Source: www.comics.org
Script: Bill Mantlo
Pencils: Sal Buscema
Inks: Sal Buscema
Colors: Bob Sharen
Letters: Tom Orzechowski
Characters: Rom, Brandy Clark, Archie Stryker, Dire Wraiths, Space Knights, Prime Director
Synopsis:
Rom arrives on Earth where he immediately encounters a terrified Brandy Clark. When Brandy returns home to Clairton, she discovers the giant space robot has arrived ahead of her and has murdered some of the townsfolk. Rom takes Brandy aside and tells her of his origins and current mission. He explains that the men he killed were shape-shifting Dire Wraiths in disguise. The Wraiths that have infiltrated Clairton call in the national guard to take care of Rom. Rom easily defeats the soldiers and sends the Wraiths to Limbo.
My Synopsis:
ROM arrives on earth (West Virginia) as a fiery meteor that lands in rural West Virginia. That splash page...ICONIC!
After climbing out of the crater he walks out onto the road and Brandy Clark nearly hits him but swerves out of the way and is going to crash but ROM catches the car and saves her. He uses his "anylizer" to see if she is a Dire Wraith in disguise. Once he knows she is human he uses his universal translator to communicate with her in English. He then rockets off and lands in town where his sensors have picked up signs of Dire Wraiths. This turns into a total 1950's "The Day the Earth Stood Still" moment where a GIANT metallic alien confronts humanity. This time though ROM is on the hunt for evil shape-shifting aliens. He uses his neutralizer to send 2 Dire Wraiths, disguised as humans, into "limbo" which to human eyes looks as if he is destroying them with an alien death ray. The National Guard shows up and does battle with ROM but there are Dire Wraiths in their ranks. At one point they use a Wraith weapon on ROM that stuns him but does not stop him. In the end ROM disposes of the National Guard Dire Wraiths and flys off.
COVER ART: I really like this cover by Frank Miller but I also really like the rejected cover by Hanigan & Milgrom (Unused cover from: Tom Brevoort on Twitter: @TomBreevort)
INTERIOR ART: Sal Buscema can do no wrong in my book. Look at that splash page!
STORY: Bill Mantlo is a true genius. He created a backstory for a toy that turned into an epic. Miracle worker! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this first issue. Lots of action and a great origin.
Just an all around great issue. Pick it up if you can find it!
-Loran.
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