Rom #6 Review: Space Knight Versus Space Knight
By Alex Widen
Rom’s backup from the Solstar Order have arrived! Unfortunately, they deem the Earth as doomed! Can one Space Knight overpower two others?
Rom #6
Writers: Christos Gage & Chris Ryall
Artist & Inker: Paolo Villanelli
Colorist: Alessandra Alexakis
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The Space Knight Rom has been waging intergalactic war against the Dire Wraiths for two centuries. Yet everything about his Earth campaign has gone wrong. He’s learned their infestation of Earth’s military is deeper than he imagined. In addition, Rom’s trusty Analyzer has been less accurate than usual. To this end, he’s been forced to rely on Earthlings, in particular ex-cop Camilla Byers. Her Dire Wraith infestation allowed her a psychic link to the aliens that Rom exploited.
Image by IDW Publishing
Unfortunately, that infestation is slowly taking over Camilla’s body, and any chance of curing her is slim. In addition, two of Rom’s Space Knight allies have met up with him. One is the serpentine Orphion, who is Rom’s superior officer in the Solstar Order. The other is Livia, whose past with Rom involves more than combat. They don’t see Camilla as anything more than a Dire Wraith to kill. Even worse, they think Rom’s gone insane, and they’re determined to take him down!
Image by IDW Publishing
Rom Is Definitely The “Good Cop!”
Image by IDW Publishing
As evidenced last issue, while Rom may be a brutal adversary, he’s actually the nicest of the Space Knights. Orphion and Livia are rigidly loyal to the codes of their Order and refuse to listen to Rom’s pleas. While Camilla may be immobilized, the Dire Wraith within her is eager to capitalize on the bickering Space Knights. It stretches out from her body and infects another soldier within its range. Consuming a new host, the Wraith is eager to exploit the conflict to kill them all!
Image by IDW Publishing
Eventually, Camilla’s courage during the ordeal, especially her acceptance of death, eventually wins over Ophion. The three Space Knights may eke out an understanding, but that doesn’t change the reason for the duo’s arrival. Seeing Earth as hopelessly infected, Orphion sees the only solution is to destroy the entire planet. Meanwhile, high ranking military Wraith David Dubosky meets with his superior, who vows that the Space Knights have walked into their ultimate trap!
Image by IDW Publishing
Meanwhile, the humans of Rom have been getting into their own developments. Ex soldier Darby Mason is recovering at her grandmother’s house. Already suffering from PSTD before the arrival of Rom and the Dire Wraiths, the enormity of the crisis is taking its toll on her sanity. Elsewhere, spare G.I. Joe members Beach Head and Grunt have decided to deal with Rom by themselves, and steal into a top security facility to grab the weapons needed to do just that. There’s a lot going on!
Image by IDW Publishing
Even in Space, War Is Hell!
Image by IDW Publishing
Once again, Gage and Ryall have written a script which has plenty going on beneath the surface. Up until now, all that we know of the Space Knights comes from Rom’s perspective. Seeing Orphion and Livia allows us to see how other Knights see their war. Their terms of war are so extreme that merely showing mercy to a Dire Wraith is grounds for court martial. Yet it is this mercy which has allowed Rom to adapt to the developments the Wraiths have made on Earth.
Image by IDW Publishing
The Dire Wraiths have changed their tactics after 200 years on Earth. They can occasionally fool the Analyzers of the Space Knights. They’d adapted not only human technology to their sorcery, but the technology of the Transformers as well! Their infiltration of the U.S. military, even elite squads like G.I. Joe, means that many humans may fight on their side unwittingly! It will take more than rigid obedience to ancient law to combat them now, as Orphion and Livia may learn.
Image by IDW Publishing
The humans in their series show their stuff too. With all of the debate over diversity in comics, it’s great that the two major representatives of humanity in this series are two women of color. Camilla Byers showcases extreme courage, doing all she can to fight the Wraith infestation inside of her. Thankfully, she survives her ordeal, for now. And Darby offers a look at the reality of many of our soldiers back in a way which feels more genuine and less stereotypical or blunt.
Image by IDW Publishing
Great Looking Space Knights for a New Century!
Villanelli and Alexakis once again produce an artistically dazzling issue. The duels between the Space Knights are a feast for the eyes here, built up over the last two issues. The winged Dire Wraith monster looks as scary as ever. Yet they’re also able to capture the more subtle scenes between Darby and her grandmother. The similarities and differences between Rom, Livia, and Orphion are also key to making the Space Knights as a concept work.
Image by IDW Publishing
Next: See Orphion and Livia's landfall from #5!
Whether IDW’s attempt to launch Rom as part of a greater Hasbro universe will work in the long term remains to be seen. The previous issue had some awkward exposition regarding Revolution, and having some spare G.I. Joes as adversaries could be a distraction at best. Overall, it is an engaging and action packed science fiction opera. Fans of the old Rom comics hopefully are pleased with this new one. It offers a terrific update for the 21st century, and an engaging saga.