Rom #25

Dec 1981 · Marvel · 0.75 USD; 0.75 CAD

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★ 1st appearance — Hammerhand★ 1st appearance — Javelin

About this Issue

Rom #25 is the double-sized climax of the series' first major cosmic arc, delivering the resolution of the Mentus/Terminator conspiracy while simultaneously introducing four new first-generation Spaceknights — Hammerhand, Javelin, Astra, and Rainbow — in a single issue, meaningfully expanding the mythology of Galador in one stroke. The issue also contains the final appearance and death of Mentus, whose absorption back into the Prime Director closes one of the book's most thematically rich identity-and-duality storylines. As the closing chapter before Galactus arrives in #26, it serves as the hinge point between the Wraith War's Galadorian chapter and the cosmic-horror escalation that defines the series' middle period. For a licensed toy tie-in, its willingness to kill off significant characters and reshape its entire cast was genuinely unusual for Marvel's early-1980s output.

In "Galador!", Rom returns to his long-abandoned homeworld after two centuries only to be hailed as a living god—only to be captured as a fraud. The real threat emerges when the villain Mentus reveals the shocking truth: someone has stolen Rom’s identity, and the planet itself is now hurtling toward the Wraith World. Written by Bill Mantlo and illustrated by Sal Buscema with inks by Joe Sinnott, this pivotal issue features a cover by Al Milgrom and marks a turning point in Rom’s journey.

Contains 2 stories

Galador!

21 pp · Science Fiction, Superhero

Spaceknights [ScreamerAstraRainbow]Angel EliteLorraine JonesDire Wraiths (villains)Mentus (villain)

In "Galador!", Rom returns to his homeworld after two centuries only to be met with worship he never asked for—his people now believe a look-alike has been their ruler all along. When he’s captured as an imposter, Rom uncovers a shocking truth: the real threat isn’t just the impostor, but the machinations of Mentus, who’s used the Spaceknight’s stolen humanity to maintain control. With the planet itself hurtling toward Wraith World, Rom must rally the imprisoned Spaceknights and reclaim his legacy before it’s too late.

Love Will Tear Us Apart

17 pp · Science Fiction, Superhero

Dire Wraiths (villains)Michael Baran

ComicBooks.com Value

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Raw (Fine) $3

CGC 9.8 · 17 in census $139

CGC 9.6 · 14 in census $41

CGC 9.4 · 3 in census $24*

CGC 9.2 · 1 in census $20*

CGC 9.0 · 1 in census $20*

CGC 8.5 · 1 in census $20*

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CGC 8.0 · 1 in census $20*

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History

The main story, titled 'Galador!', was written by Bill Mantlo from a plot co-developed with penciler Sal Buscema, with Joe Sinnott providing finishes over Buscema's breakdowns — a creative pairing that defined the series' visual identity throughout its run. Editor Al Milgrom and editor-in-chief Jim Shooter oversaw the issue, which was formatted as a special double-sized installment, giving Mantlo room to resolve multiple dangling threads simultaneously. A second backup story, 'Love Will Tear Us Apart,' was scripted by Steven Grant with pencils by Greg LaRocque and inks by Steve Mitchell, demonstrating the anthology flexibility Marvel occasionally applied to the title. The cover was penciled and inked by Al Milgrom himself, with coloring by George Roussos — credits that Milgrom personally confirmed in 2007.

Trivia · 8 facts

Double-sized special issue (cover-dated December 1981), edited by Al Milgrom under editor-in-chief Jim Shooter.
First appearances of Spaceknights Hammerhand, Javelin, Astra, and Rainbow (per Marvel Database and Marvunapp profiles), all of whom go on to play roles in the Galactus storyline in issues #26–27.
Final appearance and death of Mentus — revealed to be the externalized evil persona of the Prime Director — who is reabsorbed by the Prime Director, killing them both.
Terminator, having been surgically given the other half of Rom's preserved humanity by Mentus, is freed from Mentus's mental grip through Starshine's intervention and turns against the Dire Wraiths.
The dying Prime Director warns the assembled Spaceknights of an approaching threat: Galactus, directly setting up the next arc.
Main story scripted by Bill Mantlo (plot/script) and Sal Buscema (plot), with art breakdowns by Buscema and finishes by legendary inker Joe Sinnott; backup story written by Steven Grant with art by Greg LaRocque.
Ray-Na appears only as a cameo flashback/image in Rom's mind — she is not physically present in the issue.
The issue has been reprinted in the French anthology Strange #155 (November 1982), the UK Rom Summer Special (May 1982), the Rom: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 1 (2023/2024), and the Rom Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years Vol. 2 (2025).