Rom #14 review: Scylla brings about endings and beginnings
By Alex Widen
Rom comes to the end of the line. Yet can he and Livia take down Scylla?
Rom #14
Writers: Christos Gage & Chris Ryall
Artists: David Messina & Guy Dorian Sr.
Colorist: Alessandra Alexakis
Inkers: Michele Pasta & Sal Buscema
More from Comics
- X-Men: 6 reasons why Marvel’s mutants are the best superhero team
- Harley Quinn renewed for a fifth season on Max (and it’s well-deserved)
- Marvel Comics announces seven important X-Men comic books
- The X-Men were betrayed by Captain America in Uncanny Avengers
- Spider-Man: Miles and Peter team-up for their first ongoing series
It’s officially been 31 years since Marvel Comics’ licensed Rom comic book series ended after a 7 year run. IDW Publishing celebrated the Space Knight’s 30th anniversary by relaunching his series with a new creative team and a bold new universe. Now, after 14 issues, an annual and a pair of crossover one-shots, Rom as an ongoing series comes to a conclusion. While it’s hardly the end of the character at IDW, it is the final adventure in this volume of his monthly ongoing series.
Image by IDW Publishing
As a result, the underwater Dire Wraith Scylla becomes the finale adversary that Rom and Livia face in this volume. Yet they’re not alone in facing new forms of Dire Wraiths on Earth. As the battle against Scylla rages underwater, Orphion has found himself in Utah investigating a powerful Dire Wraith as well. He finds religious guru Karan Knight, and a familiar Dire Wraith scheme. Much as in issue #10, the Dire Wraiths are absorbing the life forces of humans to empower themselves!
Image by IDW Publishing
Whether Underwater or in the Plateaus, Dire Wraiths Are Everywhere!
The Dire Wraiths do more than “infect” humans with their essence to take over their bodies. They also can harness the power of souls to fuel their magic and their gods. Having mastered all sorts of dark magic, their abilities are often the opposite of the technological Space Knights. Having encountered such a scheme on Earth before, Orphion makes quick work of Kagan Knight and his minions. Yet Orphion’s true goal is finding exactly what the Dire Wraiths are hiding underground.
Image by IDW Publishing
Across the globe below the coast of Italy, Rom and Livia continue their desperate battle against Scylla. Once again they find themselves facing a Dire Wraith whose power dwarfs anything either has seen in 200 years of combat. Scylla seems like she is able to command an army of underwater Dire Wraiths with her every thought. Both Rom and Livia are severely weakened and at a severe disadvantage. Livia vows to fight to the last, yet Rom as usual uses his scientific mind to form a plan.
Image by IDW Publishing
As a result of keen deduction, Rom figures out the source of Syclla’s control over her minions. Quickly severing it leaves her isolated and therefore more vulnerable. Livia and Rom pursue Scylla into further depths, where not even her inky darkness attack can phase them! Yet as usual, Scylla seems to not fear death. She brags of the true plan of the Dire Wraiths to use both human and Space Knight energy to regrow their great “Wraith God” within the core of the planet Earth itself!
Image by IDW Publishing
The past and the Present Collide!
While Orphion may not be aware, Livia realizes how futile their old ways are. Had she and Orphion destroyed the Earth as intended, they would have revived the Wraith God that must faster. Rom’s desire to save Earth and study the Wraiths’ tactics here has literally saved the universe. However, so far all of their efforts have merely delayed the Dire Wraiths’ goals. Having vanquished Scylla, both Rom and Livia vow to take the fight to the Dire Wraiths and stop them once and for all!
Image by IDW Publishing
Meanwhile, the “Battle Scars” back-up strip set in the past also concludes. It finishes the adventure of Rom and his pal Fy-Laa on the planet Verdulun-5. The “living” planet has been infected with Dire Wraiths and now seeks to enslave the entire universe. While it preaches peace and harmony, the result would be the end of free will. It holds a major advantage due to bringing Fy-Laa under its thrall. Now the planet itself wishes to make Rom its slave as well!
Image by IDW Publishing
Rom is able to utilize his Neutralizer to free himself from Verdulun’s grasp, alongside Fy-Laa too! Unfortunately, Fy-Laa’s freedom from the collective organism proves to only be temporary. In order to save the universe, Rom has to commit the ultimate act of the Solstar Order. When a planet has been infected by Dire Wraiths to the core, it must be destroyed. Destroying the planet also destroys Fy-Laa, and with it the last of Rom’s innocence. From then on he was a full Space Knight!
Image by IDW Publishing
Things Come Full Circle!
In bringing this volume to a close, Christos Gage and Chris Ryall end their arc in a mysterious yet hopeful way. Not all loose ends are tied up, as this is far from the end for Rom at IDW. In fact, the finale all but begs for subsequent follow up. The series’ main villains — D’rge and the Absence — plan their ultimate conquest of both Earth and the universe. Not to mention Rom’s human allies Darby Mason and Camilla Byers, who have vowed to fight off the Dire Wraiths in their own ways.
Image by IDW Publishing
Livia’s acceptance of Rom’s tactics rounds out her arc throughout this volume. When she and Orphion first landed on Earth, she considered Rom weak or deranged. Yet now she sees that Rom’s scientific mind and adaptability may be their only hope towards outwitting the Wraiths. Furthermore, in showing mercy to the people of Earth, Rom has reclaimed something which in “Battle Scars” he vows to have lost. His armor may be metal, yet his soul remains pure within it.
Image by IDW Publishing
Speaking of “Battle Scars,” the back up strip ends in spectacular fashion. While Rom’s choice was telegraphed a bit at least a chapter or two ago, it was a riveting finale nonetheless. It also explains just how the Dire Wraiths obtained parts of a Space Knight. Centuries later, it looks like Fy-Laa’s gauntlet has made its way to Darby Mason’s arm. It helps link Rom’s old life to his new one, as the weapon of his best friend of the past becomes part of the arsenal of his best friend on Earth.
Image by IDW Publishing
Terrific Art Highlights This Finale!
Yet I’d be lying if a great part of the appeal of “Battle Scars” isn’t the artwork by Guy Dorian Sr. and the legendary Sal Buscema. Buscema was the regular artist of Marvel’s Rom, and it’s been an honor to see him return to the franchise once again. Both artists seem to have dialed their skills up to eleven for this finale, and it shows. The two page splash of Rom destroying Verdulun and flying off in determination is a work of art in itself. It’s a tragic little tale, yet a tale which was very well told.
Image by IDW Publishing
David Messina, Alessandra Alexakis, and Michele Pasta bring the main story home in terms of art as well. Scylla is similar to that Dire Wraith priest in terms of being a giant crab, yet her additional heads make her distinct. Messina is a pro at drawing the sleek Space Knights in combat, and the underwater sequences are great. If this was to be the last arc of this volume, there’s no better way to show it than with an underwater army of monsters as well as tentacles from the Earth’s core!
Image by IDW Publishing
As stated in the editorial column in the end, Chris Ryall is stepping away from Rom to focus on other projects. While this may be the end of this volume, he considers it the end of the beginning. IDW is seeking to further tie together all of their Hasbro licenses in more interlinking series. To this end, the next mini series will see Christos Gage continue the story in Rom & the Micronauts. A prelude to this era was highlighted in First Strike: Rom from a fortnight ago!
Image by IDW Publishing
“You Say Good-Bye, and I Say Hello!”
In reviews of earlier issues, I made no secret about some of my misgivings about crossovers. They can be wearisome when Marvel and DC Comics do them. While having the Hasbro licenses interact in the same universe can be clever and open up more story opportunities, world-building can also cause awkward reading for those who may not seek to collect them all. On Rom’s side, this hasn’t been an issue. Vital exposition has been explained. The subsequent mergers will cause these series to sink or swim together.
Image by IDW Publishing
Next: There are no Mermaids under the sea in #13!
This run of Rom accomplished a great deal. It reintroduced the character for a new audience and era while offering lots of nods to the old one. Artists involved crafted some brilliant designs, not just for the Knights but Dire Wraiths as well. It was a series which mingled smart science fiction with action. Most importantly, it proved to be one of the most diverse series around in terms of its cast. I look forward to what the future brings for Rom, the Space Knight, and hopefully other readers are too!