With years spent reading single issues here and there, juggling storylines of dozens of titles, I 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, I was reborn as the Retro-Reader!
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Number of Issues: 5
First Issue: October 2000 ($2.99)
Last Issue: February 2001 ($2.99)
Writer: Jim Starlin
Artist: Chris Batista
Following the events of Rom #75, Rom and Brandy led the people of Galador to a new rebirth. Years later, the wreckage of Rom’s ship, the GMV Praxis Six, is discovered with only one survivor … and it’s not Rom. With Rom presumed dead, leadership of Galador is presumed to go to his oldest son, Balin. However, Axadar (Rom’s neutralizer), does not accept Balin as leader and refuses to fuse with him.
Meanwhile, utilizing their WraithKnights, the Dire Wraiths have attacked Galador’s neighboring planets to frame the Spaceknights. Facing the Dire Wraiths and fleets of aliens seeking retribution, the Spaceknights have to fend off the attacks and prove their innocence. Fortunately, Axadar later bonds with Prince Tristan, Rom’s younger son, giving the Spaceknights the advantage they’ll need! However, it’s sure to drive a wedge between the two princes…
The Bad: The series only has five issues to juggle a cast of ten Spaceknights, four alien races, and the Galadorian politicians. That’s a lot of characters sharing the limelight and doesn’t really establish enough characterization for me to care what happens to any of them.
the Good: Jim Starlin was a good choice to helm this cosmic saga and he certainly did his research. This saga draws heavily on what has gone before while moving the story of Galador ahead. Chris Batista‘s redesigns of the Spaceknight armor are well-detailed and still draw strong influences from their previous incarnations. And, continuity-freaks like myself will appreciate the fact that all of the Spaceknights are taken from existing Galadorians seen in the pages of Rom.
The Verdict: This is an adventurous, quick read with nice art but it doesn’t do much to concern you with these characters’ fates. It draws upon the Rom mythos but doesn’t do anything with that specific character (except for labeling him as M.I.A.). So, while it’s somewhat of a sequel to his solo series, anyone looking for Rom action will have to look elsewhere.
On Ebay: Rom | Spaceknights | Jim Starlin | Chris Batista