Hi everyone,
Today I'll be writing about the thirty-ninth issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight title. We're treated to another fun cover by Gene Day, as Shang-Chi and ROM ascend a pyramid in front of a Sphinx statue. It's interesting to count and recognize all of the smaller images within the pyramid. The tale was titled "Deathrise!" The issue had a cover date of February 1983.
The story began with the visit to the British Museum in London by a group of schoolchildren. The tour was being led by a woman, who had stopped to talk about their recent acquisition of the mummy of former Egyptian Princess Kaaris'a, a young leader who had been entombed while still alive. Children laughed and made jokes about the mummy, but the newest addition to the museum was no laughing matter to Shang-Chi or his companions Dennis Nayland, Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, and Leiko Wu.
Smith said that the young girl's body had been discovered in an unmarked sarcophagus under the desert sands. He went on to recount what a scroll that was buried with her explained, which was told in a series of flashback panels. Kaaris'a's people saw a strange light from the sky one day. The pharaoh went to investigate and found a gleaming chariot of golden fire in the sands. An alien being emerged from the vehicle, one that was able to assume many identities, and did so before settling on that of a young girl. This form appealed to the pharaoh, who believed it was the child he'd never had, now brought to him.
The child was named Kaaris'a and was welcomed into the high court, and soon began her education. Several priests were concerned about the youth, primarily due to what they had witnessed as she began to hone her skills in the dark, mystic arts. In less than a year, the pharaoh had passed away, having been killed by a classmate of the young girl. Kaaris'a took his place on the throne, and a marked change, not for the better, began to permeate both the city of Memphis and the land of Egypt. Eventually, the people decided that they'd had enough and rose up to confront the young leader. They bound and wrapped Kaaris'a, and buried her alive, and soon erased her from their history, until then.
Shang noted that the legends said that the girl would rise again, and he had reason to believe in them. The quintet was then informed by a guard that the museum was about to close. As they made their way to the exit, a quartet of robed individuals walked up to the same guard. One of them entranced the guard to convince him to let them and the children they had enchanted move further into the museum.
Outside after the museum had closed, Shang-Chi's friends loitered, wondering where their comrade was. Inside the museum, ROM watched the strangers head toward the new exhibit. He had identified the wraith smell without the use of his energy analyzer. As the silver Spaceknight, he observed Shang-Chi follow the group.
One of the hooded figures exclaimed that they had found their wraith sister Kaaris'a. Several of the robed wraiths began chanting, as entranced children stood silently near them. Both Shang and ROM watched from safe distances, wondering what would happen next.
Meanwhile, back in Clairton, West Virginia, Steve Jackson was driving by his fiancée Brandy Clark's employer when he saw a bright light on at midnight. He got out of his car and walked toward the building, growing uneasy after witnessing suspicious-looking shadows. Steve broke down the door and raced down the hall to find his girlfriend and the golden armor of the fallen Spaceknight Starshine suspended in the air by an unknown person. Steve called out, asking what the stranger was doing to his girlfriend. The man identified himself as Doctor Dredd and said that he was simply granting Brandy's wish.
Back outside the museum in Great Britain. Tarr, Wu, Reston, and Nayland caught up with the security guard who had previously been entranced. The guard had no memory of allowing the individuals that Shang's friends had observed previously. Nayland noticed that the man appeared to be in a kind of waking sleep and was able to rouse the guard from his hypnotic trance with the flame from his lighter. Tarr took the guard's keys and went back to the museum in search of Shang.
At the new exhibit, Dire Wraiths continued their chant as the binding around the mummy began to slowly unwind. The girl's face was revealed just before ROM and Shang-Chi emerged from their hiding places to confront the strangers. The Galadorian quickly explained who he was and his purpose in being there to Shang. His neutralizer sang, just before one wraith used its magic to bring other nearby exhibits to life.
Shang and ROM fought the new opponents, while the children continued to unwrap the mummy. The master of kung fu was battling a larger foe when his friends decided to lend a helping hand. The battle raged anew, and the silver Spaceknight continued banishing wraiths to limbo. Unfortunately, Kaaris'a was eventually freed and posed a formidable threat to the heroes in the room. Nayland realized that the alien intended to kill the hypnotized children.
While ROM fought Kaaris'a, Shang looked for a weapon. He found one in a nearby glass case. Shattering the glass, he grabbed several throwing stars and hurled them at the ancient invader. The weapons ripped through her neck, and Kaaris'a slumped in two pieces toward the floor below, before dissolving into dust. The humans rushed forward to prevent the children from hurting themselves as they collapsed. Shang-Chi and his companions stood with ROM as they all mourned the costs that their victory took.
I really enjoyed this two-part epic. This issue was featured in the monthly Bullpen Bulletins column, probably to increase interest and readership in both titles. Even though it was the only time that ROM would meet up with Shang and his friends, it wouldn't be the only time that characters from the Master of Kung Fu monthly color comic would appear in ROM's mag.
Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the fortieth issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight comic. In that issue, ROM will have another solo adventure and face a new evil. We'll also learn more about just what Doctor Dredd planned to do with Brandy Clark, and if he was successful. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.
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