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.
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