Image Comics reviews 3/19/25 – GI Joe 5, Rocketfellers 4

Rocketfellers #4

Rocketfellers 4 is a fine laid back installment of the time-displaced heroes. Writer Peter J. Tomasi and artist Frances Manapul have a very solid flow so even while there’s not an exhilarating arc playing out to leave readers breathless it’s a relaxing chill pace that makes for an enjoyable read.

Tomasi gives the Rocketfellers such great personalities that it doesn’t even matter that they’re not doing some exciting time traveling adventures. It’s also fun seeing the technology the family utilizes to do menial tasks.

There is a tease of what the future storylines could hold as time agents explore other time periods, one of which ends with disastrous results. Tomasi is slow burning this increasing sense of dread and showing how the family is acclimating to this new time period before it potentially all unravels.

Manapul gets more action sequences to draw this issue but even then sticks to the tone of the pending danger just around the corner. The action is more heavily implied than shown. That allows Manapul, one of this generation’s great artists at conveying emotion to shine showing the family in various scenarios whether on a date night, getting a little exercise in the neighborhood or hacking a detention punishment.

Not a lot of books could find this balance of good-natured family playfulness with the boding sense of danger, but The Rocketfellers is standing out for bringing something refreshingly different to the comic book landscape.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Photo Credit: Image Comics