ROM #1
(Cover uncredited)
Published and © by Marvel, Dec. 1979
“Arrival!”
Synopsis: Rom, greatest spaceknight of Galador, brings his centuries-old battle against the Dire Wraiths to Earth.
Writer: Bill Mantlo
Penciler: Sal Buscema
Inker: Buscema
Review: Rarely spectacular but always solid, Rom is an underappreciated gem. Much of the credit goes to Bill Mantlo, the writer at the helm of this series’ entire 75-issue run (plus four annuals). Mantlo launches his own secret invasion of the Marvel Universe with this debut (and, frankly, it’s better than the 2008 event series). Rom #1 introduces the hero, the villains, the back story, and the first main member of the supporting cast; if only modern comics offered as much story in a single issue. Sal Buscema deserves praise, too, as the definitive Rom artist.
Grade: A-
Cool factor: Rom looks like a toaster.
Not-so-cool factor: Rom looks like a toaster.
Notable: Rom was based on an action figure that sold quite poorly. … This issue topped the TCR Top 100 Comic Books sales charts in The Comics Reader #175, Dec. 1979.
Collector’s note: First appearance of Rom, Spaceknight.
Character quotable: “Our mission can not truly be said to be over until the last of the Dire Wraiths has been hunted to the very ends of the galaxy and cast into limbo!” — Rom, Spaceknight
Collected in: Sadly, because of copyright issues, this series remains uncollected as of this posting.
i use to have the whole collection of ROM, and others. thx mom. but i loved the comic it was a well read comic.