Random Happenstance

I mentioned having this one back when we looked at the second annual, but lucked into a new copy of this one recently. From 1982, ROM Annual #1, featuring "It Came From Beyond the Stars" Written by Bill Mantlo, plot assist by Mark Gruenwald, pencils by Pat Broderick--or possibly Jackson Guice? Inks by Mike Gustovich. And "Traitor!" Written by Steven Grant, pencils by Greg LaRocque, inks by Rich Magyar.

I was going to hype up the art on the lead story, which per the GCD may not have been Broderick but instead 'ghosted' by Jackson Guice. Rom faces another alien invader, Stardust; who does suck the life out of some Dire Wraiths for him, but also out of some kids. Rom has to fight Stardust, the locals that are afraid of him, and the Dire Wraiths to save the kids. In kind of a Jesus-like fashion, too: one of the children describes "a great light, and a face so noble, so kind, smiling down on me from a zillion miles away!" I don't know if this is the first mention of the "long, black hair" Rom had as a human. Seriously, he showed up (possibly last?) at Rick Jones's wedding in Incredible Hulk #418, and he looked like a friendlier Conan in a nice suit.

In the back-up story, Rom is betrayed by another Spaceknight, Gloriole--stop laughing! It means 'halo,' you perverts! Actually, there's a bit of clever design there, as he has halo-like rings on his wrists. Gloriole wanted to gain the mystic secrets of the Dire Wraiths in order to fight them, and they wanted Rom in exchange; he realizes his mistake too late. Still, he does get that cool asteroid-grave like Captain Marvel or a dead Legionnaire, so...