Issue(s): ROM #51
Cover Date: Feb 84
Title: "Gloves off!"
Credits:
Bill Mantlo - Writer
Sal Buscema - Penciler
Mel Candido - Inker

Review/plot:
ROM and Starshine attend a highly publicized funeral for the citizens of Clairton, West Virginia that were killed in the recent Dire Wraith attack.

Since Wraiths' victims disintegrate, most of the coffins are said to be empty. ROM uses the fact that reporters are at the funeral to issue a warning to the general populace about the Wraith threat. So this issue is basically a turning point. Up until now it's been more of an invasion of the body snatchers story. But now that the Wraith threat is known, it'll be more of an out-and-out war.

The Dire Wraiths accept the challenge.

Starshine continues to kill the Dire Wraiths instead of banishing them.

Interesting issue, and a promising new direction.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - begins the Wraith War period

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A