ROM Spaceknight?

[annihilator]

who has read this series? is it any good?:confused:

[swinebread]

I loved it as a kid. I don't know how it would read as an adult but I think the art would still hold up. Cosmic alien invasion stuff in superhero style, with some nice horror elements.

What brings you to Rom: Spaceknight, found a stack of comics?



http://home.hiwaay.net/~lkseitz/comics/Rom/comic/index.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rom_the_Spaceknight

[annihilator]

i read about it here: goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/ (http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/01/06/365-reasons-to-love-comics-6/)

[Ravenheart]

I loved the series.At least until the end of the Wraith War.After Rom left Earth and headed back to Galador the series took a downward spiral.I think I'm only missing one issue from the entire series.

[swinebread]

I don't understand why Marvel does not buy the rights to ROM. They are the ones that made him successful the toy was a disaster. It’s not like the property has a chance outside of the comics, so the rights can’t be that much. Successful reprints should cover the cost.

[Neptunicus]

As I kid I loved it but I'm not so sure it holds up that well. The basic jest of it is that Rom gave up his humanity and special ladyfriend (or galadority since he was from galador) to save his people from the Dire Wraiths. Pretty good premise which was rarely executed that well especially toward the end with Ditko on art. A lot of people may disagree with that but I could never get into his art regardless of what he has done for the comics industry.

Toward the end of the series the story line got kind of convoluted but maybe that was interference from Hasbro or something. Roms innards were supposedly being kept on ice for his return - so he could become human again- but their status kept flip flopping from destroyed to not destroyed, etc...

I always though he would have made a good Herald for Galactus - since toward the end Galactus was involved in his storyline.

[hondobrode]

Never read the entire series but over the years I've grown to like it more and more. Classic in kind of a 1950's way. One of Mantlo's best works, right up there with Micronauts and the Hulk.

[Deathstroke]

I read most of the series, missing some issues in the middle, but I really loved the character and the entire plot from beginning to end.

I would definitely add the title to my pull list if they brought it back.

[Scott Shaw!]

I was far too old to be part of the target audience of ROM, SPACEKNIGHT, but I enjoyed it more for its execution than its concept:

-- Mantlo's scripts gave it a goofy 1950s sci-fi/monster movie vibe; I LOVE goofy 1950s sci-fi/monster movies. I've been watching 'em SINCE the 1950s, in fact!

-- Mantlo used a lot of (at the time) little-seen Marvel characters in the series, ones I felt a bit pleasently nostalgic to see; whether this was so Bill wouldn't need to coordinate the guest-appearances of any then-currently popular Marvel heroes, or if it was an editorial directive, I don't know.

-- It features a long run featuring some very solid art by Sal Busema.

-- There's a run drawn by Steve Ditko; every issue features a new inker, many of whom never inked Steve before or since. P. Craig Russell did some particularly nice inking of Mr. Ditko.

-- When Ian Aiken and Brian Garvey (former assistants of Joe Sinnott) were inking Sal Buscema on this series, they went beyond mere inking to playing around with the layout of each page, opening panels, adding drop-shadows, etc. At times it got to be distracting, but overall, was rather innovative.

So, if you like this sort of stuff, and can buy 'em cheap, why not go for it? There are a lot of toy-based comics than ROM, SPACEKNIGHT that aren't nearly as enjoyable.

Aloha,

Scott!

[bloodyarts]

Of course, the most popular arc is probably the X-Men guest appearances in Issues 17-18. The X-Men come to stop a powerful mutant who they believe to be ROM, while ROM is about to kill a seemingly harmless boy (who is in fact, the powerful mutant Dire Wraith monstrosity, Hybrid!). Great action, great Frank Miller cover (!!) on ROM#18, and solid art by Sal Buscema. Sal and John Buscema were my all-time favorite pencillers back in the late-70s, early 80s. Still love their artwork today (R.I.P. Big John). Pat Broderick produced some awesome work in Rom Annual #1.

Another popular arc is when Galactus arrives to feed on Galador, and ROM faces off against Terrax the Tamer in Issues 24-26! Terrax was my all-time favorite villain back then, so this was a special treat for me.

Also, Rogue makes an appearance later in the series (#37?). Joe Sinnott inks, the combination of Sal and Joe producing pure magic. If I'm not mistaken, Power Man and Iron Fist and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants made an appearance, as well, but I need to check that.

I'd have to agree that the title started running out of steam late in its life, and struggled until it's end (#75, I think). And yeah, I never liked Ditko's art, either. No disrespect to him or his work, just found his work never really progressed from the 60s. By the time the early '80s rolled around, you had Byrne, Perez, Miller, the Buscemas, etc. and it just made Steve's work look horribly outdated.

And not to bag entirely on Ditko, but the stories seemed to drag by that point. The book had become tedious to read. Knowing the end was coming, I remember reading each issue in anticipation for the series to just DIE already.

Still, for the most part, ROM was a great book at the time, and as Scott said, the 50's sci-fi/monster vibe is strong and very well done, at least for the first 50 issues or so. If you can get it on the cheap (and there's no possible reason you shouldn't), pick it up. I guarantee there'll be more than a few surprises (if I haven't ruined them already :) ).

[benday-dot]

And yeah, I never liked Ditko's art, either. No disrespect to him or his work, just found his work never really progressed from the 60s. By the time the early '80s rolled around, you had Byrne, Perez, Miller, the Buscemas, etc. and it just made Steve's work look horribly outdated.

Sorry, but I don't see how this statement holds much logic. Just because Ditko does not draw like "Byrne, Perez or the Buscemas" does not make him outdated . In any event John Buscema was fully a contemporary of Ditko (born a month apart), while Sal was actually pencilling more than a decade before the 80's you reference. And as to Frank Miller... is he not stylistically far more similar to Steve Ditko than he might be to any of those other artists?

[bloodyarts]

I'm well aware of all of this and more, thank you (though I've never given much consideration to your parting question). I was speaking in terms of my then-11 year old self and how I felt then. I knew nothing of an artist's birth date or the length of time an artist had been working and certainly knew very little of all the myriad forms of artistic expression in the comic-book medium.

I knew Ditko's work strictly from the Spider-Man and Dr. Strange reprints I'd read (and enjoyed, by the way, but mainly for the stories). "Outdated" may be the wrong word to use now, but that's certainly how I felt then.

Now, as an adult, I can say I still don't like his style and leave it at that.

[benday-dot]

I'm well aware of all of this and more, thank you (though I've never given much consideration to your parting question). I was speaking in terms of my then-11 year old self and how I felt then. I knew nothing of an artist's birth date or the length of time an artist had been working and certainly knew very little of all the myriad forms of artistic expression in the comic-book medium.

I knew Ditko's work strictly from the Spider-Man and Dr. Strange reprints I'd read (and enjoyed, by the way, but mainly for the stories). "Outdated" may be the wrong word to use now, but that's certainly how I felt then.

Now, as an adult, I can say I still don't like his style and leave it at that.

Hey... no sweat. You are definitely not alone. I find so many comic fans either love Ditko or don't care for him at all. I have to say that I'm in the love camp here, but that's whats great about comic fans... so many tastes and opinions.

[Jake Lockley]

Rom is worth a look, definitely. Some peaks and valleys as with any other series, but overall a solid series.

To weigh in on Ditko, in my experience his art is more appreciated as an adult than it was as a 14 year old. I used to see his name in the credits and groan a bit, but you gain some perspective with age. As a 41 year old I buy any back issue I come across (and that I can afford!) that he has drawn.

[Sabre]

Also, Rogue makes an appearance later in the series (#37?). Joe Sinnott inks, the combination of Sal and Joe producing pure magic. If I'm not mistaken, Power Man and Iron Fist and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants made an appearance, as well, but I need to check that.

Yes, Rogue and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants appeared in Rom #31-32.

Personally, I'm not a huge Rom fan, but my husband is. He has the entire series.

[Mark A.]

I have to admit to being biased, as Rom is one of my all-time favorite series. I enjoyed it as a kid, and I enjoy it now as an adult. As has already been intimated by other posters, there is perspective you gain the older you get. However, I don't think that always means the things you read as a kid can't be enjoyed today. I relished the action, drama and cliffhangers of Rom as a wee one. But that was a time during which I didn't give art much thought. Now, I appreciate Sal's sense of draftsmanship and storytelling far more than I ever could as a child.

All-in-all, it was just one of those fun, exciting reads that I believe translates well, especially for older readers who don't think everything has to be "grown-up" to be enjoyed.

[Rob Imes]

As a kid I briefly enjoyed ROM around the time of the Rogue/Mystique guest appearance; I think #32 was the first one I bought off the stands. The things I liked best:

- The beautiful Sal Buscema/Joe Sinnott art.

- Torpedo, who was a supporting character for a couple issues around that time, who had a family (a wife & kids) and who lived in a small town (in Virginia, if I recall). I could relate to that more than, say, Clark Kent living in Metropolis.

I also liked how ROM #30 (I think) had a return of the Metal Master, the villain from Lee-Ditko's THE HULK #6 (early 1960s), which I'd read & liked in reprinted form around that time.

When Sinnott stopped inking it, around #34, I stopped buying it a few issues after that. (I have since gone back and bought up a lot of the issues I missed in the cheap boxes at conventions, but truthfully haven't gotten around to reading them yet.)

Being a big Ditko fan, I bought Rom for a few issues when Ditko became the penciler, but wasn't that emotionally attached to the work. It was nice to see other big-name artists ink his work, but I can't say that I really enjoyed the comic all that much.

Regarding Ditko's art looking outdated, I think he's had that criticism for a long time. I think even in the 1960s when he was doing Spidey, some readers complained about the clothing looking old-fashioned. I think the different inkers on ROM was an attempt to make Ditko's work more appealing to the modern audience, for the younger inkers who were inspired by his art to bring out those aspects of Ditko's art that today's reader (or rather, the 1980s reader) would think was cool.

[Ravenheart]

I loved how a few times though out the series ROM would hear about the Hulk and from the first time,was always hoping they'd meet.They eventually did in Incredible Hulk#296.Hulk even met a Dire Wraith in an earlier issue.If they ever brought back the series,I'd without a doubt add it to my pull list.If that never happens,then I'll just keep hoping that we'll eventually see an Essential ROM.

[staggelee]

ROM Spaceknight is one of my favorites too.

Fantastic combination: Bill Mantlo/Sal Buscema(writer artist)

Best issues in my view: 1-31, 43,44,45,65.

[Sir Tim Drake]

Welcome to CBR, staggelee... just stay away from that Billy Lyons.

[pmpknface]

A few months back I bought the WHOLE RUN of ROM 1-75 + all 4 Annuals and devoured it! I even polished off the last 48 issues in 1 day!

I really didn't think I was going to like this series because the only issue I'd seen was #63 (the culmination of everything up to that point) and it was just a disaster to look at. It's Ditko and Russell, both who are normally amazing artists, but this issue was a mess. I think it was a colorists 1st job and it was completely botched.

However I was suprised that when I read this series from the beginning it was a lot of fun! Rom is running around zapping Dire Wraiths and he's the only one who can see them as harmful - other human see the Wraiths as real people! Makes for great drama. :)

The 2 X-issues are fantastic. Get this series if you can because Marvel will never reprint it.