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.
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