Rocket Boots

Lore & Background

The Rocket Red Brigade was originally created for the Soviet Union by the alien Green Lantern Kilowog. The Brigade consisted of normal human beings enhanced using 'forced evolution' and armored battle-suits. The rocket boots, along with rocket packs, enabled flight. The first member of the Brigade was Josef Denisovich, a decorated Russian soldier and close friend of Kilowog. Denisovich was later turned against Kilowog by the Soviet government and died fighting him. After the Soviet Union collapsed, the other Rocket Reds fell on hard times. Several were brainwashed to serve as agents of the super-criminal Sonar, and many of the suits ended up on the black market. Some Rocket Reds began working for the Russian mafia to support themselves. Surviving members later took their armor back from the Russian Army to fight during the events of Villains United. They appeared protecting Russia's border in 52, wearing new, more advanced suits of armor.

In Their Own Story

During Mon-El's tour of the earth, he visits Moscow and helps the Rocket Reds during a battle with Georgian terrorists. Afterwards, a female Rocket Red pilot named Ivana takes Mon-El on a tour of Saint Basil's Cathedral and gives him the first kiss he's ever received from a human. In Justice League of America #45, the League meets the German Rakete-Auslese, or 'Rocket Elite', who Batman notes are the German equivalent of the Rocket Reds and use some of the same technology in their flying battlesuits.

Reader's Guide

The Rocket Red battle-suit, including the rocket boots, provides the wearer with super strength, invulnerability, flight (through rocket packs/boots), the ability to project powerful energy blasts, and 'mecha-empathy' — the ability to sense and control computers and machines. The first Rocket Red admitted into Justice League International was Vladimir Mikoyan, designated Rocket Red #7. During the Millennium event, Mikoyan was discovered to be an undercover Manhunter android and destroyed by Booster Gold and the Justice League. Mikhail Arkadin, the Russian hero also known as Pozhar, wore a modified suit of Rocket Red armor while serving as a member of the Red Shadows. In The New 52 continuity reboot, former Rocket Red Gavril Ivanovich joins the Justice League as a representative of Russia.

Did You Know?

• The Rocket Red Brigade first appeared in Green Lantern Corps #208 (January 1987), created by Steve Englehart and Joe Staton.
• The first Rocket Red, Josef Denisovich, was a decorated Russian soldier and close friend of the alien Green Lantern Kilowog, but was turned against him by the Soviet government and died fighting him.
• Rocket Red #7, Vladimir Mikoyan, was the first Rocket Red admitted into Justice League International, but was later revealed to be an undercover Manhunter android and destroyed by Booster Gold.
• After the Soviet Union collapsed, several Rocket Reds were brainwashed to serve the super-criminal Sonar, and many suits ended up on the black market.
• In The New 52 continuity reboot, former Rocket Red Gavril Ivanovich joins the Justice League as a representative of Russia.