Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #36

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the thirty-fifth issue of Marvel Comics' ROM: Spaceknight title. The cover showed our hero alongside Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, along with other Atlanteans who all look on as pitch black beams turn three beings in front of them into skeletons. The story was called "Agony In Atlantis!" The issue had a cover date of October 1982. 

The tale begins with ROM and the Sub-Mariner staring at a tall, brownish entity standing before them, next to a black pearl that was perched atop a tripod. The creature that emerged from Neptune's cave last issue was one that Namor had faced before (in the old Tales to Astonish book). A Dire Wraith high witch, disguised as an amphibious being, had sacrificed her being to the crystal. The crystal's energy was then focused on reviving the creature. Endowed with wraith magic, it began striking out at the denizens of the surrounding sea. 

Namor feared that the creature would head toward his citizens in Atlantis. ROM explained to him where the Dire Wraiths came from, and his goal of driving them from this world, as well as his and Sybil's encounter with wraiths before meeting the Sub-Mariner. Namor told the Spaceknight that he had saved the young female before she reached the water and headed back toward Atlantis. ROM quickly followed him.

Meanwhile, in Atlantis, Sybil was safe in a bubble of air...for the moment. Three of Namor's were stunned by her appearance inside one of their buildings. The one called the Oracle crept away, shedding his disguise to reveal his wraith appearance. Once he was alone, he was determined to kill the human. Before he could do so, Sybil warned the Atlanteans that their land was under attack. They then turned to see that the monster was now upon them. 

Two aides moved to sound the alarm and prepare defenses against the creature. As Atlanteans moved to protect their home, Sybil noticed the wraith who aimed to harm her. The creature proved to be formidable, and its black light eye beams even reduced several Atlantean guards to skeletons. Most of the other Dire Wraiths who had been entrenched in Atlantis took the opportunity to flee, hoping that the monster would crush the undersea city. 

Namor and ROM arrived before long to join the battle. Together with other brave Atlanteans, the conflict continued. The Sub-Mariner eventually told the Spaceknight that he had once defeated the beast by containing it within a maelstrom. ROM doubted that the same plan would work this time, since the creature was now much bigger and infused with Dire Wraith magic. Namor was undaunted and rushed to gain the creature's attention.

The Galadorian was impressed by Namor's bravery and went to join him, using his neutralizer to hopefully dissipate the monster's energy beams. It seemed for a while that the maelstrom and neutralizer rays would not be effective. ROM and Namor retreated from their enemy and made their way to Atlantis, where they learned that the city was under attack by Dire Wraiths. They arrived just in time to defeat Sybil's attackers. ROM sought to avenge what he presumed was the human's demise and joined the conflict against the wraiths.

Fortunately, all was not lost. Namor instructed ROM to put the girl in a chamber that had been used on other Atlanteans. She recovered, but found that her skin had turned blue and she could breathe underwater (which had previously been shown in other Atlanteans in issues of Subby's own mag and Marvel's Super Villain Team-Up). She was now an Atlantean. Sybil thanked the heroes for her rescue and decided to stay in Atlantis to aid Namor and his people. 

I felt that this issue wrapped up the three-party story satisfactorily. Unfortunately, I don't believe that Sybil was ever featured in another Marvel comic afterward. It also set up Namor's 4 issue mini-series that was released not long after this. I enjoyed seeing the creature that I also saw in the Tales to Astonish issue #71, which was mentioned before. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about Marvel's thirty-sixth issue of ROM: Spaceknight. In that issue, ROM departs Atlantis and faces another wraith threat. We'll also learn a bit more about Brandy Clark's intentions. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #34

Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the thirty-fourth issue of Marvel Comics' ROM: Spaceknight title. The Al-Milgrom drawn cover shows the title character ensnared by strange beings underwater, who are apparently under the command of the Sub-Mariner. The story was called "Some Day My Prince Will Come, Or...Enter: The Sub-Mariner!" The issue had a cover date of September 1982. 

The tale began with ROM and the young girl Sybil (whom the Spaceknight had saved from Dire Wraiths in the previous issue) standing together on a cliff. The Galadorian comforted the sightless youth, who saw through his cold cyborg armor to the kind heart of the man within. ROM rejected her claims of his humanity, knowing that the half of his humanity that Terminator stole from him perished on his homeworld when he did. Sybil wept at the thought of being left alone at her family home. 

ROM sympathized with the child after learning that wraiths killed her parents and replaced them, intending to experiment on the human. The silver Spaceknight realized that the child was afraid of living and decided to do something about her blindness. He summoned his neutralizer from subspace and focused a narrow beam on the wraith sorcery that caused it. Within minutes, Sybil was able to see again for the first time in years. The Galadorian decided to leave, but not after he used his neutralizer once more, this time to destroy Cliff House and take Sybil with him on his travels. 

While the pair searched for a new home for Sybil, in the legendary kingdom of Atlantis, its ruler, Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner, summoned his followers so that they could hear the oracle of Lord Neptune. One of his subjects grimly approached his leader with news of potential upcoming misfortune for their land. The wizened citizen held the Neptune Nautilus in one hand. The bauble came from Neptune's cave and was often used to predict the future. Another subject noted that the item had never been wrong in its predictions before.

The elder Atlantean went on to say that the Nautilus had shown him visions of magic and spells in an alien language being uttered in an Atlantean cave, which unleashed unknown dangers. Enraged by this news, Namor swam off toward the source of this threat. On his way, he silently pledged to protect his nation and its people. 

Meanwhile, ROM had noticed that he and Sybil had been traveling for hours. Just then, Sybil awoke in time to warn the Spaceknight of wraiths in the area. The Galadorian was skeptical, since they were now flying over water, but they were soon confronted by a strange sea serpent that fired bolts of energy from its open maw. ROM's energy analyzer revealed that the being was an electric eel who had been transformed by wraith magic into its hideous incarnation. A quick neutralizer blast eliminated the threat, but the Spaceknight and his female companion fell toward the waters below after the victory. 

Luckily, the Sub-Mariner swooped down in time to save Sybil from splashdown. He asked the girl who she was, and Sybil explained that she and ROM had been attacked by a sea serpent that had been sent forth by Dire Wraiths. Namor put the girl in a bubble from a nearby bubble fish and instructed the animal to take her to safety, while he went to save the Spaceknight, as he had vowed to do. 

ROM was unconscious when his body hit the water. He continued to submerge deeper and deeper until he awoke and turned on his respirator. The Galadorian summoned his energy analyzer from subspace and went off to find Sybil. At the same time, Namor was searching for ROM. He reached out to a nearby fish, who informed him of an impending attack on Atlantis' most sacred shrine. While he swam to save his citizens, the silver Spaceknight followed his analyzer's lead until he located the source of the wraith magic. As he peered into the cave opening, he noticed several unusual-looking creatures swarming around an ominous black pearl.

The convocation was interrupted by the announcement of ROM's presence. The wraiths in disguise as underwater beings panicked. One of them was thrown by his colleague into the pearl, whose energies were soon used to focus a beam into Neptune's cave. ROM was soon attacked by the wraiths. Fearing that his mortal enemies had abducted Sybil, the Galadorian fought bravely and was able to ward off each one of his opponents successfully, until the toxic ink of one foe had him immobilized. 

The Spaceknight was freed from his imprisonment by the Sub-Mariner's assault on the alien being. Namor declared his identity to the wraiths and was ready to defend himself and the Galadorian. ROM's neutralizer soon sent several wraiths to limbo, but one of them escaped and sacrificed itself to the black pearl. The black pearl's magic was then utilized to bring forth a massive creature that had not been seen in Marveldom since Tales to Astonish issue number 71. 

Namor was one of Marvel's earliest superheroes, dating back to the 1940s. He was revived in the Fantastic Four comic and was a sometime Defender. He also had his own comic for about six years, after starring in Tales to Astonish before that title was named the Incredible Hulk, starting with issue #102. He's one of those kinds of characters that is featured every now and then and then goes dormant for a while. 

I liked this issue, even though none of the usual supporting characters were featured. I always enjoyed seeing ROM pair up with other well-known Marvel characters, because they brought relevance to the licensed character. By now, he had firmly established himself in the Marvel universe. Although I missed seeing Joe Sinnott's inks, Akin and Garvey embellished Sal Buscema's pencil art nicely.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the thirty-fifth issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight. That issue wraps up the trilogy. We'll find out what the menace from the last panel of this issue was, and what happened to Sybil. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #33

 Hi everyone,

Today I'm writing about the thirty-third issue of Marvel's monthly ROM: Spaceknight title. The cover has some impressive imagery. We see a young blonde female being chased by a blue and black hound in the foreground, with a black, alien shadow and the translucent image of ROM's head in the background. The story was titled "Mine eyes have seen the glory..." The issue had a cover date of August 1982. 

The story starts with a young girl standing by herself. An older lady holding the leash for a dog comes down a winding staircase, calling out for Sybil. The woman asks Sybil what she is doing by herself. The girl explains that she was down at the shore looking for her parents, who sailed away years ago and have yet to return. The wizened woman tells Sybil to waste her time. We learn that the young girl is blind, and the dog named Conquistador leads her back to the house on the hill. 

Aunt Mara has been Sybil's guardian since her parents' disappearance. Although she kept her safe all those years, Sybil still hoped that her knight in shining armor would come and save her. We then get a glimpse of a familiar character who could grant that wish. 

As ROM soars in the air above his adopted hometown of Clairton, West Virginia, several residents notice his appearance in the skies. Some sing his praises, while others have other concerns. Steve Jackson and Brandy Clark stand together. Jackson notes that other towns may be menaced by Dire Wraiths. Clark laments the Spaceknight's solitude and states that she has loved him since first setting eyes on him (in issue #1). Jackson comments that the two of them were supposed to be engaged. Clark walks off, not wanting to talk about that, and expressing her desire to be reunited with the Galadorian she loves. Steve notes that ROM isn't a man, to which Brandy replies that she'll have to find some way not to be a woman.

Inside the local newspaper office, Mack Killburn stops typing for a moment to wish the Spaceknight well before resuming his new job. Brock Jones and his family wish ROM well as he soars by. Brock wishes he could join them as the Torpedo, but his wife reminds him that he's still healing (from injuries inflicted during his recent battle with Hybrid) and that he has four other priorities, namely his wife and children, right beside him. 

Outside the city limits, the silver Spaceknight stops to ponder his purpose. He thinks about the wraith threat that has moved from his home galaxy to this one. He stands resolute, firing his neutralizer's ray into the air above him while reaffirming his commitment to purge Earth of the wraith menace, or die in the process. He takes some time to think about the why. He wonders if he has stayed on Earth. After all, there's nothing left for him to return to on Galador, because the remaining half of his humanity perished there (which had been stolen by the fallen Spaceknight Terminator who perished during their battle with Galactus). He reminisces about his humanity before the wraith war began, and longs to hold Clark in his arms and declare his love for her before pressing onward.

Meanwhile, at the residence known as Cliff House, young Sybil hugs a beloved large teddy bear, thinking about happier days with her mother and father as a child, before they and her sight were taken from her, and Aunt Mara entered her life. She said that doctors postulated that the shock of losing her parents caused her blindness, and wondered if her parents still loved her, and asked once more why they hadn't returned.

Unbeknownst to the child, an otherworldly gathering was about to take place. Mara opened the door to a half dozen members of her wraith brethren. After they entered, Sybil heard the commotion and ventured down the stairs to learn more, noting that her aunt never had guests. She crept up to the closed doors, and the wraiths talked about their use of the island as a base after killing its former owners years ago. One wraith asked Mara why she kept the girl alive. She explained that Sybil would eventually serve a larger purpose, much like the dog before, who had been transformed into a telepathic hellhound. Until then, they had never converted humans, but Mara suggested that the girl would be their first experiment.

Shocked by what she had overheard, Sybil rushed from her hiding place. As she attempted to flee, she inadvertently knocked over a vase. The crash alerted the wraiths in the other room, and the hellhound leapt after her. The dog, whom Sybil knew as her faithful companion Conquistador, phased through the set of doors in hot pursuit. Sybil was unable to open the door by herself.

Just then, the door suddenly opened from the outside. ROM stood in front of young Sybil and quickly fended off the hellhound's attack. He smashed the dog to the ground and advised the girl to run for safety. Sybil and her companions noticed the silver Spaceknight and went after him, just after the hellhound phased through the ground where he had just rested.

Several wraiths transformed into other creatures and attacked the Galadorian from behind, along with the hellhound. The hellhound was on ROM's back and was about to bite when he turned a dial on his armor and emitted a solar charge, which knocked his assailant backward. The hound charged once more, but this time, ROM summoned his neutralizer from subspace and eliminated the wraith sorcery. The dog was still in mid-flight and soared over the Spaceknight into the deep waters below, apparently to its demise. 

ROM lamented the animal's unnecessary loss, but soon found him self up against a wraith High Witch. The being formerly known as Sybil's Aunt Mara tried to enthrall the Galadorian, but ROM's neutralizer swiftly sent her to limbo. Afterward, the silver Spaceknight raced off to the moors to aid the young girl. By the time he arrived, he found Sybil hunched up against a tree. She was frightened but unharmed. ROM then learned that the wraiths who had pursued her had met their own grisly fate in the moors, which knew how to protect their own kind. 

This was another one of the first ROM issues that I ever read, and I was impressed by the art and storytelling. My one regret was that Sybil didn't become a more prominent supporting character after the multi-part story ended. It also set up Brandy Clark's future for the rest of the series' run. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the thirty-fourth issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight. In that issue, ROM will meet a very well-known Marvel hero that's been around for decades. It also features the appearance of someone who hasn't been around since the old Tales to Astonish title was being published. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #32

 Hi everyone,

Today, I'll be writing about the thirty-second issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight series. The Al Milgrom-drawn cover depicts the silver Spaceknight using his neutralizer against the half-wraith, half-human entity known as Hybrid, with Mystique, Destiny, and Rogue watching on. The story was titled "Choosing Sides!" The issue had a cover date of July 1982. 

The story begins in an abandoned West Virginia home, in the midst of a winter snowstorm. Inside the building, we see Hybrid confronting Rogue, Destiny, and Mystique, half of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. The humans confront their foe, and as Mystique makes contact with Hybrid, she learns about his origin. She finds out that his father was a Dire Wraith whose spaceship crashed on Earth. The wraith assumed the human identity of Jacob Marks, a farmer who later married a human female who bore their son, Jimmy Marks. She saw how Jimmy's wraith family came to teach him more about his otherworldly abilities. The young child soon used those powers to slay his parents and became Hybrid before battling ROM and the X-Men. 

Mystique had just learned of Hybrid's banishment to Limbo when the young X-Man known as Sprite (aka Kitty Pryde) had used the Galadorian's neutralizer to banish him and ROM to limbo, when Hybrid lashed out at her. The battle continued until Destiny told the creature that they, too, were enemies of the silver Spaceknight. Hybrid reminisced about the pain the neutralizer caused him and the strain it took to reintegrate himself and return to Earth. Mystique suggested an alliance with him. 

Meanwhile, at the Jones residence in Clairton, Brock Jones shared his encounter with Hybrid with ROM, his doctor, Brandy Clark, Steve Jackson, and his wife and children. ROM knew all too well the danger that Hybrid posed. He had just finished explaining his opponent's dual heritage when Mack Killburn arrived. He offered his assistance after explaining that no one else in the news business took his claims of the wraith threat seriously. 

ROM shared his story of meeting convicts who had claimed to be slaves (in the last issue) and stressed the dangerous potential of Hybrid. With Brock still weakened from his encounter, he was unable to join the Galadorian's pursuit. ROM decided to fly off to find his foe, after Clark expressed concern over his joining the future battle alone, to the silent consternation of her fiancé, Jackson. 

During ROM's flight, the convicts who had escaped in the previous issue made their way to the previously abandoned dwelling. Destiny sensed their presence before Hybrid went to investigate. He raised one hand and levitated the men, spinning their bodies rapidly until only their skeletons remained. Rogue was horrified by the action, which Hybrid justified, stating that those who did not serve him were expendable. Her teammates began to doubt their alliance with the menacing villain. 

Minutes later, ROM's energy analyzer led him to Mystique, who feigned injury before striking the Spaceknight. Rogue then lashed out at the cyborg before he trapped her in his embrace. She then kissed ROM, hoping to leech off some of his powers temporarily. However, the interaction showed her the Galadorian's decency, a trait that she quietly admired. 

As the Spaceknight and human mutants stood in the snow, Hybrid appeared from behind them. As ROM fought his old opponent once more, Rogue called out to her teammates, asking them to help the Spaceknight. Destiny reminded the young mutant that they were evil mutants, but that fact didn't deter the brash female, who flew to attack Hybrid. She was caught in his hand until she used a portion of the mental powers that she'd siphoned from him to break his hold. ROM was impressed by the young human's bravery and offered her his hand in friendship. 

ROM then renewed his assault on Hybrid. As he did so, his foe used his ability to change forms to appear as the Spaceknight's human half, and then appeared as Brandy Clark. The Galadorian was confused until Mystique used her own shape-changing ability to appear as a second Brandy Clark. She stated that she and her cohorts were united with ROM against a common enemy, and ROM lashed out at Hybrid again before summoning his neutralizer from subspace and trained its beam on him. 

ROM continued to intensify the neutralizer's ray, while the female mutants talked about how to help the cyborg. Hybrid was about to force the Spaceknight to turn his own weapon on himself when the female trio realized that Rogue had to touch Hybrid again to drain his power to make it a fair fight. Even though Rogue dreaded the thought of touching the abominable being once more, she did so. Her touch distracted Hybrid enough for ROM to concentrate his neutralizer's ray on Hybrid and send him to limbo once more.

Afterward, ROM and the evil mutants made their separate ways. Before parting, Mystique swore that she and her comrades were committed to their same goals as before. However, Rogue wasn't quite so sure and wondered if she and the Spaceknight would meet again. 

This issue is memorable for many Marvelites because Rogue joined the X-Men not long after this. I'd seen the character before in issues of Dazzler and the Avengers, but I didn't realize then how popular a character she would become. She never did meet ROM again, but that's not to say that the wraith threat was something that Earth mutants would never face again. It was another solid issue by Mantlo, Buscema, Sinnott, and company. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the thirty-third issue of Marvel Comics' ROM: Spaceknight. In that issue, the titular character will have another solo adventure. There won't be any new interactions with established Marvel characters, but it will be a turning point for some of his close friends. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #31

 Hi everyone, 

Today, I'll be writing about Marvel's thirty-first issue of ROM: Spaceknight. The cover features the silver Spaceknight surrounded by members of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants: to the left are Mystique and Avalanche, while Pyro and Rogue are on the right. In front of him stand the Blob and Destiny. The story was called "west virginia REEL." The issue had a cover date of June 1982. 

The tale begins at the old Marks farm in Clairton, West Virginia, where the superhero known as the Torpedo sees something materializing out of thin air. Right in front of Brock Jones is none other than Hybrid, a horrific, evil child who was born to a human mother and Dire Wraith father. Torpedo's rocket punch is ineffectual against the being who was once known as Jimmy Marks, whose single swipe knocks the hero into a snow drift and sends him careening into part of what's left of his old family home. 

Torpedo (aka Brock Jones) grabs a nearby pitchfork and tosses it at his opponent, not knowing that the farm implement was the same weapon that Hybrid used to slay his father with. Hybrid was able to easily suspend the pitchfork in mid-air with a single thought. Amazed, Torpedo asked his foe to identify himself. The former Jimmy Marks stated that he was Hybrid, and that he would be the death of the hero. 

Meanwhile, the Blob, Avalanche, Destiny, and Pyro remained in custody. It was being carted off to jail in an escape-proof vehicle designed by genius inventor Tony Stark (aka Iron Man). However, the winter weather proved to be a challenge for the men driving it. Several guards enlisted the aid of other prisoners to help keep the road clear. Just as it seemed like the vehicle would drive over several men who had slipped in front of it, ROM arrived to stop the truck, not knowing that the transport could detach from the wheel base and fly off. 

The silver Spaceknight and the human prisoners around him were surprised by what had just happened. Several guards, thinking that ROM was aiding in an attempted prisoner escape, fired at him, but their bullets just bounced off the cyborg armor. One of the prisoners misled the Galadorian into believing that they were slave labor. Hearing that, he broke their chains and flew off toward Windust Prison, where the transport was also headed. The prisoners left behind on the ground gleefully took off as fast and far away from the guards as possible.

It wasn't long before ROM made his way to the prison facility. Guards in one of the watchtowers shone their spotlight on the intruder, who made his presence known by crushing the nearby steel gate. ROM intended to free the other slaves that he thought were in the prison. At the same time, the evil mutants were being led to their holding cells. The warden was discussing the impending imprisonment with Dr. Kellogg, who was soon revealed to be the evil mutant Rogue, who had abducted the real doctor and left her tied up in her office. Rogue quickly turned off the control device so that her companions could be free. 

The warden revealed herself to be Mystique, leader of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. The shapeshifter and her associates overpowered the guards and were planning their next move when alarms went off. The Blob looked out the window and found the reason for the alarm was the silver Spaceknight, who was still advancing toward the prison entrance, even as guards continued to shoot at him with every step he took. 

Soon, the mutants made their way to the entrance to confront the Spaceknight. ROM countered both the Blob and Pyro, whose living flame reminded the Galadorian of the same power that his fellow Spaceknight Karas (aka Firefall) had possessed. ROM was eventually able to use his neutralizer's ray to snuff out Pyro's flames. He then used his energy analyzer and learned that his foes were mutants, not unlike the X-Men (whom ROM battled in issues 17 and 18). 

Rogue flew at the Spaceknight while Mystique, Destiny, and Avalanche (who was still recovering after a recent battle with the Incredible Hulk) went toward the transport, planning to use it to escape. Even with two broken arms suffered from his skirmish with the Hulk, Avalanche was still able to generate enough concussive force to shatter the ground beneath Pyro and the Blob before collapsing. Pyro fell on top of Rogue, and the Blob was knocked into a wall with one punch from the silver Spaceknight. 

Destiny informed Mystique that the real warden had been discovered and set free. Her leader decided it was probably best to cut their losses, and Rogue flew the two of them away, leaving their male teammates behind. As ROM saw the trio leave, he noticed Mystique's similarity to the X-Man Nightcrawler. Just then, the real warden, flanked by guards, approached the Spaceknight. He wanted to know why the Galadorian was trying to break into the prison. 

ROM explained how the prisoners he met earlier had claimed they were slaves. The warden explained that those men were actually dangerous criminals. He did not hold ROM's actions or misunderstanding against him, but expected him to set things right, which the Spaceknight took off to do, as he soared after the female mutants. 

Seeking shelter from the winter storm, Rogue set Destiny and Mystique down in front of an abandoned house. Even though the dwelling appeared from the outside to be vacant, the evil mutants soon learned how wrong they were in that assumption. Rogue used a portion of the power that she purloined from Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers, in Avengers Annual #10) to smash through the front door. Inside, waiting for the ladies on the staircase was none other than Hybrid himself. 

This was another fun issue, brilliantly illustrated by Sal Buscema and Joe Sinnott. Hybrid was a worthy adversary who remained in the Marvel Universe for several years after Marvel lost the licensing rights to ROM. I'd read the Hulk and Avengers issues that I mentioned earlier, and was looking forward to their battle with the silver Spaceknight in this series. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the thirty-second issue of Marvel Comics' ROM: Spaceknight. The battle with Hybrid continues, and the outcome will change one of the evil mutants' outlooks. We'll also learn what happened to the Torpedo after he faced Hybrid. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight Annual #1

 Hi everyone,

Today, I'll be writing about the first ROM: Spaceknight annual, published by Marvel Comics in 1982. The cover shows our hero stunned as part of his armor (and apparently part of his skin) is being removed from his body by an unknown opponent. The lead story was titled "It Came From Beyond the Stars." 

The story, written as always by Bill Mantlo and penciled this time by Pat Broderick, begins with the silver Spaceknight surrounded by images of human faces behind him. The splash page teases the introduction of a new character named Stardust. Several light years away in another galaxy, a celestial body sentences Turin G'ar, who had been found guilty of committing unnatural acts. The convict was summarily bound in bands of alien star stuff and sent into the cold beyond.

Eventually, the prisoner floated through outer space until he entered Earth's orbit, where he was spotted by a young boy who was in the middle of an innocent baseball game. As the mass of star stuff drew nearer, the humans on the ballfield became enamored by it, until the entity was almost on top of them. By the time many of them could even react, it was too late. The children's bodies were dispatched elsewhere, as Turin G'ar began to construct a new body for himself.

That evening, ROM happened to see a search party looking for the boys who had not returned home after their alien encounter. The Galadorian was curious, thinking that his dreaded enemies, the Dire Wraiths, might be involved in the humans' disappearance. He summoned his energy analyzer from subspace and followed its pings to locate the source of the alien energy it detected.

That source was Turin G'ar, still wrapped in his otherworldly space stuff bonds. The bodies of the children he had enraptured hovered in the air around him. He quickly analyzed the human body composition before taking the children's life essences. Not long after that, ROM entered the cave and used his cyborg vision to find the bodies. He soon learned that something had affected the molecular structures of the children who lay at his feet. The silver Spaceknight's energy analyzer was able to pick up the culprit's energy trail. ROM knew that he had to follow that trail, but not before he used a small part of his own life force to try and restore each child.

Even though the process weakened him, ROM was able to press on and carried one of the children in his arms as he made his way out of the cave. He then came across the search party and identified himself. The Galadorian then returned the child to his mother. While his parents were relieved, most of the search party was unaware that Dire Wraiths were included in the assemblage. Two of them whispered to each other, thinking that their jamming devices might have malfunctioned. They then decided to shift the blame for the children's conditions on the Spaceknight.

ROM explained that he found the children in that state and that they needed immediate medical attention. The wraiths in the crowd (still disguised as citizens) accused the Spaceknight of harming the children. ROM continued to state his case and added that he was searching for Dire Wraiths in the area. One of the wraiths threw a rock at the cyborg, which led to other people in the search party attacking the armored alien.

The silver Spaceknight had no desire to harm innocents and brought out his energy analyzer to learn if wraiths were in the crowd. Of course, humans who had never met ROM before assumed that the analyzer was a weapon that he planned to use against them. In the confusion, a wraith transformed into a bat and flew away, before encountering the being that was Turin G'ar. Now calling himself Stardust, the convict stole the wraith's life essence. He then decided that he needed another way to grow his new body, and soon came across the Carson's Glen power plant. 

Wraiths had taken over the power plant, but they were no match for Stardust. He easily defeated them, no matter what appearance the wraiths took on. As he went to destroy a Dire Wraith who had taken the shape of a rat, one of Stardust's energy blasts took out the jammer that the aliens were using to keep themselves undetectable by the silver Spaceknight. 

Speaking of ROM, he was still trying to convince the townspeople to stand down. One of the wraiths in the audience used his gun and fired a sonic disruptor ray at the Galadorian. ROM called for the wraiths to be revealed, and they soon were, as the jammer's destruction affected them. The silver Spaceknight swiftly summoned his neutralizer and sent the wraiths to limbo. 

Not understanding what had just happened, the sheriff accused ROM of murder. He intended to bring the Spaceknight in, but ROM wasn't having any of it. He dismissed the officer and flew off to find the children. ROM soon landed in front of the power plant, where a wraith ran up to him. The wraith admitted his alien nature and asked to be banished to limbo, thinking that it would be more pleasant than the being that had just ravaged the power plant. The Galadorian granted his wish, and sent the wraith to the limbo dimension before entering the plant and finding Stardust consuming even more life essences. 

ROM was impressed by the stranger's ability to remove the life essence from his mortal enemies. However, he was concerned that the alien had also removed the life essences of the children he had seen earlier. He asked the being to return those life essences. Stardust scoffed at the request and considered the one who made it to be his opponent. 

The entity once known as Turin G'ar directed a bolt of star stuff at the unsuspecting Spaceknight, who was knocked out of a window by the assault, but was undaunted. ROM made his request once more and was attacked once more. Stardust resumed his quest to consume the Galadorian's life energies, while the remaining wraiths in human disguises watched. Two of them decided to leave in a nearby van, leaving their fellow Dire Wraiths behind. 

Meanwhile, ROM fought on. His neutralizer ray was actually able to break Stardust's bonds, but the stardust belt soon found a new target: the silver Spaceknight.  The Galadorian's cybernetic armor swiftly analyzed the belt and was able to eradicate it, and Stardust soon imploded. Afterward, ROM found himself under attack once more by the search party. He dismissed their bullets and strode confidently toward the children. He used the stardust belt around his waist to heal them. The silver Spaceknight declared the danger to be over and flew off in search of G'ar. He found his mass gathered together in the atmosphere and sent it back into space, minutes before sending the two wraiths who had escaped the power plant to limbo. 

The second tale was a shorter yarn named "Traitor!" It was an untold story from ROM's past. On his homeworld of Galador, the titular character rushed to free Glorian, a Spaceknight whose intellect was only second to that of the Prime Director. ROM quickly identified his attackers as Dire Wraiths and sent the aliens to limbo with his neutralizer. 

Glorian had no sooner been freed when he attacked his defender. ROM was stunned by the betrayal. He explained that he'd made a deal with their mortal enemies. While the silver Spaceknight was imprisoned, Gloriole claimed that what he did was for the good of their race. He was trying to learn more about the wraiths' mysterious sorcery. 

The traitor soon came to his senses and turned against his wraith conspirators. One of their weapons wounded the Spaceknight. Gloriole would have perished right then and there if ROM had not freed himself in time to send the wraiths to limbo. Gloriole's dying words lamented his betrayal and thanked his friend for telling him the truth. ROM buried the fallen Spaceknight on a nameless asteroid, claiming that Gloriole had lost the knowledge of wraith sorcery, but in doing so, had gained so much more. 

I felt that Stardust could have been a more substantial character, but unfortunately, this has been his only appearance to date. I wasn't impressed with Mike Gustovich's inks in the main story, and Pat Broderick's usually brilliant artwork was a little flat in a few places. Overall, it was a solid story with a satisfying conclusion. The second story, written by Steven Grant and penciled by Bob McLeod, was okay. It would have been nice to see more of Gloriole in this series, but this was also his first and only appearance.

Well, that's all for now. Time for me to enjoy the rest of my birthday today. Next time, I'll write about the thirty-first issue of ROM: Spaceknight. We'll see ROM's first encounter with more Marvel mutants, but probably not the ones that you'd expect. There will also be a return of another prominent character. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #30

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the thirtieth issue of Marvel's monthly ROM: Spaceknight title. On the cover, we see the titular character subdued by one of four large alien-looking spiders, with an eerie green acid being spit upon his Galadorian armor. The story was called "Silver Spiders in the Snow!" The issue had a cover date of May 1982.

The tale begins with the owner of a junkyard being woken from a sound sleep by the barking of his dog on a snowy morning. The dog was trying to warn his master of a threat, which we see is the appearance of several metallic spiders who are rapidly consuming some of his inventory. The proprietor runs outside with a shotgun to defend his possessions. After shooting one of the intruders, he is soon ensnared by the webs spun by another large spider. He still manages to shoot a spider that tried to attack his dog, before collapsing onto the snow under his feet.

The man, identified as Bernie Tarpin (a clever allusion to Elton John songwriter Bernie Taupin), looks up and sees a humanoid aloft on a metal sphere, calls his creatures to consume as much as they need, and then departs. The being known as Metal Master is on a quest to find out if any metal on Earth can thwart his plans. Tarpin is left behind, wondering if he's still dreaming or if what he just witnessed was all too real.

Meanwhile, in Clairton, West Virginia, ROM and his human companions are gathered in the basement of the Clark family home. The silver Spaceknight has once more trained his neutralizer's rays on a model of the planet Earth. This time, he can safely say that the town has been cleansed of the wraith threat. ROM is still aware that his hated enemies could still return, and turns his weapon to fire at the Torpedo's visor, thus enabling the superhero to detect wraiths in his absence. Brock Jones then uses his new ability to confirm that the people in the room are indeed human.

Brandy Clark then leaves the room in tears, knowing that the Spaceknight has no reason to remain in Clairton. Her boyfriend, Steve Jackson, points out to ROM how obvious their love for one another is. As they talk, two of Jones' children see an alien ship outside a basement window. When they try to tell the adults what they saw, they're quickly dismissed as having overly active imaginations, possibly spurred on by the toy laser pistols that they had just received for Christmas. 

The children are taken upstairs to bed, and the adults begin to depart. Steve is the last one to leave. He tells ROM that he's thankful for his assistance, but he also loves Brandy. The fact that she and ROM love each other has made things difficult for Jackson. ROM ponders this, and his desire to express his love to Brandy outright by himself, wondering if he will ever be fully human once more.

Back in Washington, D.C., Mack Killburn is nervously running for his life. We soon see that a humanoid leading a pair of menacing-looking hounds is tracking the reporter, who exposed the story of ROM and the wraith threat. The dogs soon transform into wraith hellhounds. Mack shoots them. The bullet goes through one hound and into the second, who quickly turns into a pile of ash. The surviving hellhound lashes out at Killburn, and the commotion draws the attention of a policeman on patrol.

The officer turns into the alley, only to see what he thought was a man shed his disguise and reveal himself as a pasty white Dire Wraith. The wraith attacks the officer, and Killburn's gun soon fells the wraith. The officer then shoots the second hellhound, who now has to figure out how to report the incident. Mack assures him that no one will probably believe whatever he reports anyway, as he speaks from experience. He explained that his attackers were alien Dire Wraiths, while he ran off to find the one being he knew who could address their threat.

That individual, ROM, was busy that Christmas Eve making a routine patrol with Torpedo. As the heroes flew together, they talked about the Spaceknight's predicament with Brandy. Brock told the Spaceknight to take a chance on Brandy and himself before veering off to patrol the old Marks homestead. Near the farm that was destroyed during ROM and the X-Men's battle (in issues 17 and 18), his newly charged visor detects something similar that regular readers will probably recognize. 

As ROM flew on by himself, he was being watched from above by the Metal Master in his spaceship. The villain soon ordered his metal spiders to attack the Spaceknight. Caught unaware by the sudden attack from above, ROM was swiftly grounded and ensnared in webbing. He recovered quickly and bravely fought off the spiders. Thinking that his target was an Earthling, the Metal Master swooped down on his disc to investigate. 

The battle eventually carried ROM and his opponents back into the same junkyard where this tale began. His neutralizer made short work of the spiders before the Metal Master made his presence known. He explained his plans to conquer Earth and how his mission had been thwarted once by the Hulk (in issue #6 of his own mag). The alien then used his mastery over metal to animate an old construction vehicle and send it against the Galadorian.

ROM was captured by the crane, but rapidly burst from its metal jaws. Not even steel tentacles could restrain him. The silver Spaceknight soared toward the Metal Master, still hovering on his platform. He crashed into his foe, sending both combatants face down into the December snow. The Metal Master rose slowly, stunned by the realization that he had finally encountered a metal he could not control. He then wandered off into the distance.

Our hero was left to tend to Mr. Tarpin and his faithful dog. He brought them both into the small cabin and eyed the Metal Master's ship still aloft along the way, which gave the Galadorian an idea. When Bernie awoke on Christmas morning, he found a present left behind for him by the Spaceknight: the alien ship, which he could keep, give to the government, or strip down into scrap metal. 

This was another of the first issues of ROM that I ever read, and it was a very enjoyable issue. It was also another example of Bill Mantlo putting a rarely used character to good use. Sadly, we wouldn't see the Metal Master in another Marvel comic for another 18 years after this appearance. Sal Buscema's artwork was just as impressive as ever, and Joe Sinnott's inks really cleaned up the drawings on each panel. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll take a slight detour and write about the first-ever ROM: Spaceknight annual. In that publication, ROM faces a rather unique opponent in one story, and we'll see more of Galador in a brief tale from ROM's past.  Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #29

 Hi everyone,

Today, I'll be writing about the twenty-ninth issue of Marvel Comics' ROM: Spaceknight monthly title. The cover shows ROM once again in a mine. This time, he comes across a humanoid, one that some readers might recognize instantly. The story was called "Even A Spaceknight Can Cry!" The issue had a cover date of April 1982.

The story began on a somber note, at a funeral procession. This time, residents of the small town of Clairton, West Virginia, were gathered to pay their respects to Starshine. The golden Spaceknight perished after being attacked by a wraith weapon in the previous tale. Among the mourners was ROM, with whom she'd traveled to Earth after battling Terrax and Galactus on their home world of Galador.

It wasn't your average funeral. ROM used his neutralizer to free Starshine's light essence from the coffin that was laid in the ground. Once it dissipated, only a hole in the earth remained. The silver Spaceknight walked away afterward to be alone with his thoughts. Steve Jackson felt sorry for being jealous of his Galadorian friend. Brock Jones felt guilty for not being able to do enough to detect the wraith threat and save the townspeople from it. Brandy Clark sympathized with ROM. Jackson came up to her and expressed his distaste for the wraith war, and the couple admitted that things were a little complicated after the Spaceknight professed his love for Brandy. Meanwhile, underneath the surface, the Mole Man and his fellow outcasts watched the proceedings from a safe distance. They would still separate themselves from the rest of humanity, at least until it became necessary to protect the planet from the Dire Wraith menace. 

As ROM walked in solitude, his thoughts drifted to those he cared about the most: his late love Ray-Na, fellow Spaceknight Karas/Firefall, the Prime Director, and even Terminator, who stole half of ROM's humanity before perishing in battle with Galactus while trying to save their homeworld. The Spaceknight then turned his energy analyzer on himself, revealing that he was the same mixture of human and cybernetic organs that he had been for 200 years.

While the analyzer revealed nothing new, the pings of its warning system pointed off toward a possible threat in a nearby town. ROM then flew to find the source. He landed in the center of a small village that appeared to be abandoned. Caustic gases filled the air, almost obscuring the Spaceknight's vision for a spell, until a man walked up to him. The stranger asked ROM if he was an angel who had arrived to end their suffering. The Galadorian told the man who he was and that his energy analyzer detected a toxic radiation inside the man's body

ROM offered to assist the man, who claimed that he and his family were beyond help, thanks to the monster who caused the condition. Thinking that the monster might be a Dire Wraith, ROM followed the human to his home. There, the Spaceknight found the man's wife and their three children in bed, all of them clearly suffering. ROM summoned his energy analyzer from subspace once more to confirm the presence of fatal energy in their blood systems. He then replaced the analyzer with his neutralizer and fired its ray at the Earthlings. 

Instantly, the humans were cured. Incredulous, they swarmed the silver Spaceknight, profusely thanking him for curing them. ROM explained that he merely neutralized the deadly radiation, and then asked if others in the town had been affected. The man explained that those who were had either passed away or left town. He blamed the monster once more for their affliction. His wife went on to say that the monster wasn't so bad when he first arrived in the small hamlet of Lucifer Falls. The monster was originally a human known as Bruce Banner. 

Banner arrived in the village after his plane crashed nearby. Townspeople welcomed him into their community with open arms, including a tall human named Lincoln (who Marvelites might recognize as the Missing Link). One day, a young boy from the family that whom Banner was staying with fell ill. The man presumed that Banner brought the affliction with him and that Lincoln was the first to suspect that. Banner fell into a mine shaft and transformed into the incredible Hulk. The Hulk then clashed with the Missing Link deep underground, and the battle devastated the village. 

The townspeople saw Lincoln later emerge from the rubble (not knowing that the Hulk also survived the skirmish from issue #179 of his own comic) and assumed that everything would be fine. However, after a few weeks, toxic fumes began spewing from beneath the surface. The man found a Geiger counter and confirmed that the fumes were indeed radioactive. Knowing that a form of radiation had initially transformed Banner into the Hulk, the citizens thought that the radiation emanating from underground might be related to that. Soon afterward, people in Lucifer Falls began getting sick.

The Bickfords chose to stay behind, since they were some of Lincoln's closest friends. The family showed ROM the entrance to the mine shaft, and the silver Spaceknight soon flew down to see if Lincoln, the Hulk, or both beings remained down there. His respirator shielded him from the toxic fumes. When he reached the bottom, ROM's energy analyzer pinged even louder as he drew closer to the source of the threat. 

ROM assumed that the bright pink being in front of him was the Hulk, when it was actually the Missing Link, whom the Bickfords had known as Lincoln. Link explained his origin and his first encounter with the Hulk. The jade giant won that battle by punching Link high into the air and forcing him to break into millions of pieces. Link was eventually reassembled and was found by the residents of Lucifer Falls. They befriended him and gave him a job working in the mines. 

He went by Lincoln when Banner met him. Bruce soon used a Geiger counter to discover that the source of the radiation that was affecting townspeople came from Link himself. Bruce was a friend of Link's, but that knowledge was unknown to Banner's other half. He battled the Hulk once more, and after the Hulk escaped, Link was proclaimed the winner by citizens who were unaware that the green behemoth had departed.

Link realized that he was a monster after that encounter and chose to stay in the mine's caverns to isolate himself from others and avoid radiating them. ROM pointed out Link's imminent danger by explaining that his radiation fumes were already seeping through the upper levels and into the surface of the town. He added that if Link reached critical mass, the resulting explosion could destroy the Earth. Reinforcing his will to live, Link then attacked the Spaceknight. 

ROM was caught in yet another struggle he did not want. He fought defensively until the force of the battle caused part of the mine to cave in. The Galadorian still tried to explain why his foe had to stop, but Link was too enraged to listen rationally. ROM finally aimed his neutralizer's ray at his opponent, but not before the town above them had been destroyed. 

The silver Spaceknight soon made his way topside, carrying Link back to the Bickfords. Link didn't remember what had just happened, and ROM went along with the belief that the Hulk was responsible for the damage to the area. The Bickfords and Link left to forge a new life somewhere else, leaving ROM behind to ponder if he would ever meet the gamma-powered creature.

This was another good example of writer Bill Mantlo's ability to use seldom-used characters. I'd read about the Hulk's battles with the Missing Link before. He was another misunderstood character, which I don't believe has been used since. My only gripe with this issue was the often unnecessary conflict between two characters who could be helping, instead of harming, each other. Link could have been a hero, and maybe assigned to a superhero team if he were properly fleshed out and given the chance to show his capabilities. 

Starshine's death was sudden, but the impact of her loss will soon be felt in more detail in upcoming issues. Her death will also impact other supporting characters, including ways that loyal readers might not have even expected or anticipated. All in all, it was another solid issue by Mantlo, Sal Buscema, and company.

Next time, I'll write about the thirtieth issue of Marvel Comics' ROM: Spaceknight. In that issue, ROM doesn't meet the Hulk, but will run into another character that old Jade Jaws has encountered before. We'll also see how the wraith menace impacts several supporting characters. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #28

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the twenty-eighth issue of Marvel Comics' ROM: Spaceknight. The cover featured ROM and Starshine and fellow humans above ground, while the Torpedo cries out for help after being grabbed by a large fist underground. Next to the fist is a shadowed character that should look quite familiar to long-time Marvel readers. The story was called "Earthward Bound!" The issue had a cover date of March 1982. 

The story begins right where we left off last issue, as ROM and his fellow Spaceknights were stranded on an asteroid in space by Galactus. They saved their home planet from being devoured, only to find themselves far away from that world. Galador was indeed safe as Galactus promised, but it had been moved to a quadrant that might take several eons to find. 

Starshine spoke of their common goal to eliminate the wraith threat so that they could one day return to their planet. The Spaceknights then went on their separate ways. As ROM resurfaced on Earth, he was surprised to find Starshine materialize next to him. She explained her decision to join him by saying that two Spaceknights stood a better chance of eliminating the wraith threat on this world than just one. ROM understood, and the pair flew toward Clairton. When they arrived, things seemed a bit abnormal. Several of the citizens were wary of the armored duo, even though ROM had met many of them at different times.

ROM was reassured that his decision to return was sound when he saw his friend, the Torpedo, approach. The hero told the Spaceknights that no problems had arisen during ROM's absence. He even offered to have his energy analyzer turned on him, Steve Jackson, and Brandy Clark. The silver Spaceknight saw no need to do so and trusted his companions. As ROM talked, Starshine kept her distance, especially from Brandy, while observing their personal interactions. 

In the backyard of the Clark family home, Steve, Brandy, ROM, and Starshine conversed. ROM told his Earth friends about their return to Galador, the conflicts with Mentus and Galactus, and the relocation of their planet, Galador, in space. Starshine vowed that Spaceknights would eventually find their homeworld. Things seemed safe, which made Starshine wonder why they were there at all. Steve and Brandy soon departed. Afterward, Starshine admitted to ROM that she envied the closeness that he had with the humans. As they talked, the Spaceknights were unaware that they were being watched by some rather familiar faces.

The next day, ROM stood in the basement of the Clark house using his energy analyzer to detect wraith presence on Earth. Brandy soon joined them in their observation. Starshine noticed that one of the pricks of light that indicated wraith activity shone on the city of Clairton. Before the Spaceknights could react, Steve entered the room, asking for help.

Steve explained that he had just driven past Sid Bennet, who had been busy mowing his lawn, when suddenly he was pulled underground. The quartet set out to investigate the incident. They were about to reach the front steps when the Torpedo landed in front of them. He explained that his wife and children had also been dragged underground by something. He was helpless to save them. Brock's family disappeared from sight right in front of his eyes. 

Soon, more townspeople came running toward the heroes. They claimed similar situations, which led the Spaceknights to believe that the abductions were the handiwork of the Dire Wraiths. Clark's parents said that the wraiths must be hiding in the town's old cavernous mines. Jackson returned from the Clark house with wraith weapons that he said were found in those caves. ROM and Starshine then flew off to the mine, while Brandy and Steve followed after them in Steve's antique car. No sooner had they departed when the Torpedo and other Clairton residents around them sank into the earth beneath them. Not even the superhero's rocket punch could save them. 

The Spaceknights soon found one of the mine entrances. They tread cautiously, not knowing that Steve and Brandy were close behind them, or that their human friends were actually Dire Wraiths in disguise. Starshine's light eyes soon revealed a large, globulous creature before them. The monster struck blindly at the Galadorians. ROM summoned his energy analyzer from subspace to determine its origin, while Starshine used her light eyes once more to blind their opponent. The wraiths posing as Brandy and Steve were unfamiliar with the monster. All they knew was that it was not one of their own. 

As they moved further into the mine, the two Spacenknights encountered more strangers. This time, they ran into a horde of yellow-skinned humanoids who seemed to be more frightened of ROM and Starshine than anything. The Galadorians ventured on, oblivious to the shriek of wraith laser weapons that were fired at the hapless beings that they had just met. The wraiths were mildly amused by the beings' apparent lack of intellect and continued after their primary targets: the Spaceknights.

While they walked, Starshine postulated that Earth might be home to multiple kinds of humanoid races. It was an idea that ROM had never considered until they encountered the Mole Man and his entourage. His outcasts were forewarned of a threat to their community from the surface world and were more than ready to defend their territory. ROM's energy analyzer confirmed that the outcasts were human. One of them explained their loyalty to the Mole Man after he granted them special abilities. Their leader then directed them to use those powers against the intruders.

ROM did not want to fight the human outcasts, but he and Starshine were forced to defend themselves. After a while, the silver Spaceknight flew to the Mole Man to start a conversation with him. He explained that the Spaceknights had pledged to protect humanity, just as the real Steve Jackson, Brandy Clark, Torpedo, and several other residents of Clairton arrived. Brandy explained how they had been ensnared by the wraith fog and trapped in a wallless prison. It wasn't until the Mole Man's burrowing mole breached the bottom of their prison that they were able to escape.

The Mole Man quickly learned of the wraith infestation and chose to help the formerly trapped humans combat the aliens. They had invaded his home turf, one that he had carefully kept a secret from the surface world that he so despised. With the help of the Mole Man and his companions, the residents of  Clairton, West Virginia, were able to drive away the Dire Wraiths. That is, all except two of them. 

Wraiths posing as Clark and Jackson fired their laser guns. One blast hit Starshine, and she dropped immediately. ROM vanquished the wraiths to limbo with his neutralizer ray, but the blast was fatal. Starshine professed her secret love to ROM in her dying statements. She also told Brandy that she knew of ROM's love for her. Jackson overheard this, and the jealousy that he once had for the silver Spaceknight began to surface once again. He resented the Spaceknights' appearance and disruption of their lives. Steve picked up one of the discarded wraith guns that had been left behind and momentarily pointed it at ROM, before tossing it to the ground in frustration just as Starshine passed away. 

When I first read this issue, I had a few concerns about the story. The first was how ROM and Starshine blindly believed that Steve, Brandy, and Jackson were who they said they were. It seemed like they were still a bit wary from Galactus and Terrax's attacks, and the displacement of their homeworld in space. The second was that humans were able to obtain wraith weapons. Knowing how formidable their arch enemies were, that should have been a red flag for the Galadorians.

It was a sad end to Starshine...for now. I enjoyed seeing the Mole Man, his beloved Kala, and other outcasts in this issue. The Mole Man has been a Marvel mainstay since his debut in the very first issue of the Fantastic Four. Overall, another issue well worth reading.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the twenty-ninth issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight. We'll find out what ROM chose to do after Starshine's death, and how the community mourned her loss. The silver Spacenight will also meet another established Marvel character. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #27

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the twenty-seventh issue of Marvel Comics' ROM: Spaceknight. On the cover, we see Galactus in the background, and ROM in three separate panels, growing closer into focus when you move left to right. It advertises the silver Spaceknight as a herald of Galactus. The story was titled "Turnabout is Fair Play!" The issue had a cover date of February 1982. 

On the first page, we see ROM and Galactus descending to the planet of Galador with the titan's worldship. ROM declared victory, noting that Galactus had vowed not to destroy their planet. Hammerhand pointed out Terrax's devastation of their world, and Starshine mourned the losses of the Prime Director and Terminator.

ROM was stunned to hear of his fellow Spaceknight's passing, and angered once he learned that Galactus had slain him. Galactus admitted the deed freely, justifying his actions because he had been preoccupied with Terrax's reign of terror, and the insignificant Spaceknight had dared to harm him by breaching his force shields and causing him pain. 

Galactus then turned to the still loyal Terrax and demanded that Terminator have a proper burial. Terrax obeyed his master's command and used his battle axe to raise a stone bier, on which ROM laid his friend's body. Terrax then used his axe once more to construct a tomb worthy of the fallen hero. ROM lamented the loss of his comrade and the half of his humanity that now lay in the tomb. 

The respite was brief. Galactus insisted on moving toward their goal. ROM announced to his fellow Spaceknight that the deal he had made with the giant was to find another planet suitable for consumption. His fellow Spaceknights initially balked at the agreement until they learned that the planet ROM had in mind was none other than the Dark Nebula, homeworld of their hated enemies, the Dire Wraiths. Then they rejoiced and volunteered to assist.

Galactus transported ROM, Terrax and several other Spaceknights aboard his ship. Several of the Galadorians (including the Spaceknights) doubted the world devourer, but ROM remained steadfast that Galactus would honor his word. The silver Spaceknight left the ship to scout for the Dark Nebula, and Galactus observed the parallels between the Galadorian and his first herald, the Silver Surfer. Terrax sat quietly by his master, with pangs of jealousy filling his thoughts. Galactus then activated a force screen that would shield the ship and ROM on their passage into Wraith territory.

Back in Clairton, West Virginia, things looked normal on the surface of the small town. However, that was just a facade. Even the Torpedo who patrolled the town was an imposter, as were most of the residents, who were really Dire Wraiths assuming human disguises. In the town's mine, the real Torpedo, along with Steve Jackson, Brandy Clark and several of their friends and neighbors were stuck in a prison with no visible walls or seams. Torpedo tried to find an exit, but was unable to detect any. Jackson had escaped from similar confinement (in issue #15), so he knew it was possible. The townspeople just had to find out how. 

Several light years from Earth, Galactus's ship finally neared the Dark Nebula. ROM and Terrax went to lead the charge, until Terrax returned almost as swiftly as he had departed. He was in obvious distress, and warned his master not to attempt taking over the planet. Galactus was incredulous, and soon transported himself and the Spaceknights to the surface of Wraithworld. It was a planet that once had thriving cities and buildings, much of which was now below ground. Galactus wasted no time in constructing an energy convertor, which was soon melted into slag by the planet's acid rains. Wraithworld itself then started to tremble. Frustrated, Galactus lashed out in retaliation, but was attacked in response to his antimatter bursts. 

The planet devourer soon realized that he could not consume this planet's energies. Instead, he chose to strike at its black sun. Galactus flew toward the massive sphere. Not wanting their armor to rust or corrode, the Spaceknights flew after him, watching plaintively. ROM then led his fellow Spaceknights to the safety of Galactus's ship while the titan found himself locked in mortal combat with multiple Deathwings. 

Galactus soon returned to his ship, once he knew that he simply could not stomach this world nor its sun. After repairing the damage done to him, he asked ROM if he had intentionally deceived him. ROM replied that he bargained for his planet's safety, and stated that Galactus had never been known to fail before. Galactus threw his head back and laughed heartily before vowing to honor his promise. He raised a hand and dispatched the Spaceknights onto an asteroid in space. 

The Galadorians were left alone, nowhere near their home planet. ROM realized that the world eater had honored his promise after all. He kept Galador safe, but moved it to a place that would likely take the Spaceknights several lifetimes to find, while leaving other world susceptible to wraith attacks as a result. 

Galactus was a popular Marvel character in the early 1980s. He tried to recruit the mutant Dazzler as a herald in her own magazine earlier, and he was featured prominently in John Byrne's Fantastic Four stories (as well as his new herald, the human Frankie Raye, who would become Nova, and replace Terrax as his herald) and the first Secret Wars miniseries. I was impressed by this character, and loved how this storyline showed how human he really was.

My one gripe is that writer Bill Mantlo underused the new Spaceknights. Except for ROM, Terminator and Starshine, we really don't see too many of them until toward the end of the series' run. It was another very impressive effort by Buscema, Sinnott and company. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about Marvel's twenty-eighth issue of ROM: Spaceknight, where we'll find out what happened to the Spaceknights after Galactus abandoned them. We'll also learn the fates of the Clairton residents who had been imprisoned by the Wraiths. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #26

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the twenty-sixth issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight. If you read the last issue, you know that the threat to Galador was none other than Galactus. On the cover, we see the planet devouring titan looking on as his herald Terrax attacks ROM and his fellow Spaceknights. The story was aptly named "Galactus!" The issue had a cover date of January 1982. 

The story begins with Galactus's well-known world ship in space. Galadorians notice it blocking out their planet's twin suns. Citizens begin to panic, not knowing what this new presence is. In the Hall of Science, the ethereal form of the world's Prime Director warns the Spaceknights that the ship belonged to Galactus. No sooner were those words uttered than Galactus and Terrax had appeared. Terrax claimed the planet for his master's consumption. However, ROM and his fellow Spaceknights would not let their world be claimed so easily. 

Terrax advised Galadorians to enjoy their daily activities for what would probably be the last time. The Spaceknights were wary of the one who called himself Terrax the Tamer, and they soon found out why they had good reason to be. Galactus's herald brought his battle axe down onto the ground, causing a significant seismic disruption as a result. ROM and Terminator summoned their neutralizers from subspace and aimed their beams at the herald. Terrax's portion of the Power Cosmic made him a formidable threat to Galador's defenders, and it even caused the neutralizer rays to neutralize themselves.

The Prime Director's astral form made its way to Galactus, far above the planet's atmosphere. The world devourer raised his left hand and released a cascade of antimatter particles, which left the former leader helpless. He was soon absorbed into Galactus's body, but not before emitting a terrified scream. 

With the director gone, ROM rallied his companions around him. They flew toward Terrax, along with the Elite Angel guards. Starshine and Hammerhand burst through the barriers that Terrax constructed, and Javelin was able to use his weapon to knock the battle axe from Terrax's hands. Rainbow's emotion-manipulating powers temporarily subdued the foe until he was within striking distance to lash out at her and reclaim his weapon, which he quickly used against his attacker.

Knowing that Galactus was the primary threat, ROM and Terminator flew to confront the giant. Their neutralizer rays were swiftly countered by Galactus's eye beams. As Terminator went to confront Galactus, ROM feared that if he perished in battle, so too would the remainder of his humanity that Terminator had stolen from the Hall of Science, as ordered by Mentus, the late Prime Director's evil half. While Terminator kept Galactus occupied, ROM then flew toward his massive spaceship.

Meanwhile, in Clairton, West Virginia, Brandy Clark and Steve Jackson were being held against their will by several of their fellow citizens, who were clearly under the influence of something or someone. The ringing of the church bells did not signal good fortune for the couple. Jackson and Clark were led toward the old mine, where a star disc hung suspended in the air before the entrance.

A voice emanating from the disc informed Clark that her parents, neighbors, and friends were being prepared for what was about to transpire. The disc then dissipated, and several Dire Wraiths appeared in its place. Jackson admitted that the Torpedo, a superhero who had been guarding the town in ROM's absence, and his family were caught unaware by the fog, which a wraith revealed had its origins in sorcery. As he spoke, tendrils of that selfsame fog made their way toward the couple. Brandy and Steve held hands and professed their love for each other before succumbing to the fog's mind control. A few moments later, they were as obedient to the wraiths' commands as the rest of the people around them. One of the wraiths instructed the helpless humans to descend into the mine's caverns, which ran for miles beneath the town. The people did as they were told, and soon disappeared from sight. Once they were gone, the wraiths then took the humans' appearances, hoping to use those disguises to deceive the Spaceknight and lead him towards his doom.

Back in space far above Galador, ROM realized that he could not breach the force field that surrounded Galactus's starship. However, his neutralizer could remove it. Once he did so, the Galadorian flew toward a panel section that he was able to break through with a mighty punch. He found that the ship's atmosphere was unaffected by the hull breach. ROM took a few steps inside and discovered a menagerie of beings from other worlds that the titan had kept in cages. For a brief moment, the original silver Spaceknight thought that Galactus was being kind for at least preserving part of the worlds that he destroyed. Then he came to acknowledge that Galactus was wrong for devouring worlds, and that he could be defied. His neutralizer then began to fire once more.

On the surface of Galador, Galactus's herald Terrax had resumed his battle against ROM's fellow Spaceknights. Starshine, Javelin, and others refused to accede to the world destroyer's whims. As they fought, the Spaceknights claimed that Galactus would end up using Terrax just like he did his previous heralds. Terrax denied those accusations, swearing his allegiance to his master. While Hammerhand used his namesake weapons to bash the herald, he told Terrax about how some of those heralds eventually rose up to defy Galactus and stand up against his planetary destruction sprees. Terrax stood momentarily, realizing that he had only been chosen because Galactus's other heralds had stood their moral grounds, and that he was nothing more than a foot soldier in his army. He then collapsed after understanding the weight of his own misdeeds. 

Galactus had witnessed his herald's collapse and struck out at Terminator, angry for his subject's betrayal. Terminator continued his assault on the world breaker, knowing full well that his own life (and half of ROM's humanity) could be forfeited if he was defeated. Moments later, his body fell back to Galador. Hammerhand knew immediately that Terminator was dead. Starshine then began to wonder about ROM.

Our hero was still on the massive ship that Galactus had just returned to. He sought vengeance for Terrax's defeat, not knowing the destruction that ROM had left for him inside his own vessel. Galactus soon confronted the Spaceknight. ROM called the giant a murderer for killing millions of beings on different worlds. He realized that his destruction would make the titan temporarily forget about destroying his own planet. Galactus then asked ROM if there was a world that he could consume. The silver Spaceknight then pointed toward the Dark Nebula, home to his foes, the dread Dire Wraiths. 

This was another of the first ROM comics that I read as a child. Sal Buscema and Joe Sinnott's artwork really held the story together. I loved getting to see other Spaceknights and ROM's home planet of Galador. I just wished that the Saga of the Spaceknights had included warriors like Javelin, Rainbow, and Hammerhand. Terminator's redemption and death would also play a key role in the title for most of its remaining run. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the twenty-seventh issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight series. We'll get to see the Wraith homeworld for the first time, and learn more about the status of Brock Jones, Steve Jackson, Brandy Clark, and the rest of Clairton's residents who were imprisoned by the wraiths on Earth. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #25

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the twenty-fifth issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight. The cover (drawn once again by writer/editor/artist Al Milgrom) shows 2 ROMs side by side. The first story was titled "Galador!" The issue had a cover date of December 1981.

In the first panel, we see the titular character completing his journey from Xandar to his homeworld. At long last, ROM the Spaceknight has returned to Galador! However, not everyone who witnessed his return after 200 years was pleased to see him.

At first, the Galadorians around him were eerily quiet. A few moments later, some of them began singing his praises, proclaiming ROM to be their lord and master. ROM was obviously confused by this. He wondered just what was going on until he noticed several Angel Elite guards in the sky above him. The guards flew to meet ROM. One of them asked the Spaceknight why he did not inform them that he wished to meet with his subjects. Our hero was still perplexed and asked what was going on. The Angel he spoke with suggested that the Prime Director could answer his queries. 

ROM and the Angel Elite walked toward their destination. As they did so, the silver Spaceknight thought back to his first encounter with wraith warships from the dreaded Dark Nebula, and their initial battles with their mortal enemies. It was a hard-fought victory, one that convinced their military force that wraithkind had surely spread to other planets. ROM then reminisced about banishing wraiths and looking into the Window of the Worlds while fighting several wraiths in limbo (in issue #19). The image he saw was of Galador in ruins after a wraith attack. He now knew that that image was just an apparition. 

Convinced by what he'd seen that his planet was in peril, ROM rushed to leave Earth and was sidetracked by the conflict with Skrulls on Xandar (as seen in issue #24). Xandar's Prime Thorian used the power of the planet's living computers to transport the Spaceknight back to Galador. ROM finally reached the Hall of Science, but was stunned to see images of himself on the plandanium doors of the building. He had no sooner touched the raised etchings on one of the door panels when he was attacked from above by a bolt of living lightning. ROM looked up and found that he was under attack by another Spaceknight who looked just like him. 

ROM and the Elite Angel guards behind him were just as confused by the appearance of two ROMs. Some of the guards figured that one of the Spaceknights was a wraith impostor. The ROM who had attacked our hero jetted down to the ground, where he held living lightning bolts in his left hand and Galador's golden globe of power in his right. ROM then turned his energy analyzer on the stranger who had attacked him, and discovered that it was a mirror image of himself. The stranger then ordered the angels to attack ROM. The silver Spaceknight soon succumbed to a sonic assault from the horn of heaven. 

When he came to, ROM found himself attached to a stasis chamber. He was then greeted by the impostor and an unknown, robed figure. The stranger soon identified himself as Mentus (whom we met in the Saga of the Spaceknights stories). He initially thought that the real ROM was a robot, but once he gleaned the truth, he explained that he had given the other half of ROM's humanity to the disgraced Spaceknight Terminator. 

Terminator's human half had been extinguished by a wraith plague. After he had stood trial for murdering a Thuvrian and was sentenced to death, Mentus rescued Terminator, supplied him with the other half of ROM's humanity, and reforged Terminator's Spaceknight armor so that it was an exact duplicate of ROM's. 

As Mentus continued his tale, ROM still had no idea who Mentus was. When he asked the question, he learned that Mentus was actually the evil half of Galador's Prime Director. He then pointed to the Director, who was also held in stasis just across the hall from ROM. Mentus's essence escaped the director's body not long after he sent the Spaceknights out across the galaxies in search of the Dire Wraiths. Mentus eventually took on a physical form and concocted his evil plans, which included his revenge on the Prime Director. 

Mentus duped the Galadorians into believing that the Prime Director had passed away, and that ROM (actually the revamped Terminator) had defeated their wraith enemies. He figured that ROM would return at some point. ROM reminded Mentus that other Spaceknights would try to stop him. Mentus disclosed that other Spaceknights had returned home in the 200 years since ROM had been away from Galador, only to be deceived like he was and eliminated before they could inform the rest of the populace that the wraith war was still ongoing. He was also able to move the planet of Galador away from its normal location in space, edging closer to the wraiths' Dark Nebula. Mentus planned to offer the planet to the wraiths in return for their unwavering subservience. The villains then departed, but not before ROM tried unsuccessfully to appeal to Terminator's humanity. Dispirited, the silver Spaceknight's thoughts were then drawn to his departed love, Ray-Na, and Brandy Clark back on Earth. 

Meanwhile, at a drive-in movie theater in Clairton, West Virginia, Clark and her fiancé Steve Jackson were discussing something far more important than the cheesy Robin Hood flick that appeared on the screen before them. Inside Jackson's car, Brandy mentioned how strange her parents seemed lately. It was like they weren't themselves. Jackson was skeptical until the couple noticed several other townspeople approaching the vehicle with the same blank stares that Brandy's parents (and Brock Jones' children) had shown. The citizens then swarmed the car, demanding to be let in. After several people started pounding their fists on the car's body and windows, Jackson gunned the engine, and the pair left in a hurry. Jackson and Clark soon arrived at the Brock household, only to find the hero and his family in the same trancelike state as the people at the drive-in. 

Back on Galador, ROM was encouraged by his fellow captive, the Prime Director. He summoned his neutralizer from subspace and quickly used it to free them both from their stasis cells. The Spaceknight leader led ROM to a nearby chamber, where other Spaceknights had been held since returning to Galador. One punch from the silver Spaceknight allowed them to access the chamber. There, ROM found his comrades Starshine, Screamer, Astra, Hammerhand, and Javelin frozen in suspended animation. After the Director informed him that his friends were merely sleeping, ROM set his neutralizer's ray on a wide beam to free them from their slumber. 

After informing his fellow Spaceknights about what had happened since their captures, ROM led them in pursuit of Mentus. The Prime Director stayed behind, making plans of his own to combat his evil half. The Spaceknights encountered more Elite Angel guards, but Starshine's light rays and the emotion-manipulating powers of Spaceknight Rainbow made short work of them. ROM found more than a dozen Dire Wraiths, disguised as various monsters, surrounding Terminator and Mentus. 

While his fellow Spaceknights dispatched the wraith threat, ROM set off after Terminator. The two were about to face off against each other until their friend Starshine intervened. She reminded her disgraced comrade why they had become Spaceknights in the first place and apologized for condemning him previously. Starshine admonished Terminator for trying to refuse ROM's right to the rest of his humanity. 

After hearing Starshine's words, Terminator realized that he had been in the wrong. He set out to right those wrongs by turning his neutralizer (which was exactly like ROM's) on the Dire Wraiths. ROM accepted his friend back into the fold and led the Spaceknights to find Mentus and the Prime Director. Unfortunately, by the time the Spaceknights arrived, their conflict was over. ROM and his companions found the lifeless bodies of their leader and Mentus on the floor before them. A nearby voice told them not to mourn the loss, and an apparition claiming to be the Director's good half then appeared. He explained that he absorbed his evil half, Mentus, but the skirmish was more than his physical body could bear. The remaining persona of the Prime Director then warned the Spaceknights of another threat that was approaching, even as their planet drew ever closer to the Dark Nebula. 

The second story, titled "Love Will Tear Us Apart," took place on Earth before the events in the first tale. It begins with the silver Spaceknight flying after a maroon colored sedan that contained a quartet of Dire Wraiths in human disguises. One of the wraiths fired his laser gun at ROM, but he soon landed in front of the car, destroying the vehicle. One of the wraiths opted to end its own life rather than being banished to limbo by ROM's neutralizer. The remaining three chose to attack.

ROM sent two of his opponents to limbo, but the last one escaped. After turning into a bird and flying away, he soon landed at a nearby truck stop and assumed human form once more. Inside the cafe, he made a phone call to his superior, warning him of the danger ROM posed. The Spaceknight soon followed the wraith into the restaurant and used his energy analyzer to locate his opponent. The wraith was banished to limbo before he could complete his phone call, but the act puzzled the humans, who were unsure as to what they had just witnessed.

The Galadorian flew off, not sure how to explain what he had done to people who didn't understand the wraith threat. The person at the other end of the wraith's phone call was also a wraith who went by the name Michael Baran. He posed as a human and was married to a female human, one who apparently had no idea as to her spouse's other identity. 

Michael's wife Paula had a young son named Jon, whom Michael adopted after their marriage. Concerned by her husband's behavior, she went to take their son with her for a while. After they drove off, Michael made another phone call. Meanwhile, ROM had arrived at his destination: the Clark family home. He stopped to talk to Brandy and explain his latest interaction. Clark tried to explain human behavior to the Spaceknight and added that she had researched the questionable characters who were also involved in advanced technology, per his request. Baran was one of the names that she mentioned. ROM noted that he remembered hearing that name by the wraith that he had vanquished in the diner. 

Brandy's father then came into the backyard, interrupting the conversation. He expressed his concern for her consorting with someone who he clearly saw as a danger. The Spaceknight preferred not to get caught up in any family drama and soon took off in search of Baran. Brandy then drove off in anger, leaving her parents helpless to defend her but trying to rationalize her perspective. Brandy sped by a car driven by her fiancé, Steve Jackson. Noticing her car, Steve followed her, wanting to talk with his love. 

Not long afterward, Brandy stopped her car and got out, with Steve right behind her. She expressed concern for the Spaceknight, which Jackson took as adoration. Brandy explained that ROM had saved her and other townspeople multiple times, and a quarrel began. Several miles north, the Galadorian remarked how Earth was so unlike his own planet. He realized that he would still be on Galador were it not for the Dire Wraiths, who threatened his galaxy and many others. ROM longed for the days when the wraith war would be over and he could be human again.

In Michael Baran's home, the disguised wraith was conversing with other fellow wraiths, all posing as humans. One accused Michael of going native after marrying a human and adopting her child. What Michael didn't know at the time was that his wife had driven back home. Her car was outside their house. Paula didn't recognize the other cars parked in their driveway. Suspicious, she parked her own car and crept toward the nearest window, where she eavesdropped on the wraiths' plans until she was caught and called a spy. 

Michael admitted to his wife that he was an alien invader. She was hurt by the betrayal of trust after their five years together. One of the other wraiths handed Michael a gun and instructed him to kill his spouse. Before Michael could do anything, ROM entered the room after using his energy analyzer to confirm the presence of wraiths in the house. He quickly used his neutralizer against some of the wraiths. The remaining Dire Wraiths turned their energy weapons on the Spaceknight, and the combined assault weakened ROM momentarily, until he was able to raise his neutralizer once more and send his attackers to limbo. 

Surprisingly, ROM lost hold of his neutralizer during the battle, and a wraith was able to hold it. The wraith used his own pistol to keep the silver Spaceknight at bay until he was shot from behind by Michael Baran. Freed from the energy weapon's ray, ROM then grabbed his neutralizer and sent his opponent to limbo. 

ROM was incredulous that a Dire Wraith had just saved his life. Michael then tossed his gun aside and vowed to be done with his evil ways. ROM stood up and pointed his neutralizer at Michael before deciding to let him be. As he flew off, he reminded the wraith that he had learned a valuable lesson in humanity that day. Michael and Paula then started talking about their next steps, with Michael silently vowing to maintain the Galadorian's faith in him. 

The first story in this issue was excellent! We finally got to find out what happened after the Saga of the Spaceknights stories and Terminator's redemption. It was something that would also play a crucial role in upcoming issues. My one gripe with it was that we didn't get to see the conflict between the Prime Director and Mentus.

In the second tale, I referred to Michael Baran's wife as Paula, even though after she returned to the home, she was referred to as Laura. That was probably just an oversight on writer Steven Grant's part. I assumed he wasn't all that familiar with the title or main characters. Otherwise, he would have known that Brandy Clark's parents had more faith in ROM and their daughter than this story portrayed, or that the safeguards in ROM's neutralizer would have emitted dangerous feedback if it were held by anyone but him. All in all, it was an okay story, and I was satisfied with Greg Larocque's pencils and Steve Mitchell's inking. Michael Baran could have been a noteworthy ally or even a wraith double agent, but this was the only story in which he was in during the comic's run. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about Marvel Comics' twenty-sixth issue of ROM: Spaceknight. In that issue, we'll find out just what the threat is to Galador that the Prime Director mentioned. We'll also learn about the trouble that Brandy Clark and Steve Jackson find themselves in back on Earth. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.