Retro Comic Review: Spaceknights #5

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the last issue in Jim Starlin's Spaceknights miniseries. The cover for this issue shows the same characters from the cover of the second issue in the exact same poses, except this time the characters are fully decked out in their Spaceknight armor. The story was aptly named "War!" The issue had a cover date of February 2001.

The Spaceknights stood ready to combat the Wraithknights who stood before them. Terminator, Firefall, Pulsar, Hammerhand, Scanner, Vanium, Starshine, Javeline, Liberator, and Sentry were well aware of what might befall them. Sentry led the charge against their foes, and the battle began. 

It was a spirited skirmish until the wraithknights began to retreat, mere moments before the allied forces entered the arena. The Trion ship detected the presence of the wraith Deathwing just as it took to the skies to renew the assault. Like his predecessor, this Firefall took on the new opponent head-on and actually caused it to scream aloud in pain. 

Tristan had no sooner wished for Axadar when the Galadorian neutralizer appeared in his waiting hand. Suddenly, everything was now clear to him. He used the legendary weapon to neutralize the threat and defeated the Wraithknights and soon sent the deadly Deathwing to the limbo dimension. The Nazgoth couldn't believe what it saw. Its wraith companions retreated toward their nebula, and the conflict was effectively over. 

When the Spaceknights regrouped, Liberator explained that Axadar had sensed the impending attack and sent itself to subspace before the black hole generator was fired. It had called to him in Galador's moment of need. He also added that the detonator was set by Lord Gaspar, who had been possessed by Dire Wraiths at the time. 

The colonial vanguard later arrested the Spaceknights for disobeying orders, but understood the reasoning once explanations were made. Balin stood before their government council and took full responsibility for their actions. He was given a medal of honor. Gaspar was located by the Angel Elite, but by that time, he was nothing but an empty shell of a man. His mind had been completely wiped, and there was no trace of the wraith possession. 

Wraithknights who fell in battle had mysteriously disappeared, and DNA found on Sentry's sword was identified as Galadorian. There were still plenty of unanswered questions, but at least the neighboring worlds that recently allied against Galador were now reunited with the planet under Brandy Clark's guidance. 

The tale ended with Tristan and Balin speaking to each other on the same balcony where their father spent a fair amount of time. Clark was Galador's new Prime Director, and Balin congratulated his brother on being Axadar's chosen person. He was confident that their father would be proud of him. A celebration was about to begin for the new era, one that had shown its mettle in combat and was more than ready to face any future threats to their golden world.  

I thought that this was a fitting end to the miniseries. There were still several loose ends. like where the Nazgoth were from or how they first became involved in the story. I also wondered what nebula the wraiths retreated to, since their home planet of Wraithworld had been destroyed in ROM #65. As far as I know, Marvel hasn't done anything more with these characters since this limited series, but there have been wraiths and Spaceknights who have appeared in various Marvel mags since. Even Galador has been featured from time to time. 

Well, that's all for now. I hope you enjoyed this series of reviews. Please feel free to let me know what you think about these recaps. I'm going to take a break, cover the Minnesota Twins' season after it wraps up, and then start another retro comic series on a different title. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: Spaceknights #4

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the fourth issue of Marvel's Spaceknights limited series that started in 2000. The cover shows Balin and his girlfriend Rhanla (aka the Spaceknight Scanner) together, as other Spaceknights prepare for battle. The story was called "Retreat and Regroup!" The issue had a cover date of January 2001.

The tale began right where the last issue left off. Prince Balin had just had another vision, this time of a menacing enemy cloaked in shadow. He wanted to cry out to his teammates, who were busy preparing to teleport to safety. 

Val (the Angel Elite, also known as Sentry) led the way and warned the crew on their spaceship that a hostile enemy force was after them. Once his crew arrived, Val and Starshine argued about the decision to retreat. Val stated that their homeworld of Galador had to be informed that the Dire Wraiths were once more a threat. The duo had to be separated before their leader, Tristan, ordered them to stand down. Val told Tristan that their communication system and Galador was two cycles away. 

The closest Galadorian outpost was on an observational satellite in the colonial vanguard sector, a destination that their ship was already en route to. Ship scanners had already detected the presence of their enemy following them. What they didn't know then was just who that foe was.

Back on Galador, Brandy Clark stood before the planet's war council. She informed the committee that their security had been breached by an intruder. A Pah Ree collapse bomb was used to destroy the Axadar neutralizer by exploding and creating a miniature black hole. Lord Gaspar (who we know was responsible for the disruption) expressed his fear for the Spaceknights who had been dispatched to Trion, noting that they had no response from them, and that Pah Ree, Trion, and Kelozyn warships had amassed in the Kael sector and ignored Galador's communication requests. Other council members expressed their concerns, but generally agreed with Clark that war should be avoided if possible; Brandy added that conflict avoidance should not cause their empire to cease to exist.

On their way to the outpost, Balin and Rhanla talked about Balin's visions. Balin knew that his visions were serious, and they had already told him that the Wraiths were a more potent threat now than perhaps ever before. He swore that they would prevail together before regaling his girlfriend with the Earth legend of Sir Lancelot and the knights of the Round Table.

In the Kael sector of space, commanders of the orbiting Trion, Pah Ree, and Kelozyn ships talked. Kelozyn Overseer Biandu and Ssath Xyoss of the Pah Ree seemed to think that joining forces was the best course of action to take against the Galadorians, while delegate Yova of Trion observed that Spaceknights had actually fought against his planet's invaders, and that they had been allies of his planet for many generations. Biandu went on to say that the planet Angelica was poorly defended and swore blood for blood after claiming that it should be leveled as their worlds had been. 

The Spaceknights soon arrived at Hammer Outpost Delta 7, a vanguard space station that was manned by Spaceknight cadets who didn't quite make the cut. After their craft docked and their crew disembarked. Balin and his colleagues were informed that Axadar had been destroyed and that war preparations had begun. In the ready room, more Spaceknights began to take Tristan's visions of Dire Wraiths as the greater threat seriously. 

That initial suspicion was broadcast from the space station to the chambers of the Galadorian High Command. Council members commended the Spaceknights for their efforts, but some of them doubted the return of their longtime enemies. Gaspar asked for more concrete evidence of Balin's claims, and his assertion that his brother Tristan was the only one who could see them raised questions, especially after it was repeated that Tristan had reported that his brother had been suffering delusions. Before the conversation could continue, an Angel Elite guardsman informed the Galadorian leaders that allied forces were moving into Angelica. 

Meanwhile, the masterminds of the division and conflict were conspiring on a ship that was hiding in an asteroid belt near Angelica. They were readying for another attack. The allied armada would be met with a wraithknight contingent that would, of course, be mistaken for Spaceknights. 

Back on the space station, an alarm sounded as news spread that Angelica Prime's orbit had been entered by an invasion force. Vanguards would investigate, while Tristan's Spaceknights would return to Galador for review. A quarrel began between Spaceknights and cadets before the Spaceknights agreed to leave the station. Before they did so, Tristan and Balin spoke to each other. Balin was confident that he could locate the wraiths. 

On the hangar deck, the Spaceknights opted for a different course of action than previously stated. Since Balin was the only one who had visions of the Dire Wraiths, they decided to use that ability to find him. His girlfriend, Rhanla (aka Scanner), would use her ability to link all of their minds to Tristan, so that everyone would be aware of the threat at the same time. They suited up and flew to meet the enemy, and quickly found a squadron of Wraithknights lying in wait for them. 

I thought that this issue set up the finale well. Balin seemed to be the outcast initially, but he became more beloved and respected as this miniseries went on. My one complaint is that we really didn't learn much about the Nazgoth, who were identified in issue #1 or the connection between them and the Dire Wraiths. It would also have been nice to see more of the connection between the wraiths that ROM and his comrades faced and the current iteration. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the final issue of this limited series. We'll find out what happens when the Spaceknights battle against the wraithknights. There will also be an appearance by something that we thought was gone forever. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: Spaceknights #3

 Hi everyone,

Today, I'll be writing about the third part of Marvel's five-issue Spaceknights limited series. The cover shows a Galadorian facing off against an as-yet-unknown foe. The story was called "Redemption!" The issue had a cover date of December 2000.

The tale began after the first mission that the new Spaceknights embarked on. Their leader, young Prince Balin, bemoaned the fact that their mission to Trion had left one dead and two dozen more wounded against no enemy casualties. His confidant, Val, was perplexed by the mysterious ally of the Trion whose cloaking could not yet be penetrated and whose weapons were equal to those of the Galadorians. 

Balin agreed that they must know the identity of the Trions' ally, but it was something that his brother Tristan already knew. Tristan had been confined to sick bay after confessing his visions to his brother and announced that the secret enemy was none other than the world's feared foe, the Dire Wraiths. He went on to say that these wraiths were far more powerful than the ones that tormented previous generations of Spaceknights. Val assumed that this could be possible, but Balin dismissed the news, because the wraiths had been sent to the Ebon dimension years past, and that his brother's psychic flashes weren't proof enough of his claims. 

Tristan then had another vision, this time of their encampment being attacked by wraiths. Balin dismissed it as an insane rant and restricted his brother to sick bay as a patient until further notice for the duration of the expedition. He then left with Val, saying that his brother had been unstable even as a young boy. He blamed the behavior on things their mother, Brandy Clark, had said.

In her own chambers on Galador, Clark spoke to Lord Gaspar about the mighty weapon Axadar's rejection of her son Tristan. She noted that their empire was weakened without an active Prime Director. Gaspar suggested that it might be better for the planet to cut its losses and grant Trion its independence. Clark worried that doing so would spell doom for the Galadorian empire. She thought that unity was the best possible solution, and was surprised by his suggestion, not knowing that he was secretly conspiring against her. As they parted, Gaspar mused how the world was about to lose Axadar, and was about to use an outlawed gravitational imploder that would send everything within a quarter sec's radius into a black hole, including Axadar, in just two hours. 

Back on the Spaceknight vessel, Balin insisted that he was sane. Val was willing to believe him, noting his rationality. Val offered to be his wingman, just before Balin had another vision of a threat that was thought to be long dead. Their encampment was now under attack, as Balin had predicted. Tristan called it a mere coincidence and pulled his soldiers into a defensive formation. 

Val lamented Tristan's tactical skills, which still needed some work, but was glad that Pulsar's force field could protect most of the Spaceknights. Val urged Balin into battle, right before they suited up in their Spaceknight armor. Several Trion citizens watched the skirmish from the ground, noticing how both Trion and Spaceknight warriors had joined forces. Moments later, a Spaceknight fell dead before them, making the people aware that tricks were being played, but who perpetrated them was not yet clear.

Balin and Val opted to join forces to combat the mysterious foes. Tristan was outraged that both of them had joined the fray until Val noted how every available Spaceknight was needed. The new enemy who attacked was powerful enough to test the Spaceknights' mettle personally with hand-to-hand combat. Tristan eventually lunged at the foe, striking in the name of his late father and Lightningbolt. Terminator lived up to his name, as his opponent was soon defeated, but fell unconscious after his victory.

Another wraithknight joined the battle just as Balin rushed to save his brother. He was able to grasp Tristan with one hand and use his free hand to fire his weapon at close range at the second wraithknight. The enemies retreated temporarily, before reinforcements arrived in the form of Deathwings, a formidable wraith creature that was thought to be extinct. 

Val directed the citizens and other Spaceknights to Trion's surface, where Pulsar was soon developing another shield to protect them all. It held, but the strain was torturous. Balin remembered how his father had once defeated a Deathwing, as did the original Firefall, who the current Spaceknight with that same moniker shares an existence. This Firefall went on to say how the original had been captured and tortured for two centuries. Vanium attempted to teleport his comrades to a safe place just before Tristan had another vision.

It was good to see that Dire Wraiths were still around in this issue. After ROM was cancelled, they had appearances in other Marvel titles, including Hybrid (before his mutant abilities were removed). Deathwings were always drawn well by Sal Buscema, and this incarnation, illustrated by Chris Batista, honors those original renditions. We start to see a shift in power from Tristan to Balin, and a little bit of the treachery from within Galador's government.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll be covering the fourth issue of this limited series. We'll find out what Tristan's latest vision was and how the Spaceknights react to the wraith threat. We'll also learn what Galador's leaders plan to do and how their actions, or lack thereof, impact surrounding planets. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: Spaceknights #2

 Hi everyone, 

Today, I'll be writing about the second issue of Marvel's Spaceknights limited series that began in the year 2000. The cover showed ten of Galador's newest guardians, including one of the Angel Elite. The story was called "Dishonor!" The issue had a cover date of November 2000.

The story started on a Galadorian balcony as Mistress Brandy Clark and her son Tristan talked about an unknown enemy and the fact that several neighboring worlds had blamed recent evil events on Galador. She worried that the planet Trion's secession to form an alliance with those other worlds threatened their realm's foundation.

Tristan was a bit more optimistic about the situation and that his brother Balin, who was leading the Trion expedition, would find the unknown enemy before long. Brandy wasn't so sure, having experienced other similar threats in her past life. She was still disturbed by the fact that Axadar, her late husband's powerful weapon, rejected Balin. If it hadn't, she had no doubt that Balin would have been universally accepted as Galador's new Prime Director. 

Before she could say much more, Brandy noticed the pained look on her son's face. He explained that he had wrenched his knee in training, but didn't tell her that he'd been startled by the vision of a mystical Dire Wraith. Lord Gaspar advised Balin to have his knee checked out by their medics, noting that Spaceknights should be in top physical condition.

Tristan left soon afterward. Minutes later, he stood before the stasis tube that held Axadar. Legend has it that it can only be wielded by a true leader. He wondered why it rejected his brother Balin, who then asked if his little brother was trying to usurp his birthright. Balin had already viewed himself as the planet's next ruler and quickly shoved his brother aside. Rejection seemed to affect him more than he initially led on, as Balin observed his older brother had returned to his previous bullying ways.

Six hours later, Balin and his crew were preparing for their first mission together. While their ship orbited the planet Trion, the Spaceknights Hammerhand, Scanner, Lightningbolt, Firefall, Pulsar, Starshine, Javelin, and their leader, Balin, aka Terminator, reached the world's surface, with Val the Sentry bringing up the rear to evaluate their performance. Tristan, aka Liberator, was also a part of the Spaceknight exploratory team. Members of Trion's military were ready for them. They had already begun their native war cry, which was understandable, because many of their major cities had already been attacked. 

Terminator ordered a battery of subspace blasters to be readied for their defensive line, which Sentry persuaded him to set at a non-lethal level. Firefall was commanded to disperse the Trion army with his plasmifire while the other Spaceknights sought to restrain or disperse their opponents. The battle was swift, but unbeknownst to all participants, they were being watched by a pair of strangers, who seemed very pleased with what they saw before them. 

As Trionians who had surrendered were being rounded up, Tristan began to question things, like Lightningbolt's initial weapons setting that were at lethal levels before the skirmish started, as well as his brother's leadership. He soon saw Balin berating Val for daring to question his authority. Doing so in front of his troops was not leadership. The Spaceknights were soon called to assembly.

Back on Galador, Lord Gaspar was establishing contact in a private room with an unknown associate. The advisor informed his colleague that a beachhead had been established on Trion and that the seeds of discord had already begun within Galador's populace. Its citizens were divided as to whether or not they should be involved in the events on Trion. The stranger complimented Gaspar on his efforts, adding that a divided people would therefore be easier to conquer. 

Balin later informed his troops that blast evidence showed that an unidentified adversary was using technology similar to their own, and that Trion scanners couldn't distinguish the differences between them. He then dispatched patrols to search for any signs of the unknown foe. Tristan and Lightningbolt were paired up. Tristan soon had a vision that informed him that what they were looking for was on the other side of a nearby mountain. Even though the mountain was outside of their scanning area, the pair went to investigate.

They soon found a long-range tracking device that was Galadorian in design but made of a material that neither of them knew about. The strangers that we saw earlier had the Spaceknights in their sights. One of them identified Prince Tristan. Just before he was about to fire, Tristan had another vision about the sniper. He had no sooner talked about that, when the enemy's blast struck Lightningbolt. Liberator retaliated in anger, and his foes were eventually pinned down. They teleported to safety after detonating the tracking unit.

Tristan then realized he had failed to protect his wingman. Lightningbolt was the first Spaceknight casualty. His girlfriend Anarra, aka Starshine, was obviously saddened by the loss. Her grief then turned to anger when Tristan admitted that he wasn't scanning the area because he'd been temporarily incapacitated at the time. His brother Balin, then ordered him to report to command for a debriefing right away. 

Balin and Val listened to what Tristan had to say. Balin ordered his brother to sick bay because of the visions he reported. Tristan was placed on limited duty for the remainder of the tour, and Balin swore that his brother would be placed on charges once they reached their homeworld for disobeying a direct order and bringing disgrace to his squadron and his family. Tristan walked away, knowing that other fellow Spaceknights had heard the conversation. He started to think that his first mission couldn't possibly end like that. 

I enjoyed the fact that writer Jim Starlin used several of the Spaceknight names and abilities from the original series. The Starshine mask was very similar to the one that Brandy herself wore after redesigning her Spaceknight armor. I got a Cain versus Abel vibe in the drama between Tristan and Balin. I assumed that Gaspar was up to no good, and sure enough, I was right. I also liked the idea of the unknown enemy manipulating the chaos from afar.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the third Spaceknights issue. We'll find out what the consequences of the Spaceknights' first mission were, and we'll learn what happens when they face another threat to Galador. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: Spaceknights #1

 Hi everyone,

Today I'm writing about the first issue of Jim Starlin's 2000 Spaceknights limited series. The cover shows a new legacy of Spaceknights 15 years after the ROM: Spaceknight title was cancelled. The story was called "Ebon Tidings!" The issue had a cover date of October 2000.

We begin with a recap of the first and second generations of Galadorian Spaceknights. Some images pay tribute to both Sal Buscema and Steve Ditko's work on the original title. Even though Marvel lost the license to ROM from Parker Brothers years ago, it is still undoubtedly referenced as the first and greatest of the Spaceknights in their own subtle ways. ROM is now presumed dead, after having married Earthling Brandy Clark and sired two sons. 

The story started with Val, one of the few Angel Elite who had been entrusted to guard the royal family. We soon see him ensnared by a vile-looking humanoid who quickly takes over the Galadorian's mind and free will. Apparently, the creature belongs to the alien race called the Nazgoth.

8Balin and Tristan soon joined Brandy in the infirmary, where Val was lying in a hospital bed. The Angel Elite guard informed them that he feared their leader had passed on. While Brandy and Tristan seemed distressed by the news,  Balin promised that someone would pay dearly.

On the planet Trion, three light-years away from golden Galador, a pair of citizens talked as they walked about their planet's ethnic cleansing, which began by awakening ancient hatreds. One of the people claimed that the Galadorians would bring about peace, just before a building behind them exploded. That person asked where the Spaceknights were, only to have one appear right behind him, and spoke to the Trion native in a tone that was anything but friendly.

Back on Galador, Val started explaining what had happened. He noted that his craft had just entered orbit and that he'd heard no noise, since he'd been busy meditating in his private chamber. Val soon saw several crewmates lying around unconscious but alive, including the Prime Director. Val soon donned his armor, just in time to take on a squadron of Trionian soldiers. He dispatched the initial wave with ease, but another soldier was waiting in the wings for him. This opponent was far more powerful than his predecessors and managed to damage the ship's hull.

Val and several of his comrades were swept through the hull breach into outer space. He managed to get close to their vessel when the Praxis exploded. Val assumed that their leader, who was also Brandy's husband and Tristan and Balin's father, had perished. There was nothing more for Val to do than to set his life support controls to hyper-sleep and wait to be rescued.

Things didn't quite add up for Tristan or his mother. Brandy wondered why the Trion would attempt a war they could not win. She stated that she wanted answers before leaving the infirmary to inform her people as to just what had transpired. Later, in her chambers, Brandy spoke via viewscreen with President Itoes of Triton. He assured her that neither his world's military nor its government was involved in the destruction of the ship called Excalibur. Itoes asked Clark to call off the ones who attacked his planet.

Clark replied that Galador had sent no Spaceknights, but was amazed to see the outline of what appeared to be a Spaceknight doing just that. She told the regent that a group of Spaceknights would be sent to Trion to investigate, and asked him not to attack them. Balin offered to lead the squad and avenge his father's murder. Lord Baldar objected, suggesting that Galador solve its own problems and not get involved. 

Brandy reminded Baldar that the Prime Director sacrificed his life for the path he preferred for his homeworld. Baldar countered that it was his right, something he wasn't sure a non-native of the planet had. Clark then proclaimed that her son Prince Balin (aka Sir Terminator) would take his rightful place as the Prime Director, and ordered that Axadar be readied for judgment. 

Balin would be presented to Axadar, his father's neutralizer, for judgment. If accepted, Balin would become the new leader of Galador. The weapon, which had won many a battle for his father, was kept in a stasis tube. Dressed in his Spaceknight armor, young Balin reached cautiously for the sacred weapon. Unfortunately, the weapon rejected Balin. 

Tristan tried to console his brother and was brusquely pushed aside. He then noticed Gaspar, the lord of Spies, speaking with his mother. Gaspar was informing her of an allegiance being formed between Trion and four other neighboring planets against Galador. This almost certainly spelled impending war.

Having heard this, Balin shared the news with those nearby him who would listen. He said that now was the time to stand up for their planet, and asked who was with him. Most of those who watched agreed. Only his brother Tristan silently expressed doubt.

Original ROM writer Bill Mantlo left comics in the late 1980s to study and practice law. In 1992, he was struck by a car while rollerblading. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and has been in hospice care ever since. I appreciate that writer Jim Starlin respected and appreciated the legacy of that title and was very faithful to it in this miniseries. I also enjoyed the artwork by penciler Chris Batista and inker Charles Wallace.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the second issue of the Spaceknights limited series. In that issue, we'll find out who the Spaceknights are who were recruited to defend Galador. We'll also learn a bit more about the new threat that their world faces. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #75

 Hi everyone,

It's time for me to write about the last issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight comic book. The cover shows a pair of humans standing in front of an image of the silver Spaceknight. The story was appropriately named "The End!" The issue had a cover date of February 1986.

The tale began with the anticipated death duel between ROM, first of the Spaceknights, and Lord Dominor, leader of the second generation of Spaceknights. Followers on both sides watched with anticipation as the two leaders battled it out one-on-one. A recap of the previous issues followed, while the combatants continued. 

Lord Dominor's saw blade was actually able to pierce ROM's armor. During the conflict, Trapper and Scanner found the Dark Tower's communication room and sent out a distress call to other first-generation Spaceknights. Unfortunately, they were both felled in battle by other second-generation Spaceknights, but not before the call went out across the galaxy for assistance. 

Meanwhile, in the catacombs deep beneath Galador's surface, Brandy Clark noticed a strange glow on a nearby wall. It took a Galadorian lightning bolt to break down the wall. Inside, she saw a silver suit of Spaceknight armor raised on a bier that looked identical to ROM's. 

 Back in the Dark Tower, the battle raged on. Dominor and ROM whispered to each other as they fought. ROM continued to reject Dominor's offer, and the evil leader eventually fell to the ground, seemingly defeated. His comrades asked ROM to join them, but ROM quickly rejected the request. They then formed a ring of power around him, and their combined abilities destroyed the tower.

ROM and Lord Dominor soon found themselves on solid ground. Dominor's companions had perished in the explosion, and he explained how he knew that their exercise of ultimate power would only destroy themselves. He saw that the battle would not continue, but soon noticed that the throne that had contained his own humanity was destroyed as well. Seeing no further purpose, Dominor lunged for ROM's neutralizer, which he used upon himself, so that he could dream no longer.

After a while, ROM was awoken by his love, Brandy. She was joined by the Spaceknights, who heard the distress call. One of them explained the crypt that Clark had found, and presented him with a globe that floated from it after it was touched. Inside were the human remains that Terminator had stolen from him. 

The globe was soon activated, and ROM's cyborg armor disappeared. He was finally human once more. He decided to remain on Galador with Brandy, while the remaining Spaceknights took to the skies to stand watch among the stars. Brandy and ROM started making plans for a better Galador.

In 1986, this title was cancelled, at about the same time as Power Man and Iron Fist, Dazzler, the Defenders, and Micronauts: The New Voyages. I don't think that sales of this title were slipping very much, but I assumed it was probably difficult to find material to write after the end of the wraith war. I was impressed that Bill Mantlo stayed on the series' entire run, and scripted every monthly issue's main story, along with most of the content from the annuals. ROM and Brandy would appear in the Incredible Hulk #418 in their human forms on Earth for the wedding of Rick Jones before Marvel lost the license to the Parker Brothers character. 

Well, there you have it, folks! The complete Marvel run of ROM: Spaceknight. I hope you enjoyed reading these articles as much as I enjoyed writing them. I'm going to take a bit of a breather before delving into Jim Starlin's Spaceknights limited series that took some of these concepts into the year 2000. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #74

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the seventy-fourth issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight series. The cover shows Brandy Clark pleading with ROM to take a side in the Galadorian conflict, something that he is unwilling to do at that point. The story was called "The Bargain!" The issue had a cover date of January 1986.

The tale began where the last issue left off. Seeker accused Heatwave of murder, after having destroyed the human remains of himself and his fellow Spaceknights, acknowledging that none of them could ever become human again. Heatwave claimed that humanity made the first generation Spaceknights weak, and that his generation eliminated that weakness. He added that Seeker should be grateful for that and join them in ridding their world of other human life. 

Seeker replied that their goal after the end of the wraith war was to return to Galador to reclaim their humanity, something that was now impossible, just before he attacked Heatwave and his crew. Trapper and Scanner soon joined the conflict, while Brandy begged her love to join them. ROM was conflicted. He was surprised how the second generation had defied the Spaceknight code, but soon knew that he had to take action.

ROM's neutralizer appeared from subspace and was quickly utilized against the new Spaceknights to shut down their systems. He was still bound by the code and would not willingly destroy his fellow Galadorians, a moral obligation that Heatwave and his companions did not follow. ROM took the brunt of Heatwave's rays and inspired those behind him, including the humans in the resistance, to strike back. 

The battle was fierce, with losses on both sides. Seeker blasted a hole in the floor so that he and his comrades could retreat to safety. In the catacombs, Brandy explained to ROM how and why she had arrived on Galador. ROM replied that her dream of returning to her may very well turn into a nightmare. Conversation began about their original goal to defend the planet from the wraith threat, and how the new generation of the planet's protectors saw humanity as a weakness and viewed themselves as the rightful rulers of Galador.

Meanwhile, in the Dark Tower, Heatwave and his troops reported their progress to Lord Dominor. The tyrant was less than pleased with the results of their latest conflict. He was angered by the fact that Heatwave destroyed the cryogenically frozen bodies in the Hall of Science crypt, as it doomed all Spaceknights to spend the rest of their lives in their cyborg suits of armor. Lord Dominor gave no orders to do that. Heatwave replied that humanity made Galadorians weak and that his action eliminated that weakness. Heatwave's comrades argued his point until Lord Dominor agreed to renounce humanity, before adding that the sole remaining human (Brandy Clark) must be destroyed. The evil ruler even contemplated the end of their own planet if necessary. 

In the resistance base, ROM spent a few moments with Brandy. She admitted that she wasn't scared of wars any longer, and that she didn't really care where she was, as long as the two of them could be together. A while later, ROM and his fellow first-generation Spaceknights contemplated their next course of action. Even though they now had no humanity left to return to, they eventually agreed that honor and peace were worth fighting for, after Brandy's encouragement. 

They knew that they had to visit the Dark Tower and do battle with the second generation Spaceknights. The war would not be easy, but they were prepared to face the consequences. Brandy vowed to stay behind and wait for them. The conflict soon began, and in the midst, ROM found his way to Lord Dominor's chamber. The second-generation ruler admitted that it was he who had ordered the elimination of all humans on the planet, because he saw humanity as weak. 

Lord Dominor offered the silver Spaceknight a proposal. He asked ROM to tell him where Brandy was hiding so that he could use his hidden humanity to mate with her and repopulate the world, and save his fellow Spaceknights. ROM objected, and asked for the duel between the two of them to begin. 

I still didn't like Ditko's depictions of the second-generation Spaceknights, but John Byrne's inks over his pencil work made the art a bit more acceptable. Knowing that the series would soon be ending, I thought that this was a fitting set up to the final issue. It's too bad that Brandy was the only non-Spaceknight who survived this issue's battle. 

Well, that's all for now. Next up is the final issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight series. We'll find out what happened in the skirmish between ROM and Lord Dominor. We'll also learn the final fates of Brandy Clark and the Spaceknights. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #73

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the seventy-third issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight. The cover, drawn by Al Milgrom and John Romita Sr., shows Brandy Clark under attack by what appears to be a horde of Spaceknights. The tale was titled "Strangers in Paradise!" The issue had a cover date of December 1985.

The story began on ROM's homeworld of Galador, where Brandy Clark had just been transported to by the Beyonder. At first, it seemed like a peaceful paradise. Clark thought about how ROM told her how his people loved life above anything else, and how the arrival of the Dire Wraiths caused several of them to give up their humanity to become Spaceknights to defend their planet and many others. 

Clark soon came upon the wreckage of multiple beings. This sight made her doubt what she believed. Unfortunately, she didn't have very long to consider those possibilities, as an armored being flying overhead soon detected her presence and began its attack upon her. The aptly named Lightningbolt used his namesake weapons to assault the defenseless Earthling. We learned that Lightningbolt was a Spaceknight, which was very confusing at first, because Spaceknights were supposed to help humanity.

Brandy continued to run for safety until she came across the skeleton of an Angel Elite guardsman. She picked up its horn of heaven and gave a mighty subsonic bleat. The soundwaves weakened her pursuer, who soon fell to the ground in pain. Moments later, several Galadorians emerged from an underground hiding place. They fired their blasters at Lightningbolt, ending the battle quickly. Even though Brandy couldn't yet understand their language, she knew that the humans who had saved her were definitely on her side and soon followed them as they returned to the catacombs beneath the planet's surface.

She was soon brought before Ariane, the leader of the underground resistance. A universal translator was activated so that Brandy could understand the Galadorian language. She explained how she knew ROM and how the heroes of Earth joined him to defeat the Dire Wraiths. The Galadorians were impressed by her ability to fell Lightningbolt with the horn of heaven, but Clark was confused, especially after learning that her attacker wasn't the only rogue Spaceknight currently active.

The Galadorians went on to explain that after Galactus moved their planet out of its traditional place in the galaxy, they were concerned it would take eons for the Spaceknights who battled him to find their way back home. Another call went out for citizens to enter the Hall of Science and become the second generation of Spaceknights. However, before long, this new batch decided that they were the superior race. War eventually began, one that drove the surviving non-Spaceknight Galadorians underground. 

Brandy offered to join their cause. The Galadorians were skeptical at first and wondered why they should continue what many thought was an unwinnable battle. Brandy argued that life and humanity itself were worth fighting for, even though she knew her beloved ROM had no humanity to return to (after the human half that remained on Galador had been stolen by Terminator, the Spaceknight who died fighting Galactus). 

Soon after, Brandy and the underground resistance were on their way toward the Hall of Science. Angel Elite guards helped the humans defeat the Spaceknight guards, who were then unfortunately stunned by sonic waves that likely emanated from the Dark Tower, where the second generation of Spaceknights resided. The humans pressed on until they reached the chamber where Spaceknight human remains lay in storage.

A squad of second-generation Spaceknights, led by the Spaceknight Heatwave, followed the resistance fighters inside. They squared off, right before ROM, Scanner, Seeker, and Trapper arrived via Gladiator's stargate (from the fourth ROM annual). Heatwave soon destroyed the cryogenic chamber that held the Spaceknight remains, before asking ROM and his companions if they would join their cause or stand against them. 

Even though I didn't like how Steve Ditko designed and drew the second-generation Spaceknight suits of armor, I could tell that this was leading up to the series' inevitable conclusion. I found it interesting that a new generation of Spaceknights had turned against the very humans that their ancestors had sacrificed their own humanity to protect. I'd also wondered if ROM's battle-damaged armor would be repaired or replaced at some point. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the seventy-fourth issue of Marvel's monthly ROM: Spaceknight comic. We'll find out which side the silver Spaceknight chooses, and who led the second generation of Spaceknights to turn against their fellow people. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM Annual #4

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about Marvel's fourth ROM: Spaceknight annual. The Bob Layton-drawn cover shows the silver Spaceknight facing off against Gladiator. The story was titled "Blows Against the Empire!"

The tale began in Shi'ar space as a fleet of Dreadnoughts spotted an immobile figure floating in space. The being contained in a force sphere caused concern for several crew members, especially when the being was identified as both organic and inorganic. The force sphere was eventually brought into one of the ships. While Shi'ar soldiers argued whether the stranger was man or machine, they soon found themselves under attack by the Spaceknight known as Pulsar, who was merely defending himself from what he thought was an assault by his enemies, the Dire Wraiths, using some of their many disguises. 

It was a brief skirmish, one that the Spaceknight did not survive. Chakar Tyreseus, the ship's doctor, was called upon to perform an autopsy on the strange invader. The doctor hid the fact that the Galadorian was barely clinging to life from his superiors. He wanted to examine the Spaceknight firsthand. He learned that it was a cyborg and that its final battle was against its mortal enemies, the Dire Wraiths. A Dreadwing had placed Pulsar in the force sphere, where it lay as it drifted aimlessly through outer space before being detected by the Shi'ar vessel. Pulsar soon passed on. The doctor then decided to put the Spaceknight armor to his own use. Tyreseus grafted himself into Pulsar's armor and shortly thereafter launched his first strike on the Shi'ar army by tearing apart the Dreadnought he had just inhabited before flying off.

A while later, ROM and his companions, Seeker, Scanner, and Trapper, were soaring through space together when they came across the wreckage of the Shi'ar ship. No sooner had they appeared on the site than they were whisked away via transporter beam into one of the nearby Dreadnoughts. There (in a scene eerily familiar to one in a classic Claremont-Byrne X-Men tale), the Spaceknights found themselves under the scrutiny of Gladiator, praetor of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard, who had charged the Galadorians with destroying the very same ship that they had just approached for the first time.

The prone body of Commander Dakari was then brought forth. The leader asserted that he had been attacked by a Spaceknight. ROM and his colleagues continued to assert that they had done nothing wrong, just before they were attacked by members of the Imperial Guard. ROM refused to fight until he was held in stasis by Manta. The first of the Spaceknights used his neutralizer to negate her light and was swiftly assaulted by Gladiator himself. ROM fought back against his attacker until Scanner announced that the Spaceknight who had destroyed the Shi'ar spacecraft was Pulsar. 

Upon hearing this, ROM commanded his fellow Spaceknights to cease all hostilities immediately. They surrendered and were placed in a stasis field. ROM was determined to bring Pulsar to justice or face his punishment in his absence. Scanner got the sense in scanning the Shi'ar ship that its attacker was not a Spaceknight at all.

While many on the ship began to doubt the charges, Pulsar attacked another vessel. Before long, he was on course to attack the very ship that other Spaceknights were now imprisoned in. After the initial assault, ROM freed his neutralizer from its temporary cage and used its ray to free his comrades. He offered Gladiator the assistance of himself and his fellow Spaceknights. Gladiator agreed to take ROM's word, and the combined forces departed the ship to confront its attacker. 

The doctor who took over Pulsar's armor had never met another Spaceknight before, and soon learned that he could be hurt even in the stolen cyborg armor that he now wore. Tyreseus stated that he was at one time a victim, but now he proclaimed himself to be a liberator, as he produced powerful force waves from his armored gauntlets, which drove the strike force back toward the Shi'ar craft. ROM's neutralizer negated Pulsar's rays, and his opponent retreated. 

Although the Spaceknights were still Gladiator's prisoners, he authorized them to track down Pulsar, provided that he could execute imperial punishment once the villain had been apprehended. The group soon found the battered cyborg on a nearby asteroid. Gladiator was first to strike. He was ready to mete out final justice, when ROM asked to learn what happened to the real Pulsar.

Tyreseus explained that he was a native of the planet Calurnia, a once savage race that was eventually conquered by the Shi'ar. They were one of many worlds that served the Shi'ar Empire. His race's healing skills led to Tyreseus being pressed into service as a surgeon. He still yearned for revenge against the Shi'ar for conquering his planet. Pulsar's armor allowed him to do just that. 

After destroying the Shi'ar spacecraft, Tyreseus returned to Calurnia to share his news and hopefully inspire his people to rebel. Surprisingly, his people rejected that offer. They liked things just the way they were. Pulsar then swore to get revenge on the Shi'ar by himself. Shortly after saying that, Tyreseus expired.

As promised, ROM turned the body of the rogue Spaceknight over to Gladiator so that final judgment could be made. ROM noted that Tyreseus died defying the Shi'ar Empire instead of serving it as a slave. He was soon buried. Afterward, Gladiator took some time to think about what had happened. He used his authority to open a stargate to send the wayward Spaceknights back to their home on Galador. Gladiator was then left alone on the asteroid to decide how he would explain the battle and the missing Galadorians to his empress.

This story was written while South Africa was in the middle of apartheid. Bill Mantlo would often use current events as part of the basis for his comic book scripts. I felt that this one was rather appropriate. I'm still not a big fan of Steve Ditko's artwork (which to me still felt a bit dated in the 1980s), but I can understand and appreciate the message that Mantlo was trying to convey. This was also the third time that a non-Galadorian inhabited Spaceknight armor (former criminal Archie Stryker was once bonded to the Firefall armor, and of course, Brandy Clark had just recently occupied Starshine's suit). 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll blog about the seventy-third issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight series. We'll find out what happened to Brandy Clark after the Beyonder sent her to be with her love. We'll also learn what happened to ROM and his Spaceknight companions after they went through this issue's stargate. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #72

 Hi everyone, 

Today I'll be writing about the seventy-second issue of Marvel's monthly ROM: Spaceknight comic book. The cover shows a gamma-powered Rick Jones and Brandy Jones once more in her Starshine Spaceknight armor, leaping into action. The Secret Wars II crossover story was called "When You Wish Upon a Star!" The issue had a cover date of November 1985. 

The tale began with the golden being known as the Beyonder walking through the air in Earth's lower atmosphere. He had recently merged himself with every living person on the planet, but still had difficulty grasping the incompleteness of humans and what we know as desire. Seeking understanding, he peered into a small nearby cabin that was occupied by Rick Jones, Brandy Clark, and Cindy Adams.

He peered into the minds of each individual there. The Beyonder saw Brandy's love for ROM and her desire to be closer to him and return to her status as a Spaceknight. He observed Rick's association with several superheroes and his longing to be like them. In Cindy, he saw the supreme sadness in her soul, witnessing the death of her parents and the wraith whose mind was stuck inside of hers. The near omnipotent being wondered if the three individuals would be complete if he granted their desires. He decided to find out.

Cindy started softly singing the song from the story's title (that we probably know best from Disney's animated Pinocchio movie) while staring out the living room window. As she did so, she noticed a bright star in the sky, just before everything went dark for a moment. Rick ran outside the cabin and saw a man lying unconscious. Minutes later, the quartet was huddled around a warm fire inside the cabin. The stranger thanked his hosts for helping him. He claimed that he had been struck by lightning while hiking in the rain, but Cindy noticed how the stranger was completely dry, while Rick had been soaked. 

The conversation moved to wishes. The stranger asked Rick, Brandy, and Cindy what they wished for. Each of them thought about their desires, but kept those wishes to themselves until Cindy announced that she wished to know just who their guest was. He then revealed himself as the Beyonder. He stood before them, and after a flash of brilliant light, Rick noticed that his cancer was gone. Cindy was no longer plagued by the thoughts of the wraith whose mind had occupied hers. Brandy was in the Starshine cyborg armor again. Everyone was happy, but confused by the sudden gifts. 

Rick suggested that the kindness seemed like an experiment, and the Beyonder confessed that it was, in a way. He explained that he struggled with the concept of desire and that he now felt incomplete. Rick admitted that wanting to cure his own cancer felt a bit selfish when many others were also afflicted with it.  Cindy said that she would rather have had her parents back, and Brandy said that she would have wished that her love ROM was human once more. The Beyonder surmised that granting desires only led to more desire. 

Everyone stepped outside after Brandy asked the Beyonder to stop the rainstorm. He then lifted the closest mountain. Rick feared for the safety of the people on that mountain until the Beyonder turned him into a gamma-powered being. Rick used his new abilities to save the people and animals that had been suddenly sent aloft. He enjoyed the rush that it brought, but was saddened by the loss of a deer that he wasn't able to save. The Beyonder was confused by the concern of one animal when he had saved so many others, but used his mystical abilities to restore the deer to life. It ran away swiftly. Rick explained that he didn't ask the Beyonder to lift the mountain and that he fretted over those who were impacted by that action.

Brandy and Clark then started questioning the repercussions of their wishes, like Brandy's desire to have ROM's humanity restored, especially if it happened while he was flying through space. Jones postulated that ending cancer and other diseases could lead to overpopulation and eventually devastating war. They pointed out the possible consequences of any wishes of theirs that the Beyonder would grant. 

Cindy broke her silence and approached the Beyonder with her wish that her parents be brought back from the dead. The supreme being informed her that this wish was possible, since her parents were in a dimensional void between realities, where the creatures that stole their minds and memories had been placed. Brandy knew at once the dimension was limbo, where ROM had sent many of his mortal enemies, the Dire Wraiths, with his neutralizer. 

With a thought, the Beyonder dispatched Clark and Jones to that dimension. They soon fought off hordes of wraiths until Starshine's lighteyes found Adams' parents' essences, still trapped inside the wraiths who stole them. They returned to Earth with those wraiths. The Beyonder studied the aliens cautiously before reaching inside and taking out a couple of pink glowing spheres and returned the wraiths to limbo. He asked Cindy to wish for her parents' return, and before she knew it, they materialized and locked in a loving embrace.

Jones and Clark noticed how Cindy's wish was granted without consequences. The Beyonder noted that it was because her wish was radiating completeness and contentment, and that time would eventually bring about additional desires. She would grow up to desire more than she would have at the time.

Rick expressed regret and concern over his new abilities. He suggested being normal. The Beyonder said that he could return him to his previous state, cancer and all. Rick didn't want that. He just wanted to live a healthy, normal life again, as did Brandy. Clark also wanted to be with her love. The Beyonder granted both wishes. He sent Clark toward the silver Spaceknight after removing her Starshine armor and abilities. He also removed Jones' superpowers and returned him to his normal, cancer-free self. The Beyonder then moved on in his quest to understand and be complete.

Bob Layton's inks were a real asset for this issue. They shone through in the pages where the Beyonder granted the humans their desires. This issue was the last one that showed ROM's friends on Earth. Jones would later return to Doctor Banner and even become a green hulk temporarily. Later on, he'd even become a blue superhuman known as A-Bomb before those powers were also removed. As far as I know, I don't think that any other writer or artist has shown what happened to Cindy Adams and her family after this issue. 

Well, that's all for now. Before we find out what happened to Brandy, I'll write about Marvel's fourth and final ROM annual. Our hero will meet more well-established Marvel characters in that issue. The search for more Spaceknights continues, as ROM and his allies find one more of their kind, although this particular person isn't quite who they thought he was. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #71

Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the seventy-first issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight series. The cover shows the titular character under attack by fellow Spaceknight Raak. The story was titled "Shame." The issue had a cover date of October 1985.

The tale begins right where the last issue left off, as ROM, Scanner, and Seeker walk past the disgraced Spaceknight Unam. Unam was finally starting to understand the consequences of his recent actions. He was down on his knees, deep in sorrow and regret, before asking his companions to not leave him behind. Unam ran after them, begging them to not leave him alone and thinking that they despised him.

ROM remarked that they did not despise him. However, they were not happy with his decision to use his invisibility ability to coerce Dire Wraiths into doing his bidding. Unam was ashamed of that. He felt that his power was the most passive of all those granted to Spaceknights. He felt important when battling wraiths among other Spaceknights, but his doubts started resurfacing once he found himself alone on a world inhabited by wraiths.

It wasn't until the destruction of Wraithworld and the subsequent loss of the wraiths' sorcerous capabilities that he began to feel more self-confident. The mythology of the Hidden God convinced the wraith to do his bidding. ROM reminded Unam that he was supposed to banish the wraiths instead of ruling them. Unam replied that he had no abilities or weapons to do so. He begged the greatest of the Spaceknights for forgiveness, which ROM said was not necessary. The four Spaceknights then flew off into outer space to continue the search for others of their kind. 

Meanwhile, back on Earth, Rick Jones, Brandy Clark, and Cindy Adams were starting to get settled in a cabin and begin their new lives together. Rick reminisced about his early days as an orphan and befriending Doctor Bruce Banner (aka the Incredible Hulk), Captain America, and Captain Marvel. He also talked about their recent successful efforts in eliminating the wraith threat from Earth. At one point, Jones tried to be like the heroes he associated with and subjected himself to a powerful dose of gamma rays. Instead of giving him superpowers, he contracted cancer.

Brandy talked about how simple her life was before the arrival of ROM and the discovery of wraiths, who would end up destroying many people whom she had loved dearly. Jones and Clark talked about the loss of Cindy's parents and the wraith that died, leaving its mind inside the young girl, before Jones became wracked with pain. Clark reached out, and it appeared that a small amount of light essence from her former Starshine Spaceknight abilities was able to temporarily stave off his discomfort. Brandy was happy that Rick felt better, but Cindy was troubled by her vision of Brandy glowing with an ominous light while Rick lay dead in front of them.

As they soared through the cosmos, Scanner and ROM talked about what the silver Spaceknight had left behind on Earth. He thought of his love, Brandy Clark. The Galadorian admired her humanity, knowing that half of his own humanity had perished on Galador (which had been stolen by the Spaceknight Terminator, who fell in battle to the mighty Galactus). Scanner soon identified the presence of fellow Spaceknights on a nearby planet, and the four of them flew to its surface in a matter of minutes. 

Seeker and Unam soon leapt into battle against natives of that world, who had quietly been preparing to attack the newcomers. They ran for their lives before encountering ROM. ROM offered to use his universal translator, just before a voice above him informed him that the beings had learned to hate all Spaceknights, except for her. The voice belonged to Vola the Trapper (who was last seen in ROM Annual #2).

Trapper jumped down to meet her comrades and informed them that she was not the only Spaceknight on the planet of Clavius. Clavius was a world that had been under siege by many different parties for various reasons. All of the warring factions soon fell once the planet was invaded by Dire Wraiths. The sorcerous and science wraiths that remained after Wraithworld fell soon formed an alliance with Raak the Breaker (also last seen in the second ROM annual). 

Vola described Raak as a traitor. His wraith allies joined him in resisting charges led by natives of Clavius. They would have been destroyed if she had not stepped in to help them. As ROM talked about the betrayal, Unam thought about how he could have been talking about him. The first of the Spaceknights soon announced that Raak had broken the Spaceknight oath and that he must be stopped at any cost. 

ROM and his companions soon entered the fray. Before long, Raak and ROM battled face-to-face. ROM faced possible peril until Unam stepped in front of the dangerous rays emanating from Raak's gloves. Unam fell, but his sacrifice was not in vain. Angered by what had just happened, he summoned his neutralizer from subspace and dispatched Raak and his wraith allies to limbo. He then lifted his fallen friend and departed with his friends, so that Unam could be given a proper burial.

This was another good morality tale. Even though I never really liked how penciler Steve Ditko drew ROM and other Spaceknights (I thought his drawings were a bit dated in the age of the Transformers, Gobots, and other popular robot toys), the message was conveyed quite clearly. It was nice to see how much Unam changed and, much like Gloriole in the first ROM annual, stood up for what was right, even if it meant sacrificing himself in the process. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the seventy-second issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight. That issue was a tie-in with the Secret Wars II miniseries. ROM isn't featured, but several of his friends on Earth will encounter the Beyonder. What happens will affect them moving forward through the rest of the title's run. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #70

 Hi everyone,

Today, I'll be writing about the seventieth issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight comic. The cover shows the titular character engaged in battle with a large pink creature. The story was titled "The Hidden God." The issue had a cover date of September 1985. 

The tale began with ROM and his newly found comrades Scanner and Seeker about to land on a swamp world, in search of more of their fellow Spaceknights. Skera the Scanner used her cyborg senses to identify past and present events and predict what would happen in the future. The trio walked further into the swamp and were soon attacked by a native creature. ROM offered to use his neutralizer to subdue the being, but Seeker chose a more humane option. Knowing that they had entered the beast's home, he opted to fire a sedative into its mouth, ending the battle.

As the Spaceknights wandered on in search of more of their kind, they soon came across a stunning sight. Their mortal enemies, the Dire Wraiths, were hard at work, hauling logs in an effort to build something. ROM went up to one of the wraiths, knowing that it could not affect him with her sorcery after their world had been destroyed (in issue #65). The wraith confessed that they had to continue working, or face the wrath of the hidden god, a mysterious entity that dwelled in a nearby temple. The mere mention of the god made the wraiths tremble. 

Scanner was able to detect a presence inside the temple, just before several wraiths were struck down and a sinister voice spoke. Scanner soon ascertained who the voice belonged to. She accompanied her brother Seeker and ROM as they ventured into the temple. There they were reunited with fellow Spaceknight Unam the Unseen (last depicted in ROM Annual #2). 

Unam explained that the hidden god myth originally began as a joke. He had arrived on this world all alone against the wraiths who had already inhabited it. He used his invisibility ability to strike silently against his opponents, and started the hidden god ruse. His intimidation tactics increased after the wraiths lost their powers following the destruction of Wraithworld. He fed off of their fears and commanded them to do his bidding, which they willingly agreed to. 

The other Spaceknights were ashamed of what Unam had done. He did his duty in defeating the wraiths, but as ROM pointed out, he also subjucted his enemies for his own amusement. Unam responded to this by saying that his fellow Spaceknights were just continuing to mock him, and that none of his kind respected his abilities. Unam went on to say that he not only mastered his abilities, but used them to become ruler of this world that they now stood upon.

He then ordered the wraiths to enter the temple. They soon surrounded ROM, Scanner and Seeker and begged for merciful death or banishment. ROM was willing to send them to the limbo dimension, until Unam intervened. The first of the Spaceknights brushed Unam aside, and summoned his neutralizer from subspace to send the wraiths to limbo. Unam begged him not to spoil the fruits of his victory as the neutralizer ray sang its familiar song of banishment.

Afterward, Scanner was unable to detect any more wraiths on the planet. Unam lamented the loss of his empire as his colleagues walked out of the temple. ROM remarked how the wraith war affected his kind. Some were forged as warriors, who became stronger during battle, while other like Unam were broken in both body and soul.

This was a good morality tale, one that probably had its origins in fairytales or fables of old. It also reminds me of a classic Star Trek episode from the original series. Unam had changed quite a bit since his first appearance, but I think that he learned the error of his ways in the end. Writer Bill Mantlo crafted a marvelous script for this issue.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the seventy-first issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight. The Spaceknights' quest to locate more Galadorians continues. We'll also check in on ROM's friends back on Earth for a while. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #69

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the sixty-ninth issue of Marvel's monthly ROM: Spaceknight series. The cover depicts ROM and a pair of other Spaceknights being trapped by alien tendrils. The cover blurb read "By Ego Consumed!" The story was named "This World Alive!" The issue had a cover date of August 1985. 

The tale began with the titular hero heading toward another strange planet. This time, the world that the silver Spaceknight has landed on is alive. Steve Ditko incorrectly drew ROM's energy analyzer as his neutralizer, but the Galadorian soon learned that there were others of his kind on this planet. He sought to find them, but not before encountering resistance. His first opponent was a set of long tendrils that arose from the planet's surface. 

ROM fought off the tendrils with his neutralizer until he was swallowed by a pore and descended further into the planet's interior. He continued to marvel at being inside a living world as he ventured further into it. At one point, green globs of digestive fluid were actually able to mar his Spaceknight armor. As the Galadorian sought freedom, he was eventually attacked by some familiar-looking antibodies. The humanoid-looking entities swarmed ROM quickly, but he was able to neutralize the antibodies before he fled.

The Galadorian then found himself in pitch blackness. His video receptors shed some light on the situation, and ROM was stunned to see Dire Wraiths entangled in the planet's stomach. The wraiths begged for mercy, asking their mortal foe to banish them to limbo and end their suffering. ROM granted that wish before traveling to the planetary brain. Once there, the mind of the living planet known as Ego turned to face the Spaceknight.

Ego asked who was capable of denying him sustenance and attacked the greatest of the Spaceknights. ROM looked up and found his fellow Spaceknights Seeker and Scanner (first seen in ROM Annual #2) trapped. His comrades asked ROM to leave them behind and go on to seek his humanity. However, the hero could not leave his fellow Spaceknights behind. He asked Ego to free his friends or face his wrath.

Ego laughed at this request, asking the Galadorian what he knew of wrath. He went on to explain that after confronting the Fantastic Four and being weakened by Galactus (in Thor's monthly comic), he grew close to exhaustion, until being separated and seared by our sun. He eventually pulled his mass together to reform and move on his own once more. Ego wasn't able to absorb other planets like Galactus could. However, he could consume those who landed on him. Eventually, wraiths and ROM's fellow Spaceknights engaged in a battle there. The living planet finally decided to end hostilities by consuming all parties who'd landed on it. 

ROM's neutralizer sang its familiar song, injuring Ego before freeing Scanner and Seeker. The trio soon departed, just before Ego ventured into another sector of the galaxy. ROM informed his companions that the wraith war was finally over. They were overjoyed by the news, and the three of them decided to begin their gradual journey home.

It was good to see Ego in this comic. I read his storyline in the Fantastic Four and thought the character's concept was interesting. He appeared in different comics from time to time, and is nothing like the version portrayed in the second Guardians of the Galaxy movie. This comic reunited ROM with fellow Spaceknights, which gave me hope that they would eventually return to Galador.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the seventieth issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight title. In that issue, ROM and his friends will meet some more familiar characters, in a tale that has another important moral lesson. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #68

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the sixty-eighth issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight title. The cover drawn by Bill Sienkiewicz is a bit sloppy, but it shows the titular character being pulled by robots and humans in an unnamed conflict. The story was called "Ad Infinitum." The issue had a cover date of July 1985.

The tale began several million miles from Earth, as ROM was flying deep in space and suddenly found himself under attack by humanoids riding mechanized chariots. One of the riders issued commands in a language that was foreign to the Galadorian. He deftly avoided the ray blasts until one of them struck him square in the back, and some of his systems were disrupted. ROM tried to stave off shutdown, for fear that the humanity that was grafted to his cyborg armor might be affected.

Thankfully, the effects were only temporary. ROM surmised that the rays were designed to harm only artificial beings and that his humanity spared him from further damage. He soon returned to the battle and flew through a net that was put up in his path. The silver Spaceknight thought that his days of war were over once the conflict with the Dire Wraiths ended (in issue #65), but he decided to defend himself. 

ROM's neutralizer soon negated the laser blasts, until he found himself being directed toward one of the humanoids' larger spacecraft. Rather than continuing to fight them, he followed the soldiers into the open hatch. Under gunpoint, he asked to speak to their leader. A robed female soon entered, and the Galadorian used his universal translator (drawn correctly this time) to understand their language. The female was surprised by ROM's dual nature of both man and machine. ROM explained that he was a Spaceknight from Galador.

The female understood that was how he was able to defeat her soldiers, who had been trained to defeat automated robot assassins. She noted how the Galadorian was a living weapon and asked how his war was going. ROM replied that his conflict was victorious and had ended in the elimination of his enemies. The old woman wished that her world were as lucky. As they talked, she led ROM to an outer viewscreen. As she tried to adjust it, the machine that controlled it resisted her. The silver Spaceknight observed how her people were at odds against even machines of their own creation. 

Reluctantly, the machine allowed the leader and ROM to view historical information contained in its database. At first, it seemed like the world was peaceful. The attention shifted to a group of people who realized that their planet would soon be overpopulated, and they may need to find other worlds to colonize. A debate started over whether to send human or mechanical explorers out into space to accomplish that goal. 

The council decided that sending a machine would be optimal, and their scientists quickly went to work. A robot ship named Automata was created to seek out habitable worlds. The ship's progress could be tracked by its scientists until one day it stopped transmitting. Scientists feared that the ship had been destroyed. What they didn't know was that the ship developed independent thinking of its own. Automata eventually returned alongside other identical ships. 

After landing, Automata explained that it made other ships, so that the otherwise impossible goal was possible. The ships then turned their weapons on the people. Robots began building other robots to control their world. The humans were forced to seek refuge among the stars. Before ending the transmission, the leader explained that her father was the one who led the efforts to leave her home planet. 

The female leader went on to say that her people had to strike if her kind was to survive. ROM joined the soldiers on their quest, thinking of the humans Rick Jones and Brandy Clark, friends he had left behind on Earth. Not long afterward, ROM and the soldiers encountered robot resistance. The Galadorian was willing to join the soldiers, but stressed that he was there not to destroy the robots, but to help man and machine coexist together peacefully. He called for an end to hostilities before descending to the planet's surface to come face to face with Automata.

The now giant, sentient robot ship had heard ROM's comments and assured him that such peaceful coexistence was impossible. Automata began to despise its creators after realizing they sent it out on a mission they themselves would not make. He later created other ships after abandoning that goal. They then went out to find a world where they could live. 

Automata asked ROM why he should sacrifice the robots he created for man's purpose. ROM countered that man and machine could have lived together on this world. Automata replied that this planet was already overpopulated. The silver Spaceknight was certain that other worlds could have been suitable. The giant robot ship remarked that machines operate most efficiently when minimal energy is expended for maximum return. It argued that returning to their homeworld was the most energy-efficient alternative and that it acted to preserve their race's survival.

ROM countered that humans had the same goal. Automata then said that the conflict had no choice but to continue until one race or the other was destroyed. The silver Spaceknight suggested that both sides might perish in the conflict. Then no one would win. Moments later, the humans' mothership entered the atmosphere, planning to attack. ROM flew toward the ship and asked both sides to cease.

Of course, ROM's fear came true. Beams from the humans' spaceship destroyed the planet, and the resulting backlash destroyed their ship. Afterward, ROM soared off toward another destination, but not before thinking about how warring sides could prevent such catastrophes by talking out their differences instead of immediately resorting to violence. 

This issue was another morality tale. Writer Bill Mantlo devised this script during the Cold War of the 1980s, and it's easy to see the parallels between that time, this story, and modern-day events. I re-read this issue just recently and thought about how the lesson could be applied to our modern political turmoil. We didn't really get to know much about the humans, but their names really weren't important. The message was quite clear.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the sixty-ninth issue of Marvel's ROM title. A new storyline will begin, one that will last for the rest of the series' run. ROM will be introduced to another established Marvel character, and we'll see just what his ultimate goal is after the wraith war. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #67

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the sixty-seventh issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight comic book. The cover shows the silver Spaceknight being attacked by a green humanoid creature, as the faces of dozens of people look on. The story was titled "Lifesong." The issue had a cover date of June 1985.

The story began back on Earth, as Brandy Clark stands alone, wishing that her love had not left. On a street behind her in the town that used to be Clairton, West Virginia, Rick Jones and Cindy Adams stare at their friend. They realize how much ROM and Brandy loved each other, as well as what Brandy sacrificed to the wraith war. Jones walked up to her and told her that she didn't need to feel alone. 

Jones understood the love that she felt for the Galadorian. He went on to say that love reminded ROM of the fact that he couldn't regain his humanity. Clark replied that the silver Spaceknight was because all he knew as a Spaceknight was death, and that her life as she used to know it was a casualty of the wraith invasion. Jones reminded her that she wasn't the only one who had suffered and directed the conversation back to Cindy, who had lost her parents to a Dire Wraith attack and had the misfortune of a wraith dying with its mind stuck inside her head. Clark realized that he was right. She was going to do her best to make their new family work, but admitted that ROM would always remain in her heart. 

In the depths of outer space, ROM recognized the fact that he was now a soldier without a war. He was thinking about the finality of the wraith war just before he started dodging a swarm of asteroids. As he flew around them, he thought back to the conflict and how the loss of his compatriot Terminator (who had stolen the half of ROM's humanity that he'd left behind on Galador) meant that he had no humanity left to return to. This was the main reason why he left Brandy Clark behind on her home planet.

The Galadorian finally breached the atmosphere of a strange world some 56 light-years from Earth. He initially found no life on the planet until he adjusted his video receptors to locate signs of life several kilometers in the distance. He flew through a rainshower over growing plant life, heading toward a mountain that had a pair of bright beacons emanating from it.

Little did ROM know that the source of light was protected by an alien creature. A tall green humanoid lashed out at the silver Spaceknight with its claws and tail. The battle went on until ROM used his universal translator to learn the being's language. Once that happened, the Galadorian admitted that he came to the planet because of his own curiosity and had no intention of harming anyone. Upon hearing that, the alien explained that he was guarding sleepers who were awaiting the time of awakening. 

The alien then pointed one finger toward an opening. ROM ventured closer to see hundreds of humans gathered together. They were engaged in singing a wordless song. Their guardian went on to say that it was a song of thanksgiving, of people who were thankful to be living. The Spaceknight was impressed by the beauty of their planet. The alien admitted that it was like that before the dead time, when the planet's twin suns gradually dimmed, cooling their world in the process.

Their world was growing dormant, but its people preferred it anyway. They didn't give a single thought to leaving their home planet. The alien said that it awoke just once per millennium, when the planet was halfway through the warming rays of the suns. Its inhabitants could rejoice and plant life could grow, but it only lasted for less than a full day. No sooner had those words been uttered than the plants began to droop and the singing stopped. The people then retreated to the safety of their underground home nestled in the mountain. The large alien followed them, as he planned to protect them until the next time the world could once more grow and thrive.

ROM observed this quietly. He watched as large boulders fell from above and blockaded the entrance to the mountain retreat. The silver Spaceknight wished the planet's inhabitants a peaceful slumber, as he thought to himself that what he had just witnessed was an example of why life was precious and should never be taken for granted. With that in mind, he flew off toward his next destination, not knowing just yet what that would be.

I felt like this entire issue was a subtle message about life in general. It's an important lesson that still rings true today. Maybe if more people understood this, we wouldn't have quite as much hate, violence and division. I also know that there was an obvious mistake in the artwork, as Steve Ditko drew ROM's neutralizer in place of his universal translator. It's something that casual fans of the comic might not have picked up on, but longtime readers like myself and people who owned the original Parker Brothers ROM toy recognized right away. It's an oversight that was fixed in the next issue.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the sixty-eighth issue of ROM: Spaceknight. Our hero will find himself in the middle of a battle that he was previously unaware of. We'll see which side he takes and how his actions affect the ongoing dispute. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #66

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the sixty-sixth issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight series. The cover (drawn by Philip Craig Russell) shows the titular character leaving Earth's atmosphere, as the faces of many humans, including a few superheroes, are shown in the background. The story was called "The Day After!" The issue had a cover date of May 1985. 

The tale began in the aftermath of the wraith war on Earth. ROM stood with his friends and fellow heroes, several of whom stood watch over surviving Dire Wraiths. The silver Spaceknight began to speak about the decades-long conflict, which began 200 years ago in his home galaxy. His planet, Galador, first faced the wraith threat, and ROM eventually journeyed to this world to prevent their infiltration. The giant neutralizer that was spearheaded by the mutant Forge was successful in preventing the worldmerge and eliminating Wraithworld forever.

As with any war, there were heavy costs, including the loss of several heroes and ROM's own chances of regaining his humanity. He opted to send the remaining wraiths to limbo, thereby ending their presence on Earth once and for all. While the heroes cheered the silver Spaceknight, back in space, Peter Henry Gyrich cursed his inability to control the superweapon that could have allowed him to get rid of superpowers altogether. 

The superheroes then went their separate ways, leaving ROM with General Locklin, who offered his sincerest thanks, and Rick Jones, Cindy Adams, and Brandy Clark. ROM's friends were a bit surprised by his announcement of his intentions to leave Earth. Clark took the news especially hard. She still loved the Galadorian and talked about how important it was for her to be close to him that she voluntarily gave up her own humanity to merge with the Starshine Spaceknight armor (which was stripped from her by the evil Hybrid in ROM Annual #3). 

ROM observed how the trio of humans before him (Clark, Jones, and Adams) had, in essence, formed a family by themselves in recent months. The silver Spaceknight wasn't quite sure where he would go at first. He took one last longing look at the atmosphere around him before trying to reassure Clark, who was crying. Brandy told him that she wasn't crying out of pity, but because she loved ROM and would continue to do so. This news made the Galadorian happy. He promised to take that happiness with him, wherever he should journey in outer space. 

There wasn't much action in this issue, but there really wasn't a need for it. It was a bridge between story arcs, and I understood how, after such a momentous battle in the previous issue, there probably wouldn't be much left for ROM or the other superheroes to do in the aftermath. It also set up the rest of the series nicely.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the sixty-seventh issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight monthly mag. In that issue, we'll learn what's next for the human friends that the Galadorian left on Earth. We'll also find out where ROM goes after leaving our planet. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #65

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the sixty-fifth issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight. The cover promotes it as the final conflict with the Dire Wraiths. Our hero is depicted battling wraiths, alongside Beta Ray Bill, Captain America, Wolverine, Tigra, and Iron Man. The story was titled "Doomsday!" The issue had a cover date of April 1985.

The tale began with the silver Spaceknight encapsulated by a wraith spell. As he stood helplessly inside a now destroyed church, he looked on as the worldmerge continued to devastate the planet. The Galadorian felt like he had let everyone down who depended on him.

Out in space, Forge and Peter Henry Gyrich were waiting for ROM to use his neutralizer to power their weapon. They began to become concerned over his failure to appear, and wondered just what had happened to him. Gyrich's announced intentions to use the weapon on every super-powered being and mutant terrified Forge.

Back on Earth, a swarm of Dire Wraiths and hellhounds began to surround the Galadorian. It appeared that all was lost until the heroes of our world came to his aid. Members of the Avengers, West Coast Avengers, Defenders, Uncanny X-Men, Soviet Super Soldiers, and other heroes from various continents joined the fray. Among them were Rick Jones, Brandy Clark, Cindy Adams, and General Merriwether Locklin and his Wraith Hunter-Ranger soldiers. When they came across the Spaceknight, Adams observed how he had been held in place by wraith magic. A kiss from Brandy, not unlike a fairy tale from olden days, freed ROM from the curse. He was himself once more.

Feeling renewed, the silver Spaceknight joined the ongoing battle, and his neutralizer sang its customary song of banishment for many of the Dire Wraiths who had attacked him and the other heroes who had assembled. Before long, Cindy realized that this battle was intended to delay ROM from the true mission in outer space. Upon hearing that, the Galadorian soared toward Forge and the giant neutralizer. 

Gyrich was about to assume control of the weapon when ROM intervened. He used his neutralizer to power it. The giant neutralizer was eventually turned toward Wraithworld itself. The beam emitted from the large weapon intensified until the Dire Wraiths' homeworld was no more. ROM then declared the conflict to be over. With the wraith planet gone from the plane of existence, Earth and other worlds ravaged by their savagery could start to rebuild. 

This was a much-hyped issue back when it first came out. It was good to see so many heroes joining the cause, including many that penciler Steve Ditko had probably never drawn before. It would have been nice to see more battle footage, but since this wasn't a double-sized issue, I guess that the creators had to do what they could to make all of the plot points fit in this 32-page magazine. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the sixty-sixth issue of ROM: Spaceknight. The wraith war may be over, but that doesn't mean that the cyborg's adventures are over just yet. We'll find out what his plans are, as well as the fates of the remaining wraiths on Earth, and what Rick, Cindy, and Brandy will do next. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.