THE ROCKETFELLERS #3, by Image Comics on 2/5/25, finds the family up to more futuristic shenanigans in the present when Rachel demonstrates she’s the bedrock of the family, and Roland’s experiment bears fruit.
Credits:
- Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
- Artist: Francis Manapul
- Colorist: John Kalisz, Francis Manapul
- Letterer: Rob Leigh
- Cover Artist: Francis Manapul
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: February 5, 2025
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 36
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of THE ROCKETFELLERS #3:
Recap:
When we last left the grooviest family from the future in The Rocketfellers #2, it was a very special Rocketfellers Christmas. The family’s last-minute hunt for a Christmas tree turned into a disaster, prompting Dad to invent a scientifically advanced solution. The “perfect” tree was perfect… until it wasn’t. Merry Mayhem ensued.
Plot Analysis:
The Rocketfellers #3 begins with a brief prologue to catch up with the cyborg bounty hunter looking for the Rocketefellers, Raina. She chats with her beloved, barely viable humanoid form that looks like Glob from the X-Men. The brief instability of her hand Raina noticed in the previous issues appears to be part of a degenerative problem her partner suffers from to a more extensive degree. Their conversation suggests that their need to find the Rocketfellers may be connected to their shared condition.
In the present century, we catch up with the Rocketfellers as they get used to living a suburban life with a sci-fi twist. The Dad, Roland, is preoccupied with the eye he keeps in a container. The eye is slowly restoring and growing thanks to nano-drones that operate on an atomic level.
Grandpa Rodney enjoys a morning run, chased by the senior ladies of the neighborhood, who are enamored with Rodney’s extraordinarily athletic physique and youthful appearance. Young Richie busies himself in his room, amassing massive wealth by legal (and some illegal) means while creating unique objects with a hidden 3D printer. Rae plays in her room and still pines for her lost grandmother. Finally, Rachel goes swimming underneath the ice of the frozen lake, holding her breath for surprisingly long periods of time.
The issue concludes with Roland learning from his brother, in the future, that their family is about to get bigger, Rachel permanently shutting down the unwelcome advances of her co-worker, and a pair of Soviet brothers finding out somebody has been messing with one of their illegal offshore accounts.
First Impressions:
The Rocketfellers #3 may be the point where readers who like this series lock in and readers who aren’t sure tune out. Peter J. Tomasi spends a lot (too much?) of time showing us how a day in the life, in the present, is made whimsically weirder when future tech is involved. Readers looking for weird family fun may find enough to like, but the pace and the direction of the plot take a big hit.
Artwork and Presentation:
True to form, nearly every comic coming out of the Ghost Machine imprint contains the best-looking art around. Here, Francis Manapul’s art style makes the grade with a pleasant combination of heartfelt family moments, weird sci-fi surprises, and fantastic character work. We’ve loved Manapul’s work since his time on The Flash, and his work keeps getting better.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
If you’re into mildly comedic, family fun with a futuristic twist, The Rocketfellers #3 will be your cup of tea. There’s something universally wholesome about a family who unabashedly love each other, quirks and all. The futuristic sci-fi twist is icing on the cake.
The Negatives:
Peter J. Tomasi’s pace is starting to drag. Issue #1 showed us what kind of hijinks the family will get into when their tech leads to unintended consequences. The Christmas story in issue #2 presented Holiday-themed shenanigans. What does issue #3 do? Spend more time on hijinks.
In short, the series is starting to feel like it’s in “Rinse & Repeat” mode without a clear plot, direction, or stakes. That’s not where you want to be on issue #3.
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
The big question some readers may ask is, “Will the Rocketfellers interact with other Ghost Machine characters?” The answer is, “TBD.” We do know from The Rocketfellers #2 that the family exists in the same universe as characters like Geiger and Rook, but we’re not aware of any plans for the titles to cross over.
Final Thoughts:
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THE ROCKETFELLERS #3 is a perfectly wholesome and mildly amusing issue that shows the hijinks and weird occurrences the family from the future encounters. Peter J. Tomasi’s script nails the feel-good vibes of an eclectic family who love each other. That said, issue #3 almost comes off as a retread of the first two issues, so the pace and forward momentum take a big hit.
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