SOCKY V

ROCKY V (1990)
dir: John G. Avildsen

SOCKY V
Cracked #262, May 1991
a: Walter Brogan

Every Rocky continued where the previous one left off.

Coming back from Russia, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is holding a press conference. His wife Adrian (Talia Shire) insists he has had too mant concussions and is retiring. George Washington Duke, a fight promoter based on Don King (Richard Gant) shows up out of nowhere, takes over the mic and says otherwise without the Balboas' consent. Rocky's doctor confirms his brain has had enough and when they get home, he finds he has lost all his millions.

Rocky let his brother-in-law Pauly (Burt Young) handle his finances, signing them over to a bad accountant, and now they're bankrupt and have to move back the South Philly. neighborhood he grew up in. He teaches his son (Sage Stallone) to learn streetsmarts and Adrian works at the pet store she used to work in. Rocky goes back to the gym where he used to train and has flashbacks to his late trainer Mickey (Burgess Meredith).

Rocky takes a young aspiring boxer Tommy Gunn (Tommy Noonan) under his wing, lets Tommy move in, and ignores his son. Rocky ask the priest for blessings for his new protege, just like he asked for a blessing in the first movie.

A montage ensues of Tommy Gunn becoming the new world champion under the mentorship of Rocky, though all articles refer to him as “Rocky Balboa's discovery”. George Washington Duke comes to lure Tommy with a car and girlfriend (Delia Sheppard).

Tommy has flown the coop and Rocky has reconciled with his son, who started hanging out with the bad kids after being neglected. The Balboas watch Tommy's big match on TV and he wins and Rocky isn't thanked. Instead he challenges Rocky and comes to challenge Rocky personally at a bar in Philadelphia.

Tommy is only doing this because he's being egged on by Duke. He can't control his temper and fights Rocky in the streets. Rocky wins despite the ringing in his ears from his head injury.

This was the back cover for that issue.