Rom #20

Jul 1981 · Marvel · 0.50 USD; 0.50 CAD

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In "Mindgames," Rom #20 (1981), the Spaceknights face a moral reckoning when Terminator is tried for executing a planetary ruler during a mission against the Dire Wraiths. With the verdict sealed and his fate decided, Terminator chooses death over exile—only for his final moments to be interrupted by the unseen hand of the malevolent Mentus, who spirits him away at the last instant. Heartened by the loss of his ally, Rom resolves to strike out alone, leaving Galador and the Spaceknights to confront the Wraiths on his own. Written by Bill Mantlo and illustrated by Sal Buscema, with inks by Joe Sinnott, colors by Ben Sean, and letters by Michael Higgins, the issue’s cover by Al Milgrom captures the tension of a pivotal moment in the saga.

Contains 2 stories

Mindgames

16 pp · Science Fiction, Superhero

Mack KillburnDire Wraiths [StarshineTerminatorBarry DunstonAce O'Connor] (villains)Murder Mole (villain)Mentus (villain)Karas [Firefall] (cameo flashback)a Kree (cameo flashback)a Skrull (cameo flashback)

In "Mindgames," Rom returns to Clairton after his time in Limbo, greeted with warmth by friends like Brandy—but his mind is unsettled. Haunted by visions of Galador’s destruction shown by the Wraiths, he’s further tormented when two agents, posing as Starshine and Terminator, deliver chilling claims about his homeworld. Torn between his duty to protect those he’s come to care for and his desperate need to learn the truth about Galador, Rom faces a choice that tests his resolve.

The Trial of Terminator

6 pp · Science Fiction

Spaceknights [ScreamerAstraRainbow]Mentus

In "The Trial of Terminator," the enigmatic cyborg faces judgment for executing a planetary ruler during a campaign against the Dire Wraiths, choosing execution over exile. As the Spaceknights carry out his sentence, the Glowing Globe of Power begins its deadly work—only for the villain Mentus to intervene at the last moment, snatching Terminator away. The betrayal leaves Rom shaken, prompting him to abandon Galador and the Spaceknights in search of a new path.