Dave Stevens, whose first comic work was inking Russ Manning’s pencils for the Tarzan daily, made a splash in the comic book world with the introduction of The Rocketeer as a back-up feature in Starslayer #2 from Pacific Comics. The character jumped from there to Pacific Presents to his own comics from a number of publishers, and eventually onto the silver screen. His story and art were steeped in the styles and history of the 1930s, and they drew praise for their historical accuracy as well as their breathtaking imagery.

For a relative small comic book output, Stevens was widely considered “an artist’s artist.” He received the first Russ Manning Award in 1982, and played a key role in reviving interest in Bettie Page. While he illustrated numerous other covers (including Alien Worlds, Bettie Page Comics, and Jonny Quest, among others), Dave Stevens remains best known for high-flying pilot Cliff Secord, The Rocketeer.