Logo by Charles Barnard
Two-hundred years ago, the evil Dire Wraiths threatened the peace-loving planet, Galador. In their homeworld's darkest hour, a thousand brave, young Galadorians sacrificed humanity itself to become Cyborg Warriors, a last desperate line of defense. Though hopelessly outnumbered, these Spaceknights triumphed and pursued the remnants of the Wraith horde across the universe. Now, alone in the Enemy's mightiest stronghold, on a backward planet called Earth, one Galadorian Warrior faces his most awesome challenge.
Stan Lee Presents: The Greatest of the Spaceknights--ROM!
These are the words used to introduce the reader to Rom in the early issues of Rom, Spaceknight. They're still as good an introduction as any, but if you want more detail, visit the Comic Book section. The Rom character is based on an electronic action figure produced by Parker Brothers in 1979. Although the toy did not sell well, the Rom, Spaceknight comic book survived for 75 issues (over six years).
This site is divided into the following sections:
- Action Figure - the toy that inspired it all.
- Comic Book - the comic itself, not the stories therein.
- Enemies - Dire Wraiths, super villains, and more.
- Friends - The Torpedo, supporting cast, other Spaceknights, and super heroes.
- Other Media - the non-comic book products Rom appeared on or in.
- Spaceknights LS - the Spaceknights limited series that Marvel published in 2000.
Spoiler Warning: There are numerous "spoilers" throughout this site for the Rom, Spaceknight and Spaceknights comic book series. If you have not read the series and wish to be surprised, I suggest you limit your surfing primarily to the Action Figure and Other Media sections. This is your only warning!
What's New
28 Oct 2009: Kenny Hobbs let me know that the fifth and final episode of the Spider-Woman motion comic (currently available exclusively via iTunes) brings up Dire Wraiths and Spaceknights at the end. The heroine's new comic book series is based on the motion comic, so keep an eye on it for further developments.
17 Sep 2009: In his latest blog entry, Marvel Excutive Editor Tom Brevoort answers reader questions. One reader asked about policy on "previously licensed character weirdness," mentioning Rom as one example. Brevoort publically confirmed what I'd found out previously. Namely that, "in the case of Rom, for example, all of the new stuff that was created for that series by Marvel, including the Dire Wraiths and most of the other Spaceknights, we can still use-but we can't touch Rom himself in any way."
10 Aug 2009: I've been sitting on three additions to the Checklist for a while now. First, we have a cameo of Rom's helmet as a mask in X-Thieves #11 back in 1988. I'd forgotten all about this one until I re-read the series some months ago. Then we have not one but two by Fred Hembeck. The first is a less cartoony look then you might think in the crowd scene that is the splash page for Hembeck 1980. The other is from an episode of Dateline: @#$!. Both reprinted in The Nearly Complete Essential Hembeck Archives Omnibus. Oh, and I remembered to add Wizard #215, mentioned last update.
5 Aug 2009: The latest issue of Wizard (#215) features a story on Bill Mantlo and includes an original drawing by Greg Horn that includes his take on Rom. For more details, see the Rom Blog. Thanks to Jerry Whitworth for the tip.
24 May 2009: Back in 2000, thanks to Usenet, we posted a bit of information of a circa 1998 proposal for a return of Rom by Benny R. Powell and Jim Calafiore. Well, right now you can find a page of Calafiore's art of the redesigned Rom on eBay! Frankly, I'm not sure Rom's the same with fingers, but I'll let you judge it for yourselves.
11 Apr 2009: I discovered a song not just mentioning Rom, but named "Rom, Spaceknight" while surfing the Internet yesterday. It was released by a band called HB3 in 2007. More information on the Other Media page.
![[Dark Reign Files cover]](graphics/thumbnails/drfiles.jpg)
24 Mar 2009: It turns out the Dire Wraiths got an
entry in last month's Dark Reign Files, another Handbook-style
one-shot from Marvel. (Thanks to ~P~ for the tip.) Could this mean
the imminent return of the Wraiths? Well, I share my opinion in the
latest Rom blog post.
6 Feb 2009: In today's Chicago Tribue is a 3/4 page article comparing new White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel to Rom the Spaceknight. If you don't live in a place where you can get your hands on a copy – especially considering that you won't see this until the day after, at earliest –, you can find see a scan of it at the blog of a fellow named Jason. Thanks to ~P~ for the tip.
26 Jan 2009: I inquired about the Rom article on FarePlay blog. The response was that the article was going to tax their research department, particularly with the "Best Action Features Ever" article in the same issue. The Rom article will probably be in a future issue, "but it may be several months."
22 Jan 2009: Back Issue #32 shipped this week. Behind the Spider-Mobile cover, you'll find 13 pages dedicated to Rom, plus two more on Bill Mantlo. Support your local comic book by buying it from them if possible. If not, you can order it direct from TwoMorrows Publishing. ToyFare #139 has also shipped, but there's not a trace of the promised Rom article to be found.