eve until Roland’s miscalculation causes the tree to grow wildly out of control.
The issue ends with a wholesome remembrance of Grandma Rose and the cybernetic hunter submitting to treatment as her body decay begins to accelerate.
First Impressions:
Writer Peter J. Tomasi invokes shades of A Christmas Story (1983) and Meet the Robinsons (2007) for a weirdly endearing heart that leans heavily on wholesome moments intermixed with dramatic sci-fi elements. There’s a whimsical charm to Tomasi’s family adventure that’s immediately endearing, particularly through the interpersonal interactions between the family members.
Artwork and Presentation:
Francis Manapul brings forth a pleasant mix of hard-hitting sci-fi with a captivating sense of emotion as the family members laugh, love, and care for each other. When the crazy moments kick in, Manapul’s eye for action comes as close to comedic as possible without getting silly, and it’s a hoot.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
Although the premise of this series is firmly rooted in science fiction, the absolute highlight of this issue is Tomasi’s sentimentally sweet interactions with the family members. Rae’s walk down memory lane with her grandfather, as they remember Grandma Rose, just might get you choked up.
The Negatives:
On the whole, this issue is a winner, but given the family’s dangerous situation, their actions lack caution and urgency. Nobody is suggesting they sequester themselves in a dark bunker, cowering in fear, but you would expect them to be a bit more cautious, especially in the use of future tech.
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
There’s no official word that the Rocketfellers will cross over with other Ghost Machine titles. However, the hunter’s temporal drone search confirms this series takes place in the same universe as other Ghost Machine characters, such as Geiger and Rook. The montage could be the signal that a crossover is planned, or it could be just a fun Easter Egg.
Final Thoughts:
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THE ROCKETFELLERS #2 is a hoot of an issue when the Rocketfellers make preparations for their first Christmas in the 21st Century with disastrous results. Peter J. Tomasi’s script infuses more heartwarming moments than a cup of Christmas cheer, and Francis Manapul’s art looks amazing.
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