Comic books in 'Robot', graded by CBCS

Newsstand Edition. Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema. Michael Golden cover. Steve and Brandy return to the farmhouse where Rom battled the mutant Hybrid only to find Rom's Neutralizer. Where is the Spaceknight and why would he abandon his most powerful weapon? The answers lie in Limbo where Rom has been banished. Surrounded by scores of the very enemy he has banished to Limbo for the last 2 centuries, can Rom escape from where none before have? Also, Rom runs into an old friend and meets the sinister Space Phantom ruler of Limbo. Plus, a back-up story featuring Rom and the Spaceknights of Galador. 32 pages. Cover price $0.50.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Joe Sinnott. After learning that his home world of Galador is in danger Rom confides in his allies, Steve and Brandy, that he plans to return home. However, what malevolent puppet master resides in the shadows pulling Rom's strings and why does he wear the visage of a Spaceknight? Plus, a back-up story featuring Rom and the Spaceknights of Galador. 32 pages. Cover price $0.50.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Joe Sinnott. Rom struggles with the decision to return home to Galador and his duty to protect Earth from the Dire Wraiths. Meanwhile, a new superhero moves to Clairton. Torpedo (last seen in Daredevil #126-127 ) the man with the rocket punch. But, as with so many of Rom's previous encounters, a misunderstanding leads to conflict. Plus, a back-up story featuring Rom and the Spaceknights of Galador. 32 pages. Cover price $0.50.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Joe Sinnott. Rom trains Torpedo to be his replacement as guardian of Clairton in his absence. However, when Torpedo's archenemies the Rocketeers invade the small West Virginia town, he and Rom soon learn they have more in common then they first realized. Plus, a back-up story featuring Rom and the Spaceknights of Galador. 32 pages. Cover price $0.50.

Guest starring Power Man and Iron Fist. Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Joe Sinnott. Continued from Power Man and Iron Fist #73. The Dire Wraiths manipulate the media into thinking that Rom is a killer robot meaning to destroy the Big Apple. With every local hero and the National Guard on the lookout for him, Rom, with the help of Luke Cage and Iron Fist, must make his way to the Baxter Building, home of the world's greatest superhero family. Cameo appearances by Spider-Man, Daredevil, Moon Knight, Captain America, Iron Man, and of course the Fantastic Four. 32 pages. Cover price $0.50.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Joe Sinnott. Hurtling through space on his way home, Rom crosses paths with Richard Ryder, a.k.a. Nova, the Human Rocket. Rom soon allies with the youthful hero and his super-powered friends to defend the planet Xandar from invading hordes of alien Skrulls. 32 pages.

NOTE: This story continues the struggle started in Fantastic Four #204-209 and completes the saga of Nova (Richard Rider), whose adventures began in his own short-lived series. Rider returns as Kid Nova in the pages of New Warriors (1990-1996 1st Series) #1. - Odinson, mycomicshop Archivist Cover price $0.50.

Double-Sized issue. Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Joe Sinnott. Rom Greatest of the Spaceknights returns home to Galador only to find all is not well. Why is there another Rom and what do the Dire Wraiths and his former friend the Terminator have to do with it? Plus, an untold tale from Rom's time on Earth. Story by Steven Grant. Art by Greg Larocque and Steve Mitchell. 48 pages. Cover price $0.75.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Joe Sinnott. Galactus has arrived on Galador! Can even the gallant and powerful Spaceknights stand against the Devourer of Worlds. Don't bet on it! 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Joe Sinnott. Rom and the Spaceknights of Galador return to Wraithworld, the home planet of their most hated enemy. It was the setting for their greatest victory. And now they have returned with Galactus as an ally to finish what they started over two centuries ago. However, there reside things in the Dark Nebula that even the Devourer of Worlds may fear. Meanwhile, back on Earth, the Dire Wraiths, taking full advantage of Rom's absence, have invaded the small West Virginia town of Clairton. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Joe Sinnott. The price for saving their homeworld from the hunger of Galactus is that Rom and the Spaceknights of Galador are forever denied from returning home. A shallow victory indeed, the surviving Spaceknights return to their respective sectors of space to continue the fight against the evil Dire Wraiths. Rom and his fellow Spaceknight Starshine return to Earth and to the small town of Clairton. However, something is out of place and what does the Mole Man have to do with it? 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema. In the wake of the death of Starshine the Spaceknight, a disconsolate Rom investigates a possible new threat. What he discovers is a radioactive creature who has fought the mighty Hulk and survived. Can Rom defeat the man-brute known as the Missing Link (last seen in Incredible Hulk #179)? Special flashback cameo appearance by the Incredible Hulk. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Joe Sinnott. Rom bestows Torpedo with the ability to spot the shape-shifting Dire Wraiths. As Wraith activity escalates, a new threat arrives in the form of the Metal Master (last seen in Incredible Hulk #6) and his mechanical monstrosities. This encounter leaves Rom wondering if he will ever meat this Hulk he keeps hearing about. Flashback cameo appearance by the Incredible Hulk. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Joe Sinnott. Torpedo fights for his life against the Dire Wraith/human half-breed horror known as Hybrid. Meanwhile, Rom faces off against the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (Mystique, Rogue, Destiny, Avalanche, Pyro, and the Blob). 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

By Bill Mantlo, Sal Buscema and Joe Sinnott. Rom stands against the united might of Hybrid and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. But, when the mutant known as Rogue turns her ability absorbing powers on the gallant Spaceknight, his innate nobility awakens a goodness within her that she did not realize she had (perhaps leading her to seek out membership with the Uncanny X-Men). 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Guest starring Prince Namor, the mighty Sub-Mariner. Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema. Rom and Sybil have each lost much in the conflict with the Dire Wraiths. He, his humanity and homeworld and she, her parents and childhood. While, in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean the Savage Sub-Mariner soon learns that there is no where safe from the influence of the evil Dire Wraiths. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Danny Bulanadi. Many fathoms below the sea, Rom, together with his new ally Prince Namor, the Savage Sub- Mariner, confront a horrible product of Dire Wraith black magic. A threat that could spell the end for the underwater kingdom of Atlantis and the surface world as well. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema. At the grave of the fallen Spaceknight Starshine, Brandy strikes a bargain that will change her life and the lives of all those she loves forever. Meanwhile, Rom, fresh off his victory in Atlantis, streaking home to Clairton, comes across the small hamlet of Gwillyn Dale and discovers that the evil Dire Wraiths have stolen into the night and taken the children. Rom suffers his worst defeat and vows an oath of redemption. Cameo appearance by the Sub-Mariner. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Akin Garvey. As Rom strives to save the children of Gwillyn Dale from a fate worst than death, Steve searches frantically for his missing love, Brandy Clark. All this and King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, seriously. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Guest starring Shang Chi the Master of Kung Fu. Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Akin Garvey. Witness the horror of the Dire Wraiths as seen through the eyes of Shang Chi the Master of Kung Fu. Meanwhile, Rom continues his trek around the world in pursuit of the answers to why the Dire Wraiths seek out the children. of humanity. Plus, Brandy comes face-to-face with the mysterious Doctor Dredd. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Guest starring Shang Chi the Master of Kung Fu. Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Akin Garvey. The Dire Wraiths have awakened an ancient evil. To save the children will Rom and Shang Chi be willing to do what is necessary, utilize lethal force, to prevent said evil from rising. Meanwhile, Steve discovers Brandy and her unholy bargain with Doctor Dredd. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Lakeside Tattooz Insert Variant (unopened inserts may or may not have the sample tattoo inside). While there is no definitive information about the Lakeside Tattooz inserts, they are known to occur over several different Marvel issues printed in March 1983. Unlike Amazing Spider-Man #238 and FF #252 where the insert was present in every copy, it appears only a limited amount of copies of this issue received the Lakeside insert (regional distribution?). Also, some of the inserts, although never opened, exist without the free tattoo sample inside.
Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Akin Garvey. Continuing his quest across the planet, Rom makes the ultimate sacrifice to save children of mankind from the evil clutches of the Pied Piper of legend. Brandy makes the ultimate sacrifice for the love of Rom and perhaps losses her soul in the process. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

No Lakeside Tattooz. Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Akin Garvey. Continuing his quest across the planet, Rom makes the ultimate sacrifice to save children of mankind from the evil clutches of the Pied Piper of legend. Brandy makes the ultimate sacrifice for the love of Rom and perhaps losses her soul in the process. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Doctor Strange guest-stars. Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Akin Garvey. While Rom faces the Dweller in the Dark, Dr. Strange Master of the Mystic Arts pleads with the Living-Tribunal on behalf of mankind. Can Rom and Strange bring back the balance between the forces of good and evil? Not if the In-Betweener has anything to say about it. 32 pages Cover price $0.60.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Akin Garvey. Rom strikes an unholy bargain with Quasimodo the Living Computer (last seen in Incredible Hulk #259). In exchange for his humanity Rom shall give up his Spaceknight armor to the sentient machine. There's no way this ends well. Special cameo appearance by Doctor Strange. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Akin Garvey. Rom is now human again, but he soon learns there is a price to pay for this false humanity. Plus, Brandy, now grafted to the Starshine's Spaceknight armor arrives under the control of Dr. Dredd. And the vile Dire Wraith warlock commands her to kill the man she has come to love, kill Rom the Spaceknight. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Akin Garvey. With Rom's cloned human body decaying, Starshine strikes a deal with the mutated genius, the Gremlin. For him to save Rom's life she must first protect them from the Soviet Super-Soldier, the Devastator. Plus, Rom says goodbye to his humanity, literally. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Akin Garvey. Rom and Brandy, now residing in Starshine's Spaceknight armor, are finally free to declare their previously unspoken love for each other. The Gremlin tells the tale of dread and despair as the Dire Wraiths have infiltrate into the highest ranking offices of Mother Russia. That's when the Soviet Super Soldiers (last seen in Incredible Hulk #258-259) attack. Can even Rom stand against the mutant power of Darkstar, Mistress of the Darforce, Vanguard, the patriot hero of the people, and Major Ursus, able to transform into a mighty man-bear whose strength is legend. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Guest-starring the Soviet Super-Soldiers (Vanguard, Darkstar, and Major Ursus). Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Akin Garvey. Rom and Starshine must call a hasty truce with the Soviet Super-Soldiers, for the Hellhounds of the Dark Nebula are upon them. Plus, learn what lurks within the Pit as alien overlords whip Russian slaves to bring something horrible forth. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Akin Garvey. Within the United Nations many of the world's nations meet on a common ground. However, tonight a convocation of another sort transpires. The alien creatures known as Dire Wraiths come together to debate the merits of their methods for defeating Rom and conquering the planet Earth. The males rely on super-science and technology while the females place their faith in sorcery and the dark arts. When all is said and done only one faction will leave this meeting alive and things will never be the same again. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Akin Garvey. Hissing, the Dire Wraiths emerge from the dark West Virginia hills and descend upon the unsuspecting town of Clairton. Their hatred for the Spaceknight known as Rom knows no bounds and this quiet little hamlet and its residence shall not escape their vengeance. Many a friend and family member fall on this fateful night and Rom, with Satrshine, returns to his adopted home to find things are forever changed. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Special double-size 50th issue. Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Akin Garvey. Rom and Starshine are trapped in a shadow dimension and must find a way to return to Earth and prevent the Dire Wraiths from accomplishing their malevolent plans. Witness a startling transformation in Starshine that leaves the Earth woman forever changed. And, a cadre of alien Skrulls arrive in Clairton. What business do the enemies of the Fantastic Four have in Rom's adopted home? Plus, included are bonus posters with art by Richard Konkle and featuring Rom as well as Hybrid one of Rom's deadliest enemies. A tribute for those who have fallen including Steve Jackson, Torpedo, Terminator, Rom's own humanity, and others. A gallery of the heroes who have stood beside Rom including Dr. Strange, Namor, the X-Men. Power Man and Iron Fist, the Soviet Super-Soldiers, and the Fantastic Four. A gallery featuring Rom's arch foes, the horrible denizens of the Dark Nebula known as the Dire Wraiths. And finally the Spaceknights of Galador. Heroes die and the status-quo changes. This one has it all. 48 pages. Cover price $1.00.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Mel Candido. Recent tragedy and a physical transformation have left Starshine forever changed. This highly brassed-off Spaceknight is out for blood in "Starshine Unleashed!" It's not a good night to be a bad-guy. Just ask the Dire Wraiths. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Mel Candido. The Dire Wraiths step it up a notch in "Total War!" Rom bands together with the US Army to repel a Wraith attack and shows the military just how bad the Wraith infestation is on our planet. However, they soon learn that the Dire Wraiths are closer than they at first realized. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Guest-starring Nick Fury. Cameos by almost everyone. Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Mel Candido. The government can no longer ignore the Dire Wraith invasion as the Helicarrier of S.H.I.E.LD. comes under attack. The President of the United States addresses the nations of the globe and now the world knows the truth. And as a certain cigar chomping super-spy bluntly puts it "...now that the talkin's over...the fightin' starts!" 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Guest-starring Rick Jones. Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Mel Candido. Rom and Starshine arrive in Atlanta, Georgia as horrible creatures wreck havoc at Mercy Hospital. What terrible secret resides in the hospital's blood-bank. And, professional sidekick Rick Jones soon comes face- to-face with the evil of the Dire Wraiths in "The Enemy Within!" 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Guest-starring Alpha Flight. Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Mark Bright and Mel Candido. Rom's eternal struggle against the forces of Wraithkind have brought him north of the boarder to Canada, home of the super-heroes known as Alpha Flight. Sinister Wraith sorcery has transformed the local aquatic life into horrible monsters of war. Will Rom and his new Canadian allies be enough to halt the rampage of the these unnatural monstrosities? 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Guest-starring Alpha Flight. Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Mel Candido. A giant tsunami fulled by sinister Wraith magic threatens to engulf a quiet Canadian town. Is the combined might of Rom, Starshine, and the Canadian super-heroes Alpha Flight enough to halt the tidal-wave's devastating advance. Don't bet on it. In this issue we learn, even super-heroes can fail. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Guest-starring Ant-Man and Alpha Flight. Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Sal Buscema and Mel Candido. In the aftermath of last issue's devastating events the diminutive Avenger Ant-Man arrives to give our Spaceknights a helping hand. Using his Pym-Particles, Ant-Man, Rom, and Starshine shrink down and enter the bowels of the earth seeking answers. What they find would give pause to even the bravest of heroes. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Guest-starring Ant-Man. Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Steve Ditko (legendary Spider-Man artist) and Bob Layton. As Ant-Man and the military try to stay alive amidst a swarm of mutated insects, Rom and Starshine venture into the sub-atomic realm in search of the source that has caused the insects transformation. Also, Starshine learns a valuable of lesson in mercy. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Steve Ditko and Tom Palmer. Rom, Starshine, and Rick Jones come upon a massacre where the sole survivor is a little girl whose mother saved her life at the expense of her own. But not before the girl absorbed the horrible memories of the Wraith who attacked her. Now, she must live with the horrible truth of what these evil beings have in store for mankind. Plus, the events of Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) #349 spill over into this very issue. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Steve Ditko and Jackson Guice. Continued from Rom Annual #3. Rom confronts a vast flock of Wraiths in the form Deathwings in "The Beginning of the End of the World!" Plus, government Agent Henry Gyrich, oft nemesis of the Avengers and X-Men, arrives to tell the military and Rom that there is a man who has successfully duplicated Rom's most powerful weapon, the Neutralizer. That man's name is Forge. 32 Cover price $0.60.

Guest-starring Forge. Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Steve Ditko, Ian Akin, and Brian Garvey. Cover by Mike Zeck. As Forge remembers the attempt on his life by the alien Dire Wraiths (which took place in Uncanny X-Men (1963) #187-188), he struggles with the decision to help the very government that persecutes mutant-kind and would use his inventions to keep the super-hero community under its thumb. But after witnessing the true horror of the Dire Wraiths, Forge reassures Rom that he has a new and powerful ally. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Guest-starring Forge. Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Steve Ditko and Brett Breeding. Under the guidance of Forge, the man with the mutant ability to invent and build anything, Rom and the united governments of the world begin construction of an Orbiting Global Neutralizer. However, the shape-shifting Dire Wraiths are revealed to be within their ranks. The sinister aliens attempt to sabotage the efforts of our heroes. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Steve Ditko and P. Craig Russell. All across the globe apocalyptic events ravage the Earth as the black magic of the Dire Wraiths brings forth their home world from the depths of the Dark Nebula. Meanwhile, Rom is taken off guard by the sinister shape-shifting aliens who use the Spaceknight's own pure heart and enate goodness as a weapon against him. This is the issue that sets the stage for the ultimate battle between the forces of Earth and the hordes of the Wraithkind. 32 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Guest-starring everybody. Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Steve Ditko and P. Craig Russell. The end is near. Nay, true-believer...the end is here. This is it...the Final Conflict. Rom is defeated and victory is within the grasp of the evil Dire Wraiths. However, one last thing stands in their way and total victory, the united governments of the Earth and oh yeah, all those pesky super-heroes Rom has spent the last 64 issues recruiting to his cause. Rom is joined by the Avengers, the West Coast Avengers, the X-Men, the Defenders, the Soviet Super-Soldiers and all of the heroes of the world in one last ultimate battle to rid the Earth of Wraithkind forever. It's all or nothing...there's no turning back now. The war and the fate of mankind is decided in this epic issue. 32 pages. Cover price $0.65.

"The Day After!" Guest-starring the Avengers, X-Men, and the Defenders. Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Steve Ditko and Steve Leialoha. Rom and his allies stand victorious in the aftermath of the battle. The Wraith War is now finally over. Rom looks back on his time spent on Earth and comes to terms with the love he felt for the Earth woman Brandy Clark. He bids his friends Rick Jones, Cindy Adams, and Brandy farewell. His mission accomplished, Rom streaks across the sky one last time and leaves Earth behind. What new adventures await Rom greatest of the Spaceknights in the infinite cosmos? 32 pages. Cover price $0.65.

"Life Song." Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Steve Ditko and P. Craig Russell. Back on Earth Brandy and Rick Jones remember their departed friend and try to move on with their lives. Meanwhile, Rom lands on a seemingly lifeless planet but he soon realizes that there is more here than meets the eye. Who are the Sleepers and why do they sleep? Will their guardian allow Rom to live long enough to find out? Galactus Cameo. 32 pages. Cover price $0.65.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Steve Ditko and Brett Breeding. Rom becomes caught in the middle of two warring factions. Humans on one side and machines on the other with neither willing to give an inch. Rom, being a cyborg, is trapped between man and machine...which side will he choose? 32 pages. Cover price $0.65.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Steve Ditko and P. Craig Russell. Rom lands on a strange and extraordinary planet, the like of which he has never seen before. As he ventures into the bowels of the earth he finds Spaceknights and Dire Wraiths alike being held within. Rom must confront the one foe even mighty Galactus could not defeat, Ego the Living Planet. 32 pages. Cover price $0.65.

Story by Bill Mantlo. Art by Steve Ditko and Kim DeMulder. Reunited with his Spaceknight comrades Seeker and Skera the Scanner, Rom lands on a harsh and dangerous swamp covered planet in search of yet another missing Spaceknight. The trio soon find hundreds of Dire Wraiths enslaved. What power in the universe could possibly hold sway over such terrible creatures? The answer will surprise you in "The Hidden God." 32 pages. Cover price $0.65.