Interview with Howard Purcell, John Fantucchio portfolio, NY Con 1970 report, Multicon 1970 report. 

Oversized: 9 x 12 inches.

2 single-sided pages on carbon paper.  Page count varies: copies that were 8.5 x 14 inches were likely 2 pages, and 8.5 x 11 copies were likely 3 pages.

At least three different versions exist, with same content but different lay-outs. 

Editorial features include:

"TO THE MEMBERS" message from GB Love.   "Dividing Line" very short story (one paragraph) by Bernie Bubnis.   "THE COLLECTOR'S CORNER" column by GB Love (recommending Flash #123 and Green Lantern #8).   "WE SUGGEST" comic suggestion column (GB suggests Amazing Adult Fantasy #9).   "THE SCIENCE SHOP" column discusses The Abominable Snowman (Part I).  “Special Announcement" by Love announces there will be classified ads in next issue. 

Circulation: only 7 produced (6 on carbon paper, one is manually typed), 2 pgs, single-sided printing via carbon-paper, top stapled. on legal-sized paper.

(According to Anthony F Smith who handled the estate of GB Love: “The situation on Rocket's Blast #1 & #2 … the copies out of GB Love's collection … suggest how many copies were done.  There were 6 carbon copies of the first issue PLUS GB's typed cover copy, for a total of SEVEN.   Inside he listed by names all the subscribers: Rick Weingroff, Rusty Clapsaddle, Buddy Saunders, Charles Donthitt, Jerry Snipes, Bernie Bubnis, Jr.”)

4 single-sided pages on carbon paper.  Page count varies as some copies were 8.5 x 14 inches, and some were 8.5 x 11.

At least two different versions exist, with same content but different lay-outs. 

Editorial features include:

“WE SUGGEST" comic suggestion column (Showcase #36), "THE COLLECTOR'S CORNER" column (Batman Annual #2 and John Force - Magic Agent #1), and "THE SCIENCE SHOP" column discusses The Abominable Snowman (Part II), all by G.B. Love.   "THE FEATURE" profiles 14-year-old fan Rusty Clapsaddle.  “LETTERS TO THE EDITOR” from Bernie Bubnis Jr., Rusty Clapsaddle, Edward Sheehy and a long one from Buddy Saunders stating, among other things, that he currently has 1,2000 comics in his collection, the oldest being from 1951.

(According to Anthony F Smith who handled the estate of GB Love: “The situation on Rocket's Blast #1 & #2 … the copies out of GB Love's collection … suggest how many copies were done.  There were 8 carbon copies of the first issue PLUS GB's typed cover copy, for a total of NINE.   Inside he listed by names all the subscribers: Rick Weingroff, Rusty Clapsaddle, Buddy Saunders, Charles Donthitt, Jerry Snipes, Bernie Bubnis, Jr., Edward Sheehy, and Paul Seydor. ”)

Ads for:

Includes small buying and selling ads by Buddy Saunders, who would go on to open the Lone Star Comics retail chain as well as Mycomicshop.com.

4 single-sided 8.5"x14" mimeo pages.

Editorial features include:

"ROCKETEER GOSSIP - The Revivals - Where Now?" column by Rick Weingroff discusses revivals of Golden Age super heroes.  “THE ROCKET ROLL" lists new members, including John and Tom McGeehan, and Raymond Miller.  Announcement at the bottom of page 1 that "We are changing the name of our club to Science Fiction and Comics Association."   "THE FEATURE" profiles 14-year-old Paul Seydor.  "The Atom" article & illo by Bernie Bubnis.   "THE COLLECTOR'S CORNER" column by Greg DeZiel discusses Dr. Fate (with illo by Deziel).  “THE BEST OF S-F" — Bob Harner 3rd reviews "The Unsleep" by Diana & Meir Gillon.    "The Revenge of Mentin Part III" fan-fiction by Edward Sheehy.  "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR" from Mary Bending (1st female member of the club) and Fred Bronson.

Editorial features include:

"THE FEATURE" profiles 14-year-old collector Dennis Budd.  “THE COLLECTOR'S CORNER" by Rick Weingroff & GB Love report "here are some books you should look for … Amazing Adult Fantasy #15 features a new costumed hero called Spider-Man" and also reports “Journey Into Mystery #83 introduces a new super hero called Thor."  "THE ROCKET ROLL" lists new members including Howard Keltner.   "ROCKETEER GOSSIP" column by Rick Weingroff discusses Blackhawk.  "WE SUGGEST" suggests The Brave & The Bold #43 (Hawkman).  “THE BEST OF S-F“ — Bob Harner 3rd reviews "The Primal Urge" by Brian Aldiss.   "Purr" by Bernie Bubnis, a funny story told in a single paragraph.   Ditto art insert by Bernie Bubnis.  "Heroes United" by Fred Bronson is super-hero fan-fiction (sort of).  "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR" from Dave Bibby, Fred Bronson, and Richard Weingroff. 

16 one-sided mimeograph/ditto pages.

Editorial features include:

Adam Strange cover by Buddy Saunders.  ”THE FEATURE" profile of Mel Herbers.  "ROCKETEER GOSSIP" by Rick Weingroff.  "How's the World Treating You" by Weingroff.  "THE BEST OF S-F" — Bob Harner 3rd reviews "The Bodyguard and Four Other Short Novels From Galaxy" edited by H.L. Gold.  "Wanted: Dead or Alive" by Bernie Bubnis.  "Captain America Story," article by Raymond Miller.  ”Serial Shorts" by John McGeehan & GB Love.  “The Rusty Man of Steel" by Paul Moslander.   "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR" from Richard Durell, Paul Moslander, Doug Storer, Rick Weingroff, and Bernie Bubnis.

22 one-sided mimeograph/ditto pages (plus one additional page printed on 2 sides).

Editorial features include:

Spider-Man cover by Buddy Saunders.  "ROCKETEER GOSSIP" by Rick Weingroff.  "Wanted: Dead or Alive" by Bernie Bubnis.  "THE COMIC REVIEWER" by GB Love (Amazing Spider-Man #1) and Steve Perrin (2 separate columns).  An article about Lev Gleason’s ”Daredevil" written/illustrated by Rick Durell.  "THE BEST OF S-F" — Bob Harner 3rd on the first four ERB paperbacks published by Ace.  "THE FEATURE" profiles Steve Perrin.  Art by Raymond Miller and Glen Johnson.  "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR" from L.L. Simpson, Dan Fleming, Paul Seydor, and Bill Regier. 

All-ditto issue.  (3 pages blank.)

Editorial features include:

Cover by Buddy Saunders.  “THE FEATURE” profiles Raymond Miller.  Article on Captain Fearless Comics #1 by Bill Regier.   “What Happened to the Shield and Black Hood" by Rick Weingroff.   Black Hood art by Buddy Saunders.  Nightmare and Sleepy pin-up by Raymond Miller.  “ROCKETEER GOSSIP" by Rick Weingroff.  "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR" from Buddy Saunders and Marv Wolfman.

All-ditto issue.  (4 pages blank.) 

Editorial features include:

Buddy Saunders Atoman cover.   "The Origin of Atoman" by GB Love.  "THE BEST OF S-F" — Bob Harner 3rd reviews "The Synthetic Man" by Robert Heinlein.  “ROCKETEER GOSSIP" by Rick Weingroff.  "SPOTLIGHT ON THE PRO'S: #1 — Joe Giella" by Bernie Bubnis.  "ROCKET'S BLAST PIN-UP #3" of Black Angel Pin-up by Raymond Miller.   Repro of All Stars #8 by Saunders. "THE FEATURE" profiles Tom McGeehan. Letters page called "BLAST FROM THE READERS" for the first time, with letters from George R. R. Martin (1st LOC about free issue he received - #23), Andrew Fraknoi (criticism that Love takes 2 pages to respond to), Rick Durell, George Lawson, Mike Friedrich, Bill Spicer, Greg Suriano, Marc Nadel, Jim Hamilton, James E. Brown, and Andy Zerbe. 

Ready sheet for HEROES HANGOUT #1 is the first appearance of photo-offset in ROCKET’S BLAST.

Ads for: 

CHARACTER GET TOGETHER

COMI-RAMA #2

FANTASTIC CREATURES

HEROES' HANGOUT #1 (offset insert with Roger Brand art)

HORROR SCREEN WORLD

ROCKET'S BLAST SPECIAL #2

THE COMIC HERO

All-ditto issue.  (5 pages blank.)

Editorial features include:

Cover of the Web by Howard Keltner.   "SPOTLIGHT ON THE PROS: #2 - Mike Sekowsky" by Bernie Bubnis.   "INSIDE THE COVER" of Marvel Mystery #8 by Rick Durell  (with Xerox insert of the cover).  “A Page from the Golden Age” by Raymond Miller.  "Seduction of the Innocent" article by Paul Gambaccini.  "ROCKETEER GOSSIP" by Rick Weingroff.   Article about Edgar Rice Burroughs paperbacks by Rick Weingroff.  Thrilling Comics #22 tracing by Raymond Miller.   “THE BEST OF S-F” —Bob Harner 3rd reviews "Passport to Eternity" by J.G. Ballard.  Spider-Man pin-up by Chuck Rogers Jr.  The "ROCKET ROLL” of new subscribers.  Late News sent in from Jerry Bails and Bernie Bubnis.   “BLASTS FROM THE READERS” includes LOCs from John McGeehan, Larry Herndon, Al Milgrom, and Dave Bibby. 

Ads for:

CHARACTER GET TOGETHER #2 & 3

COUNTDOWN 2

FANTASY ILLUSTRATED #1 (offset insert)

FIGHTING HERO COMICS #8

THE COMIC WORLD #4

WONDERFUL WORLD OF KOMIX #1

This issue is the first after merging with Ronn Foss' The Comicollector.

Editorial features include:

Cover by Buddy Saunders.  An article about Pocket Size Comics by Raymond Miller.   ”THE BEST OF S-F" — Bob Harner 3rd reviews "Drunkard's Walk" by Frederik Pohl.  A piece on the waning popularity of Batman by Rick Weingroff.  "ROCKETEER GOSSIP" by Rick Weingroff.  "A Word from the New Editor of Comicollector" by G.B. Love.  A feature on Blue Streak and Doctor Medusa by Ronn Foss.  Black Fury art by Biljo White.   "PROFESSIONAL PONDERINGS" by Bernie Bubnis.   "SPOTLIGHT ON THE PROS: #3 - The DC Group" by Bernie Bubnis.  Letter from Texas Trio member Larry Herndon.

NOTE: Early ditto issues of RBCC are notorious for having variable page counts; it appears as though editor GB Love would occasionally shift around the ad content depending on when he assembled the issues.

Ads for:

HERO #4

THE COMIC HERO #2 

Ditto issue.  (1 page blank.)

Editorial features include:

Cover by Buddy Saunders.  Notice by GB Love to attend Bernie Bubnis' Comic Fan Convention in July.  "ROCKETEER GOSSIP" by Rick Weingroff.  Newsboy Legion & Guardian Pin-up by Don Fowler (aka Buddy Saunders).  "SPOTLIGHT ON THE PROS: #4 - Marvel and Gold Key" Bernie Bubnis and Ron Fradkin visit with Flo Steinberg at Marvel, and Bill Harris at Gold Key.   "Air Fighters Comics" tracing by Raymond L Miller.  ”THE BEST OF S-F" — Bob Harner 3rd reviews ”President Fu Manchu" by Sax Rohmer.   "Capt. Marvel - Has He Returned From Limbo?" article by Buddy Saunders.  "PROFESSIONAL PONDERINGS" by Bubnis.   "The 1963 Alley Tally" report by Ronn Foss.  "ON THE DRAWING BOARD" — latest news courtesy of The Comic Reader.   "Capt America, The Greatest Original Revival of All-Time" by Ronn Foss.   "THE DEALER AND THE COLLECTOR" by Phil Seuling.  "The Twister" pin-up by Biljo White.  Open letter of thanks from Ronn Foss.   “BLASTS FROM THE READERS” includes LOCs from Jerry Bails, Larry Herndon, Andrew Fraknoi, Ed Lahmann and Paul Thompson Jr.

Ad for: 

FIGHTING HERO COMICS #10

Ditto issue.  (2 pages blank.)

Editorial features include:

"Kenton of the Star Patrol" on the cover by Ronn Foss.  

"A Gallery of Heroes from Wings Comics" illustrated by Bill Spicer.  "SPOTLIGHT ON THE PROS: #5 - Steve Ditko" by Bernie Bubnis.  "THE BEST OF S-F" — Bob Harner 3rd reviews “Something Wicked This Way Comes” by Ray Bradbury.  Wonder Comics #1 tracing by Raymond Miller.  "ROCKETEER GOSSIP" by Rick Weingroff.  "A WORD FROM THE EDITOR" by GB Love.  Lash Lightning pin-up by Biljo White.  "A Reflection from the Past" by Ed Lahmann.  “BLASTS FROM THE READERS” includes LOCs from Ron Fradkin, Ray Bartel, Jerry Bails, George R.R. Martin, Ed Lahmann,  Steve Perrin, and Dennis Richard.

Ads for:

DOWN UNDER #1

KOMIX ILLUSTRATED #12

COMIC CAPER #2

FANTASY HERO #3

THE COMIC JOURNAL #1

COMIC HERO #2

Ditto issue.  (1 page blank.)

Editorial features include:

Cover of Blue Beetle by Raymond Miller.  "Gambaccini in Wonderland" by Paul Gambaccini on his visit to the MAD Magazine offices.  "THE BEST OF S-F" — Bob Harner 3rd reviews “Limbo” by Bernard Wolfe.  Cover tracing of Dardevil #26 by Chuck Rogers.  Cartoons by Bill Regier & Chuck Moss.  "ROCKETEER GOSSIP" by Rick Weingroff.  "Wizard of the Wireless” by Mike Friedrich, will full-page illo by Ronn Foss.

First installment of ”SEULING'S CORNER" by Phil Seuling.   “The Birth of the Comic Book" by Lee Whittlesey.   A pin-up of Green Hornet by Biljo White.  "BLASTS FROM THE READERS" includes an LOC from George R. R. Martin.

Ads for:

ROCKET'S BLAST SPECIAL #1

FANTASY ILLUSTRATED #2

Ditto and mimeo issue.  (2 pages blank.)

Issue incorrectly numbered as #33. 

Editorial features include:

"SPOTLIGHT ON THE PROS: #6 - Carmine Infantino" by Bernie Bubnis. "The Birth of the Comic Book" article by Lee Whittlesey.  "THE BEST OF S-F" by Bob Harner 3rd.  "Whiz Comics" article by GB Love.  "A WORD FROM THE EDITOR" by GB Love.  Green Hornet pin-up by Biljo White.  Joy Holiday illo by Ronn Foss.  "BLASTS FROM THE READERS" includes LOCs from Alan Simons, Vincent C Stuart II, Bob Harner 3rd, Richard M Reich, Paul McSpadden, George R. R. Martin, Bob Malisani, and Ron Fradkin.

Editorial features include: 

Chapter 8 of “The Savage Earth” strip by Don Newton.  “RBCC Information Center” by Raymond Miller.  “Comic Collectors Comments” by Howard P. Siegel. “Turn Around, Honey, Your Past is Showing” by Bernie Bubnis.  Letters from Robert Kline, Duffy Vohland, Roy Thomas, and Richard Llewellyn.

Ads for: 

ALTER EGO #10

ANOMALY #1

CAPTAIN BILJO PRESENTS #2

CAPTAIN GEORGE’S COMIC WORLD

CAPTAIN GEORGE’S WHIZZBANG

CARTOONIST SHOWCASE

CHAMPION #7

COMIC COURIER #3

COMIC SHOWCASE #3

COMIC WORLD

COMICKAZI #1

DIMENSION #2

FANDOM ANNUAL #1

FANDOM SHOWCASE #4

FANTASTIC FANZINE SPECIAL #1

FUTURA #9

JOURNEY INTO COMICS #7

PARAGON ILLUSTRATED #1

PHENOMENON #1

ROCKET’S BLAST SPECIAL #7

SERAPHIM #4 and 5

THE COLLECTOR #17

THE COMIC WORLD (published by Robert Jennings)

THE GOLDEN AGE #3, 4 and 5

THE ILLUSTRATED COMIC COLLECTORS HANDBOOK #3

TITAN COMICS #7

TRUE HERO #1

WITZEND #3, 4, 5 and 6

YESTERYEAR #1

an ad from Mark Feldman seeking material for what would eventually be I’LL BE DAMNED #1, and Edwin Aprill, Jr.’s reprints of Buck Rogers, Johnny Comet, Tarzan, and others. 

Editorial features include: 

Chapter 10 of “The Savage Earth” strip by Don Newton.  “EC Revisited” by Rich Hauser.  “Turn Around, Honey, Your Past is Showing” by Bernie Bubnis.  “Comics on Their Way Out?” by Andy Warner.  “Malice in Wonderland?” by Bruce Hamilton.  Centerspread by Don Newton.

Letter from Roy Thomas.

Ads for: 

ALTER EGO #10 and 11

ANOMALY #1 and 2

CAPTAIN BILJO PRESENTS #2

CAPTAIN GEORGE’S COMIC WORLD

CAPTAIN GEORGE’S WHIZZBANG

COMICS COMMENTARY #1

PARAGON ILLUSTRATED #2

SERAPHIM #5

STYX #1

THE COLLECTOR’S CHRONICLE #3

THE FARCE OF FANDOM #2, 3 and 4

THE GOLDEN AGE #3, 4, 5 and 6

THE ILLUSTRATED COMIC COLLECTORS HANDBOOK #3

TRUE HERO #2

Artists include [?] Greene.