Spaceknight Saturdays: And Now, a REAL Marvel Hero (cough)

Rom Spaceknight ends its first year with the true blue appearance of a Marvel superhero. And as you can see from the cover, that hero is... the Jack of Hearts? Oh my. I have to ask: Just how big a draw was this guy in 1980? I'm thinking slightly less than Dazzler. Who was this guy? Well, think the Marvel equivalent of Captain Atom, with an armor that kept his radioactivity within, but a lot gayer. He's a real bric-a-brac character too: First appeared in Kung Fu comics, transformed by aliens, is tragically dying from radiation exposure, a playing card motif AND a butler who is also a Major over at SHIELD, a radiologist and a weapons designer. Take THAT, Alfred!

But before the two meet, let's go back to the end of issue 11 as Rom contemplates the dessicated bodies of Sister Sweet and Doctor Daedalus while a dozen Project Safeguard goons point at him with giant guns. For an inordinate amount of time. Take it in, guys. Ok, you all done mentally recapping the last day's events? Alright. Let's get it on!
Well, right off the bat, the guards make an obvious mistake: You do not shoot a man's crotch. I don't care if he's a robot from the stars bent on destroying your way of life, you just don't. Real lucky that Rom doesn't kill humans. Instead, he just coolly walks through the human hordes to get to each and every Dire Wraith in the bunch and sends them to Limbo.
Meanwhile, the Jack of Hearts is getting pwned by his butler's training program. More specifically, by fairy flying saucers.
Jack (real name: Jack Hart, haha) doesn't look like he'll be any match for Rom, to tell you the truth. But defying my expectations, his blasts are powerful enough to at least sting our Spaceknight and make him wonder if Earth isn't already well defended enough as it is.
But Jack won't hear reason (no one ever does), so Rom is forced to dine on his radionic output.
Until he gets indigestion.

And now, ROM THROWS SOMETHING!
A photocopier. That's a new one. ROM THROWS SOMETHING! has been brought to you by Xerox. Xerox - we've become a verb over time.

Where was I? Ah yes, indigestion. If you were wondering what those lights on Rom's chestplate did, they signal just that.
Rom's gonna blow, so he chooses retreat. Jack follows and a few pugilistic maneuvers in orbit later, Rom goes supernova. The Jack of Hearts returns to Earth a hero (enjoy it while it lasts) and Rom returns to Earth...
...rather more violently.

I'm not really concerned about his survival. I am, however, concerned about this:
Wraith-Steve's marriage proposal!!!

See you in 7!

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