Over on the Image Boards, there’s a Rom revival going on. B. Clay Moore starts it off:
“The original ROM is one of my all-time favorite comics, but Image doesn’t license properties. That’s not to say someone couldn’t license it and publish it through Image, but I’m not sure how much of the original series could be used in a new version, and since it was Bill Mantlo’s story (and, yes, Sal Buscema’s art) that made it so appealing the first time around, I’m not sure how much of a thrill a new ROM would be to read. I know a few publishers were vying for the rights last year, but it’s been some time since I heard anything new.”
Erik Larsen: “The biggest problem with ROM at Image is that ALL you would get would be ROM–none of his supporting cast or foes could be included and none of his past adventures could really be referred to. Remember the Micronauts revival? Nice idea but without the revisions made at Marvel and several other additions–it just wasn’t the same. To the reader it wasn’t quite authentic. I think you’d have much the same problem here.”
Jimmie Robinson: “If we entertain this notion of fantasy…. (1) - Image would have to pull a George Lucas. ROM Spaceknight Episode I. In short, a prequel… leading up to, but not including the Marvel events. ROM Year One. (2) - Do stories with OTHER Spaceknights, and only allude to ROM as a background character - sans the Marvel details. There were other Spaceknights… so make it like the Green Lantern Corps. (3) ROM, damaged in battle suffers amnesia - can’t recall anything from Marvel, but is thrust into new adventures on his way ‘back’ to his original goal. But…. back to reality. This is really a legal license matter, not just with Marvel, but also with Mattel. This would be one long hard fought battle, and the legal aspects would hang over the comic like a cloud. Step off the line just once and get hammered from all sides. Kinda puts a damper on creativity. Nobody would want that. Most of all, it doesn’t respect Bill’s vision, and that alone is not worth it. But… never say never in the crazy world of comics.”
See? Now I want to read a Rom reprint book.
January 18th, 2007 at 10:55 am
Yeah, this is PRECISELY why I hate the Transformers revival not being at Marvel. There’s no black-suit Spider-Man, no mention of the Savage Land, and we’re missing out on Blackrock and Circuitbreaker!
Bastards!
January 18th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Revival…a way for the middle aged to recapture their youth.
Nothing is a cool as you remember it to be.
January 18th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Will the upcoming SECRET WARS II OMNIBUS include the ROM and MICRONAUTS crossovers? I wonder.
January 18th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Blackrock, Circuitbreaker, and the Neo Knights are all Marvel trademarks, and always have been. I doubt anyone at Marvel cares or noticed.
January 18th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
You’d think Circuit Breaker - a sort of techno proto-Witchblade/Oracle thing, for those of you without the arsedness to look her up - would have gotten some play in this day and age.
Hrm. There must be other characters with her power set - zapping powers, electo/mechnopathy(?), artificial external nervous system. Blanking on it: someone else?
Of course, her origin’s perhaps a little too tied into licensed comics, but when has that stopped anyone (cough, Machine Man/2001)?
//\Oo/\\
January 18th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
I wonder if Bob Budiansky and Mike Manley- who first wrote and drew the Circuit Breaker- twitched a little when Seven of Nine walked on screen.
January 18th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
If all else fails, one could always go with the time honored method of a character ripof-…..er, homage.
“Coming next year: Tom, Galaxy Samurai!”
January 19th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
“The MOST GOODER of the Universe Paladins!”