Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #40

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the fortieth issue of Marvel's monthly title, ROM: Spaceknight. The cover of this issue shows the titular character bound by strange pink tendrils, as a Pied Piper leads children around him. The story was called "Piper of Peril!" The issue had a cover date of March 1983.

The tale begins with a coven of wraiths. Several Dire Wraiths are wearing robes and chanting, while other unclothed wraiths stand around watching. The wraith witches are rejoicing at the fact that the black sun of their dreaded dark nebula will soon be in alignment with Earth. Several wraiths mock the witches, noting that their sorcery has failed recently, where wraith science might have succeeded. The witches remained undaunted by the recounting of those incidents (from previous issues), stating that those missteps were because Earth champions assisted ROM. This time, the witches were confident that they would control the planet's children. 

Meanwhile, the silver Spaceknight was busy soaring through the air after his latest adventure, marveling at how powerful the wraith sorcery he had encountered recently was. As he flew, the Galadorian remembered days back on his home planet, before the wraith war began and his beloved Ray-Na was one of its casualties. His thoughts then wandered to his growing love for the Earthling Brandy Clark and the realization that he could never be human again. That last thought drove ROM to crash headfirst into a stone wall. He surprised himself by surviving the crash, but his woes were soon forgotten as he peered into the nearby town.

There, the Spaceknight saw a gaily attired being making music with his pipe, as several children followed him. Knowing that wraiths had recently used Earth children in their latest schemes, ROM assumed that this was another one of their evil plots and followed their trail. The musician eventually stopped and continued to play his flute on top of a hill. As he did so, his summoner song brought forth a small star, one that continued to increase in size exponentially as he played, until the star revealed a glimpse into another world. 

That world was the dreaded Dark Nebula, home to the Dire Wraiths. The flutist continued to goad the entranced children toward the portal entrance to that planet until ROM intervened. He had been watching from afar and stood in front of the portal. The Galadorian was determined not to lose any more of Earth's children. 

Back in Clairton, West Virginia, Steve Jackson was held in place by a mystic bolt from Doctor Dredd. Steve was unable to prevent his girlfriend, Brandy Clark, from being merged into the cyborg armor that previously belonged to the deceased Spaceknight Starshine. Dredd explained to Jackson how Starshine had transferred her light essence to Clark before departing the mortal coil and how Clark was determined to become a Spaceknight so that she could be closer to her love, ROM. The Torpedo broke through a nearby window and used the analyzer power that the silver Spaceknight gave him to ascertain that Dredd was indeed a Dire Wraith. However, even though he bested the wraith in combat, by the time their scuffle was over, the Torpedo was struck from behind by the light eyes of Starshine, whose armor was now inhibited by Jackson's fiancée. 

At the same time, ROM was using his own energy analyzer to learn that the musician who had entranced children was also a Dire Wraith. He used the mystic powers of his musical instrument to bring forth eldritch energies to ensnare his accursed enemy. The Galadorian knew that the bonds would not hold him for long, and that they were employed to delay him from preventing the shadowed Dweller on the Threshold's arrival on Earth. ROM finally broke free, just as the strange beast from the Dark Nebula appeared in the portal's open doorway. The silver Spaceknight's neutralizer sang its song of banishment to limbo for the wraith musician, and ROM flew straight toward the new invader. His momentum carried both of them into the dark dimension, just before the portal closed. Back on Earth, the hypnotized children awoke from their trance, as if nothing had just happened. 

This was another of the first issues of this title that I ever read. The Steve Leiahola-drawn cover enticed me, and it was a rather enjoyable story. It wasn't the first time that a human was placed in Galadorian Spaceknight armor (former criminal turned hero Archie Stryker previously inhabited the Firefall armor), but it was the one that lasted the longest and was the most notable during this title's 75-issue run. Sal Buscema's artwork was well embellished by Akin and Garvey as usual. 

That's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the forty-first issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight. In that issue, we'll learn what happened during ROM's battle with the Dweller on the Threshold. He'll also interact with other established Marvel characters, including one that was mentioned early in this title's run. We'll also find out where Brandy's loyalties lie, now that she has the powers and Spaceknight armor that once belonged to ROM's former fellow Galadorian Spaceknight Starshine. Until then, have a great week, and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #39

 Hi everyone, 

Today I'll be writing about the thirty-ninth issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight title. We're treated to another fun cover by Gene Day, as Shang-Chi and ROM ascend a pyramid in front of a Sphinx statue. It's interesting to count and recognize all of the smaller images within the pyramid. The tale was titled "Deathrise!" The issue had a cover date of February 1983.

The story began with the visit to the British Museum in London by a group of schoolchildren. The tour was being led by a woman, who had stopped to talk about their recent acquisition of the mummy of former Egyptian Princess Kaaris'a, a young leader who had been entombed while still alive. Children laughed and made jokes about the mummy, but the newest addition to the museum was no laughing matter to Shang-Chi or his companions Dennis Nayland, Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston, and Leiko Wu. 

Smith said that the young girl's body had been discovered in an unmarked sarcophagus under the desert sands. He went on to recount what a scroll that was buried with her explained, which was told in a series of flashback panels. Kaaris'a's people saw a strange light from the sky one day. The pharaoh went to investigate and found a gleaming chariot of golden fire in the sands. An alien being emerged from the vehicle, one that was able to assume many identities, and did so before settling on that of a young girl. This form appealed to the pharaoh, who believed it was the child he'd never had, now brought to him. 

The child was named Kaaris'a and was welcomed into the high court, and soon began her education. Several priests were concerned about the youth, primarily due to what they had witnessed as she began to hone her skills in the dark, mystic arts. In less than a year, the pharaoh had passed away, having been killed by a classmate of the young girl. Kaaris'a took his place on the throne, and a marked change, not for the better, began to permeate both the city of Memphis and the land of Egypt. Eventually, the people decided that they'd had enough and rose up to confront the young leader. They bound and wrapped Kaaris'a, and buried her alive, and soon erased her from their history, until then. 

Shang noted that the legends said that the girl would rise again, and he had reason to believe in them. The quintet was then informed by a guard that the museum was about to close. As they made their way to the exit, a quartet of robed individuals walked up to the same guard. One of them entranced the guard to convince him to let them and the children they had enchanted move further into the museum. 

Outside after the museum had closed, Shang-Chi's friends loitered, wondering where their comrade was. Inside the museum, ROM watched the strangers head toward the new exhibit. He had identified the wraith smell without the use of his energy analyzer. As the silver Spaceknight, he observed Shang-Chi follow the group. 

One of the hooded figures exclaimed that they had found their wraith sister Kaaris'a. Several of the robed wraiths began chanting, as entranced children stood silently near them. Both Shang and ROM watched from safe distances, wondering what would happen next.

Meanwhile, back in Clairton, West Virginia, Steve Jackson was driving by his fiancée Brandy Clark's employer when he saw a bright light on at midnight. He got out of his car and walked toward the building, growing uneasy after witnessing suspicious-looking shadows. Steve broke down the door and raced down the hall to find his girlfriend and the golden armor of the fallen Spaceknight Starshine suspended in the air by an unknown person. Steve called out, asking what the stranger was doing to his girlfriend. The man identified himself as Doctor Dredd and said that he was simply granting Brandy's wish.

Back outside the museum in Great Britain. Tarr, Wu, Reston, and Nayland caught up with the security guard who had previously been entranced. The guard had no memory of allowing the individuals that Shang's friends had observed previously. Nayland noticed that the man appeared to be in a kind of waking sleep and was able to rouse the guard from his hypnotic trance with the flame from his lighter. Tarr took the guard's keys and went back to the museum in search of Shang.

At the new exhibit, Dire Wraiths continued their chant as the binding around the mummy began to slowly unwind. The girl's face was revealed just before ROM and Shang-Chi emerged from their hiding places to confront the strangers. The Galadorian quickly explained who he was and his purpose in being there to Shang. His neutralizer sang, just before one wraith used its magic to bring other nearby exhibits to life. 

Shang and ROM fought the new opponents, while the children continued to unwrap the mummy. The master of kung fu was battling a larger foe when his friends decided to lend a helping hand. The battle raged anew, and the silver Spaceknight continued banishing wraiths to limbo. Unfortunately, Kaaris'a was eventually freed and posed a formidable threat to the heroes in the room. Nayland realized that the alien intended to kill the hypnotized children. 

While ROM fought Kaaris'a, Shang looked for a weapon. He found one in a nearby glass case. Shattering the glass, he grabbed several throwing stars and hurled them at the ancient invader. The weapons ripped through her neck, and Kaaris'a slumped in two pieces toward the floor below, before dissolving into dust. The humans rushed forward to prevent the children from hurting themselves as they collapsed. Shang-Chi and his companions stood with ROM as they all mourned the costs that their victory took.

I really enjoyed this two-part epic. This issue was featured in the monthly Bullpen Bulletins column, probably to increase interest and readership in both titles. Even though it was the only time that ROM would meet up with Shang and his friends, it wouldn't be the only time that characters from the Master of Kung Fu monthly color comic would appear in ROM's mag.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the fortieth issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight comic. In that issue, ROM will have another solo adventure and face a new evil. We'll also learn more about just what Doctor Dredd planned to do with Brandy Clark, and if he was successful. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #38

 Hi everyone,

Today, I'll be writing about the thirty-eighth issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight. The cover, drawn by Gene Day, shows a translucent ROM, behind Shang-Chi, with a quartet of Dire Wraiths interspersed in the overall image. The story was called "Suffer the Little Children!" The issue had a cover date of January 1983. 

The tale begins from Shang-Chi's perspective. We see the star of the monthly Master of Kung Fu title hiding behind a tree, as several robed figures make their way toward a building on a foggy evening. Shang peers from his hiding spot and observes one of the figures waving a clawed hand that emits an energy bolt, which breaks the door of the facility. Shang knows that the beings aren't human and decides to investigate further.

From one of the barred windows, Shang sees the figures descend a staircase and eventually enter a room where several caskets have been placed. A trio removes the lid from one of the caskets, revealing a long-dead girl's skeleton. One of the robed beings utters incantations and orders the skeleton to rise. To Shang's amazement, she sits up and asks who had called her. 

The hero decides he's heard enough, and Shang-Chi breaks through the window to pounce upon the beings. We soon learn that the robed figures are Dire Wraiths, who seek to prevent the human from granting the dead girl's request to be released. The wraith who caused her revival uses magic to temporarily incapacitate Shang, but he fends off the attack and tosses a nearby lit lamp at the wraith witch, causing it to incinerate into dust. The remaining wraiths turn into blackbirds and attempt to flee, but are also destroyed after being struck by the same lamp that extinguished their leader. After the battle, Shang turns to the open casket and asks the dead girl to resume her eternal slumber. He does not know yet just exactly what Dire Wraiths are, or why they attempted to revive the girl, but he intends to learn the answers to those and other questions that the encounter raised. 

At the same time, on the western coast of Wales in England, ROM: Spaceknight stands beneath a different tree, his energy analyzer grasped firmly in one armored palm. He had used the device to track wraiths to a house just mere feet from where he stood. He recalled his encounters with young Sybil and Stephen (as recounted in recent previous issues) before venturing further. Before the Galadorian could move forward, a car was parked in front of the house's front door. An elder, bespectacled gentleman departed from the vehicle and knocked on the front door. It opened slightly, and an older woman from inside learned that the visitor was a man named Carruthers, who was there in his official capacity as an orphanage inspector. 

ROM watched the exchange and quickly realized that the woman was Mara, the wraith witch who had once been young Sybil's caretaker. He was shocked by this revelation, knowing that he had sent the wraith to limbo before freeing the child. Curious, the silver Spaceknight stealthily walked closer to the building. The inspector was led by Mara up a flight of stairs to the children's room. The youth were all sitting up at the foot of their beds. He demanded to know why one child's flesh was ice cold, to which Mara was more than happy to soon show the children's true identities as Dire Wraiths. The wraiths attacked the human just before the silver Spaceknight burst through the window.

The energy analyzer revealed that all in the room except the Spaceknight and Carruthers were wraiths. ROM soon learned that this Mara was a sister witch to the one he'd banished (in issue #33). She and her companions attacked their foe, much to the human's astonishment. Carruthers took advantage of the commotion to escape, while ROM fought the wraiths who continued to change forms throughout the skirmish. 

Carruthers soon made his way to the basement, where the children had been kept. However, a wraith witch stood over the entranced youngsters and used her magic to turn several of them into foul, monstrous-looking entities. He was frightened, but summoned enough courage to fling a nearby torch at the witch. The witch began to dissolve, but was about to lash out before ROM's neutralizer ray sent her to limbo. With the witch gone, the children reverted to their normal appearances. 

At Stormhaven Castle in Scotland, Shang had not confided in his friends about his battle with Dire Wraiths. Nayland Smith was preoccupied, reading a newspaper article about the mummy of an Egyptian child princess that was going to be delivered to a British museum. Upon hearing that, Shang asked to see the article. Seeing the similarities between the child in the photo and the one from the casket, he asked his partners to depart for London at once. 

Meanwhile, at Brandy Clark's employer, a pharmaceutical lab in Clairton, West Virginia, Brandy stood before a table where Starshine's Spaceknight armor lay. She wondered aloud what she was doing and hoped to accomplish by taking the armor there. She was startled by a stranger who knew that she wanted to become a Spaceknight. The man identified himself as Doctor Dredd and claimed that he could help her accomplish that goal.  

The clever cover of this issue drew me in initially, and the parallels between Shang-Chi and ROM's interactions with Dire Wraiths kept me reading. This issue was also one of the reasons why I later went on to collect the Master of Kung Fu title's first series run in its entirety. Both encounters and Brandy's plans moved the storylines along rather well. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the thirty-ninth issue of Marvel Comics' ROM: Spaceknight. We'll see ROM meet Shang-Chi and his supporting characters for the first time and unite against a common foe. We'll also find out just what Doctor Dredd had in mind for Brandy Clark. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #37

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the thirty-seventh issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight title. The cover, illustrated by Ed Hannigan and Al Milgrom, shows the titular character being likened to a knight (shown behind him) from years past. The story was called "In Days of Olde, When Knights Were Bolde!" The issue had a cover date of December 1982. 

The tale began where the last issue left off, with our hero standing by himself in a field in the English town of Gwillin Dale. ROM had freed a young boy named Stephen (who likened the Galadorian to Earth knights from centuries ago), but was unable to prevent him from being taken away by Dire Wraiths. The silver Spaceknight vowed not to rest until the children from the small hamlet had been rescued.

A few minutes after ROM uttered that vow, angry townspeople arrived. They admitted that they had been scared by the wraith invasion, but were now determined to get their children back. Some of them weren't convinced that the Spaceknight wasn't the enemy, even after he turned his energy analyzer's rays on them to ascertain if any wraiths were hiding among them. The Galadorian soon took off in search of the youngsters.

As he flew, the Galadorian regretted being harsh to the townspeople, but knew that the wraith conflict needed assertiveness and action. ROM used his energy analyzer to track his enemies. Their trail soon led him to a trail beneath the Earth. 

Meanwhile, in Clairton, West Virginia, Brandy Clark's fiancé, Steve Jackson, arrived at her parents' home. He was wondering where Brandy was, since she hadn't shown up to work in days, and her landlord had no clue as to her whereabouts. Her father suggested that she had simply taken a few days off to deal with the stress of ROM's recent departure. Jackson ran off and was soon spotted by the Torpedo (Brock Jones), who was appointed as the town's protector in the Spaceknight's absence. Steve asked Brock if he had seen Brandy, and stated that she'd gone missing. Jones replied that he'd just seen Brandy the night before at Starshine's grave.

While Steve was stunned by that news, neither of them knew that Brandy was still at the city cemetery. She was now digging up the fallen Spaceknight's grave. Brandy smashed its glass covering with her shovel and carefully placed Starshine's armor in the trunk of her car. She then declared that if ROM could never be human again, she would have to become a Spaceknight. 

As for the silver Spaceknight, he was busy tracking the wraiths in England and eventually located their hiding place: a stone castle that had stood for centuries. ROM drew nearer to the castle, and a trio of wraith hellhounds soared to greet him. One hound was able to phase its hand into the Galadorian's Spaceknight armor temporarily, but ROM still managed to banish the wraiths to limbo, leaving behind the dogs from Earth who the wraiths had infested with their dark magic.

ROM continued on his quest and found a pair of Watchwraiths waiting for him. They posed no danger to him. Not even their freezing plasmifire was a match for ROM's armor. During the battle, one watchwraith fell into the deep waters of the moat surrounding the castle. Afterward, the Spaceknight continued his search on foot, entering the castle through a nearby doorway. As he did so, his energy analyzer informed him of previous conflicts that had been waged by ancient forces of good and evil in that building in the past. The stories of some of these conflicts were tales that young Stephen, a boy abducted by wraiths in the previous issue that the Galadorian had vowed to save, had been raised on. 

The silver Spaceknight drew ever closer to the boy, as a wraith sorcerer and its underlings prepared to use the children they had captured for their sinister plans, once their beloved dark nebula aligned with Earth. ROM was very close to their chamber, but on the way there, he fell into the brackish waters, after the stairway he had been descending gave way. As he swam, ROM used his energy analyzer once more and soon found a wall with depictions of knights from many years past inscribed upon it. The images seemed to bolster the Galadorian's spirit and confidence. He burst up into the floor of the room where the Dire Wraiths had been lurking moments later, and swiftly dispatched several of his attackers to limbo.

The wraith witch conjured up dark apparitions to combat the Spaceknight. ROM continued to fight, even when it seemed like their darkness might consume his very being. Just when all looked hopeless, the images of the knights ROM had just seen shone through. At one point, it looked as though the long-dead warriors had risen to combat this new alien menace. However, that was apparently just a dream that the ROM had...or was it? One of the children roused the Spaceknight from his slumber. He awoke to see that the children had been freed and the wraiths were gone. The Galadorian didn't know just what had happened, but he was relieved that the youngsters were no longer in danger, and that the wraith threat was over, at least for now, anyway.

This was an unexpected but satisfying conclusion to this two-part story. I have to commend writer Bill Mantlo for his commitment to comparing ROM's mission to those of the knights of merry olde England. It was another fun story, embellished brilliantly as always by penciler Sal Buscema.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the thirty-eighth issue of Marvel's monthly ROM: Spaceknight title. That issue starts another two-part epic. This time, ROM will encounter more wraiths and meet another longstanding Marvel character. We'll also learn where Brandy Clark took Starshine's cyborg armor. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #36

 Hi everyone,

Today, I'll be writing about the thirty-sixth issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight monthly comic book. The cover showed the titular character holding up a dessicated Dire Wraith in one hand, and his neutralizer in the other, while a young boy was trussed on a cross that was propped by two wraiths behind him. The Spacknight declared no mercy on his mortal enemies. The story was called "The Sign of the Victim is...Scarecrow!" The issue had a cover date of November 1982. 

The tale began with ROM saying his goodbyes to Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, and his subjects in Atlantis. Namor and Sybil bid the Galadorian a fond farewell. ROM soon found himself swimming amongst whales. He used his universal translator to interpret their soothing songs and marveled at the planet's myriad lifeforms. The encounter made him think back to his arrival on Earth and its value to him, even though he feared that his humanity was lost to him forever. 

Meanwhile, in ROM's adopted hometown of Clairton, West Virginia, Brandy Clark stood in the cemetery before the grave of the fallen Spaceknight Starshine. She felt bad for the Galdorian, who had loved ROM just as she does. Clark knelt before the grave, saying she should have perished in the battle with wraiths instead of the Spaceknight. Just then, a strange light emerged from the grave. An apparition of Starshine appeared before the young woman. Brandy was startled, especially when the ghost spoke. Starshine stated that she and Clark were sisters of the soul and imbued her Spaceknight power on the human. The apparition disappeared, but when Brandy reached out for the tombstone, she saw a bright light emitting from her hands as she did so. 

At the same time, ROM was still swimming with whales. He thanked one of them for sharing their songs with him before flying away. The Galadorian soon found land and noticed a young boy tied up on a cross alone in the middle of a field, as if he were being offered up as some sort of sacrifice. The boy asked the Spaceknight if he was there to take him, like all the others. ROM had no idea what the child was talking about, but walked up to him and broke the ropes that bound the child to the wooden cross. 

When the Spaceknight asked him who had left him there trussed up, he explained that his parents did so, because it was his turn. He had been selected as an offering to fend off evil from his village of Gwillin Dale. The boy went on to explain that his town had been peaceful until evil in the form of Dire Wraiths arrived. The aliens stole several children and informed the townspeople that if they wanted their village to continue, they had to offer a child every time there was a full moon. The villagers initially resisted the request, but soon acquiesced, and the offerings began. 

The child admitted that he had prayed to Saint Stephen, his namesake, in the hopes that someone would save Gwillin Dale from the evil wraiths. ROM explained that he would do his best. Just then, several strange-looking birds filled the night sky. They soon shed their disguises to reveal their wraith personas. A wraith high witch dared the Galadorian to banish his mortal enemies to limbo, as he had vowed to them. The wraith witch went on to say that they chose to congregate openly because once a year, the rays of their home dimension's black sun would reach Earth. That evening was just such a night. 

ROM battled the witch, and the intervention of other wraiths diverted his neutralizer's aim. He quickly turned on his attackers and banished them to limbo. More wraiths attacked from behind, with ray guns whose blasts were able to disrupt the Galadorian's cyborg circuitry momentarily. While he was surrounded by a trio of Dire Wraiths, ROM saw young Stephen being carried away by two more wraiths. He summoned the strength to throw off his opponents and flew off to save the child, just after one more blast knocked the neutralizer from his hand. 

Unfortunately, ROM wasn't fast enough to save the boy from being taken away by wraiths in the black portal that he had been carried off into. Frustrated, the silver Spaceknight tore the ground underneath him until more wraiths dove at him. He fought them off bravely, including one who changed shape before expiring in his hand. Stunned by the realization that he had taken a life, ROM was taken aback. He turned in time to see a pair of wraiths attempting to run off carrying his neutralizer. The Galadorian quickly overtook them and bashed them into each other, killing them instantly. ROM then declared that only death would befit such evil creatures. 

He soon learned that the feeling was mutual, as more wraiths took up their guns and fired at the silver Spaceknight. This time, ROM casually pivoted and aimed his neutralizer rays at the Dire Wraiths, swiftly banishing them to the limbo dimension. Only foul-smelling piles of gray ash were left behind. ROM then looked at the cross that Stephen had been affixed to, and remembered how the child had compared him to a knight of ages past. The silver Spaceknight then vowed to not rest until Gwillin Dale's children had been saved.

The parallels between this issue and legends of King Arthur and other storied knights are quite obvious. I was initially surprised by the dark turn ROM took after killing a wraith, but I understood the anger that had been bubbling underneath. Fortunately, he never turned evil, like his fellow Spaceknight Terminator once did before redeeming himself. 

This was an enjoyable issue, even though there weren't very many characters featured. I still preferred Buscema or Sinnott's inks, but I grew to appreciate Akin and Garvey's inks as the series moved along. It was a good solo tale that couldn't be contained in a single issue. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the thirty-seventh issue of Marvel Comics' ROM: Spaceknight. We'll find out what happened to Stephen and the other children from Gwillin Dale. Readers will also learn more about how Brandy's encounter at Starshine's grave would impact not only her, but also other important people in her life. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #36

 Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the thirty-fifth issue of Marvel Comics' ROM: Spaceknight title. The cover showed our hero alongside Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, along with other Atlanteans who all look on as pitch black beams turn three beings in front of them into skeletons. The story was called "Agony In Atlantis!" The issue had a cover date of October 1982. 

The tale begins with ROM and the Sub-Mariner staring at a tall, brownish entity standing before them, next to a black pearl that was perched atop a tripod. The creature that emerged from Neptune's cave last issue was one that Namor had faced before (in the old Tales to Astonish book). A Dire Wraith high witch, disguised as an amphibious being, had sacrificed her being to the crystal. The crystal's energy was then focused on reviving the creature. Endowed with wraith magic, it began striking out at the denizens of the surrounding sea. 

Namor feared that the creature would head toward his citizens in Atlantis. ROM explained to him where the Dire Wraiths came from, and his goal of driving them from this world, as well as his and Sybil's encounter with wraiths before meeting the Sub-Mariner. Namor told the Spaceknight that he had saved the young female before she reached the water and headed back toward Atlantis. ROM quickly followed him.

Meanwhile, in Atlantis, Sybil was safe in a bubble of air...for the moment. Three of Namor's were stunned by her appearance inside one of their buildings. The one called the Oracle crept away, shedding his disguise to reveal his wraith appearance. Once he was alone, he was determined to kill the human. Before he could do so, Sybil warned the Atlanteans that their land was under attack. They then turned to see that the monster was now upon them. 

Two aides moved to sound the alarm and prepare defenses against the creature. As Atlanteans moved to protect their home, Sybil noticed the wraith who aimed to harm her. The creature proved to be formidable, and its black light eye beams even reduced several Atlantean guards to skeletons. Most of the other Dire Wraiths who had been entrenched in Atlantis took the opportunity to flee, hoping that the monster would crush the undersea city. 

Namor and ROM arrived before long to join the battle. Together with other brave Atlanteans, the conflict continued. The Sub-Mariner eventually told the Spaceknight that he had once defeated the beast by containing it within a maelstrom. ROM doubted that the same plan would work this time, since the creature was now much bigger and infused with Dire Wraith magic. Namor was undaunted and rushed to gain the creature's attention.

The Galadorian was impressed by Namor's bravery and went to join him, using his neutralizer to hopefully dissipate the monster's energy beams. It seemed for a while that the maelstrom and neutralizer rays would not be effective. ROM and Namor retreated from their enemy and made their way to Atlantis, where they learned that the city was under attack by Dire Wraiths. They arrived just in time to defeat Sybil's attackers. ROM sought to avenge what he presumed was the human's demise and joined the conflict against the wraiths.

Fortunately, all was not lost. Namor instructed ROM to put the girl in a chamber that had been used on other Atlanteans. She recovered, but found that her skin had turned blue and she could breathe underwater (which had previously been shown in other Atlanteans in issues of Subby's own mag and Marvel's Super Villain Team-Up). She was now an Atlantean. Sybil thanked the heroes for her rescue and decided to stay in Atlantis to aid Namor and his people. 

I felt that this issue wrapped up the three-party story satisfactorily. Unfortunately, I don't believe that Sybil was ever featured in another Marvel comic afterward. It also set up Namor's 4 issue mini-series that was released not long after this. I enjoyed seeing the creature that I also saw in the Tales to Astonish issue #71, which was mentioned before. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about Marvel's thirty-sixth issue of ROM: Spaceknight. In that issue, ROM departs Atlantis and faces another wraith threat. We'll also learn a bit more about Brandy Clark's intentions. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Review: ROM: Spaceknight #34

Hi everyone,

Today I'll be writing about the thirty-fourth issue of Marvel Comics' ROM: Spaceknight title. The Al-Milgrom drawn cover shows the title character ensnared by strange beings underwater, who are apparently under the command of the Sub-Mariner. The story was called "Some Day My Prince Will Come, Or...Enter: The Sub-Mariner!" The issue had a cover date of September 1982. 

The tale began with ROM and the young girl Sybil (whom the Spaceknight had saved from Dire Wraiths in the previous issue) standing together on a cliff. The Galadorian comforted the sightless youth, who saw through his cold cyborg armor to the kind heart of the man within. ROM rejected her claims of his humanity, knowing that the half of his humanity that Terminator stole from him perished on his homeworld when he did. Sybil wept at the thought of being left alone at her family home. 

ROM sympathized with the child after learning that wraiths killed her parents and replaced them, intending to experiment on the human. The silver Spaceknight realized that the child was afraid of living and decided to do something about her blindness. He summoned his neutralizer from subspace and focused a narrow beam on the wraith sorcery that caused it. Within minutes, Sybil was able to see again for the first time in years. The Galadorian decided to leave, but not after he used his neutralizer once more, this time to destroy Cliff House and take Sybil with him on his travels. 

While the pair searched for a new home for Sybil, in the legendary kingdom of Atlantis, its ruler, Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner, summoned his followers so that they could hear the oracle of Lord Neptune. One of his subjects grimly approached his leader with news of potential upcoming misfortune for their land. The wizened citizen held the Neptune Nautilus in one hand. The bauble came from Neptune's cave and was often used to predict the future. Another subject noted that the item had never been wrong in its predictions before.

The elder Atlantean went on to say that the Nautilus had shown him visions of magic and spells in an alien language being uttered in an Atlantean cave, which unleashed unknown dangers. Enraged by this news, Namor swam off toward the source of this threat. On his way, he silently pledged to protect his nation and its people. 

Meanwhile, ROM had noticed that he and Sybil had been traveling for hours. Just then, Sybil awoke in time to warn the Spaceknight of wraiths in the area. The Galadorian was skeptical, since they were now flying over water, but they were soon confronted by a strange sea serpent that fired bolts of energy from its open maw. ROM's energy analyzer revealed that the being was an electric eel who had been transformed by wraith magic into its hideous incarnation. A quick neutralizer blast eliminated the threat, but the Spaceknight and his female companion fell toward the waters below after the victory. 

Luckily, the Sub-Mariner swooped down in time to save Sybil from splashdown. He asked the girl who she was, and Sybil explained that she and ROM had been attacked by a sea serpent that had been sent forth by Dire Wraiths. Namor put the girl in a bubble from a nearby bubble fish and instructed the animal to take her to safety, while he went to save the Spaceknight, as he had vowed to do. 

ROM was unconscious when his body hit the water. He continued to submerge deeper and deeper until he awoke and turned on his respirator. The Galadorian summoned his energy analyzer from subspace and went off to find Sybil. At the same time, Namor was searching for ROM. He reached out to a nearby fish, who informed him of an impending attack on Atlantis' most sacred shrine. While he swam to save his citizens, the silver Spaceknight followed his analyzer's lead until he located the source of the wraith magic. As he peered into the cave opening, he noticed several unusual-looking creatures swarming around an ominous black pearl.

The convocation was interrupted by the announcement of ROM's presence. The wraiths in disguise as underwater beings panicked. One of them was thrown by his colleague into the pearl, whose energies were soon used to focus a beam into Neptune's cave. ROM was soon attacked by the wraiths. Fearing that his mortal enemies had abducted Sybil, the Galadorian fought bravely and was able to ward off each one of his opponents successfully, until the toxic ink of one foe had him immobilized. 

The Spaceknight was freed from his imprisonment by the Sub-Mariner's assault on the alien being. Namor declared his identity to the wraiths and was ready to defend himself and the Galadorian. ROM's neutralizer soon sent several wraiths to limbo, but one of them escaped and sacrificed itself to the black pearl. The black pearl's magic was then utilized to bring forth a massive creature that had not been seen in Marveldom since Tales to Astonish issue number 71. 

Namor was one of Marvel's earliest superheroes, dating back to the 1940s. He was revived in the Fantastic Four comic and was a sometime Defender. He also had his own comic for about six years, after starring in Tales to Astonish before that title was named the Incredible Hulk, starting with issue #102. He's one of those kinds of characters that is featured every now and then and then goes dormant for a while. 

I liked this issue, even though none of the usual supporting characters were featured. I always enjoyed seeing ROM pair up with other well-known Marvel characters, because they brought relevance to the licensed character. By now, he had firmly established himself in the Marvel universe. Although I missed seeing Joe Sinnott's inks, Akin and Garvey embellished Sal Buscema's pencil art nicely.

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about the thirty-fifth issue of Marvel's ROM: Spaceknight. That issue wraps up the trilogy. We'll find out what the menace from the last panel of this issue was, and what happened to Sybil. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.