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.
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