Retro-Read: Rom

Doorman · Post by **Doorman** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 1:03 pm

With years spent reading single issues here and there, juggling storylines of dozens of titles, he decided it was time to find a better way to read comics. So, it was off to the back issue bins armed with the longest want list you've ever seen! Putting together series after series and reading them in their complete goodness, he was reborn as the Retro-Reader!

Rom

*potential spoilers

The Verdict: While it’s unlikely that’ll I’ll ever read this entire series all the way through again, I’m glad I’ve read through the whole thing. Sure, it could have easily been condensed into a much quicker read but, I’m assuming that good sales kept them from wanting to resolve the war against the Wraiths all too quickly. However, as was warned by other readers in the letters pages, once the Dire Wraiths were defeated, the book just couldn’t keep its following. It was ended soon after, and Rom’s story came to a “happy ending”. The guest-stars and their stories kept the series from stagnating while we waited for the plot to be resolved and the unrevealed true forms of the Dire Wraiths certainly kept a mystique to the book. Also, the artwork, while outdistanced by today’s standards of form and coloring still looks good and serves the plot well without detracting from it. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend reading the entire series, especially since every issue recaps what has happened before but, it would be enjoyable to read through most of Acts Three and Four again.

You can read the whole (long) thing here: Retro-Read: Rom

Cyberstrike · Post by **Cyberstrike** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 3:59 pm

There is a 5-issue series "sequel" series that Marvel released around 2000 (I think) called The Spaceknights that was about Rom's kids. Although Rom is never mentioned by name and does not appear in the series. The only reason I bought it was because Jim Starlin wrote it.

Unblessed · Post by **Unblessed** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 5:10 pm

Thanks for the link. I've always wondered what exactly ROM was.. Never read 'em. Read the article though.

Doorman · Post by **Doorman** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 5:36 pm

Cyberstrike wrote:There is a 5-issue series "sequel" series that Marvel released around 2000 (I think) called The Spaceknights that was about Rom's kids. Although Rom is never mentioned by name and does not appear in the series. The only reason I bought it was because Jim Starlin wrote it.

Funny that you mention that ... it's the subject of next Friday's retro-read post!

Doorman · Post by **Doorman** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 5:36 pm

Unblessed wrote:

Thanks for the link. I've always wondered what exactly ROM was.. Never read 'em. Read the article though.

Thanks for reading!

cinlach@aol.com · Post by **cinlach@aol.com** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 1:47 pm

Cyberstrike wrote:There is a 5-issue series "sequel" series that Marvel released around 2000 (I think) called The Spaceknights that was about Rom's kids. Although Rom is never mentioned by name and does not appear in the series. The only reason I bought it was because Jim Starlin wrote it.

Chris Batista did the art on it and it's fantastic looking. The Spaceknights also (I think) make an appearance in one of Abnett and Lanning's cosmic crossovers from a couple of years ago. Unfortunately the title of said crossover currently escapes me.

Oh yeah, and Rom rules your faces.

chisumwomack · Post by **chisumwomack** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 2:27 pm

Think they were in Annihilation: Conquest.

Cyberstrike · Post by **Cyberstrike** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 6:03 pm

cinlach@aol.com wrote:Oh yeah, and Rom rules your faces.

Transformers rules your soul.

Foxtrot · Post by **Foxtrot** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 5:15 pm

I read the issues of Rom where The X-Mean appeared but that was it. He was cool, but I much preferred The Micronauts.

I think I had Rom annual 2 as well. But can't remember it except that I liked the cover a fair bit.

Doorman · Post by **Doorman** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 9:50 pm

ahhh the Micronauts! They're in my 'to-read' pile, as well ... I was excited about reading them but someone on a message board kinda poo-pooed it. so now my excitement for it has faded.

*tear

Foxtrot · Post by **Foxtrot** » Thu Apr 15, 2010 4:57 am

Doorman wrote:ahhh the Micronauts! They're in my 'to-read' pile, as well ... I was excited about reading them but someone on a message board kinda poo-pooed it. so now my excitement for it has faded.

*tear

No way! That series was what really got me into reading comics. It's such a great series, very rich in characters and always served with some great artists, the Michael Golden run (issues 1 -12) shouldn't be missed.

I recommend issues 1 - 59 of the first series plus Micronauts and X-Men. The hightlights of the first series are issues 1-12, 19-35 and 48-59. Featuring the art of Michael Golden, Pat Broderick and Jackson Guice. Bill Mantlo wrote every issue between 1-58 and it's really, IMO, his greatest work.

The adventures set on Earth do get a bit tiresome but they're still ok. In particular the issues 36 though 47. But you do get flashbacks to the Micronauts home universe, the 'Microverse' during these issues.

I guess I'm looking though rose coloured classes, but it's a fun series and well worth checking out.

Doorman · Post by **Doorman** » Thu Apr 15, 2010 10:01 pm

oh. no doubt, I'll eventually get around to reading them (as well as the second Marvel series ... and then the eleven issues from Image ... and then the Karza mini series ... and then the three issues from DDP). They've just been moved down my 'to-read' list a bit.

JonesyAZ · Post by **JonesyAZ** » Thu Apr 15, 2010 11:19 pm

One of my all-time favorite "guilty pleasure" books is the "New Warriors" from Marvel. Towards the end of Vol. 1's run (in conjunction with the vol. 2 Nova title at the time), they fought the Dire Wraiths!!! One of the New Warriors was the 2nd generation Turbo, so she got to find out more about her armor (and it's link to ROM). Very cool stuff.

Doorman · Post by **Doorman** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 9:37 am

ah yes! New Warriors 1-75 (and v2 1-10 and v3 1-6 and v4 1-20) is on my "to read" list ... and currently ahead of Micronauts. Now it just got bumped up more thanks to Jonesy here!

Unblessed · Post by **Unblessed** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 11:23 am

Is there a TPB for ROM?

Doorman · Post by **Doorman** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 5:45 pm

I don't think so. TPBs were nearly non-existent while this was being published and since then, Marvel has lost the license to publish anything Rom.

They slyly published a sequel called Spaceknights (retro-read: Spaceknights) and there are little nods every once in a while but, legally, Marvel cannot publish a Rom book.

With that in mind, there are no TPBs or Essentials to be had.

Cyberstrike · Post by **Cyberstrike** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 10:11 am

My guess is that since Hasbro (the company that owns Parker Brothers Games and would most likely owns or co-owns the the rights to Rom as well) don't see Rom as a franchise with a big enough fanbase to support it. Since Rom and The Spaceknights are so tightly interwoven in the Marvel Universe it's not worth a chance to bring the character back in a way whose copyrights could be in dispute and jeopardize Marvel's deal with Hasbro to produce toys for them over releasing a Rom TPB.

I guess Marvel and Hasbro could try to work it who owns the rights to it, but I doubt it will happen anytime soon because seems that neither company sees Rom having much value.

That's just my guess for what it's worth.

aggr1103 · Post by **aggr1103** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 11:40 am

Read recently where Robocop's design was loosely based off ROM. Kinda cool looking back now.