Issue(s): ROM #26, ROM #27
Cover Date: Jan-Feb 82
Title: "Galactus!" / "Turnabout is fair play!"
Credits:
Bill Mantlo - Writer
Sal Buscema - Penciler
Joe Sinnott - Inker
Al Milgrom - Editor

Review/plot:
Galactus arrives on Galador.

(Click to Galactu-size)

The combined might of the Spaceknights is able to defeat Terrax, and ROM convinces Galactus to head to a different planet instead.

Galactus agrees, and ROM leads him to the Dark Nebula to eat the Wraith homeworld.

Galactus attempts to eat it but its despoiled nature prevents him.

He then tries to absorb the entire Dark Nebula, but is attacked by Deathwings.

Galactus is barely able to defeat the Deathwings and escape the Dark Nebula. He fails to eat it.

Not exactly a high point for Galactus. He comes off as more villainous than a force of nature for much of the arc, and he also doesn't seem very bright, easily tricked into giving up on Galador and failing to notice the problems with eating a planet like Wraithworld. We've also never seen Galactus so close to defeat. His armor is all torn up...

...and he's basically forced to retreat. Galactus got much more respect in his Dazzler appearance.

Galactus is also spiteful. After realizing he's been tricked, he moves Galador so that the Spaceknights can't return home to it, leaving them lost in space.

The Spaceknight Terminator had been using ROM's physical body and a suit of armor identical to ROM's due to the events of the past two issues, but he is killed in the fight with Galactus during this arc.

Galactus also kills the disembodied floating head of the Galadorian Prime Director.

And back on Earth, the Torpedo continues to fail to protect Clairton.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 3 - the "Rom, herald of Galactus" issue.

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References:

• Terrax has a renewed sense of loyalty since his failed rebellion in Dazzler #10-11.
  
• In a subplot, the people of Clairton, West Virigina are trapped in a Dire Wraith "white cell", which is a comic book panel with no backgrounds. The white cell was seen before in ROM #15.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A