Random Back Issues #17 - ROM #4

It's been a couple of years since I read through Rom, but I don't remember Galadorians being big into Tarzan cosplay. Still, if you're about to surrender your body for an eternity in a cold metal suit, might as well enjoy flesh while you got it.

Alright, we're goin' all the way back to 1980 for today's selection, and find Rom under attack by an Earth criminal by the name of Archie Stryker. Normally no big deal, except disguised Dire Wraiths have convinced Archie Rom is a dangerous alien invader killing humans with his death ray. Rom's actually banishing them to Limbo, but Archie can't see that. The Wraiths have the armor of Rom's old pal Firefall, and put Archie in it to tangle with Rom.

Rom's on defense for most of this, trying to reason with Archie. He doesn't want to use the Neutralizer, because it might kill a human, and he swore never to take a life. Firefall sends him crashing to Earth near a Wraith base he destroyed the issue before. The Wraiths inside see an opportunity, rush out to attack and. . . get immediately blasted into Limbo. Good try, though. Maximum effort.

Of course, as far as Archie's concerned, Rom just killed a bunch more humans, so the fight's on again. Rom clips him with the Neutralizer, and Archie feels it through the armor. Rom explains that Archie is becoming linked with the armor, that it's going to become his new epidermis, but the guy's not having it. Rom is able to counter Archie's "living flame" by lowering the exterior of his body to near absolute zero. This lets him grab the flame and throw it back, then take to the skies.

While all that's happening, Rom's only friend on Earth (and future romantic interest) Brandy Clarke is a hostage of more disguised Wraiths in a car speeding down the highway. Brandy's boyfriend Steve is in pursuit. The Wraiths think Brandy's unconscious, because I guess playing opossum is unknown to them, and she pushes one out of the speeding car when he tries to blast Steve. Because Sal Buscema's drawing this, the guy isn't simply run over by Steve's car, but sent flying. Gravity is a very inconsistent presence in Buscema comics. Brandy causes the car she's in to wreck, which kills the driver, but leaves her unharmed (even though neither of them appears to be wearing seat belts). The driver reverts to his Wraith form and his body turns to dust, convincing Steve Rom's telling the truth.

In the midst of all that, Rom swatted Firefall into the highway nearby, then stops to explain how that armor used to belong to his friend Karas, who once saved Rom from drowning in a river. When the Wraiths attacked Galador, Karas charged in alone, and was never seen again. Archie thinks that's a bunch of bunk, stating he doesn't believe Rom has any feelings, so Rom starts monologuing about his feelings while beating the piss out of Archie.

Rom stops after a couple more punches, to ponder if he's still human, considering he almost killed Archie tonight. Steve and Brandy don't seem worried, telling Rom the guy was an enemy as strong as him sent by the Wraiths to kill him. Rom's not having it, citing the old "if I killed, I'd be no better than they are" line. He worries if he continues fighting this war, he'll eventually be corrupted by it. I know he does snap when he thinks Brandy's dead and just starts beating Wraiths to death with his shiny metal fists, but that's not for another few years.

Meanwhile, Archie's just realizing Rom was telling the truth all along, and he can't get out of the armor. Pretty sure Archie dies in the next issue or two, but Rom will encounter Karas when he gets banished to Limbo. Or he meets a Space Phantom pretending to be Karas. I forget which. Maybe both.

{4th longbox, 60th comic. ROM #4, by Bill Mantlo (writer), Sal Buscema (artist), Ben Sean (colorist), Jim Novak (letterer)}