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.