Spaceknight Extra: The Deadly Mittens of Rom

"Kung Fu Week" was all one big pretext to lead up to this: Power Man and Iron Fist #73. As Rom Spaceknight was gearing up to complete its second year, he started making appearances in other Marvel comics, ensuring that no Essential collection would ever be complete (grrr). His first foray outside his own title is a perfectly natural one. Not because the Heroes for Hire have anything in common with him, but because the book's writer, Mary Jo Duffy, had been Rom's original editor. She was giving her baby a little push, so to speak.

[Historical note: This is also the issue from which the famous "SAVE ROM" banner was pulled. Artist: Greg La Rocque.]

In any case, Rom was just going to New York to get a spaceship from the Fantastic Four anyway. But the streets there are as littered with Dire Wraiths in high places as Clairton, VA:
Polly the Hooker was actually a Wraith. And a damn good one according to her pimp's reaction.
Surprise guest-star: Oliver Queen. What's HE doing in a Marvel Comic?
Teaching us how to love up the chicks, is what. Here's a lesson in three panels:
3 out of 4 chicks dig Ollie over Cyclops. It's true!

Hold on. I think I got side-tracked somewhere. Sorry. Where was I? Oh yeah, the pimp with the heart of gold.
He hires Power Man to bring Rom to justice. As this is still Kung Fu Week, we need Iron Fist as well:
That is one gigantic telephone. Needless to say, when you get that big a call, you take it.

As the Heroes for Hire start their search for Rom (who's out learning Spanish with his trusty Translator), the Wraiths get busy erasing every record of the Spaceknight. And then, the three heroes meet! And since it IS a Marvel comic, they fight.
Rom vs. Iron Fist: Oowww! Yeah. That's right, punk.

Rom vs. Judo Fist?
A little more even.

Rom vs. Luke Cage AKA Power Man?
Ah. I knew something was up - Rom wasn't trying yet. So let's try just a little, shall we?
Cage is bitch slapped so hard, he hides under a car!
"Please. Make the bad silver robot stop hitting me. Pleeeeeeease." Little BITCH. Where's your Bendis now?!

Time to use the power of the Iron Fist then. So what happens when Spaceknight Neutralizer meets Magical Kung Fu Fist?
It gets NEUTRALIZED.

Is it me, or does Duffy have more respect for her former editing project than her current protagonists?

That's pretty much the fight you wanted to see. The Wraiths show up after that and Luke & Danny see the error of their ways, pledge fealty to the Galadorian and head for the Baxter Building. To be continued on Spaceknight Saturday!!!